Standard Opening 5 / review With AI

Sub-page of StandardOpening5
[Diagram]

Parallel star points

KataGo doesn't like the early side move of B7, as expected, preferring the 3-3 invasion into White's other corner.

White's approach, usually almost equivalent with a 3-3 invasion in AI reviews, this time gets low marks: W8 loses 1.5 point compared to invading the corner immediately.

Black's pincer B9 doesn't take advantage of White's "mistake". KataGo wants to attach on top:

[Diagram]

Attach

black+circle is now well placed (efficient) and Black can take sente to invade with B9, bringing the game to half a point. (remember that KataGo starts a 6.5 komi game as a 1.3 win for White).

The tight pincer B9 in the previous diagram leads to a W+2.5 game, so it's a "2 point mistake" - quite a big difference in opening reviews with KataGo.

[Diagram]

Invasion versus moyo

For Black to block on the wider side with B1 is natural, but KataGo prefers the other side! (see next diagram - "split")

W2-B3 are fine next but W4 is a traditional move which may disappear on the grounds of bad AI evaluation. (see subsequent diagram - "drop")

W6 marks the end of this path: a, b and c are common plays next, d less common.

[Diagram]

Split for B11

As said, we traditionally block on the wider side for building a framework, but AI don't seem to share our lust for large potential territories, probably looking more at making stable groups. Anyway, B1 here splits and B7 takes sente. Taking sente is one advantage over the block on the wide side in the previous diagram.

[Diagram]

Drop for W14

Instead of the stylish a which aims at a lifeline on the side, KataGo (and all AI) prefer White to drop at W1 here. The reason is fairly well understood: if Black protects at b, he loses sente. If he doesn't, as recommended, there's a hole in the moyo.


Finally, White's approach of the upper right is also not KataGo's preferred move:

[Diagram]

Attach (again)

Attaching at B1 is an idea seen in an variation above. It works well with black+circle, which was a doubtful move, and brings the game back to a 1.3 score. The two losses from the two suboptimal moves on the side (black+circle and white+circle) seem to cancel out each other.


This is a copy of the living page "Standard Opening 5 / review With AI" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2023 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.
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