3-4 point low approach one-space high pincer knight's move

    Keywords: Joseki
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The knight's move

The first point is that W1 here is safe enough from being cut.

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Bad idea for Black

Black will not want to play this way, blighting the corner stone.

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Black's replies

Black's usual replies are a (most popular), b and c.

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Black's reply at a

If B1 here, White normally plays W2 in the corner. Now there are two variations.

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Variation 1

Playing B1 in the corner allows White good shape - the counter-atari with B3 at W4 isn't playable here.

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Variation 2

Instead, B1 and B3 to cut in the centre lead to a large-scale fight (Black 11 at a) with White requiring a way to make shape in the centre.

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Black's reply at b

In this case White needs to connect, and usually turns to attack the pincer stone. Next Black can jump, the standard way to stay light, but also simply extend.

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Black jumps

If Black jumps White has the thicker position after W2 and W4.

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Black extends

Black's intention in extending is to provoke a pushing battle in the centre. You can say that B1 is a typical heavy play, but here W2 is natural and B3 goes for power on the upper side first. Black's corner stones are resilient enough.

[Diagram]

Black's reply at c

If Black extends to B1 here, the old move in this position, White again puts pressure on the pincer stone.

Charles Matthews


This is a copy of the living page "3-4 point low approach one-space high pincer knight's move" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2004 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.
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