:: Igo Hatsuyôron 120 (2021)

Variations of Our Solution (Ib)

KataGo's 2021 Solution

VAR (.3) (.3)

: ( 58ct)
Black plays the atari from the outside.

:
White gives counter-atari, as usual.

:
Black has to capture.

:
We will follow a well-known course in the upper left corner.

:
White ends in gote.

:
Black defends his territory in the lower left corner, taking profit outside the Main Semeai area.

Alternatively, he might consider capturing White's single stone in the right centre with a move at . This capture would not affect the overall result of the game, but benefit White in the Semeai Variation.

:
We insert some kikashi to simplify the board position for the following discussion.

:
The Main Semeai continues.

Please note that Black is back at par with the Punishment Semeai Liberty Level.

Black must not play any reduction.

After her decision point, White will play the hane of at the upper edge, forcing Black to connect at before the end of the game.

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Let us make a comparison with the position in which Black has defended his formation in the left centre with a move at , instead of with (we added a White stone in this area for simplicity).

Black would be one Main Semeai Liberty better, which would enable him to play the descent to the upper edge with . He would benefit by two points overall.

If White would utilise her move to play the hane at , she would lose another tempo in the Main Semeai, enabling Black to connect his single stone in the lower right.
White would be benefit in the Semeai Variation, but the overall result of the game would remain unaffected.

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Capture Variation:

Compared to the superordinate variation, ...

  • White's cumulated gain in the upper left corber is three points.
  • Black's cumulated gain at the upper edge is five points.
  • White got an additional point of territory in the right centre.
  • Black did not capture White's single stone in the right centre, so losing three points.

In total, Black lost two points.

White + 1 => White + 3

Semeai Variation:

Compared to the superordinate variation, ...

  • White's cumulated gain in the upper left corber is three points.
  • Black's cumulated gain at the upper edge is five points.
  • White got an additional point of territory in the right centre.
  • Black capured one White stone more in the upper left, so gaining two points.
  • White got an additional point of territory in the upper right corner.
  • White captured two Black stones less in the right centre, so losing four points.

In total, Black gained six points.

White + 1 => Black + 5

Copyright © 2021 Thomas Redecker.

Design by Jan van Rongen, modified by Thomas Redecker.

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