Scribd
Upload
141 views6 pages

Chapter Twelve Outnumbered: 12.1 Calculated Risks

The document discusses strategies for dealing with being outnumbered on the board. It provides examples of situations where one ignores threats or pincers from the opponent in order to focus play elsewhere. In some cases, ignoring pincers or approaches can be acceptable if the risks are calculated in advance and viable defensive shapes can still be made. The examples demonstrate different ways to respond to being approached from multiple directions and playing near enemy enclosures, such as connecting, jumping out, or frontal approaches.

Uploaded by

Vitor Teles
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
141 views6 pages

Chapter Twelve Outnumbered: 12.1 Calculated Risks

The document discusses strategies for dealing with being outnumbered on the board. It provides examples of situations where one ignores threats or pincers from the opponent in order to focus play elsewhere. In some cases, ignoring pincers or approaches can be acceptable if the risks are calculated in advance and viable defensive shapes can still be made. The examples demonstrate different ways to respond to being approached from multiple directions and playing near enemy enclosures, such as connecting, jumping out, or frontal approaches.

Uploaded by

Vitor Teles
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 6

Chapter Twelve Outnumbered

169

Chapter Twelve
Outnumbered

12.1 Calculated risks


There are several good reasons why you may want to leave a situation on
the board, and play away. In the realm of tactics, you may wish to ignore a
ko threat, or ladder-breaker. That is, you expect a greater advantage by
playing elsewhere. There can also be good strategic reasons. Opening
strategies from hundreds of years ago showed both players ignoring the
plays of the other. In fact the vast development of corner opening theory
has probably adversely affected amateur play, in the particular way that
players are reluctant to ignore the others moves. This can result in the
failing of following the opponent round the board.
Naturally it is much easier to employ the strategy of leaving situations
unfinished, if one can calculate in advance the risks involved.
4
5

When Black ignores White 1, White normally plays next at 3. Then Black
can slip out of the corner at 4, to establish a group on the side with 6. The
Black corner stone may still be useful. White has another option for attack,
namely to play 3 at A. However Black at B is a normal answer (cf. 3.5L)
and Black will survive unless White is very strong locally.

Shape Up!

170

12.2 Ignoring a one-point pincer


8 6 4
A
2 1 5
7 B 3 C

1
2

The examples in this section have a common theme: the consequences of


ignoring a one-point pincer. (Left) White can live by wedging in at 2. White
at 8 is correct; playing at A lives as well, but after Black B the cutting point
at C becomes unimportant. (Right) White 4 threatens both A and B.

6 2
3

4 7
5

White should avoid ignoring the high pincer. Black becomes very thick.
This sort of exchange early in the game will make fighting hard for White.

1 3
2

5
3 2 4
7
6

In the case of a high approach, it is the low pincer that most needs an answer.
(Left) Black does well with 1, since White cant prevent connection. White
plays the bulge point 2, then waits for a moment to play at A. (Right)
Another way for Black to play, leaving the White stones rather heavy.

Chapter Twelve Outnumbered

171

6
5 4

6
4 1 2
5
3
7

3
1

When the pincer stone is on the fourth line, White can ignore another play
(left), and then seek life in the corner with 4 and 6. This is an example of
sabaki (Chapter 15) (Right) Black 1 here is a bad idea. Whites ponnuki
capture with 6 makes resilient shape.
14
13 10

12

9 8 6 4
11 7
2 1 5
3

12

6 8 4
7 2 3
10 5

9
1

11
13

15

The one point pincer after the 4-4 point is frequent in modern professional
go. (Left) The usual continuation is based on 5.3. The 3-3 invasion (right)
is another simple way to answer Black 1. Black becomes thick, but in gote;
Black 9 could be at 10 also.
5 4
1 3

2
8 6 9
4

11

10
12

When White has played the slide into the corner and then ignored the pincer,
the odd diagonal 2 is the way to make shape after Black 1. Both of these
variations are reasonable for White, in the local position. (Right) Black 7 at
8 would be passive, and White would make good shape easily using the
threat of A.

Shape Up!

172

12.3 Around enclosures


5
4
2

3
7 6
8

It is inevitable to feel some local disadvantage in playing near a well-fortified


enclosure. These examples are about building viable shape.
The contact play White 2 is a good defensive resource. Black 3 in the righthand diagram is a little passive. White 6 and 8 are light.

3
5
6

3
4

(Left) If Black plays 3 as hane on top, White can resort to a ko. (Right)
Another passive reply by Black. White jumps out, aiming at A and B.

5
8

13

6
7

11

7
9 8

12 10
14

When Black replies at 5 here, White 6 is good. Black 7 and White 8 in the
left-hand diagram are natural; White retains some hope of playing later at
A. White is happy to be jumping ahead out into the centre. (Right) This
immediate cut by Black is a big failure.

Chapter Twelve Outnumbered

173

6 8
4
5
7

This page looks at direct, frontal approaches to other enclosures. In this


case White 3 is a vital point to make shape (outside, cf.10.3; White can also
play at A for life in the corner, depending on the overall position.) White
can be satisfied with the good shape built in the right-hand diagram.

5 4
3

8
9 6

With the two-point enclosure, White can take immediate action with 3 and
5. White will live, though Black becomes thick.
8
3

6
5

4
7

In the case of the one-point enclosure, White 1 isnt a good idea. White 3 at
the 3-3 point looks interesting, but White shouldnt expect a good result.
Black can secure the corner, and take sente to deal with the left side.
Comparing with the two-point enclosure variation just given, White has
done poorly. In any case, White must be acutely aware of the key points of
the particular enclosure in planning a defence.

Shape Up!

174

12.4 Two plays against the star point


The normal reasons for the appearance of these shapes would be ko threats
or ladder-breakers ignored.
6
4
1

After 1 and 3, Black can make shape by playing to preserve symmetry at 4.


Then White simply connects with 5. The point is that neither atari play at A
or B is very good. Black takes advantage of this by sliding out to 6.
8

5
7

8
9 7

10

9
11

If White does play atari we can expect a result like in the left-hand diagram.
White hasnt made the most of this position. If Black had descended (right)
White would develop in a similar way, but with much more influence.

4
1

B
A

That means also that White 3 here is questionable. Black can answer with
4. White A, Black B returns us to a previous variation. But White B, Black
A is a tough fight, when White wants a clear advantage.

You might also like