Hot Off the Press: Excerpts from New Go Books The Basics of Go Strategy Mastering the Basics, Volume

5 by Richard Bozulich and published by Kiseido

In the latest volume in this series, Bozulich presents brief expositions of eight key stragetic concepts: aji, forcing moves, probing moves, attacking heavy stones, light stones and sabaki, junk stones, key stones, and thickness. These discusHeres a sample from the book: sions are followed by 101 problems, each of which is helpfully explained, including both good and bad answers. The problems are rather difficult, but the explanations are thorough.

Chapter Seven: Key Stones

When junk stones are attacked, it is a good idea to sacrifice them. But key stones are so crucial to a position that they must never be sacrificed. The position in Dia. 1 is a standard example. White has just ataried with 1, threatening to capture a stone with A or four stones with B. If Black saves his four stones by jumping to 2 in Dia. 2, White captures a stone with 3 and all of his stones are connected. However, it is bigger for Black to save only one stone by extending to 2 in Dia. 3, allowing White to capture four stones with 3. Black then plays the diagonal move of 4, and the marked white stones are dead.

4 A 1 B 2 4 3 1 2 1 3

Dia. 1

Dia. 2

Dia. 3

The marked black stone in Dia. 1 is an example of a key stone. Black cannot give it up. If White can capture that stone, all his stones will be connected. Moreover, after 4 in Dia. 2, Blacks six stones in the center have no base and have become junk stones.
1

Problem 38. Black to play

White has just slid into the corner with the marked stone. How should Black respond?

Answer to Problem 38
Black should pincr the two white stones on the left with 1. Besides atatcking, this move also supports the marked black stone.
1

Correct Answer (38)

Continuation
Taking the territory in the corner with 2 is natural. The sequence to Black 9 is a joseki. Black has made a thick position at the bottom. Whtie could also play 6 at 8, and Black would answer with 6. However, the variation in this diagram leaves behind the aji of a ladder. This is a gain for White because he can play a ladder block.
9 5 6 7 1 3 4 8

Continuation

Blacks failure
Taking the corner with Black 1 is submissive. White extends to 2, attacking the marked stone. White has taken the initiative. It should be pointed out that Whites position at the bottom is bad shape, since Black can attack at A. However, White 2 is the vital point and, while attacking the marked stone, White will most likely be able to defend this weakness.

2 1 A

Blacks failure
2