![]() StartingPoints Referenced by
|
Preferring to pincer
Keywords: Opening, Joseki
This page picks up on ideas given on the Kobayashi fuseki and mini-Chinese pages.
When Black approaches with
Supposing the normal development shown in the right-hand corner, White has sente to approach in the left-hand corner with a play such as
Again a pincer to prevent Black building up a mini-Chinese formation along the side. Once more this is seen in professional games, but isn't highly favoured (no more than 10% of examples).
This is a main variation. White plays 7 to gain the maximum on the right side. White's next plays on the other side would be a or b, which are good shape but gote. There is nothing here really to support the common amateur idea that playing a pincer confers an advantage, though. In both cases Black takes territory early in White's corner and pros like profit.
A quite different attitude is shown by this counter-pincer strategy, played quite often recently by Kato Masao. Black starts a running fight on the top side. This suits Kato's style but should be considered a difficult choice. This is a copy of the living page "Preferring to pincer" at Sensei's Library. ![]() |