I ran into this little situation recently on KGS. I was White. --BlueWyvern
and
seemed like a fairly reasonable way to deal with the corner, and after
, I was expecting something like Black a, White b, Black c, or maybe an extension. Instead I got
to
which seemed to me like a brutish overbearing attempt to spoil my shape and make me heavy.
I played and
trying to threaten the marked black stones with a shortage of liberties.
I finished up like this, but somehow I can't help but think I may have gotten the short end of the stick here. How could I have handled this better?
Bill: Later comment.
'Nuff said.
Bill: Go proverb: Divide and Conquer.
is strong. Now
is weak. Also, the exchange
-
looks pretty stupid for Black, doesn't it?
Actual go proverb: There's no fool who doesn't connect to a peep.
Charles Matthews I agree with Bill. That proverb would suggest that this connection ranks with basic instinct play.
That (I think) is not quite right. The other reply worth considering is here. If Black answers at a and White then connects at b, White should be entirely satisfied (Black is heavier and has little prospect of connecting the upper and left sides).
What is worth spending time considering is this variation. Here White is cut and 'forced' into playing (White is probably happy to play here, though). White has the corner: is this a develop on both sides scenario welcomed by Black, or a one weak group between two scenario acceptable to White?
here looks best, anyway.
Bill: Added
.
I think the initial comment about spoiling White's shape may involve a misconception. In the initial diagram isn't that good a play - almost as poor as a raw peep - and probably doesn't bring any advantage (it's a mistake to shed at about 3 kyu level).
Or 30 kyu level.
From the point of view of shape, here makes sense if Black has enough strength in the upper right to back it up.
Bill: B a or B b look fine.