:: Igo Hatsuyôron 120 (2020)

Variations of Our Solution (IIIa)

No Early Kikashi

VAR (.1)

: ( 648ab)
Black plays his forcing move in the hanezeki, temporarily ignoring White's previous attack in the left centre.

:
White connects, immediately answering Black's kikashi.

She does not want to capture the hanezeki's tail with a move at , instead, so resolving the hanezeki, because she will lose the game thereafter. She simply lacks a decisive amount of Black prisoners, which she otherwise would get during step-wise reduction of the nakade at the left edge.
If she continues with her attack in the left centre, Black will connect the hanezeki's tail, making the matter even worse for her.

:
Black returns to the left centre, intending to capture White's stone there.


Black might consider taking White's group at the left a Main Semeai Liberty by playing at , instead. However, this move will not have the expected result, but lose one point overall, as can be seen at VAR ( 648ku).

: (A 648cn)
White plays Dany's atekomi, intending to continue with Dany's Ko in the left centre.


We now know that White's move loses a tempo in the Main Semeai.
It does not create an approach-move liberty for her left-hand group at lA, because Black's marked stones still have another liberty at lB.


In principle, doing without this atekomi might also be possible for White. The overall result of the game will not be affected, but Black will benefit in the Semeai Variation.

:
Black plays his kikashi in the lower left.

We now know that this atari is not necessary.
White lost a tempo in the Main Semeai by her previous move, so Black could give atari at sA immediately, initiating Dany's Ko.

We ask for your kind understanding that we did not delete this exchange that loses a ko threat for Black unnecessarily. White is comfortably ahead in ko threats, so Black would have no chance at all to win Dany's Ko anyway, even with one more ko threat.


:
White connects.

Choosing Dany's Sacrifice, instead, would not benefit her.

:
Black's connection simplifies the matter.

White is comfortably ahead in ko threats (10 x vs. 7 x ), and so would win Dany's Ko anyway.

:
White plays her kikashi in the lower left corner.

:
And in the centre.

:
Connecting her single stone at the upper edge is best for White.

; :
Now it is Black's turn to play his remaining kikashi.

We have reached a change in the order of moves with VAR (.1) ( 648mm).

White will win both Main Variations by two points.

Copyright © 2020 Thomas Redecker.

Design by Jan van Rongen, modified by Thomas Redecker.

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