Wedge - nine lines or fewer

    Keywords: Opening, MiddleGame

Standard Nine Space Wedge

[Diagram]

Standard wedge

This is a standard type of position in which White would play the marked stone as a wedge.

[Diagram]

Extend either side

Whichever side Black plays, White will be able to form a base, with a two-space extension.

This works because White played in the centre of an open area nine lines wide.


Seven Space Example

[Diagram]

Only seven lines wide

Assuming only a narrower space of seven lines, playing in the centre affords only a small base.

This isn't necessarily bad, because Black's long-knight's-jump enclosures still have weaknesses (aji) compared to the tighter enclosures of the first diagram.

[Diagram]

another theory

Another way of playing is for White to try to make the most possible use of the possibilities at the two ends. After 1 and 3, White plays 5 in order to tie up the stones played into a group.

[Diagram]

Settling a group?

The game might continue like this.

How does this compare with the other result from the starting position? White is much closer to having settled a group in this area. On the other hand White has lost some possibilities against the corners. There remains a weak point at a, but in general Black has gained security in each of the corners.


Therefore there is a conflict to be seen between making life for a group, and avoiding aji keshi.


Eight Space Example

[Diagram]

Variation from a game Barnard-Hunt

This position was first published in the British Go Journal (BGJ 115, Summer 1999). The space on the right side is eight lines wide.

[Diagram]

Two contact plays

This method of play by White corresponds to the pattern discussed above - see what you can get using 'both ends'. Black 2 is best.

[Diagram]

Tie up the stones

This continuation, with White 1 played to leave aji on the top side, represents success for White: a tight fit into the right side.


Michael Redmond plays into seven lines

[Diagram]

Redmond-He

Michael Redmond-He Xiaoren 1996-06-20, from the 1996 NAMT - the North American Masters. Black starts the middlegame before playing out a joseki in the lower right.

[Diagram]

Redmond-He

Black's idea is to make the most of the marked group, which is solid but low. Black 9 allows White a, which is a good direction of play in these circumstances. Later in the fighting Black had sente to play Black b, White c, Black d and stabilise the group on the left side.

Charles Matthews


This is a copy of the living page "Wedge - nine lines or fewer" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2007 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.
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