If White chooses the Semeai Variation, then Black's reduction of White's top right corner is irrelevant (as long as the same number of Black and White stones is played). However, Black's reduction prevents White from capturing Black's centre group. In the Capture Variation (otherwise ending with five points for Black), without any reduction of the top right, White would have an extra 13 points of territory ().

Without the reduction, White wins by eight points.