© 2007 Hinoki Press

The Way of Creating a Thick and Strong Game

Heart of Go Series, Volume 5

Naoki Hane 9 dan

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What in the world is thickness in go?! One hears the term bandied about as if it were a given. But what actually is meant by that word? And how can the concept of thickness be applied in one’s own game?

Hane Naoki 9 dan, former Kisei, learned the value of playing with an awareness of thickness from his renowned father, Hane Yasumasa 9 dan, one of the most accomplished players of his generation. But what actually is thickness? And how is it best utilized? The author has a surprising answer. He does not necessarily seek to use it to attack as many players do, nor to dominate the opponent. Instead, Hane says that thickness gives him leeway to play in a relaxed way, rather than going all-out, to be satisfied with a mere sufficient gain instead of a big windfall and to play moves that others might deem too mediocre to consider.

This book shows the keys to doing that successfully. Using positions from his actual games, including ones against his father while he was still an amateur and then again when he was on the verge of capturing the Kisei title, the most distinguished exploit in the go world. Hane highlights both the most significant strategic and tactical moments, while also pointing out fundamental truths about the game that one needs to master in order to play skillfully.

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Copyright Page

All rights reserved worldwide according to international law. This book and parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.

ISBN of printed edition: 0–9788874–6–8

Translated by Robert J. Terry

Edited by Chris Greene

Proofreading and Editorial Assistance by Lee Huynh and Andy Okun

Conversion to SmartGo Books by John Mifsud

Cover Art by Kasumi Oyama

Grateful acknowledgement to David Kudo and the Graphics Department of Sushi and Sake Magazine.

Contents

The Way of Creating a Thick and Strong Game: Heart of Go Series, Volume 5

Copyright Page

Hane Naoki — Biography

Foreword

Chapter 1 — How Good Would It Be If That Happens … Days of Study to Become Professional

Game 1: Takao Shinji Insei – Hane Naoki Insei

Game 2: Hane Yasumasa 9 dan – Hane Naoki Insei

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

Game 3: Hane Naoki Insei – Inagaki Yo Insei

Chapter 2 — I Wonder If I Can Do It … From Becoming Professional to First League Entrance

Game 4: Den Isei 3 dan – Hane Naoki 1 dan

Game 5: Nakane Naoyuki 4 dan – Hane Naoki 4 dan

Game 6: Mimura Tomoyasu 7 dan – Hane Naoki 5 dan

Game 7: Feng Yun 8 dan – Hane Naoki 6 dan

Game 8: Hane Naoki 6 dan – Iwata Tatsuaki 9 dan

Game 9: Hane Naoki 7 dan – Kobayashi Satoru 9 dan

Game 10: So Yokoku 6 dan – Hane Naoki 7 dan

Game 11: Hane Naoki 7 dan – Nakano Hironari 9 dan

Game 12: Sonoda Yuichi 9 dan – Hane Naoki 7 dan

Chapter 3 — I Think I Can Do It … The Path to Winning Titles

Game 13: O Rissei 9 dan – Hane Naoki 7 dan

Game 14: Takemiya Masaki 9 dan – Hane Naoki 8 dan

Game 15: Kato Masao 9 dan – Hane Naoki 8 dan

Game 16: Hane Naoki 8 dan – Cho U 6 dan

Game 17: Hane Naoki 8 dan – Chin Kaei 9 dan

Game 18: Hane Yasumasa 9 dan – Hane Naoki 8 dan

Game 19: Ryu Shikun 7 dan – Hane Naoki 8 dan

Game 20: Ryu Shikun 7 dan – Hane Naoki 8 dan

Game 21: Hane Naoki 8 dan – Ryu Shikun 7 dan

Game 22: Cho Chikun 9 dan – Hane Naoki 8 dan

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About SmartGo Books

Hane Naoki — Biography

Born August 14, 1976 in Mie Prefecture, Japan.

His father is Hane Yasumasa, 9 dan, one of the most respected players in the go world. [Hane Naoki was given his first name in honor of Miamoto Naoki, one of the first members of the Kansai Ki-in.] Married to Hane Shigeko.

Professional 1 dan in 1991, 9 dan in 2002.

Lives in Aichi, Japan.

1994 Winner of 18th Kisei Tournament, 4 dan section

1995 Winner of 26th Annual Shinei Tournament

1999 Winner of 40th Annual Okan Title and held the title for total of four terms

2001 Winner of 27th Tengen Title and held the title for total of three terms

2004 Winner of 28th Annual Kisei Title and held the title for total of two terms

2004 Winner of Akon-Kiriyama Cup

2005 Winner of 53rd NHK Cup

Participant in Meijin League two times.

Participant in Honinbo League three times.

Kido magazine awards three times.

Winner of Most Wins Against Others Award.

Winner of 39th Shusai Award.

Four time winner of Dodawa Award.

Foreword

In order to maintain one’s health, it is said that one should eat only until one’s stomach is moderately full, 80% of capacity. And not only in go but in all games, one should be satisfied with an 80% result, not avariciously striving for more, overreaching and meeting with an unfortunate setback. Preserving an even game position should not be all that difficult to do, but it is remarkable how often players are anxious to clarify the situation and determine the result quickly, or have a board position that is equal and stable and yet out of anxiety for the future or other reasons, strive for a full stomach, that is, play tenaciously in seeking the absolutely best result. When that happens, neither side will yield at all, inviting razor-sharp fighting and a lopsided outcome.

When others see my games, they sometimes take the result as a foregone conclusion, or believe that I am seeking an “ultimate sequence” in the endgame, but in my own mind, that is not how it is at all. I am aware that I lack the ability to examine one board position after another and determine the very best move.

So I am satisfied to settle for a second best measure. It may be said that, in the end, I stick to filling my stomach to 80%.

As material for this book I have taken games I played starting when I was studying to become a professional up through when I won the Tengen title. The ideas of building thickness and the second best strategies slice right through these games, and, as best as I can, I have woven them together while touching upon the “Heart of Go.” From the opening to the middle game, instead of looking for great profit, it has always been my style to single-mindedly aim for thickness, sticking to the second-best strategy, waiting in anticipation for the thickness to yield results from the middle game on, and including the use of scattered stones that have been temporarily abandoned to steadily chip away at the opponent’s territory.

When I have occasion to meet amateur players, most ask me about the strongest or most effective playing methods, which they are burning to know about, but what I would like readers to take away from this book is the encouragement to incorporate second-best strategies and the 80% fighting stance to secure wins. If this helps in raising the reader’s strength in go, then I will truly be happy.

August 2002

Hane Naoki

Chapter 1 — How Good Would It Be If That Happens … Days of Study to Become Professional

Game 1

White: Takao Shinji Insei
Black: Hane Naoki Insei
Komi: none
Date: 1987–07
Event: An Insei Dormitory Game
Commentary: Hane Naoki

Both Takao and I were born in 1976. We were also both of the class of insei that became professional in 1991. We each acted as a thoroughly good stimulus to spur the other on.

This game was played in the dormitory that we shared as insei in the years when we were studying to become professionals, around the time when we were 10 years old. I often played the sanrensei (three star points in a row) at that time.

Of course, the aim of developing a territorial framework was due to the influence of my father, Yasumasa, 9 dan. It was something that I picked up secondhand, so in the end it did not part from my own repertoire of playing methods.

Moves 1–10

Moves 11–15

A Sense of Balance

Moves 16–19

In response to the attack on the corner with white 16, Black answers the same way as in the upper right corner with the pincer of 17.

If White uses 18 to invade at the 3–3 point at A the same course of development would result. This would only help Black to expand the territorial framework.

Jumping to white 18 is natural.

Both sides faithfully follow joseki as they proceed.

Moves 20–26

When White plays the fencing-in move of 20, black 21 and the following moves put the emphasis on the corner. These are played from a sense of balance due to the awareness of White’s having taken territory in the upper right corner.

With the moves through white 26 both sides played carefully, and here there was a lull in the action.

Too Complacent

Moves 27–34

The attack on the corner with black 27 leads to the sequence through white 34.

Move 35

Black advances to 35 expecting to exchange this for white 2 in Diagram 1 and then develop to black 3, but this was too complacent an idea. It invited the counterattack of white 36.

Diagram 1

Move 36

White 36 is a good point. It aims at the attachment of A as well as moving out at B.

When the opponent has a single aim, it is simple to prevent it, but when there are two, preventing both aims at once cannot be done.

In short, with 35, Black’s greed came out.

This plan was hatched precisely because of the expectation of getting a full stomach as a result. Had Black been satisfied to achieve only an 80% result, advancing in this way would absolutely never have been attempted.

Not knowing what to do with an excess of youthful energy led me to run ahead recklessly.

Diagram 2

For black 35, advancing to 1 in Diagram 2 to ascertain how White will respond was the 80% full stomach style of development. In this case, White will answer at 2 and have nothing to complain about. It would also be easy for Black to take the initiative in the fighting to come.

An 80% full stomach every day keeps the doctor away.

As Gentle as a Lamb

Move 37

If Black neglects to play 37, White can move out with something like 37, which would be terrible. So Black immediately prevents any such activity here with 37, but by devoting so many moves to this area Black cannot avoid a penalty.

Move 38

When White attached with 38, the disposition of forces was three to one in White’s favor. Consequently, Black was not inclined to fight here.

Moves 39–41

After making the hane at 39, Black turned to invade at the 3–3 point with 41. From the start, Black had no intention of directly crossing swords with White here.

Within one’s own sphere of influence one does not decline to fight directly, but inside the opponent’s sphere of influence one must act as gently as a lamb.

Instead of 41, black 1 in Diagram 3 followed by 3 would be the usual idea for fighting, but I gave up on this kind of variation from the start.

Diagram 3

Moves 42–43

For 43, sliding to A would have been best.

Moves 44–49

Diagram 4

The hane of black 47 and hanging connection of 49 could not be omitted. Neglecting this to proceed to the good points of black 1 and 3 in Diagram 4 would let White play 4 and the rest, robbing Black of eyes in the corner.

Basically, Black must be reserved about the fighting here.

Fighting Strongly in One’s Own Sphere of Influence

Moves 50–53

Turning at white 50, in the local context, is a thick and strong move. That is good. However, because it is thick, it is slow-paced, which is its negative aspect.

The attachment of black 51 induces white 52, whereupon Black proceeds with 53, successfully expanding the territorial framework on the right side. This was a considerable accomplishment.

In the fighting on the left side, Black clearly experienced a failure, but one feels that here Black recovered from that setback. The outlook for Black could be said to be acceptable.

White 50, making thickness, indicated a judgment that the board position was satisfactory with this easygoing set-up. But, all the same, 50 was somewhat questionable.

Diagram 5

For white 50, playing as in Diagram 5 was also possible. After the makeshift exchange of white 1 for black 2, White can proceed first to the good point of 3.

This restrains the development of Black’s territorial framework in an effective manner without having to resort to the risky expedient of invading with a solitary stone.

Moves 54–71

By plunging in with a single stone at 54, White initiated a very painful and difficult campaign.

With black 55 and the following moves, the fight inside Black’s sphere of influence proceeds with Black battling quite forcefully.

Through black 71, it is impossible for White’s four stones to escape.

Diagram 6 is available for Black.

Diagram 6

A Valuable Lesson

Moves 72–92

White 72 and the following moves show the intention to discard the stones. By using the discarded stones to seal off the outside, White anticipates expanding the territory that extends from the lower side. Using 72 through 80 to escape, far from engineering a recovery, would invite the worst possible result.

In general, heading to the side to run away also offers the possibility of getting eye shape, but in this case it would be impossible to connect with any friendly forces.

Move 93

Had Black played 93 more cautiously at A, it would have been possible to avoid being wrapped up with the technique of white 94 and the following.

Moves 94–99

Move 100

By playing at 100, White was able to build up a splendid territory extending from the lower side.

Moves 101–109

Moves 110–119
115: ko

Moves 120–129
ko: 123, 126, 129

Moves 130–139
ko: 135, 138

Moves 140–149
ko: 144, 147

Moves 150–169
152: connects ko

Moves 170–180

Moves 181–200

Moves 201–203

Well then, the valuable lesson that I learned from this game can be distilled into Diagram 7.

Diagram 7

Instead of black 35, which invited a confused uproar, 1 here is a restrained 80% filling of the stomach. If white 2, Black can proceed first to the good points of 3 and 5.

Eliminating the factor that invited the confused uproar would have been a shrewd choice.

203 moves. Hane Naoki wins by resignation.

Game 2

White: Hane Yasumasa 9 dan
Black: Hane Naoki Insei
Komi: 5½ points
Date: 1990–05
Event: A Teaching Game With My Father
Commentary: Hane Naoki

This is one of many teaching games that my father was kind enough to play with me.

We played this game a year before I became professional (in 1991) and it may be said that about this time my play was somehow beginning to round into shape.

Moves 1–5

Moves 6–10

Responding to the knight’s move attack of white 6 against the 3–4 point stone with the diagonal move of black 7 is striking. One can perceive the intent to play a thick and strong game.

Feinting an Attack

Moves 11–16

Black could have used 11 to attach at A, but around this time there were many cases of my stones sprinting around like this.

Move 17

The checking extension of black 17 is a good point. While impeding White from making an extension, it also aims at the thinness of White’s three-space extension.

Move 18

White 18 is a feint played in order to restrain Black from invading at A.

Moves 19–20

As a counterpoint, black 19 proceeds carefully and steadily, and there were many cases of this as well. While trying this and that, I was exploring my own game during this period.

Not Playing My Own Game

Moves 21–25

With black 21 through 25, I thought that I had completely blocked White’s access to the center, but considering the matter now, this was terribly slack.

To exploit the thinness of the knight’s move, White will look for a chance to push at 1 in Diagram 1 and cut at 3, which may be effected at any time. With this technique available it cannot be said that White was blocked.

That being the case, it may seem I could have played more severely with black 21 at A, but that was not part of my go repertoire so it did not occur to me.

Diagram 1

However, examining this further, if Black goes ahead and plays at 1 in Diagram 2, the course of development in this diagram may be anticipated.

Diagram 2

With this result, the only one happy would be White. Both of Black’s groups are weak, not making the situation one for Black to be happy about.

When stirring up trouble, what I regularly try to do is to strengthen the influence of my own stones or weaken the influence of the opponent’s stones. Those are the only cases when I try to set something up.

This is truly a self-centered way of thinking, but as the classic Jikketsu Ten Secrets of Go [in Chinese, Shi Jue, composed by Wang Jixin during the Tang Dynasty 618~907 AD] states, “Attacking the Opponent, Reflect upon Oneself.”

Is this not the spirit of my thought?

A Maneuver to Challenge One’s Skill

Move 26

The value of white 26 can be understood if compared to the case where a black stone is played here, so it is a point that cannot be missed. When a black stone comes here, of course it casts an influence on the eye shape of the lower left corner. It is also an ideal point for a base to develop a territorial framework for Black on the left side.

Moves 27–28

Black attacked the upper left corner with 27, viewing the development potential of the left side as being small, so the intention was to press in upon White from this direction.

Move 29

Instead of sliding to 29, Black could also consider, in the local context, making the double attack on the corner at A.

Had Black played the double attack at A, attaching with white 2 in Diagram 3 and extending at 4 is the development that might be expected.

Diagram 3

But in the lower left White has in place, so with that relationship in mind, I judged this variation to be no good and therefore slid with black 29.

End of sample chapters. In the book, this game is commented to the end.