Large Avalanche Turn Outward

  Difficulty: Expert   Keywords: Joseki
[Diagram]

The large avalanche: turn

After B1, the moves to W6 are considered the best continuation, although there is some variation possible, especially for W4. After this, Black has to choose whether to save or sacrifice his three stones.

Jonathan Cano: I've created a problem for a non-joseki variation on W4, at Large Avalanche Turn Outward Problem. The problem begins with W4 at B5.

[Diagram]

Sacrifice

Nowadays, B1 is considered the joseki move. Black allows White to take his three stones and the corner, making influence in return. The sequence to 5 is the current joseki. Some minor variations are possible: White might forgo the atari at W4 and play at W6 directly, while Black might exchange a for White b before playing B7. The exchange of a for b used to be the basic joseki, but nowadays it is most often left unplayed, because Black wants to keep the option open of forcing with c rather than a.

[Diagram]

White jumps out

If White plays W2 here, Black will switch plans and take the corner.

[Diagram]

The continuation

Unfortunately I have no commentaries on this ensuing sequence, and I am not strong enough to give them myself. Anyone?

[Diagram]

a variation (black 11 at d, after that several variants)

B1 is also a possibility. If White answers at a, the black group is alive (and thus the corner captured), but White b and White c are both sente. It is however more likely that White will immediately counter-attack with W2.

[Diagram]

Saving

Saving the black stones with B1, rather than sacrificing them with a play at W8, used to be joseki.

[Diagram]

Continuation

This used to be a popular joseki around 1950. Nowadays the fact that Black has to play two moves (B1 and B3) to capture the corner is regarded too large a disadvantage.

[Diagram]

Another possibility

B1 seemed to improve on a black play at W6, allowing Black to take the corner with one move, until the counter-measure of W4 was discovered.

[Diagram]

The continuation

This is considered good for White because Black still has to take the three stones off the board. So Black's territory is rather small, while White has been able to play on both sides. If Black plays B3 at a, White can create a ko, while if Black does not play B5, White plays at b and Black dies outright.

[Diagram]

A variation

If White plays W4 in the main diagram at W1 here, White can capture the three stones whatever happens. However, this gives Black too much thickness (note that Black a next makes a ponnuki in sente).


Authors:

  • Andre Engels
  • (add your name if you make a significant contribution to this page)

This is a copy of the living page "Large Avalanche Turn Outward" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2009 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.
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