4-5 point 3-3 approach

    Keywords: Joseki
[Diagram]

3-3 approach

White comes in at the 3-3 point in search of a quick way to live.

[Diagram]

Black's common replies

Black normally answers at a, giving White a choice of direction, or at b to build a wall on the upper side.

[Diagram]

Black's diagonal play

White slides one way or the other with W2, and B3 is expected. For B5 Black can make an extension to the vicinity of the circled point on the upper side, or play at the other circled point for influence on the left side.

[Diagram]

Black's knight's move

When B1 is played as here, W2 is normally the contact play shown, and now Black chooses a or b.

[Diagram]

Black at a - variation 1

In this line a ladder is possible (set up by B5 at p), but a running fight is more common these days, with Black 11 at c. This may support Dieter's thoughts on ladder strategy.

[Diagram]

Black at a - variation 2

White can also avoid fighting, by playing W4 as the staircase. This is White's plan of preference when Black has a stone already in place on the left side.

See discussion at 45103 enclosure, and comments below.

Naive kyu question: what if W4 at B5 when the ladder is bad for black?

[Diagram]

Black's move b

B2 here can lead to a pushing battle. In this case White has an option of playing at e first, before pushing on at d.


[Diagram]

Playing for the left side

If Black really needs to defend the left side, this sequence is possible, but this no longer seems to be part of pro play.

Charles Matthews


The 3-3 approach is a good approach globaly speaking when White has a stone along the side such as WC in the following diagram (i.e. a 54113 enclosure).

[Diagram]

Dia 1


Even though the 3-4 approach is feasible, as shown in the following diagrams, Black ends up with a bulky group without any eyeshape which will be quite a burden to take care of. That is, play the 3-3 invasion to avoid becoming heavy.

(Joseki line reference at 4-5 point 4-3 approach keima, contact at 3-5, hanedashi. Charles)

[Diagram]

Dia 2 (a)

[Diagram]

Dia 2 (b)

[Diagram]

Dia 2 (c)

[Diagram]

Dia 2 (d)

-- Floris Barthel?

Charles: I'd like to comment that this discussion provides two examples of blocked configurations. Firstly, as far as I can see, Black simply never plays now into the 4-3 approach (last example dates from 1772). And consequently the framework with WC isn't seen in pro games (last example I've seen is from 1961). Effectively the pros say 'WC is a trick play, and the 3-3 approach a refutation'.

Floris?: Yes, the WC stone isn't in a very good position, and when Black does then invade at 3-3 as shown, you can see the stone is in a very inefficient position.

[Diagram]

Dia 3



Bill: Yeah, like White is really going to play W2 here.

Dieter: I guess that, if the pros regard WC as a trick play, this sequence is one of the diagrams proving the refutation. Not the refutation, maybe, but not entirely irrelevant either, I suppose.

[Diagram]

Dia 3

I guess Bill, that your point is that this diagram should be researched, rather than the previous. Indeed, it is not so obvious for me why this result would be inferior for Black. It looks rather consistent. I think no amateur would be scolded for playing like this.


This is a copy of the living page "4-5 point 3-3 approach" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2004 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.
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