:: Igo Hatsuyôron 120 (2017)

Variations of the Professional Solution

VARP (D)

: ( 738d)
Black connects at the top left, defending his corner territory.

:
White gives atari at Black's single stone at the top right, answering Black's kikashi "late".

: (122 738f)
White's last move did not occupy a liberty in the Main Semeai, so Black is able to continue with the endgame by defending the territory of his lower left corner.
However, defending the lower left corner is not as large as defending the upper left corner would have been, so White gained a lot by starting the endgame there "early".

Alternatively, Black could also continue with occupying White's liberties, and connect his second hasami-tsuke stone with a move at later.

///:

The comparison of the final positions in the left half of the board (Professional Solution at the left) shows:

  • Black lost one point of territory in the upper left corner ().
  • White did not capture Black's single stone at the bottom, so losing two points of territory ().
  • Black gained three points of territory () in the lower left corner.
  • White gained one point of territory () at the top.

The comparison of the final positions in the right half of the board (Professional Solution at the left) shows:

  • White captured Black's both hasami-tsuke stones, so gaining three points of territory ().

In total, White is one point better than in the main line of the Professional Solution.

White wins by one point.

Variations of the Professional Solution

VARP (D)

: ( 738f)
Black starts the mutual occupation of liberties.

:
White plays her endgame moves at the left side first.

:
White continues with the mutual occupation of liberties.

:
Black is able to connect, as White lost one move in the Main Semeai by her earlier atari in response to Michael Redmond's kikashi.

Eventually, White will get the move of .

The comparison of the final positions in the left half of the board (superordinate variation at the left) shows:

  • Black lost three point of territory () in the lower left corner.
  • White lost one point of territory () at the top.
  • Black gained one point of territory () at the top.
  • White captured Black's single stone at the bottom, so gaining two points of territory ().

The comparison of the final positions in the right half of the board (superordinate variation at the left) shows:

  • White did not capture Black's second hasami-tsuke stone at the upper edge, so losing three points of territory (, ).

In total, both sides' gains and losses compensate for each other.

White wins by one point.



We will now explain why following the course of the Professional Solution after Black's kikashi in the top right corner results in a loss by one point for Black (instead of a jigo), if it is played too late in the game (e.g. after all the endgame on the left side), when Black will be unable to get sufficient compensation for White's earlier atari at that lost a move in the Main Semeai.
In the variation of the Professional Solution wherein Harry's hasami-tsuke in the upper right corner is played ( 738) – after the resolving of the hanezeki – the points of and are miai. Black's large group in the upper right has seven liberties (, ).
White has played the / exchange earlier in the game.

Let us now take these two marked stones off the board, ...

... in order to place Black's stone at , the point of Michael Redmond's kikashi.
White's stone will now be better placed at , instead of in the (earlier) bamboo joint, securing one additional point of territory in the centre () that will win her the game.
The number of Black's liberties () is the same as before.
The point of is White's privilege now, as she has sente.

Copyright © 2020 Thomas Redecker.

Design by Jan van Rongen, modified by Thomas Redecker.

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