Atari from crosscut

    Keywords: Shape, Tactics

When there are other stones nearby, often the atari is the better follow-up to the crosscut, despite the proverb.

First position

[Diagram]

White to play

black+circle influences the crosscut. Suppose development towards the bottom right is important.

[Diagram]

With this atari and connect, White limits the development of the Black stone and she influences the bottom right.

At the same time, white+circle is weakened, and may possibly be captured in a ladder (B4).

[Diagram]

Of course, Black can thwart White's intentions, but now she comes out with a ponnuki and probably sente, thanks to having given atari.

[Diagram]

Following the proverb and extend in this situation is not bad, but then Black can choose to connect to black+circle. Black's shape is not bad, whereas W1 looks superfluous now.

[Diagram]

Which is why W1 is usually played when White can follow up with W3 or a.

[Diagram]

W1 here violates the spirit of the proverb as it doesn't gain liberties. Now black+circle is perfectly placed as hane at the head.

Black plays atari and connect twice to damage W1.


Second position

[Diagram]

Extend or atari?

[Diagram]

Atari, atari

A GoBase search indicates that this (or its transposition) is a popular pro continuation. (black+circle may be a bit overconcentrated.)

[Diagram]

Extend

But W1 is also common.


This is a copy of the living page "Atari from crosscut" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2009 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.
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