![]() StartingPoints Referenced by
|
3354 Enclosure
Keywords: Opening
This enclosure is common in pro play, to develop the 3-3 point (preventing the 3-3 point shoulderhit). If the 5-4 point is played first, it looks unambitious[1] to take the 3-3 point rather than make the small high shimari; and that development is rare in pro games.
White 1 here is the normal corner probe. Black 2 is the joseki answer most used in practice, but a and b are also seen. Note that this position also occurs in a typical 5-4 point tenuki joseki, by transposition.
Black 2 in answer is rare, but has been played by Ishida Yoshio (1982-11-25 against Iwata Tatsuaki). In that game Black had the marked stone in place. In general the exchange
In contrast Bill Spight suggests Black at b as alternate answer (since Black at a feels like kikasare).
It seems, though, that between strong players
From a game Rui Naiwei-Hua Xueming in 1978. Black played 1 to secure the corner (rather than a) because White already occupied the 9-3 and 3-9 points. This is a copy of the living page "3354 Enclosure" at Sensei's Library. ![]() |