Thickness Example 1
Black has the hoshi stone and in place. White approaches with
. Black answers with the pincer at
. White jumps into the corner with
, and up to
the sequence is very common.
White has thus taken territory but Black has created a group, consisting of a wall -
-hoshi, virtually connected to
and
. The
stone provides for sufficient space to make eyes for the group. The black configuration is strong and influences the center and the right side.
Charles Matthews Considering that Black's formation can be cut, and in several ways, this isn't such a good first example.
The stone does create a thick position, and is the kind of play seen in games of Takemiya.
Even so, White has a possible forcing play here, at a.
White can certainly cut bluntly with and
here.
Black in fact normally reacts by running back at ,instead of blocking at
. Therefore it is quite usual, in this case, for White to be allowed to cut right through.
By the way, it would be more usual to see on the fourth line, as shown here. Otherwise Black's framework can be reduced quite easily, by a shoulderhit.
Another interesting way available here is the contact play .
White will only play this when a solid answer such as Black a looks passive: i.e., when White is happy as long as is kikashi. This move has been used by top players.
tderz: It has been used as a ladder breaker. (cf. GoSeigen "...21st century")