:: Igo Hatsuyôron 120 (2020)

Variations of Our Solution (IIIa)

No Early Kikashi

VAR (.1) (.5)

: ( 648ao)
Black gives atari in the hanezeki, stopping White from playing her kikashi there.

:
But Black ends in gote.

:
White's wedge in the left centre is her strongest move now.

: (A 648aq)
Black wants to capture White's just played stone.

He might consider taking White's left-hand group a liberty by connecting at , instead, but this alternative move will not lead to success.

: (130 648au)
White does not intend to start Dany's Ko here, so she plays this atari "early".

Otherwise Black will win the alternative Main Variation by a large extent.

: (A 648av)
White plays the central attachment in the left centre.

White might also continue with the Main Semeai, instead. Black is par with the Punishment Semeai Liberty Level, and so has to follow White helplessly.

:
Please note that White's move does not lose a tempo in the Main Semeai, as it creates an approach-move liberty at for her left hand group.

(Referenced by 648cp; 648cq; 648fb; 648fw; 648gp; 648gq; 648ki; 648nn; 648og; 648oj; 648ou)


: ( 133 648aw)
Black's push at the top is no absolute sente, but ...


Joachim found that Black's push must not be played now. It is a grave mistake related to the order of moves that can be severely punished by White (see the respective subvariation below).
On the other hand, Black is in no hurry here - in principle. White will be unable to take advantage if this push is left unplayed - for the time being. Details are shown in this move's subvariation here.


: ( A 648xb)
... White blocks immediately.

She does not want to insert her kikashi in the lower left corner, which would cost her one tempo in the Main Semeai, and would free Black from his current restrictions.


However, as we know now, White should continue with the Main Semeai, punishing Black's mistake with the order of moves.


:
Black is bound to follow the Main Semeai.

:
White connects her single stone at the upper edge.

Alternatively, she could also secure two points of territory in the centre with ; Black would capture at thereafter.

:
Black must destroy White's potential territory in the left centre.

It would be too early to capture White's two stones in the lower left with , instead.

:
White continues with the Main Semeai.

:
Eventually, Black captures White's two stones in the lower left.

Black must not play any reduction.

Capture Variation:

Compared to the superordinate variation ...

  • Black captured one White stone in the left centre, but did not get any territory there, so the net effect is zero.
  • Black captured White's two stones in the lower left, so gaining four points.
  • White captured Black's single stone in the lower left, so gaining two points.

In total, Black gained two points.

White + 1 => Black + 1

Semeai Variation:

Compared to the superordinate variation ...

  • Black captured one White stone in the left centre, but did not get any territory there, so the net effect is zero.
  • Black captured two White stones less at the left, so losing four points.
  • White captured one Black stone less in the lower right, so losing two points.

In total, Black lost two points.

White + 1 => White + 3

Copyright © 2020 Thomas Redecker.

Design by Jan van Rongen, modified by Thomas Redecker.

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