MASTER PLAY: SHIN JINSEO 9P

The Best Human Go Player

Yuan Zhou

Edited by William Cobb

Slate & Shell

www.slateandshell.com

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 Copyright Page
© 2021 Yuan Zhou

All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited.

Slate & Shell

1425 Westshire Lane
Richmond, VA 23238
www.slateandshell.com

Edited by William Cobb

Cover design by Laurie Crammond

Conversion to SmartGo Books by John Mifsud

To facilitate study and better understanding, a typical diagram contains

only one or two new moves. After every diagram you should think about
where you think the next play should be.

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 Table of Contents
Master Play: Shin Jinseo 9p
Copyright Page

Introduction

Game One: vs. Yang Dingxin 9p

The chapters in gray are included only in the full book.

Game Two: vs. Ke Jie 9p

Game Three: vs. Park Junghwan 9p

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 Introduction
Shin Jinseo 9p is the number one player in South Korea and many consider
him the best human go player in the world now. He quickly rose to the top
after AI became a major part of the go world. Shin is such a devoted
student of AI that his nickname is “AI Shin”. Everyone at the top level of
the pro world now has to learn as much of the AI opening moves as
possible, that’s through about the first fifty moves. And not only the
moves, but the winning percentages associated with them. Shin Jinseo’s
first major win on the international level was the LG Cup in 2020 where he
defeated Park Junghwan 9p in the finals. At that time, Park Junghwan was
considered one of the very top players. Shin also won the Chunlan Cup in
2021, defeating Tang Weixing 9p of China. He played in a special seven
game match against his fellow countryman Park Junghwan in 2021 and
managed to win all seven games against the player who had been
considered the best in Korea. His winning percentage has been very high
as a pro, over 70%, recently he has reached 90%. These three games
reflect his playing style, which is heavily dependent on AI in the opening
and tends to be relatively aggressive.

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 Game One: vs. Yang Dingxin 9p
This game was played in the Chinese City League A, in which Shin Jinseo
9p is one of the invited foreign players, on June 8, 2021. Yang Dingxin is
currently ranked number two in China, behind Ke Jie 9p. Shin Jinseo is
Black and Yang Dingxin is White. Under Chinese rules the komi is seven
and a half points. The basic time is two hours each. As is common
nowadays, we will see a lot of AI influence in the opening.

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 2 1

4 3

Moves 1–4
White’s nirensei is the most popular pattern among pros and AI. Normally,
Black would now defend the lower right corner with an extension.

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 5

Move 5
However, in this case, Black plays the early 3–3 invasion that has been
popularized by AI. The Chinese pros have exclusive access to the best AI
program, which is called Fine Arts (and this is the program I have in mind
whenever I mention AI). This move has the highest winning percentage in
AI analysis.

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 7
6

Moves 6–7
Blocking on this side makes sense for White, since he has the most
potential on that side. Pros often opt to block at 7 with 6, focusing on
reducing the opponent’s potential, but I do not recommend that approach
for weaker players.

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 8
A

Move 8
At A, seeking sente, is the most popular move for 8. The game play is
rather complicated.

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 9

Move 9
Black chooses the most complicated variation with 9. Shin Jinseo lives up
to his nickname of “AI Shin” here. He’s known for his deep study of AI
variations.

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 1
2
4 3
5 6

Variation for 10
If White now hanes at 1, this is the most complicated variation. After 2,
White pulls back at 3. After 4 and 5, Black cuts at 6. There are many
complicated variations after this. I would not encourage weaker players to
try this variation. Even strong players make mistakes dealing with this
situation.

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 11

10

Moves 10–11
Yang Dingxin decides not to challenge AI Shin in this situation and
chooses to play solidly with 10. Of course, Black then extends to 11.
Normally, since Black gets out, this is seen as a good result for Black, but
White does get sente.

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 13

12

Moves 12–13
White approaches the 3–4 stone corner with 12, and Black makes the
response now seen as best by AI at 13. This makes Black’s corner very
strong, but it puts no pressure on White.

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 15 14
A

Moves 14–15
So White takes away Black’s corner with 14. We have learned from AI
that Black can block on either side in this case, though the traditional view
is that Black should block at A since he has more potential in that
direction.

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 16

17 A
B

Moves 16–17
If White now attaches at A, Shin Jinseo is of course ready to initiate the
complicated AI version of this joseki by playing at B.

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 19 18
20

Moves 18–20
But Yang Dingxin again avoids the more complicated version. He
continues to play solidly with White 20. Yang does not play as
aggressively as Shin Jinseo.

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 21 22
23

Moves 21–23
In the past, letting Black get this outside thickness was seen as good for
Black, but AI doesn’t support that idea. The key issue now is how Black
can use this thickness. White has sente.

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 24
25 A

Moves 24–25
Yang plays 24 to prevent a black play there that would give Black a nice
moyo.

We might have expected “AI Shin” to go into the corner with 25. A
normal response for White now would be at A.

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 26

A B

Move 26
Normally, we would expect a pincer at A with 26.

It would also seem normal for Black to extend to B after 26, which is
certainly playable, although that would give White sente.

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 28 27

Moves 27–28
However, Black attacks at 27 instead, aiming for a moyo. This is another
AI approved move.

Again, we might expect White to play 28 at A, pincering the black stone.

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 B

29

Move 29
Black extends, looking at the moyo possibility. Normally, White would
respond by protecting the cutting point with A, but if White does that,
Black would turn at B, developing tremendous right side and center
potential.

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 30
A

Move 30
So White extends at 30, hoping Black will extend at A to prevent a hane at
the head of three stones, which would allow White to then play at B.

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 31

Move 31
However, Black doesn’t follow White’s plan and aggressively cuts with
31. This starts a complicated fight. Separating and connecting always play
a major role.

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Table of Contents
Master Play: Shin Jinseo 9p 2
Copyright Page 5
__Table of Contents__ 6
Introduction 7
Game One: vs. Yang Dingxin 9p 8

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