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Big Question Mark Problem 7
  Difficulty: Dan level   Keywords: MiddleGame, Attack & Defence, Tactics, Strategy

[Diagram]
Diag.: How should Black invade the white framework?

After seeing Big Question Mark Problem 5 you will know that I'm interested in reducing White's territory by erasing near the marked kogeima shimari. (Although if anyone has a better plan for this position, I'd like to know!)



I've written a BQM7 - a suitable case for treatment page. Charles Matthews


In the game, I tried:

[Diagram]
Diag.: corner

In this sequence, up to and including move 6, we are following Sakata Eio's The Middle Game of Go diagram 82 page 22. Here is what the author says: "Going back to the earlier problem of answering the tsuke against the shimari stone, another answer is for White to play the hane-dashi of 4. When Black cuts at 5, White plays hiki with 6. Of course White cannot play this way if the shicho at 8 (that is, if Black plays 7 at 8) is good for Black. Please make sure of such relationships before playing in this way."

(Note: I've changed the colors and numbers to fit this situation.)

Unfortunately for me, this is all that is mentioned regarding the white choice of 4. Since the ladder was not good for Black, I tried the 7-9 sequence. The group ended up living, but I'm wondering if this is the best way to handle such a situation.

Thank you for your comments and suggestions.



COMMENTS:

This is a very complex problem. When one looks at the position, one can see that White has been completely destroyed on the upper part of the board and Black already has around 80 points there (I assume that some stones were captured). White however has a huge moyo on the lower part which could match Black's territory. Two other considerations: the marked point makes a big difference in terms of territory (if Black plays there first, his territory will be around 20 points larger) and the 3-3 point on the lower right is still open (Black can invade and live in sente).

An invasion is dangerous

I think that it would be dangerous to play at b: it looks to me like an invasion that is too deep.

My first idea would be to play at a to see how White reacts.

[Diagram]
Diag.: How should Black reduce the white moyo?


The dangers of invading

The point 1 is the usual weakness of the kogeima shimari. In the very good book mentioned by Dave, the different variations are deeply analysed. However, one should keep in mind that every position is different. In Sakata's book, 1 is treated as an erasing move, but here, it is deep into White's sphere of influence so, this is more like an invasion.

Here, for instance, White is much stronger than in the position analysed in Sakata's book and she could try to capture the invasion stone with 2. This would be a nasty surprise for Black - he would be subject to a one-sided attack.

Will White suceed in capturing Black 1? Maybe, maybe not, but that is not the point. Even if White manages to escape, White might build a territory of 80 himself in the lower right! It is not difficult to see that, during the fight, White will probably be able to play moves around the marked points and close the corner at the right moment.

[Diagram]
Diag.: A nasty surprise for Black


[Diagram]
Diag.: A lot of points without effort

This is a possible follow-up. White builds up a bottom right corner of more than 80 points. This is just an example, White might try tougher variations like in next diagram.



[Diagram]
Diag.: A tougher way of playing

This is a tougher way of playing, focusing on attacking the invader.



[Diagram]
Diag.: Yosu-Miru?

Moves like Black 1 are called yosumiru in Japanese. Black probes White's intentions before deciding how to play. This would be my first idea.

In this variation (there are many other possibilities), White answers at 2, allowing Black to live small in the corner. Next, since White opted for leaving no aji on the outside (see the next variations), Black could play at 3 (note that this move also enlarges Black's territory in the centre). Since Black can live in both corners on the lower side, it is difficult to see how White will be able to match Black's territory.

When White is this strong, can she try to deny Black life in the lower left by answering a at c? -- Matthew Woodcraft

You can find more detail on this particular 'probe' on the page about Yosu Miru. I think that for White not to play b will leave big defects in her position and she will end up a lot worse off. I haven't tried to read it out, though. --MortenPahle


[Diagram]
Diag.: Force Black into the centre

White can force Black out into the centre. Normally, White would not like being split in two like this, but here she is strong on both sides, and Black could be in trouble. 3 in the previous diagram does make it less scary for Black, though. -- Matthew Woodcraft

--Morten: Yes, but I thought that Black doesn't really mind losing his probe. White's first response shows that she considers the outside important. Changing her mind now and hassling Black in the corner seems inconsistent. Black trying to push at 2 etc. seems pointless; he can ignore White 1 here and play moves around a to reduce White's territory instead, leaving the aji of his probes. If he ends up losing two stones in the corner (which was not his to begin with) whilst taking a chunk out of the white moyo, he should not be that badly off, no?
I find it difficult in situations like these to assess how strong White really is on the lower edge. Yes, she has influence, but no real thickness. I would consider it quite 'easy' for Black either to establish himself or invade and escape here, especially with the aji in the corner.
Like I said; just my feelings about it without trying to read it out? Maybe I should do more reading and less feeling :-?

--Matthew: "Black doesn't really mind losing his probe" - when Black exchanged 1 for 2 in the 'Yosu-Miru' diagram, he already lost value on the outside. The compensation was a supposed life in the corner.


[Diagram]
Diag.: Result after the probe

If Black plays the marked stone (probably rather later in the game) with the intent to live, then I think the plan you suggest in response to White's attack (play around 1, allowing White 2) may leave him disappointed.


[Diagram]
Diag.: Game result

Compare this with what happened in the game when Black omitted the probe and played at 1 directly.

I think I would prefer the second diagram as Black, so I don't think the probe has been successful.



[Diagram]
Diag.: Variation 2

Another possibility is to block at 2. This time, the aji is at the outside and Black can add some kikashi. In this variation, Black might play 9. The marked stones are threatened and that helps reducing the white moyo



[Diagram]
Diag.: Variation 3

In this variation too, Black creates aji on the lower left before playing 5. White can cut with the sequence a to e, but the fight will not be one sided since White's cutting stones also have to run. Moreover, Black still has a good move at the marked point, which might later threaten the marked stones.



This is all very nice, but... what if White resists?

After looking again at the position, there might be no time for Black to play the yosu miru move of Black 1. White might resist Black's plan and play 2 anyway. It is unusual to play tenuki after a contact move like 1, but in this position, it might be possible.

[Diagram]
Diag.: Tenuki?


The above considerations show that a play around 2 is crucial for both players. Black could probably play there immediately and fight if White cuts with a to e.

[Diagram]
Diag.: A difficult fight for both - Some danger for Black!

Playing at 1 might be dangerous. White should cut and fight.



[Diagram]
Diag.: A safe way to reduce - The correct solution?

Black 1 is a calm and solid move aiming at erasing White's moyo. I see no way for White to block this in all directions, so this is probably good enough to win the game. For instance, if White tries to build a big lower right corner with 2, Black can enter the 3-3 point.

AlainWettach



BillSpight: This is indeed a difficult problem. My own feeling is to start with a probe in the bottom left corner. Not that I know exactly where to probe! ;-)

Comment on the play in the bottom left (repeated for convenience):

[Diagram]
Diag.: corner

Black 7 is heavy. After White 8, Black has three floating stones deep behind enemy lines.

Lin Hai Feng pointed out that one aspect of lightness is flexibility. Black 7 puts all the eggs in one basket. The simple nobi on the third line opens up more possibilities.


[Diagram]
Diag.: Possibilities

If White blocks at a, Black has a geta at b. But a more likely scenario is to sacrifice the marked stones. E. g.,


[Diagram]
Diag.: More possibilities


To be brutally honest...

If you are 19k* level, a book like The middle game of Go will only damage your game. Playing professional level moves with no understanding of their content is an excellent way of getting into trouble; this is exactly like learning joseki and becoming two stones weaker. I think in fact you played the best move, the standard keshi for the keima shimari - but as soon as you didn't know how to continue (Bill's continuation is good) you messed up completely... Now, a real understanding of light vs. heavy play would have helped you - but knowing the first part of some middle game joseki doesn't...

A. Nonymous 3d



This is a copy of the living page "Big Question Mark Problem 7" at Sensei's Library.
(C) the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.