Episode 60: Crazy Hanky
Hi everybody, in the pro episode of this week we had a look at this basic joseki..
and what can happen when black seals white into the corner
with this joseki. And how black has this very nice invasion point available.
But also the follow-up move of black is very nice. So become a pro-member and check it out!
However in this episode we will have another look at the joseki.
When black plays here blocking is the normal move for white.
But white can also play this tricky move, it's another variation of the joseki.
and it has a number of follow-ups which we are going to show you.
The first few moves are a one way street. Black has to play atari
and white has to extend. After whites extension the normal move for black is to capture the white stone this will be the starting point of all the variations of this episode.
But just to show you quickly, black can also play here.
And it starts a special strategy which is not played that often.
Blocking here is natural and then black plays this move.
And we get the following fight
And it's a possibility for black, but locally it's a bit better for white.
Especially in this opening the strong white group on the right side cancels the influence of blacks shimari on the lower right.
So that is why this is nice for white.
But let us go back and let's check out what happens after this move.
Here white has a couple of choices. The most simple one is to play this net and capture the black stone.
Black has two sente moves after which he can seal white in. And this is nice for black.
Black's influence is greater than white's territory so black is very happy.
Instead of playing this net, white can also first play this atari.
This is a very subtle move. It is to check if black responds or not. If black responds we get the following, which is the same as the joseki.
But now white has a good exchange. It means maybe a difference of a few points.
But this difference is important for professional players.
So instead when white plays this atari, black will not respond by connecting.
A professional will play here. This shows fighting spirit.
White extends and black extends at the top and makes a base.
This is a joseki.
Instead of playing here, white can also play like this to fight.
However white is being suffocated here by black's marked stone.
This feels painful. Black also makes a wall on the outside which helps with his shimari on the lower right.
Note that black at any moment can start a ko to try to capture the three white stones.
When black plays here, white is forced to play the ko.
So we have seen what happens when white plays this move.
Black will gain a lot of outward influence.
Also white can play here first and black can also get a kind of similiar result to this move.
But he can also fight by pushing up here instead of connecting.
Let's have a look at this move. This is a very nice move.
Because it aims at removing the forcing moves that black aims at. Black would also like to play at this point right?
Yes, because, when white played here, black got this point himself, which is a very nice forcing move.
So if you don't want your opponent to play there, play there yourself.
And this is a little bit of a difficult situation.
Black cuts the white stones off and white is going to attack the three black stones, because they are also not alive yet.
and after this, white has no choice, he will have to block.
And black also has no choice, he will have to cut through.
and now black tries to make life by playing this hane and afterwards we will see that he tries to capture the three white stones in the corner..
which are not dead yet. We will see that very soon.
This move is not a good move by black, because white gains a lot of outward influence.
and black has difficulties capturing the corner.
If black tries to capture white like this, this move does not work.
White will go through and play the atari. Afterwards he can play another atari, right here.
At this point note that white should not give this straightforward atari, it would be a mistake.
Black can connect and he has one more liberty than white.
If white captures the two black stones here, black will capture the other white stones in the corner.
If instead of this move, white tries to approach from the other side, black will capture here.
So, this move is a bad mistake, instead white can throw in, after giving these ataris white can throw in.
This removes a liberty of black. It's a tesuji.
Black is captured, and this is terrible for black.
So this move did not work out well for black to try and capture the white stones.
How about just pushing here? It looks better, but it also can not kill white straightforwardly.
There will always be a ko in this corner. There is still a ko and A and B are miai for white.
So if black for example approaches from one side. White will create a ko in the corner.
This is a ko because of the atari again. It is sente for white after which he can capture all these stones.
Instead of approaching from this side, if black approaches from the other side and protects his weakness.
White can still create a ko here.
Black can throw in and white can take first but it is still a ko.
So it seems very difficult for black to capture the three white stones in the corner.
That is why black plays this wonderful move. This move is shining!
Yes, it's amazing. Would you find a move like this?
Maybe - if I had one hour of thinking time!
What is the meaning behind it?
Well white can not go through, if white tries to go through, like this..
black can extend and white has to be careful with his two stones at the top.
He has to protect them and then black can go around white's stones.
So it seems black has less liberties at the top than white. So white can simply capture black right?
Yes. But.. black will just sacrifice those stones and he gets a wall on the outside.
Sacrifice all the five stones? Yes.
Ok.. This is a good result for black. Even though white captures the group of black in the upper side, black's position is great.
It doesn't look that bad to me, can't white just erase black's framework by playing something like this?
Yes that would also be my first idea, but it is very dangerous.
Black can actually kill the white stones.
Ah, black has a nice tesuji here. If white captures this..
Black can play here and take away white's liberties. So white has a lack of liberties.
He has one liberty less than black. Also instead of capturing, something like this does not work.
Black will just play here.
..and again white has one liberty too little. So after this white actually needs to come back.
And even after this black has some forcing moves. So it even gets better for black.
Yes, he can first squeeze the life out of these stones.
..and then this hane is also sente. Is this sente?
Yep, if white plays tenuki, then again black has this throw-in.
and it works. If white captures the stone black will play a squeeze.
Atari, atari, BAM!
After this beautiful move pushing through did not work out too well for white.
Instead.. white can try to capture black immediately.
but, black will again sacrifice his stones and try to get a wall on the outside.
What do you think about this result?
It is kind of similiar right? Yep, it's very nice.
Would you play this last move? Probably not, but it is really cool. Yes - I like it as well.
We hope you enjoyed all this fighting and remember this tricky joseki. See you next time!