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    British Go Journal N°1

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    British Go Journal N°1

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    3 views14 pages

    BGJ 001

    Uploaded by

    Alejo Corral
    British Go Journal N°1

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    of 14
    Vol.1 No.1 Summer 1967 Price: 1/6 (incl. postage) Technical ‘aitori*John Diamond’ ohn Ber: sing Editor ALL CO2RSSPONDINCE T0: John Diamond, Trinity College, Canbridge. “qHIS "IS THE FIRST'ISSUS Of the” British Go Association's officiel jour- nal. It will be published querterly and issued free to all B.G.A. meubers. ‘Besides giving ‘news and notices of British, European and World Go, it of interest to both jun- 1 borrow freely from all Fated", or ,the.,"Vital Points of Go" but"will provide ‘additional instruction, much of it prepared with the weaker players particularly in mind. ~~ ° We must tell you at the’ outset that this journal will make a heavy drein on the B.C.A. funds and the cost to the Association per year per mea ber will elmost certeinly exceed the annual subscription. The B.C.A. does have some money in hand, however, and publishing a megazine ‘seems the best way in which to share thé benefits among all our members. ; We should very much like to be able to provide diagrams, for these would add clarity end attractiveness to our publication. Unfortunately the difficulties of reproduction and especially the cost make this out of the question, at any rate for the time being. . : The bulk of the work of preparing material, typing, duplicating, addr- essing and despatching will be done by John Diemond and his group of helpers at Cambridge. Taey welcome constructive criticiaa. I shall operate mainly in an advisory capacity. bee 4 veg sl los John Barrs 2: THE CLASSIFICATION OF players is isportent to the gant. There are two systema: the Japenese and the Buropeen. 7 : ~,,9 Agateur players in Japan are graded upwards ir strength from Sho-dan « (ist Degree Amateur aster), through Ni-den (2nd Degree), San-den (3rd), _Yon=den (4th), Go-den (Sth) to Roku~den (6th). There ‘are only a handful of players strong enough to réach 6th den: The strongest level ‘so ‘far reached by @ non-Oriental is 4th den. soe ° Below Sho-dan end graded downwards ere 1st kyu, 2nd kyu and so on down to an absolute beginner at 30th kyu. On this Japanese system the gep between each den or kyu is one stone, so that Sho-dan playing Sen-den receives two stones end playing 2nd kyu gives two stones. ; ‘The Buropean Go Federation systen used in England separates each class by half a stone. Class 19 is equel to Sho-dan, class 18 to strong Sho-dan end so on. Cless 20 and clazs 21 are first kyu etc. Pleyers of the sane class pley level, Black giving his opponent five points (komi) to compensate for his having the first nove. To celculete the correct handicap use the foraula E Difference in class vlus 1 is the handicap. ee 2 vus class 95 v. ‘class 29 is 3¢ stones. So the weeker player (who alw- aya gives komi, if any) takes four stones handicap and gives five points komi to his opponent. ah ~" NOTE that ‘the Jepanese professionals are rated’on a system quite sepa- ron the amateurs. They are graded from Sho-dan up to 9th dan with about oné third of’s stone, between each dan. Sho-den professional is sligh- itly stronger than Sth den amateur. THE ONLY GO LITERATURE at présent.evaileble from the B.S 3 this journel are the following: ~*(1) “Learn to Play Go", by Akio Matsui and John Barrs, 48 page booklet for apart. from beginners, price 4/- post free. (Mhore three or more copies are ordered these are “supplied at 2/6 cach.) (2) “Metsude Go Letters", & couplets course of instruction suiteble from about class 45 and stronger. Tais is written in English by Takao Mets- uda of New Yor end consists of 216 cuerto pages on hendicep and even gene joseki ond fuseki, middle-geme and end-gaze pley, problens and ennotated master gemes. The price is £4 7s 6d., post frec. The above two items are avilable from the B.G.k., 12 Third Avenue, Wembley, iiddx. : NOTE that we cannot supply either stendard or megnetic Go sets. These are available from Jepen (see Go Review). . The excellent "Go Review" published in'English in Tokyo by Japanese experts, printed on high quality paper, 84 pages querto ‘size, is available Se this country only froa our degazine Distributor, ur. Re Hitchens, 4 Sen- dringnan Cardens, London N.8..The price is £3 10s 0a, per year. Back numbors “are available froa our Wembley address, price 5/-'per copy or, as a special conc2ssion to members only, 2/6 each vhen three or more copies ere ordered. een A NUMBER OF JAPANESE torus are froquently met in any text om Co, and thouga none of these ere essentiel to the understanding of the geste these terse teras do heve certein advantages. Vie shall keop the use of these to & miniaun, but here ere a basic few and more will be introduced on suitable occasions. SENTE The initiative. "This play “is sonte" means the opponent aust answor or suffer a loss. Sente is relative, however, the opponent may soize Sento elsewhere on the board by threatening to teke there more, than ‘i he would lose in tho originel situation. GOTZ Tae opposite of sente. JOSEKI A correct or accepted sequence in corner ploy. FUSEEI Tho opening pleys of the gane involving tho whole board. YOSE Tho end-gene. poh ge [ NEWS U.K. . ‘A mecting was crrenged on 26th April in Trinity Colloge, Oxford. Over 45 people fron Bristol, Combridge, Hervell, London, fionnouth and Sredford as well as Oxford attended. Bveryone played at least two gemes, end the noe~ ting wes voted 2 greet success. YUGOSLAVIA : : @ae ennual Golden Dragon tournament ves hold in Ljubljana et Eestor with representatives fron thre countries. It wes won by o tees from Villech in Austria who bect Vienne 1 in the final 9-1. Ljubljana 1 come third ené Rijeke 1 (elso from Yugoslavia) cane fourth. ——— BVEN GANS FUSEKI STUDIES By Honinbo Shusei INTRODUCTION These even gene studies of ths’ fuscki ere prinerily concerned with the full board strategy es opposed to joseki. However, since fusoki is largely pasog on the jockeying for position to obtain favourable corner development, the student should note particularly tho josoki, as much es they ere given in cach study. This will ake the understanding of tho, subsequent fuseki more intelligible to him, and each study will have e cumulative effoct. Tdeelly, tho student should nave | thorough knowledge of oven gane joseki; and tho author of thoso studies fully expectod each student to Rave Diready perused his three volumes of even gato joseki, and to refer to thon from tine to time to understand more fully the underlying aotives of mony of the plays. Unfortunately, no translation of his joseki is available at this time. In classical Go, by custom, Black always made his first pley et r 16, 2 the chief reason being to limit, after a feshion, the innunereble possibil- ities of opening play. Another reason was that at the time these studies wore first published, r 16 wes considered the best pley thet Black could mneke. The reason that Black usuelly pleyed in that corner was more or less to produce a faniliar pattern so thet he would be more st hone in the subs- ‘quent ‘menceuvering. These studies will be published in the seme order es originally written. sTUDY 1 oe 1 ri6 2 pl? When W directly ettecks r16 with pl? the best reply is either e16 or el7. 3 el6 ‘This play has the advantege of inviting W to pley et cl6, after which B would ddvence ‘to 117. This latter pley would have the double advantage of Combining a squeoze attack on pl? with the formation ‘of e base for expansi- on in the north west (nw in future) sector. Pig sara! : : or a) “hig stone could heve been played in the se corner instead, c ie 5117 It is advisable for B to play here now, whether or not W has played at cl6, . Tf W should now play in enother part of the boerd, this would permit B to play at ql?, end W would then naturally play pl6, which would then allow B to encircle W by playing ql4. As to other W defences egeinst ql7, there is also the possibility of rl?7, or pl4 may be played; and there are still other defences not discussed here. 6 gl4 With the ebove dengerous possibility in view, W has chosen this ploy, waich can be either defensive or offensive, eccording to subsequent developments. The slanting formetion, 2 end 6, is called "taishe". or formation of hund- fed variations being one from which countless varieties of opening corner play may develop. 7 ple This is a comuon-pley to sever the connection between 2 and 6. It is the most common enszer to this formation. There ere two other common pioys for B, one being rl4, the other ql5. ri5 may be considered feasible, although less comion, beceuse of 5. 8 olé Usually W would now place a stone et ql6. At this stege of the fuseki, it ie of no consequence to discuss the cowerative advantages of al and 016. 9 pls 10 ql? qi ris These plays ere indispensible efter 3-016. 12 rl? W seizes the velicble 3-3 point which would othorwise have been takon by B. 13 rll By this ploy, 3 now secks compensation in teking territory elong the e side. The last plays forz a joseki thet is not played much these deys. Here let us review the progross of the opening up to this point. In spite of 3's initial edventage with rl6 in the no corner, W hes Jater occupied the all-importent with 12. Thus, as far as the corner is concerned, W has the advantage. . B, on the other hand, hes occupied territory along the © side by his edvence to rll. In sizs of areas, however, W's corner is larger than B's side position. Next, coapere the position of 5 and 6. Against B's strong benboo~join 6 is pretically helpless; whereas 5, although pitted against #'s entrencaa- ent in the corner still enjoys the edventage of possibie extensions toword the nw. Thus between 5 and 6 the scale of strength leans decidedly in favou of Be 14 q4 A good alternative would have been p4, but still in the vacant corner. It ie nearly elways better to occupy a corner than aeke an extension elong the side, In this case q3 or r4 would not be good, beceuse then B could roply ith rS or p3 respectively, gaining on edvantege beceuse of the expansion © 3 his territory in the first case, end because of the threat of a pressing down play at q5 forcing ¥ toward the strong B position end then making a big extension along the 6 side. 15 e4 B here hes many alternatives from which to choose; for example, fortificat- ion at cl6 or attacking at 43 would be feasible. He has, however, here cho- gen 04 for the purpose of occupying the s side towards the w. 16 43 17 ¢3 1s 42 Where has an alternative in d4. Then B would play 1805 2046. This develop~ ment occurs frequently and should be remembered. ° 19 53 This ig en important play. If omitted, W would play 20j4 which would render the condition of B's stones o3-e4 extremely precarious; and et the sane time W would extend his territory elong the entire s side. * ~ ae 20 cl? W plays here to reduce the B territory in this sector. Ordinarily, the ett- ack on el6 would be made at cl6. In this case, however, B has 117 as @ vel~ uable outpost to the initiel corner pley el6. This outpost might also have been’ at j1? or kl7. With it at eny of these three points, it is advisable for W to break into his opponents position by playing at the 3-3 point,cl7. W now awaits, among other possibilities e counter-attack with 21c15.However this is bad, for then 22416 23a15 24017 25f17 26£18 27216 28g18 or 27¢17 2818. In this case where tho B outpost is at 117, hl8 would be W't noxt play in this region; but if the B stone wore at k17, thon 23g18 would be his lost play in this aroa for the timo being. This sequence would cost B a great decl, as 117 then becomes redundant. 21 al? In ordor to ‘avoid the above development, B guerds tho nw sido with sente and gains much territory. 22 cl6 W extends. Often 23d15 24614 follows; but in this case it would leave the B position open to a W attack at hl6. B therefore finds it ‘advisable to pley at eld next. a 23 14 : 24 c13 W advances down the w side while B is building up his territory in the n. 28 015 Now B takes the initiative end bottles up the W group in the corner. This is a severe blow to W. 26 nl6 27 nls 23 018 29 nl? 30 017 B, by threatening to cut at ol7 twice, continues bottling up W. al 115 B, still having sente, complotes his bottling up operation end increases his territory. 32 13 W now having sente turns to this point, which is ean offonsive ageinst the B formation and elso an embitious extension along the s side from qt. ¥ here had en alternative in h1S. (At an opportune tine, 3 may choose to attack the entire ne position by playing s17. Thon s18, 18, 916, t16 develops into a ko, for the life of the W group.) - 33 r6 This hes a purpose similer to that of 32. 84 04 A natural sequel to 33‘ onlarging and securing his territory. 35 el2 Should B omit this play, he would still be vulncrable to a W attack at h15. B's play, thorofore hes e tvofold defonsive significence: it dofends the B territory along the n side, and at the seme indiroctly strengthens the B group of three stones in the sw. It also sorves to apply prossure on tho W formation down tho w side. Thus it will be scon that c12 is a good exemple of a play with triple effectiveness. A rough estimate of the prospective torritory reveals that 3 is ahead, but the s side is not yot clarifiod enough to maxe a proper evaluation pos- gible as W is bound to gein a few points in attacking the threo stonos in the sw, and tho two in the o as well. 4 ‘BVO NINE STOWE OPENINGS THE FIAS? CF THESE openings is froz e book by e professional ond it sterts with e stetouont of general principlos which any player would do well to romember. 1. eke full uso of your own influence. 2. Plen your play to-evoid clumsy redundent formations. 3. Separeto enemy stones whonover possiblo. 4, Play lightly in arces where tho enemy is strong. If you cannot make a sefe group in such arces run out quickly. 5. When a few stonos are so threatenod that rescue attompts would build up your opponent's strength out of all proportion to the veluo of the threatened stones, secrifice them promptly for advantogo olsewhere. 2 ql3 3 016 4 r6 5rS 3.) 6 6 7 04 8 010 This is a typical whito play in a lergo handicap ganc, and attempts to int- imidate Black into believing thet his stono is boing surrounded end noods to make eyés on the sido. 9 pl2 It is importent to separate the White stones, Black runs out with his atte- cked stone gl0, by counter-ettacking the woaker Thits flank. 10 pls The usual White response, proserving the stone et ql3. 1i 022 12 013 13 nl2 14 m4 Threatening a further intrusion into the uppor side, and defending hiaself. 15 =16 16 113 17 06 A good move, again attacking White and kesping him on the defensive. 18 07 19 n? Following the proverb: Answer & checking stone by hitting it on the head. 20 08 21 & Note that B aust pley hore beforo protecting at nS. If now né, then p7. 22 ps 23 n6 24 ro Indirectly protecting the cutting point ot p7, end securing room for eyes. 25 r9 26 17 2? wll 23 09 29 18 After this shutting-in move White is forced to. meke oyes on the side. 30 85 31 94 32 89 33 810 34 57 35 gl2 Black could have triod to kill the White group with t9, but then White could teke x counter-seasures with 36ri1 97r10 33p1l and the situation becomes then rather complicated, just what White wents! 36 44 37 +3 38 ts 39 53 40 +8 White is now secure wita 4 points of territory in his group, end Black con turn his ettention to the upper sido end secure tho corner, Tis then forcos White to run into the centre with his wack stonos and build up the Black territory while getting little himself. 41 ris 42 pls 43 pls 44 513 45 kl2 46 k13 47 nl3 48 nlé 49 015 50 old Si gia If now 52h12? $8gl2 S4nl1? Black can undertake such hsrassing ection because his on stones are safo. In this particuler situation, thite'’s stones may live but Bleck is bound to securo large territories as 2 result of those agnoeuvers. Opening 2 2 6 3 a6 407 5 06 6 oS 708 Be? 9 £4 Instead of this Black could play 97 1009 11f4 (seo joseki 5) beceuse of d10. 10 413 11 £10 This could also have been pleyod ot £16. 12 g? 18 £16 14 g13 2 instond A10, Bleck's best reply would be 713+ 15 h1l0 16 hl6 Bhite would nok play h16 by choice, but is forced to lest Bleck pley here and cut off Whito coxpletoly. 17 ¢15 This pley safoguerds the corner, end.is better then a continuation at £14, for then 18f13 19h15 20315 2116 causing complications which Black, of cou~ rso, docsn't went. 18 017 19 ql4 20 08 White threetons, with the support of g7, to invade at h4 and destroy the potential Black territory. 21 ka A good play. It promises future ‘attacks on tho White stono 03. 22 r6 23 6 24 a? 25 p6 26 r3 2 Since Black has slroady a stone at k3, White doosn't pley r5. Black would then answor with ré, and although the stones on r6 end q? would live tho White stone et o3 would then stend elone and herd pressed. For this reason White first secures the corner with r3, thus ebandoning tho stones r6-q? for the present, hoping for on opportunity to save thom leter. 2? r5 28 3 29 p? Bleck would like to pley 03 (sce joscki 14-16), but es this is already occ~ upied the best move is that played. r? is used normelly, but es ql0 is thore p? is better as it captures both stonos. 80 ¢l2 81 014 A typical attack by White, reducing the Bleck potontial, answered in ono of tho best ways, seperating the two Waito stones. a2 82 33 rl A vory good pley in the circumstencos. White threatened to play r7 and to connect with 36s12 or 36r3. After rl0 the White stones have lost all chances of survival. . 34 012 35 nl6 ‘A pley strongly attecking tho White stono, possibly botter at pl7, waich is simpler, for taen 36016 37 pl8, securing the cornor and ettacking tho Fhite stones strongly. 86 gl? 37 ri? 33 plé 89 ql5 : The noraal ploy. Otherwiss W will bo able to connect through the 3 position. 40 ris 41 gis Tho boginnor, usually afraid to stert a ko fight, would probebly hevo pleyod 17 instoad. This would havo becn a poor play, es Whito would roply 42p18 and even though the Black grou? lives it is worth very little. It is thon, bost for Bleck to pley ql8 end engage in the ko fight. Should he lose the ko, he is bound to goin an adventoge elsowhere- 42 pis 43 pl?x 44 85 Black must answer this, or else ‘white (pleying r7) would save his stones eround r6, and threeton Black on tho right side. 45 56 46 ql?x 2? m3 Black could also havo theeatened at c8 or pil, but mia is a safer play, since it not only secures his own stones, but also cuts apert White's. 43 qidx White takes because Black has meny zore ko threats. 49 pll Black continues the attack sterted with ml3. He hes lost the ko, but was able to make the important plays m13, pll, and generally made out well. 50 j18 If White had connected at pl2 instead, Black's reply et nll would have cut White off completely. sl ple This play doesn't seem necessary at this time. However, since Slack has no weak position to defend, the play is a good one, as it prevents possible future developments of an unpleasant nature. $2 cl? White wants to see how Black will react before deciding on his future plans 53 a7 This is the correct answer. Black can play this because he has cl5 already. 54 cl4 In this way White still brings use from the sacrificed stone cl?. CONTINUED ON P.8 6 RAISING YOUR STRNGTE Extensions and Connections (This is the first of a series of articles for beginners end players of average strength written a few years ago by the Rditors of the Auerican Go Journal. The fundamentals of Go strategy and tactics will be the subject and the style will be basic, assuming no previous study.) THIS FIRST DISCUSSTON concerns the plays which extend armies towards the centre of the board. Such plays are usually called for at the end of the opening stage and throughout the middle-game. One extends to the centre for many reasons; to rescue armies without eyes, to surround eneny groups, or to secure a portion of the centre. Generally, tae pleyer who dominates the centre is able to connect his armies, simultancously dividing end cons- tricting the enemy. 7 Tf one pleyer extends too timidly towerd the centre, his opponent may seize the vital points; but if he jumps too boldly, he may find himself cut off from his base. He must elso bear in mind the need to consolidate his extensions sooner or later, converting all geps into solid connections. Waiting one move too long for such precautions can be fatal. Some further clues to these distinctions will be found in what follows. Ae What is a connection? Eventually, ell connections must be resolved to solid connections along a straight line, end this is, therefore, the only "true" connection. 411 other positions cen only be potential connections, depending cn certain conditions to become true connections. The “diagonal” connection (d4-eS) or "kKosumi", is close to e true con- nection, and may be considered e "virtual" connection. But meny playors forget that 2 play at d5 or e4 is needed to make this a true connection. With this werning in mind, we cen proceed to examine the most common ways of extending toward the contre. Extending under pressure. The first extensions tovard the contre will usually be wade in the course of corner play, in close or direct contact with enemy stones. The solid extension occurs most ofton in response to direct contect: ld¢ 2f3 3e3 4f4 end 144 2f3 3£4 4g4 S£5 ere both good exemplos of this. ‘The kosumi hes a left or right directional purpose, as shown by: 103 2g8 8f4, 4 kosuai is usually soen when opposing stones are in the ncer vic~ inity or on both sides; ideally, the very compactness of this pley is e threat. 1c4 2e3 945 and 1e4 2e3 Sh4 4f4 show common situations where the kosumi has potontiel strength in two diroctions. Many other forns of virtual connections ere used in oxtending under pressure. The "bembco joint” (cé-c7-06-07) is a very strong formation whi might be used more. Tne only linitetion of this strong connection is that it is subject to a ko threat, but its tactical advanteges are plein. Waen extending from a pair of stones (e3-f3) the single skip to eS or £5 serves as @ virtual connection. There are zany forms of safe connection, and it is important to choose the most agressive of these; a well-placed extension will often wrest sente from the enezy. It would be teapting to draw up a chert of such extensions, but the dangers of learning by formula are great. Beyond the basic exemples, each situation must be analyzed by the player himself. C. Open situations When extending in open situations, without the pressure of strong opp- osing formations, it is normal to extend a step further than the “virtual” connection. The purpose of such moves is not to insure a connection, but rather to move boldly to gain territory end influence in such a way that an attempted cut would be unprofitable. ‘A great deal of attention should be paid to the single skip for this is the normal form of extension to the centre. An example of a fuseki situ- ation built up entirely of single skip moves is: Bleck at c4-c8-e3-k3-kS, White at m3-q3-q5-rl0; then Black le0, threatening to surround a vast terr- itory, White invades lightly with 2h5. Then 3h3, end White retreats to the 7 centro with 4h?. Black then presses down on the other White position wita the L-shaped formation of 5m5. Why is the single skip used so often? Its strength lies in its versat- lity. Consider the single skip at k4-k6. Note that White can play between the stones and Black has no immediate prospects of capture after 1k5 215 3j5 416 514. He can develop the situation with 6:3, if elaborate in-fighting will be profitable to him. Or on the other hend, he can sacrifice the orig- inal stone to build territory or influence in the centre. One such line of play in which Black can dominate the situation and still keep sente is: 1kS 2jS 315 4h6 Sj4 6h4 7j3 8h3 9k3 1016. He might equally well have built the seme formation in ono of three other directions. What are the limitations of the single skip? When is it vulnerable? When the enemy has built up strength on both sides of it, such as Black at £3-£5, White at d3-d5-h3-hS, Black must now protect against a cut at f4. White can connect through the Black position by: 1f2 202 3e3 4g2 5f4 6g3 7g4, if Bleck doesn't reply. Aplay et 2 or 03 is often seen as e guard against this. Generally, any horizontal or diagonel play can be used to convert the ingle skip into e virtual connection. 4 series of single skips towards the centre is usually neither more nor less vulnerable than one, and a chain of such extensions is often seen. The L-shaped forzation (3 peragrephs ebove) is also often soon. Here Black threatens to attack et n3; but onco White defends Black is vulnerable to e play et 14, and should watch this point carefully. D. The knight' play or "keima” (03-25). The keime is e weak link for beginners, who may not realize thet it hes little connecting velue. The stronger player bides his time, then atta~ ks these links later in the geme. To prevent such a cut et e4 or f4 Black must be able to capture by a ladder in either direction ~ ond relying on such leddors can be a source of more weakness than strength. What is the proper function of the keima? Not as a connection nor as an extension to the centre, but rather as a surrounding move, bearing heavily to left or right. In Black at j3-j4-j5-j6 ~p3, White at m3, the keima at o5 is a good surrounding woepon. Here Black is not at all worried by a White cut, for White himself cannot avoid being cut off, and if Slack hes any kind of leoway to left or right tho White stones will die. Thus the keima is an attacking rather than a defensive play. E. Conclusion There are two basic situations which govern extensions towerd tha cen- tre. When opposing non are in closo contact, or have strong influence nearby, the solid or diagonel oxtonsions are nost often used. Other forms of virtual connection are alse uscd that cennot be cut in the goneral course of play. In open situations, the single skip is normel extension. when ple- nning such an extension the beginner should not only ask himself, "Can this be cut?" but also "If Shite cuts, hor ehell I answer?" If there aro no White stones nearby to support such a cut he cen proceed boldly to aake the normal extengion without fear of the consequences. CONTINUED FROW P.6 53 biS 56 hS 57 h3 58 ¢3 Thore vas the constent throet thet Bleck might occupy 8, thon c?, b3 end White would have beon very herd prossod hero. 59 34 4& good pley as White is forced to answer, to meke sure thet Black cannot pley 613 end sericusly endanger the life of the White group, 69 a3 61 kl2 There yes the throat thet White night play jll, and then j10, 112 rogucing the large Black potential. 62 j7 Reducing the Black potential slizhtly end stabilising this group. 63 17 Completely securing tho territory in.the centro. After this White has elmost no chance of winning, for though he cay be able to reduce the nw corner somewhat 13 and gl3 cre very weak. 3 HANDICAP _JCSBKT SOME ACQUAINTANCE WITH the most frequently encountered lines of pley in hendicap corners is essential to the beginner's progress toward « full enjoysent of the gee of Go. The Japanoso studics of these josoki aro volu- minous, but wo shall only deal with the main verietions met hore. In this issue we shell firet indicate briofly the main lines end then procesd to the detailed considoration of sone of the continuations. For convenience tho play is restricted to the ew, or 44, cornor. Tho boginnor will find it profitable to repeat the plays in other corners end oricntetions. THE MAIN ATPACKS Tae handicep stone is usually ettccked in ono of throe ways! £3, g4 or h8. lore rerely, White may instead-pley £4 or g3, or way fail to attack bofore Black has an opportunity to reinforco the handicep stone. 1 £3 7 This is tho most popular play end the strongest attack on dé. White threatens to follow up this with a second attacking stonc at c6 or 46, end thus exert great pressure on the corner. 1 £3 is also a preparation towards establisaing a White territory on the s side. Bleck ney ansyor in one of four basic vays. He may (s) secure the corner, (®) extend on the west side, (c) counter-attack the White stone, or (4) play elsewhere. (n) Black secures the corner. Black can accomplish this in several weys. 2f4 By this, the casiost ond least couplicated in the niddle-game, B limits W to the side ond simultanoously threatons the forustion of e large territory on the west side end in the corner. Ww alnost invariably pleys 3g4, aftor which B generally plays 4f5 or, less frecuontly, 4e3- 2e8 This play is not quits so effoctive as 2f4 as it leaves W with ample room for nenocuvering, while still not heving complotely socured the corner. It is usually mede when there are W stones noar cl0, or B stones around j4. It prevents further W intrusion into the corner innodiately, and throatens tho continuation 4£4. Therefore W aust play 3f4, whereupon 3 can make a smell sefs corner with 4cS, or play méro egrossively with 406 or 4é6. b) Bleck e: ds_on the wost sido Here Black hes three nein possibilitics. 2c6 & fairly dofensive play, usually made when there are W stones noar 9. It secures a szell position, with the proaise of e future attack on £3, end is safe unless very closoly ep2rocched on both sides. The usual W follow up is 342, after vhica 403 or 423. 2c? Most often playod whon there is ne stonc at 410, end no stonos in thet region, it aims for outsido influence rethor then ea sefo cornor.Tho distence between di end c? leads to any variations end coszplications; and therefore should not be played unless known fairly well. ti hes more then ten possible continuations. ost often played ere: 33 (443) 343 (4c3) aco (402) 246 This is e nodern play, and is often scon in non-hendicep ganes es it promises a future attack on £3 or an extension to cl0. In playing this B renounces the corner for tho tine being, sinco ¥ can play at c3. However ¥ usually leaves this possibility for letor end plays now: Bcc (4£6) 3x8 (4c10) 3d2 (43) ttacks the c) Bla to stone counte: Black has six similar moves, but most often secon arct 2k3 Usually played waen combined with an oxtension from the se. Howovor the corner is still open to attack with 3c6, 303 or 3f5. 2h4 This is now moro popular then 2k3, and aims for territory along the w side. Tho W replies are just the seme as for 2k3. These ere called pincers and are egressive, hence they should not be played often by B in a handicap game as 3 should conesntrato on defence in the opening stage. 9 d) Black vleys elsowhere. Thie ddosn't happon very often, sinco in a hendicap gane it is goner- ally advantageous’ for B to answer W's attacks. Should B novertholess cons- ider it botter to play elsewherc, then W may pross his attack with 3c6,3d6 or 347 all of which B can answer with 4f4 or 425. Ii gs This pley hes less influence on the corner, end it is the noxt most populer variation playcd. It gives W corrcspondingly more influcnce toverds the contre. Recommended 3 roplies ero £4, d6, e3 and c7. TIE 1 bg This ¥ pley has ovon less influence on d4 than g4, end therefore it is not imperative for B to defend d4. If, however, B has no better play to make olsewhere 2f3 is good. B not only socures the corner, but also attecks tho W stone. However, if thore is a supporting stone for h3, 2f3 is not really attacking end should be replaced by 2c7. Wis B's best defence is 246. W usually continues with 3c8 or 248. Wigs This, yet again, is not a strong attack on a4, and 3 may play clsowh- ere, if he secs fit. Tho recommended reply is 203, completely securing tho corner. vr. -- If B finds time to support the cornor before W attacks 2c? is the usual pley, elthough 2c6 is somotimes played in special situetions. CONTINUATIONS I (a) Black secures the corner. 1£9 2f4 3¢4 ars W's answer 3g4 is almost invariably played after.2f4. 4£5 is the. more popular of tho two variations at this point. after theso first four plays W has a choice of five major continuations. hse Se3 This geins e stable group, and is tho most played. 643 is invariably played to secure the cornor. 78 or 733 W now threatens to cut thw two B stones off by 904 1005 1145 end 8 cannot cepturo the W stone. So B must protect tho cutting point with 846, socuring tho territory as woll. This also threatens « furthor oxtension to cl0. if now 7¢3 then 3cl0 93 10b6 is good or 9c5 10c6 11b6 1245 13b4 14c7 1507 1643 17c9 1849 19b10 20b11 21b9 22cll gaining massive influence towards the contre at very little cost. 7k3_ This doesn't threaten the cut because now 3 can capture with Se4 1005 1145 1246 13cS5 1442 (a very importent pley). If now 15g3 16c6 and 175 18b6 193 20e4 2la2 22b1 23c4 24a4 25a5 26c3 or 174 1606 18b2 20c4 21b5 22b3 23a3 24c3 25a4 26a2 27alx 2%a6 end tae W stones dio first. If, however, 1502 taen 16c6 17b4 18b6 192 20g3 21g2 22h3 23h2 243 25c3 26c4 27bS 23c2x 29a3 3OaS Blc¥x 3201 33f2 34b3x and whatover the ¥ threat B must capture the stones with his noxt pley. 24e4 is impossible because tho 3 stones nave one liberty fowor than in tho soquence above. Thug the bost play is not the defence of the cutting point, but 3c10. W can, of course, invade this extension but B can gain equivalent compons— ation. If 3 docsn't like the coiplicetions which onsuo if W cuts as above, he can pley after Sod, 10d5 lloS 1246 1306 1447 gaining all the torritory safoly at the cost of two stones. Aftor 8cl0, if T plays 9c6 tho correct pley is 10c5 sccuring tho cor~ nor, Thon 1146 12e4 1349 14410 1509 16c10 17£9 13m3, menacing tho W group or 11d7 1243 13b6 14010 15b5 16b4 17f7 1842. This last play is absolutoly essential otherwise ¥ can dustroy the corner by playing 19b3 20a5 21c3 2204 2342 connecting to his outsidc group. 706 This destroys any possible 5 territory on tho w sido. B suould 10 answer in similer fasion to the sequence above by %cS G47 1046 116. After this B is advised to play elseshere, and cozplete the sequence dealt with vefore when W plays b4. 7g5 This is very infrequently pleyed, and generally only when there is a8 stone et k4. If there is no stone there S43 is best, always playing as siaply as possible in a handicap game. If there is e 5 stone et k4, AgS 95 1046 can also be played. W can play 2f6, trying to complicate matters somewhat, but after 10d6 again W will almost certainly have to give up £6 without much of a struggle. B. 5d3 very useful pley. It stops B forming a large corner as in a, but it puilds wp-B along the wv sida. 6c3 This securely takes the corner, but pleces less eaphesis. on the side. W now has’ two very similar replies 7e2 and 7e3. If 7e2, then Sd2 909 10c2 11k3 1245. or 8c2 Sk8 1046; ‘taking the corner, but leaving W with the territory along the s,’ and sente. Tf 73 B has again two alternatives; Sc2 9k3 10d6 teking more of the corner or 3c4 9k3 10c10 taking more of the side but still leaving it relet- ively invedeeble. : 603 Taking the side and leaving the corner for later, or giving it up coupletely. The next plays are forced; 7e2 Se4 Sg2 10c3 1142 (¥ must make thig last pley otherwise 5 will get too large a corner as well as the infl- uence). Tue best reply is 12g5, making the 3 position very strong end forc- ing @ to concentrate a lerge nuaber of stones in e.snell area. If J doesn't reply 13h4, 14hé 159 16c2 1753 13j4 19k3 completes the corner and gains influence with sente. B's best response now is 14c10. W can take the corner later by c4, cS b4 bS b3 e10 but B gets anple compensation for this loss. You should wake sure that B cannot save 3 after W has pleyed c4. Any other play apart fro 14cl0 is bed as it doesn't fully utilise the wall and should not, therefore, be played. 14c8 would guarantee tho safety of c3, but this is feirly complicated. Ge Se2 Usually ‘played to obtein sente quickly after reducing the corner some what. B has two good alternatives. 642 Transposes to 3 above after 743 8c3. 6e3 Also transposing to B above if 743. dowever, if 7£2 9c3 is best. 842 is wrong for then 903 1043 1lc2 12e1 195, end i gains e live group in the corner for elaost no compensetion to B. ifter 8c3, d2 is a big end play. De 5¢3 Phis grabs the corner, end waits to see what U will do before deciding on future strategy. Tne best play now is 6e3. If 6c4, gaining the w side then 743 3e3 92 1e4 11g3 (12g5 doesn't force a W reply), end B has suffe- red a loss in cozparison to 3 above. 643 is also bad beceuse of 7c4 B45 Sbé and 8 hesn't so much pressure on the W stones es after 6e3. 73 Saving this stone, but giving up c3. B should now play Sod, and then 9e2 1043 are best. Later V will play 42, end 8 replies c2. This now leaves a very large yos pley by W of b2, forcing b&x end then cl. So 8 must renewber to play early on, after c2, dl ei b@ clx with sentes any otner play apart from b2 is not so good. cl loses sente efter g2, and b2x loses a fraction more of the corner. 705 haking a live group in the corner, but giving up soxe territory and stones on the s side. 1g3 is nov the best, however if there.is a B stone at k4 the best is 8gS es he can cepture both the W stones. Taen 9c7 is usually necessary to prevent i's being siut into the corner. 704 Very infrequently played. 8c6 is the best response , thereby conf- ining " to e smell corner position and still threatening to play a3 or gs. Be Sg5 Playing for territory on the s side, waile giving 5 tie whole corner. B's best answer is 6e3 sealing off the corner. Then 7g3 Sf6 ere usually played. If there is enother play in this sector by W it is usually 9h7, but {his depends on the circuastances on the remainder of the s side. igain W can reduce the size of the corner later by playing at c3, which 5 should answer with c4 and then e2 42 d2 c2 (for the remainder see D above). aay 1f3_2f4 324 403 After this pley, taking the corner, but giving up a large emount of influerce to W. ¥ can play 5g3 end transpose to B above by 6f5 7g5 S£6 etc. However W most often plays Sf5, after which Ge4 is mandatory. A. 785 Placing the euphasis on tne central influence, end generally pleyed if there is a B stone around k4, B's best, and simplest, course is 8g3 Sh3 10f2x lig2 1246 (the ko is not very veluable at this stage of the geme). B can also play 846 immediately, but this can lead to complications if W manages to pley £2 later. i Be 73 Thie can only be played if. there is no B stone near k4, end it plens @ future extension in that region. B can cut with 8g5, but thie will lead to fighting quickly, what B doesn't want in ea handicap game. So B is advis- ‘ed to play @d6.or 8c7, and W will make an extension around k3. Ce 722 Reducing the territory in the corner later, but giving up a lerge wall to B immediately. B should now cut with 85 as W has a weakness at g3 and _cannot cause B so much trouble as he could in 3. 9h4 is forced, then 10h5 is simplest followed by 1135 12£6 19j4. W cen later, of course, reduce the corner with e2 (see ¢ above) or d2, Thore arc many complex verietions after 4e3 but these are the simplest and will usuelly suffice. 1£3 203 3f4 Now B has a big decision. He can attack The W stones agressively with 4d6 and give up some chences in the corner, or he cen play safely end retain the corner securely with 4c5 or 4c6. i. 4c5 This leaves no possibilities for W, even if W gets to pley Sc7; for if 7e%, Se2 9S 10b4 11c4 12b3 and B has killed the two ¥ stones. Any other invasion of the corner will also die with proper play, and you should make sure of this. Be 406 Gaining slightly more territory then &, however it “leaves 2 smell vea~ kness at c3; and after e W play at c8, d2 is usually required end is e good play as in most cases the two ¥ stonos can be brought under a severe attack by 0B play near j4, Cc. This modem play aims for further attecks on the W stones from the direction of j4 and if there are already stones in thet region it is to be preferred to & and 3, provided there ere no stones near c8 for then the whole B group could cone under heevy ettack. The response to e i! invasion et c2 depends to a very lerge extent on the surrounding situation. If the W stones ere isolated then it is best for B to separate the W stones and propare en attack on then, with 61 or 6e2. Otherwise it is best for B to play Ged. 6c¢ W invariebly plays 7e2, leaving 3 with the choice of playing 943 942 10c2 if there is a B stone at cl0 (see D above for future developmont). However if there is a W stone near c8, and B wants a secure life for his group 842 943 10c2 lle4x (b3 is impossible, for tien e4) 123, but this also strengthens the ¥ group. 6e2 A very strong play, end the usual follow up is 7c5 345 9c6 10c4 11b4 1207 1307. B now has the choice of taking o small corner with 14b3 15¢3 1647 17b5 18c2; 1762 is impossible because of 18bS. Or he can confine W to a smell cornor and tako the outsido influence with 14b9 15b6 16c3 172. 15c8 would be wrong becauso then 16b6 1747x 18b5 19¢7 20b3 losus a lerge corner, 17c2 is also necessery for otherwise B can reduce this group to two points with eento by b2, and then b3 c2 a5. 6d3 A lesser known possibility, but still good. % con now livo by 7b4 Bcd 9b2 105 1142 12e2 19a3 14dl 15c2, or 7b4 3b6 9c2 10d2 11b2 whichevor is more profitable for B. The lattor has e weakness at a2, but 5 cannot play there until he protects ono of the cuttings pointa d5 cr c6. 12 INDBx TO T=2. LNDICAP_JOSEXI 1 le lb ic @ 2 2 8 & § 6 7 8 2 10 11 12 13 1 £3 2 £4 3 gf 4 £5 5 63 - eee oe eg 6 a3 - - = = 8 - = = 08 @ o3 - 7 h3/j3 k3 c6 gS ~ c2 - 08 - 02 a3 a3 £2 a as 10 eS dé g6 G2 c2 o2 c4 ed gi 9 - 8 - = a j5 03 «8 kS k3 g2 10 10 clO ~ cS - 46 23 02 G6 36 clO 63 a 08 6S a3 a7 bé k3 a2 12 be 6 of 45 as gs Soc: toxt text text text 21 £8 cf? text 6 10 toxt 1415 16 17 13 19 20 21 22 23 24 242 25 25a 25d 25e ASA 250 1 £3 £2 2 f4 03 3 ef £4 4 #5 - - - 69 oe coe co a6 5 cl - - gS g8 - 63 £2 3 a Ge ed ee od) foeede 1 46/c7, go) a2 e4 = 02 a? - Gf) io oo po e2 - 65 b4 - 8 04 g3/e5e8 £6 £6 63 a6 aS 42 42 a5 c&4 06 9 02 of (27) na 3s a2 63 cé b2 o2 10 a3 (el0) £2 £6 c2 c2 c& bS a2 ll a2 a2 id ofx b4 12 b2 12 2 6/07 b3 7? 02 Soe: text wy toxt text text Underlines eenote a tomporary, or pormanent, halt in the pley. WES! STUDY. (1) Divide the eme into sections, acccrding to vhe bes sonte. (2) Try to éefinc in cech section what is going on. That is, what is the basic stretegic purpose of each section. (3) Coneider especially tho plays ca which sente res edendoned, Thes> aro invariably tho largest ploys. Try to estimate how many pointe they ere worth; look for other possible plays end try to detsraine way thesc are inferior to the move played. (4) Play the gaae over, trying at each play to éecide what you would do bofore locking at tho actuel move. Thus you will have the masters ¢ your play. It is wore imortent to look for differences in strate ‘than look for special coabinations. in a specie combinction you will never find a master pisy, but in the genvrcl pattern of your pley you should try to apply o master's stantards. Played in this vay a gamo will require a good deel ef time, but you may bo surc of seking repid strides in your pleying strength. + & master geme the following p nts may prove usoful. WHITE: OHTRA (2-den) BLACK: YAMBE (9-dan) In a professional tournanent to avoid tics This gaze wes pleyed in ihe tournament to decidy the chellengor for the Honinbo title. This is the prerior title for professionels and is held by Sokata (S-dan) tho is senersily ecinowleéged to be the best player ct the present time. The tourncuont wos von by Rin (3-dan end vieijin) with a score of 6 wins ond 1 loss. Rin is fr2a Formosa end is only 24 yeers old. Tho tine allowed for cech pisyor in this tournament is 9 hours, and aftor this time is uscd up i min. per play is allowod. For enateur zancs the time limits ere usually 2 hours, and then 30 socs. per ley. dn n after e plsy will donot? a note in the text. 13 191 m15 ‘132 1rlS 2417 45$1046 016 SS g8 st Bcd 443, 47n3 43 r7n Se? 82 133 nlén 194 Spl? 6rS 49 rl250ml0 9386 94 235 ¢16 138 7 q7n 8 pén 5118 S2-pSn ms 96 137 alSx 133 Gn} 10 clS 53 q8 S4 r6 $716 9804 1394 140 11cS 1243 55 p8 S6 a7 $9 03 100 d10n 141 h4 142 13 £5 14g@3- 57m S@k10 10123 02nd 143 jG 14 15 jl6n 16 ql2, 59 j3 GO R10. 103 11 104 flan 145k5 1465 17 e15n 13 elén 61 j7n 62 gl2n 105 £16 106 k16 147 cl2 148 19 di5n 20 cl4 63 gon 64 gl10 107 j17 108 man 149 cl3n 150 21 £15 22416 65 e9 66hon 10983 110 ml4 151. f18 152 28 el2n 24 f7 67 e8 68e7 lllol2 112 nl2 153 n17 154 25 cin 26 c2 6947 70d8° 113 n13 114 ol3n 155 cl? 156 27 44 28 e3n «71c7 72 c6 115 nl4 116 014 157 h1S 153 j 29hS 30h? 73b6 74b7.:.117 wl2 113 nll 159 h12 160 j) 31 ql4n 32 q2 75 c8 7605 ~ 119 m3 120 rl3n 161 e18 162 33 p?7 34. 07n «774 78 26 122 111.;122 110 167 gl3 164 35 qo 8695 72b5 20d9 12% ql3 12¢nl5 165 blo 166 37 08 3806. 81010 92b3 ~ 125114 126 pl2 167 bisa 163 Bo p9 40 r3 83c9 84410 127 rig 123 kl5n 169 418 170 41 clCn 42 plO 85 b9 86 dll 129 126n 130115 171 cls 172 43 rl0 44 r9 87 _£6n 88 ed Blaci: resigns efter the 172nd move. 7 Avery populer play these days, settling this area quickly. 8-14 411 these plays are stendard. 15 Aiming to teke a lerge position by playing gll next. 17 If £17, e15 vould utilise 43 to the maximum in bui 19-22 Standard sequence for tais corner posi 23 Attecking 43, so ¥ retaliates with a strong counter-attec on ¢S-f£5. 25 Tne noraal prectice, strengthening his stones the corner. 28 If b3, 2903 S0cdx 3142 92c3 38e5 isolates the W stone on the s side. 81 Protects the corner and attacks ql2 strongly. 34 The usual reply to 33.is 06, but in this case there is a WY stone at a and Ti can afford to attack the 3 stones more strongly ‘ “This is better thon p10, which: forces W elong the fourth line an: W gein an éasy life, even ‘though the cut et-42 can be taken. 48 Ensures a connection to the lower W group, and takes avey the base of the B stones forcing thea to run into the centre. It also forces 49+ 52 Reduces the liverties of the B group by one with sente. 61 If 8 pleys elsewhere, W can cut here and separate all the B armies. 62 Threatens to cut at hl5. For then if hl6, g15 £16 g16 isolates the central B aen. 69 B ecein counter-attacks instead of protecting the cutting point directly. 66-86 . continuSs to isol

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