Yose tesuji

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  Difficulty: Beginner   Keywords: EndGame, Tesuji

Any skilful play that gains extra points in the endgame, in comparison with more normal moves, may deserve to be called tesuji. It is also interesting to play in such a way as to take sente rather than end in gote.


Example 1

[Diagram]

One line extra

Here Black makes use of black+circle to jump further into White's territory; now White cannot answer at a. Black might miss this chance by playing B1 at a.

[Diagram]

White errs

White answers at a and loses five stones.

[Diagram]

Correct play.


Question: Can 2 and 4 be reversed in this 'correct' diagram? - Adam

[Diagram]

Reversed play.

Rich: As long as drawing out at B3 is not viable. However, in this case, white definitely has gote; W6 must be played. In the 'correct play' diagram, white could choose not to play W4 depending on the rest of the board.

[Diagram]

Better

Dieter: If B3 here, White still has gote but more aji remains. I think in general this is better than forcing the sente by B3 at W4. B1 already is small. If W6 takes sente, it will not be for something much bigger than what it is preventing here.


Example 2

[Diagram]

Black to play

B1 is sente. If White plays W2 elsewhere, Black has a 3 point sente at a, as in the first example. If B1 is played as the hane at W2, then White blocks at a, and Black connects at B1, then Black loses sente.

Doesn't white gain an extra point, though? - Stan

Bill: That's the point. The difference between sente and gote is only one point. As a rule, when Black plays B1 with sente, there will be plays worth 2 or more points elsewhere. Giving up 1 point locally to gain 2 points elsewhere is a good deal.


See also:


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