3-4 point low approach one-space high pincer

    Keywords: Joseki
BQM184 3-4 point low approach one-space high pincer one space jump 3-4 point low approach one-space high pincer knight's move
[Diagram]

White's common replies

a and b are common, while c is not.


[Diagram]

One-space high pincer

Black 1 is considered the most forceful of the available pincers against the low approach. The reason is that if White plays tenuki, Black at a is obviously strong.

3-4 point low approach one-space high pincer one space jump 3-4 point low approach one-space high pincer knight's move
[Diagram]

White's common replies

The normal idea for White is to come out, with the interesting play at a daring Black to cut (3-4 point low approach one-space high pincer knight's move), or at b (3-4 point low approach one-space high pincer one space jump).

[Diagram]

Other replies

Next in popularity are the contact play c (3-4 point low approach one-space high pincer, contact underneath) and the counter-pincer d. Then come White e, tenuki, f and g. The play at h may have been invented by Karigane Junichi, and can transpose into a one-space low pincer variation when Black answers at c.

Charles Matthews

emeraldemon: If White e, should black cover the pinced stone, i.e. one space to the left of h?

Herman Hiddema: See next diagrams...

[Diagram]

Replies to the 3-3 attachement

After W1, black can peep at a or play hane at b.

[Diagram]

The peep

If black peeps, white defends at W3 and black covers at B4. Now white can play:

  • the peep at a, to which black will defend with b. White can then jump out with c
  • the hanekomi at b. Black will then atari with a, and after white stretches, defend the cut with one of the moves around c.
[Diagram]

The hane

If black plays the hane, this is the common followup. White now plays tenuki, because a and b are miai for life

Jeff: A 5d that I talk to is always criticizing me for letting myself get sealed in. After black a, will white immediately play b to live, granting black the chance to seal him in around c? Or will white resist being sealed in by forgoing b so he can escape (hopefully in sente so he can come back to b)?

Herman Hiddema Generally, white will immediately play b in that case. If black gets both a and b, the group will become weak, and therefore a target for attack. In this case, getting sealed in is ok. Firstly, because starting with W1 already indicates that you are trying to settle your group quickly, if you did not want that, you would've played W1 at c or some such move. And secondly, because white has already gotten to play tenuki once (with W7), despite this being black's corner to begin with. So white has gotten an extra move elsewhere in exchange.


This is a copy of the living page "3-4 point low approach one-space high pincer" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2009 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.
[Welcome to Sensei's Library!]
StartingPoints
ReferenceSection
About