Foundation of Basic Skills Part 1

For the past few days, I have been agonizing over what to write for my blog. I felt I have written too much about technical stuff and failed to address more basic skills that can reach and benefit greater number of go players.


基本图

In games we often encounter situations where we have tough time deciding how to play because we can't read clearly from all the options we have. We can't read clearly mostly because the board is too vast or empty that we don't have enough information to help guide our decision making process. For example in 基本图, white has many options A-E to choose from. Without more information from the surrounding, it will be very tough for white to decide.

With clear picture from the surrounding, the decision between A and B is quite easy to make for black. From a rough analysis, if black presses from A to build thickness then black probabily tries to use it to build moyo in the left side. But the solid white corner effectively constrains black's moyo development.

Upon a closer read, 白6 will not follow the norm of jump out at A because the upper side is too narrow (therefore value is quite low) instead white will crawl at 白6 to gain sente then reduce black's thickness from 白8.

黑1 tight pincer is a logical move. Black tries to extend to the farthest to maximize black's thickness.

Sometimes face with vast empty board like above, decision becomes very murky and very difficult to pinpoint. In this case, we need to "probe" for more information.

白1 is the "probe" move. White is soliciting more information from black to make the picture clearer so white can make better decision at the lower corner. Black's response at either A or B will alter white's response at lower corner.

Question 1:

If black defends with 黑2 then how would white play at the lower corner?

Basic Assumptions of Joseki

Joseki has two critical assumptions:
1) Seed strength of black and white is about evenly matched.
2) Territory (地) & influence (厚势) for black and white is closely balanced.

One of the most common mistakes for dan players is to copy joseki verbatim for all types of situations. Understand that weiqi is "alive" and dynamic, our strategies need to be flexible and adapt to the surroundings of the game. Often we will encounter situations where one or both of the above assumptions is/are violated. In that case we need to carefully analyze the game to gauge seed strength and understand the balance of 地 vs 厚势.

About my blog

As I will relinquish my teaching position with Singapore Weiqi Association in the near future, I wish I can continue to make contributions to Singapore weiqi society through regular updates on my blog. If you have questions about any of my blog entries please feel free to leave a comment on my blog or email me your questions directly at philliphsia@yahoo.com. Ciao! Have fun^^

定石 Research Part 3

基本图
黑1 cuts directly without atari (R15) gives black an option to capture marked white seed with A.

If 白2 长 to 白4 this variation looks somewhat like another variation (right).

Key differences: Left variation

1. Black has more territory. Although some bad aiji marked white seed can not live right away in the corner.

2. Exterior white group feels thinner and weaker.

Therefore, 白2 is probabily not a good option.

黑1-黑5 is probabily 一本道 next white needs to prey the brain and think about how to fortify cuts outside.
黑4 is too severe thus 白1 capture is not a good option.

After 黑2 join, corner territory is quite big plus not much of aiji. Although white gains sente (original joseki white is gote) black peeks at A is a bit annoy.

For original joseki, white has a nice yose move at 白1 when white has marked seed. 黑2 is 本手. White reduces black corner's territory by tightening black group's liberties.

黑: 张亚博 白: 柁嘉熹 July 01, 2009 白+

黑37 is a bit of overplay. 白44-52 impressive sequence of tesuji moves.

白1 is the easiest to think so but white group is a bit heavy especially after black peeks at A. Corner white seed can't pull out as white doesn't have enough liberties.

白1 is an interesting move. If black carelessly responds with 黑2 then 白3 capture becomes sente. White can be satisfied with this variation.

Sequence up to 白5 is a possible variation. Personally I prefer black a bit more.

定石 Research Part 2

基本图

For this situation, 白3 is a rare experimental move. 黑 can rougly respond at A-C. On the last article, choice A is rejected because of bad corner aiji.

黑4 扳 is the first instinct. But after 白7, 黑 needs to buckle down and do some serious calculation on whether black can cut on B or not.

Black needs to consider whether to extend at A first or join directly at B. As a spoiler, extend at A does not work well for black.

Due to ko material at A, white can win the ko fight in the corner. This variation is unsuccessful for black.

黑1 join is correct. After 黑3, if white wants to continue to fight in the corner can play either A or B. Although calculation is rather tedious, both variations are not favorable for white.

白15 = A

Due to ko material at B for black, white can not win the corner ko fight. Now we can see why extension at P11 is not good for black.

白1 = A

Sequence up to 白11 is rather straight forward. 黑12 take is correct. Black should be careful with 白13.
黑1 removes ko is overly fierce. Sequence to 黑9 we have a rare seki with white group without an eye.

黑1 is correct. White group is unconditionally surroundered.

Key points:

1) White can't fight head on against black with either A or B. However, white can live in the corner with C.

2) Black doesn't have an immediate suitable ladder breaker for triangle black seed. D is not a ladder breaker.

3) White can actually defend against marked black seed from escaping with E.

Conclude: 基本图 option B variation is not favorable for black.

Even if black can escape with 黑1, black group will transform into a spectacular art piece.

定石 研究 part 1

基本图

For this fuseki, white usually responds with either A or B.

图1

Earlier this year, this 定石 variation occurred with high frequency.

黑: 李昌镐 白: 姜东润 富士通杯决赛 2009-07-06

After 白20 定石, 黑 extension at A is quite big and severe.

Since this original version, many newer variations have been experimented.

基本图2

黑13 & 白14 exchange precludes white from pressing at Q12.

黑: 金志锡 白: 李昌镐 2009-08-19

黄翊祖 commented that 白22 is a bit heavy maybe should play Q8 instead. On his game on tygem, 崔哲瀚 (showmethe) agrees with this point of view.

黑23 defends against white from settling down with 白33. 白24 good sequence before white blocks at 白26; it creates 白32 which helps white escape outward with 白34 & 白36.

基本图3

白12 presses then 白14 扳 is the latest version.

黑15 is what white hopes.

Comparsion Picture:

Compare to original version (right), triangle black seed (left) is not as well placed. Left corner has much more aiji than the original version.

To be continue.....

ふせき (Fuseki) Research

基本图


黑15 didn't complete building the wall with A because black is afraid of falling gote then white can easily reduce black's moyo with B (see pro game).




黑: 崔哲瀚 白: 洪基杓 白胜 May 26, 2009


黑11 = A


白16 & 18 are common invasion 手段. 黑19 could also consider Q18. Professional games 白20 tends to peek at A first then escape outward. I tried a few times but the result wasn't so great.

黑: 谢赫 白: 张维 November 15, 2008 黑胜

Fuseki variaton up to 白40 feels black's territory and shape are better.

白24 = A
My proposition: white can settle easily with 白20-24.

If black counters with 黑25 then white can cross or block-in black with 白32.