Previous

Next

The corner is much stronger with the first-line hane at . Can white do anything?

Because of , the solution for Shape 33 stops working. If white continues to play 'a', black is able to use 'oshi-tsubushi' to kill white.

If occupies this key point first, is a good move.

To continue from the previous diagram, the only thing white can do is to make / exchange. Please confirm the corner is a seki.

Since white cannot kill the corner, an outcome of ko would be the next best. White hopes black to play 'a' so that Diagram 33.3 applies; or if black playes 'b', white can choose one of the ko options in Shape 7. However, black has better defence.

is a famous tesuji! If , black occupies the second 1-2 point and there is just enough room to make two eyes.

If occupies another 1-2 point, is good, recovering Diagram 34.2.

If , is good. Black makes the first eye in the corner, leaving miai point 'a' and 'b' for the second eye.

If , is the correct move, ensuring to recover Diagram 34.2 again.

If white makes / exchange first before blocking at , is still the tesuji, leaving 'a' and 'b' miai points to live.

To reply , is still the best move. White has a number of options. Clear 'a' and 'b' are miai points.

To reply , is calm, still leaving 'a' and 'b' as miai.

Finally, results in a double-ko. In most cases, black would be unconditionally alive.

To summarise: with the first-line hane, black corner is very safe. The best white can get is seki in Diagram 34.3 and 34.4. Black needs to know the 1-2 point tesuji. In very rare cases, white may consider Diagram 34.13 (see how a double-ko may be exploited in this pro game).

Previous

Next