3-4 point high approach, inside contact, tenuki variation

  Difficulty: Expert   Keywords: Joseki
[Diagram]

Joseki

Normally in the 3-4 point high approach inside contact joseki, White continues at a or b, and both extend. However, it is also not uncommon in professional play for White to play W2 to B5 here, then play tenuki. Most usually, White will play in the upper right, trying to settle things there first before returning to this corner.

[Diagram]

Cut

If White is the next to play here, the joseki of course continues the normal way. For Black, cutting at B1 is now normal. With the continuation to W4, Black builds thickness while white makes a base. If the upper right is White's, W4 might be at a or b instead.

[Diagram]

Cut 2

Black can also play B1, white then plays atari with W2 in order to push out at W4 in a forcing and effective way. This variation gives black an even stronger position on the left, so if that is important B1 is recommended. Watch out however, white will be very strong to the right.



Charles Once played by Go Seigen, in 1971; not joseki, I guess.

Although B3 and B1 in the previous diagrams is by far the most common answer, Black also has the more aggressive move at B3 available. With W4, White accepts the invitation to fight.

[Diagram]

Continuation

The continuation can easily get hectic.

Note: There is a ladder involved here; see Double threat ladder-maker

[Diagram]

Avoiding complications.

If White wants to avoid complications, she can play W4 here, or W5, B7, white a; which is similar.

[Diagram]

Avoiding complications (2)

A second way for White to avoid the complications in the previous diagrams is by giving atari at W2 first. After W4, Black can build up thickness at a or b, or take sente to play elsewhere.

[Diagram]

Another tenuki

Not uncommonly, White plays tenuki yet again after B1. Black can finish the shape with B3 here, or at a or b. After that, this corner is played out. Black has a lot of influence, while White has only little aji left, but such a result is to be expected given that Black has played three stones more than White.


Understanding variations of the double threat continuation

( References: Get Strong at Joseki Vol. 1 p20, Ishida Vol. 2 p21 )

[Diagram]

Resistance

What is not mentioned at DoubleThreatLadderMaker is the chance of playing B1 as kikashi: after B3 White doesn't have an immediate way to capture the two black+circle stones.
This was seen in a game Ma Xiaochun-Kong Jie 2002-04-22. ( SmartGo game s2002-04-22ca )
PeterHB: In that game, Kong Jie, who has the situation demonstrated with Black here, manages to live. This is confusing to me, as I assumed the point was for Black to die, though in the referenced game Ma Xiaochun does seem to benefit from the consequential thickness gained. I haven't understood this.

[Diagram]

Resistance

However, if Black has no support on the lower side, then W4 is a tesuji which seals Black in. After W6, it becomes difficult to move the three Black stones.

[Diagram]

Resistance

If B1 attaches underneath, then W2 and W4 does the job.

[Diagram]

Resistance

If B1 first before B3, then W4 does the trick.

[Diagram]

Black seems to live?

In the text accompanying Ishida Vol. 2 p21, Dia. 53, W4 is suggested.

[Diagram]

Black seems to live?

PeterHB: This is my guess of the implied continuation. Black seems to live, which I don't think is what the the text implied. Ishida doesn't give the continuation, so I don't know if this is what was meant. Perhaps someone else could comment.

[Diagram]

7@4; Black looks dead?

anonymous: B may be able to eventually crawl to safety by jumping to 'a', but after b, c, d, e, f the situation is the same, while giving W an even more glorious wall.

[Diagram]

7@4; Is this enough thickness to compensate?

PeterHB: B9 seems the key move to pay attention to. With B9, it seems Black kills without giving away too much. Is this a 'thickness judgement' issue, where I as a kyu player see it one way, and Dan players see it another, as too much thickness?

[]: W responds to 9 at 10. W group has 4 effective libs, B group has 3.


(Initial version of this material was added by Unkx80 at DoubleThreatLadderMaker)


This is a copy of the living page "3-4 point high approach, inside contact, tenuki variation" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2012 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.
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