Handicap Joseki

British Go Journal No. 2. Autumn 1967. Page 19.

Part 2

Part 1d of this series is on page 12 of BGJ 1.

The Continuations.

I.b. Black extends on the west side.

I.b.1. White 3's knight slide towards the corner.

Diagram 1

Diagram 2

Dia 1 is the most popualr of the alternatives at this point. It is played to reduce the corner and stabilise white 1.

3 in Dia 2 would not be much good as 4 then 5 would overconcentrate the white forces too much.

I.b.1.A. Easier and taking the corner.

Diagram 3

Black 4 is an easier option and takes the corner, but it leaves white with a stable group.

Diagram 4

Diagram 5

White 5 secures some territory along the south side, but does not pressure black much. Later if white 7, black is advised to protect the corner with 8.

For if he does not, Dias 5-9 may occur.

Diagram 6

Diagram 7

After Dia 5, Dia 6 follows if the ladder at A works, gaining all the corner. Or Dia 7, an even exchange, if the ladder doesn't work for white.

Diagram 8

Or Black can play 12 as Dia 8, letting white 15 connect out.

Diagram 9

White 5 is very infrequently played, and only when it is also an extension from a white position in the northwest. This is because black can force with the sequence in Dia 9, leaving black with the option of 12 at A or B.

I.b.1.B. Altogether more complicated.

Diagram 10

This black 4 is an altogether more complicated play, and for this reason is not to be recommended in handicap games. It destroys potential white territory along the south side and thus it is usually only combined with an extension from the southeast. It also threatens to gain influence towards the centre at teh cost of leaving the corner open for white to take.

Diagram 11

Diagram 12

White 5' at A followed by black 6' at B and white 5' at C followed by black 6' at 5 are quite good for black; so usually 5 in Dia 11 is played, invariably followed by black 6.

White 7 in Dia 12 follows, taking the corner, but giving black an equivalent amount of influence after 8-10.

Diagram 13

Or Black can play 8 as Dia 13.

Diagram 14

Diagram 15

Instead of 7 in Dia 11, White can choose the more complicated 7 in Dia 14. The simplest and best course for black is shown, taking a small corner and leaving some fighting in the centre for later. [SGB: Surely white has taken a small corner, not black!]

Or, more commonly, White can choose the variant in Dia 15, taking the west side and sente. [SGB: Who gets the west side? Who gets sente? I don't understand.]

I.b.2. White 3 attaches underneath.

Diagram 16

This white 3 is rarely seen after black 2, as the cross-cut of white 5' at A does not appear. It is generally used to secure a live group here quickly. 4 and 5 are invariably played.

I.b.2.A. Black double hane

Diagram 17

Diagram 18

Diagram 19

When black plays 6 as a double hane, Dia 17 is the variation if white replies at 7. Or if white 7 in Dia 18, at the end black has more than white.

Thus the best for White is Dia 19.

I.b.2.B. Black connects

Diagram 20

Diagram 21

After black 6 in Dia 20, white should now simply answer with 7 to achieve his object of a stable group. 6' at A or B would be bad; 6' at A allows 7' at C with advantage and 6' at B overconcentrates the black forces as shown in Dia 21.

[ Compare Dia 21 with Ishida Joseki Vol 3 page 117 Dia 32. === sgb ]

I.b.3. Aprroach from both sides.

Diagram 22

Diagram 23

Again white 3 in Dia 22 is played only occasionally, it stops a further black expansion in this direction as it is possible for black to answer 2' at A with Dia 23 and give up the corner.

The recommended black reply to 3 in Dia 22 is 4, waiting to attack 3 or 1 later. This is the ideal defensive formation after a play at 2.

I.b.4. Entering the corner.

Diagram 24

White 3 in Dia 24 should not normally be played as it gives black too much compensation for the loss of the corner after black 12. (This is the standard technique for taking the influence along the south side after an invasion at 3 against most black extensions along the west side.)

BGJ has a large table of coordinates and move numbers as an index to this article, it is not reproduced here.