Fuseki Exercise 11 / Attempts

Sub-page of FusekiExercise11
[Diagram]

Black to play.

Simplest answer (meaning that it's locally correct, but may not be optimal due to other parts of the board) is b, because the wall you get with Black b, White a, has a 'bigger' spacing from black+square, compared with the wall you'd get with Black a, White b and black+circle.



This conforms with the proverb 'Block on the wider side.' - Fhayashi

Black's b + black+square is larger than a+ black+circle..

If White answers b or a, it is better to have played them before tenukiing.

So in my mind the choice is between: Black b + White c and Black c White b.

If White was willing to play Bb + Wc, then White should just have played White c.


So I expect:

[Diagram]

Black to play.



Bill: With both extensions, B5 above does not look appealing, as it is too close to the extension on the top. The two step hane looks more attractive.

[Diagram]

Two step hane

This line reveals a problem with pressing on the right side. The six space extension, black+circle, allows White to extend as far as W10.

As Charles points out below, which side to press on is far from obvious.



BobMcGuigan: This isn't so bad since a black extension to a, above, seems to be sente against the lower right corner, allowing Black to play first in the lower left.

Bill: My point, Bob, is the comparison. When Black has a five space extension, another position where Black plays two step hane, White normally extends one point less. Charles has already shown us the normal continuation when Black presses on the other side in this position. White is more cramped then.


[Diagram]

Miai

HolIgor: B1 is interesting. Let White have the headache of choosing the direction of play. ;)



Bill: It is an interesting position, and deserves study. However, I think that, since White's crawl is a local sente, the result can be that White gets to choose in both areas, defeating the concept of miai.

Velobici: B1 tenukis from the corner and tries to create a similar situation in another corner. White will be able to play c, damaging Black's opportunities on the right side of the board, the area that is most developeable for Black. Black could then play d, but White will get c or play a damaging Black on the top as well. After Bb, Wc, Black e expands the Black moyo growing from the top right corner and gives Black an easier game.
The top right hoshi stone is important. Tenuki is not an option here. Blocking at b is the canonical answer.
Such are the thoughts of this 10k player.

Charles The odd thing is that the situation in the upper right is not clear, from the point of view of pro play: Black would block on the black+circle side sometimes, and the black+square side other times. So if there is a definitely correct way to play, it's not a local matter.

Velobici: Charles, could you explain your response more fully. At my level of play, it seems clear that blocking at b is the only way to go.

Charles I'll start a separate discussion for this point at Block on the wider side / Discussion.

Vesa The first "expected" variation shows only the easiest 3-3 invasion joseki. Black can also choose to extend solidly with B3 or play keima. Of course, those alternative josekis don't give a definitive answer to which side to block...


unkx80: It turns out that I have set a problem that opens up a number of interesting discussions which I have not really thought of myself. I will get back when I have more time. =)


This is a copy of the living page "Fuseki Exercise 11 / Attempts" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2009 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.
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