At The Head Of Two Stones Play Hane

British Go Journal No. 20. July 1973. Page 12b.

Francis Roads

Most Go players know this proverb as one of the basic ways of putting enemy stones into bad shape. In this 7-stone game, which I played at London recently, my opponent preferred twice in quick succession to make a territorial move instead of preventing the hane at the head of two stones, and got the bad shape he deserved.

Diagram 1

My opponent knew that after white 12 the corner can be invaded at A, so instead of the joseki move 14, he played 13, allowing me my first hane at the head of two stones with 14, followed by the nidan-bane tesuji of 16. After white 18 he played black 19 elsewhere, allowing my second hane at the head of two stones with 20, forcing the awkward move black 21. After white 22, Black's corner is totally cur off from the centre, its territory is small, and I could even threaten its life at A.