:: Igo Hatsuyôron 120 (2021)

Variations of Our Solution (Ib)

KataGo's 2021 Solution

VAR

: ( 58ab)
Black plays guzumi in the left centre, directly protecting his cutting point below.

:
White captures the nakade.

:
White starts the endgame in the lower left corner, as usual.

:
White must connect her single stone in the upper right.

: (A 58ad)
It is best for Black to reduce White's territory at the top just now. He starts with the push at .
Black is able to do so, because he is one over par with the Punishment Semeai Liberty Level.

KataGo, however, being unaware of the consequences on the alternative Main Variation, seems to like solidifying Black's shape in the left centre instead, e.g. with a move at .
Such moves are suboptimal, as they do not take profit outside the Main Semeai Area.

:
White's block is enforced.

:
Black captures White's single stone at the upper edge.

:
White blocks immediately here.

She could also wait until after her decision point, because Black is par with the Punishment Semeai Liberty Level, and therefore cannot afford to play any move outside the Main Semeai Area.

:
Black is able to connect.

:
White continues with the Main Semeai.

: (143 58ae ; 147 58af)
We chose to simplify the presentation by letting White play the bump in the left centre.

KataGo seems to like the wedge in the left centre more.

However, even now KataGo still has a penchant for reducing opponent's territory (effective in the Capture Variation) within the Main Semeai Area, which increases the likelihood of being worse off than necessary in the Semeai Variation.

Black must not play any reduction.

After all the borders of her territories in the upper right are closed, White will play at in the left centre, stopping Black from establishing another point of territory there.
She might also do so after her decision point.

Capture Variation:

Compared to the superordinate variation, ...

  • Black destroyed one point of White's territory at the top.
  • White got an additional point of territory at the upper edge.
  • Black got an additional point of territory in the left centre.
  • White got an additional point of territory in the upper right corner.

In total, gains and losses compensate for each other.

White + 2 => White + 2

Semeai Variation:

Compared to the superordinate variation, ...

  • Black destroyed one point of White's territory at the top.
  • White got an additional point of territory at the upper edge.
  • Black captured one White stone less in the left centre.
  • White captured one Black stone less in the upper right corner.

In total, gains and losses compensate for each other.

Black + 4 => Black + 4

Copyright © 2021 Thomas Redecker.

Design by Jan van Rongen, modified by Thomas Redecker.

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