© 2007 Hinoki Press

Catching Scent of Victory

Heart of Go Series, Volume 2

O Rissei 9 dan

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What does it take to become Kisei? Naturally, there are many go players who would like to know the secret and this book supplies the answer. It is O Rissei’s account of how he captured the Kisei title and it reveals his thoughts as he challenged the best players in the world and overcame them to win the go world’s highest title. The key to his win was innovative play in the opening, stubborn persistence in the middle game and precise calculation in the endings. All of these facets are explored in this work.

In Chapter 1, O Rissei presents sixteen strategies that he has used to get the advantage in the opening of his games. These are cutting-edge moves that are rarely found in even the most up-to-date joseki dictionaries. Chapter 2 illustrates the continuations and offers the reader a chance to guess at the winning play in a problem format. The surprising thing is that sometimes the answers are so simple that one fails to see them coming. Chapter 3 brings all the elements of the book together in a thorough analysis of six of O Rissei’s games played against the best go players in the game today. Again, a problem format gives the reader the chance to match wits with these great talents.

“Catching Scent of Victory” is one of the rare books in the world that delivers more than it promises. It explains how to set the stage in the opening of a game of go so that one has a chance to win, then demonstrates the mechanics of the play and finally shows how events typically develop through the middlegame. But then it goes even farther, to step behind the scenes and recapture the human element of top-level match play. It is a testament to the panorama of O Rissei’s go career. And as such, it proclaims that one must always be on the lookout for suspicious moves.

“Considered from that perspective, professional go players say, ‘This move smells fishy’ or ‘Something stinks about this move.’ It is no exaggeration to say that the difference in strength between professional players can be attributed to the power to scent out the negative elements in the opponent’s moves that cannot be perceived visually.” — From the text

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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 print edition: 0–9788874–3–3

Translated by Robert J. Terry

Edited by Chris Greene

Proofreading and Editorial Assistance by Lee Huynh and Bob Barber

Conversion to SmartGo Books by John Mifsud

Cover Art by Doug Cable

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

Contents

Catching Scent of Victory: Heart of Go Series, Volume 2

Copyright Page

Foreword

Chapter 1: Rissei Style Strategy in the Opening

Strategy 1: A Knight’s Move Corner Enclosure Aimed at a Star Point: Cho Chikun Meijin – O Rissei Challenger

Strategy 2: A Shoulder Hit Against A Knight’s Move Corner Enclosure: O Rissei 9 dan – Kobayashi Koichi Meijin

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

Strategy 3: Simply Attaching and Drawing Back From a 3–4 Point: Kataoka Satoshi 9 dan – O Rissei 9 dan

Strategy 4: A Resourceful Attachment Against the Side: O Rissei 9 dan – Kato Masao 9 dan

Strategy 5: A Single Two Space High Attack on the Corner to Force (1): O Rissei 9 dan – Cho Chikun Honinbo

Strategy 6: A Single Two Space High Attack on the Corner to Force (2): Kato Masao 9 dan – O Rissei 9 dan

Strategy 7: Playing Elsewhere in Response to a One Space Pincer: Cho Chikun Kisei – O Rissei 9 dan

Strategy 8: A Favorite Attach and Draw Back From a One Space Pincer: O Rissei 9d – Ryu Shikun Tengen

Strategy 9: A One Space Jump after a One Space High Corner Attack: Cho Chikun Meijin – O Rissei 9 dan

Strategy 10: Extending in Response to An Inside Attachment Against a Large Knight’s Move Enclosure: Honda Kunihisa 9 dan – O Rissei 9 dan

Strategy 11: Priority to Sliding Rather Than Making a Corner Enclosure: O Rissei 9 dan – Rin Kaiho 9 dan

Strategy 12: Protecting the Corner During a Fencing-In Joseki: O Rissei 9 dan – Cho Chikun Honinbo

Strategy 13: Racing Ahead for Profit in a Favorite Joseki: O Rissei 9 dan – Yamashiro Hiroshi 9 dan

Strategy 14: An Inside Attachment after a Two Space High Corner Attack: Cho Chikun Kisei – O Rissei 9 dan

Strategy 15: Awareness of an Unfavorable Ladder: O Rissei 9 dan – Cho Chikun Kisei

Strategy 16: Building Outward Influence Versus a Chinese Style Opening Set-Up: Yamada Kimio Oza – O Rissei Challenger

Chapter 2: Starting One’s Sensors to Take Advantage of a Good Opportunity

Game 1: Entering the Tiger’s Lair: O Rissei 9 dan – Yamashiro Hiroshi 9 dan

Game 2: Dripping Cold Sweat: O Rissei 9 dan – Kobayashi Koichi 9 dan

Game 3: A Single Horseman Fighting Courageously: O Meien 9 dan – O Rissei 9 dan

Game 4: A Lightning Strike: O Rissei 9 dan – Cho Chikun Honinbo

Game 5: Resolutely Sacrificing Stones: O Rissei 9 dan – Cho Chikun Honinbo

Game 6: Missing Chances, Then Grinding Out the Win: Kato Masao Judan – O Rissei 9 dan

Game 7: Favorable Wind, Full Speed Ahead: Cho Chikun Meijin – O Rissei 9 dan

Game 8: A Game Where Recklessness Succeeds: O Rissei Oza – Hikosaka Naoto 9 dan

Game 9: A Good Turn of Fortune: Cho Chikun Challenger – O Rissei Oza

Game 10: Hope and Despair By Turns: Cho Chikun Kisei – O Rissei Challenger

Chapter 3: Sharpening One’s Sense of Smell for Victory

Game 11: An Upset Win With One Stroke: Cho Chikun Oza – O Rissei Challenger

Game 12: A Game of Alert Incursion: O Rissei 9 dan (Japan) – Ma Xiaochun 9 dan (China)

Game 13: Thoroughly Winning From Start to Finish: Kataoka Satoshi 9 dan – O Rissei 9 dan

Game 14: Indomitable Perseverance: Cho Chikun Meijin – O Rissei 9 dan

Game 15: A Game to Recapture the Oza Title: Yamada Kimio Oza – O Rissei Challenger

Game 16: A Game to Capture the Kisei Best of Seven Title: O Rissei Challenger – Cho Chikun Kisei

Chapter 4: O Rissei Go Record

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Foreword

When I was a low dan player, my master, Kano Yoshinori 9 dan, assessed my skill in the following way. “Rissei plays passably in the middlegame and endgame, but the opening is somewhat treacherous for him.” Despite this, at the time my results were fairly good, but as I started playing with strong players, I became aware of my own limitations and I started to study the opening again with Master Go Seigen (9 dan).

What Go Sensei espouses is a “twenty-first century fuseki (opening),” “aggressively using the center of the board” and “highly valuing speed” as the top priorities. When I started to embrace that philosophy, Kano Sensei recognized my advancement, saying, “Recently, in the opening as well, Rissei plays passably well.” And along with that at the same time I started winning tournaments and challenging for titles. By rededicating myself to the study of the opening, I expanded my field of vision over the whole board and I ended up building up my strength at go from a fundamental level.

However, go is not so narrowly focused that playing the opening perfectly will necessarily result in a win. In order to draw the goddess of victory close, it is of course clear that fighting strength in the middlegame and endgame is indispensable. That being the case, what is fighting strength? In short, variations in strength are caused by how one looks at the situation and sees misses and mistakes in the opponent’s moves. One must ask “What kind of strange thing is that?!” Fighting strength depends upon whether one has that perception or not.

Considered from that perspective, professional go players say, “This move smells fishy” or “Something stinks about this move.” It is no exaggeration to say that the difference in strength between professional players can be attributed to the power to smell out the negative elements in the opponent’s moves that cannot be perceived visually.

Taking the stance with this way of thinking, Chapter 1 “Rissei Style Opening Strategy” shows the way to think about creating the structure of a game. In Chapter 2 “Starting One’s Sensors to Take Advantage of a Good Opportunity” (middlegame) and Chapter 3 “Sharpening One’s Sense of Smell for Victory” (endgame) real examples are introduced to show how important one’s internal alarms are.

In the middlegame one’s sensitivities are necessary for “Converting a Superior Position Into a Winning Position” and is the motive force used to “Work Out a Way to Overcome an Inferior Position,” while in the endgame there are many times when the sense of smell directly secures the victory.

Well then, when speaking of how all of you amateur players can sharpen your sense of smell, the best method, after all, is to continually replay professional games. For that purpose, in this book all twenty games that have been used as study material have been given with their complete game records, so please play them out repeatedly. If this book is any help in raising the reader’s strength or increasing the reader’s winning percentage, I will be gratified.

O Rissei, October 2000

Chapter 1: Rissei Style Strategy in the Opening

Strategy 1: A Knight’s Move Corner Enclosure Aimed at a Star Point

White: Cho Chikun Meijin
Black: O Rissei Challenger
Komi: 5½ points
Date: 1998–10
Event: 23rd Meijin Final
Round: Game 5
Commentary: O Rissei

This is Game 5 of the 23rd Annual Meijin Best of Seven Title Match where I was challenging Cho Meijin for the title.

The previous game, Game 4, was voided by a triple ko, the first time this had ever happened in the history of match play.

At this point the score was two wins for Cho Meijin, one loss and one voided game.

Moves 1–14

The star point of black 1 followed by the 3–4 point of black 3 and the corner enclosure of black 5 is a favorite opening set-up for me. In the past, Kobayashi Koichi Judan had continuing favorable results with this fuseki. As a result, it was called the “Kobayashi style fuseki.”

Diagram 1

Recently, Kobayashi Judan has often played the pattern in Diagram 1 with the stones.

So how is Diagram 1 different from the actual game? In the case of Diagram 1, the value of the right side is big, so White will hurry to play at 1 or at A.

With the corner enclosure in the actual game, the value of the lower side becomes big, so White hurries to play 6.

In short, in the opening set-up in the actual game, it is difficult for White to slip into the right side. So it may be said that this is suitable for those with a territorial style. Cho Meijin and I both have a reputation for being stingy territorially, so this opening set-up is one that we like.

Move 15

Black 15 is a narrow extension but it is a big point that cannot be neglected.

However, white A is too big, so if I were playing now, I would surely use black 15 to rush to play black 2 in Diagram 2.

Diagram 2

Moves 16–19

It may seem that white 16 and black 17 solidifies Black’s territory, but it is actually a Cho Meijin forcing move as part of his thorough preparation.

Diagram 3

In the upper left corner, Black has a powerful aim of playing 1 and 3 in Diagram 3.

The result that White’s ends up being part of a ploy to set up a ladder.

A Board Position That is Not Easy for Black

Move 20

When seeing the pincer of white 20, it becomes clear that it is difficult for Black to move out with the two stones.

Diagram 4

The first feeling that floats in the mind is that the capping move of black A in Diagram 4 would be safe. But there is a sensation that it would leave something to be desired.

Move 21

Consequently, I first chose to reinforce the upper right corner with black 21. However, in the upper right corner White is left with the possibility of playing at A, so at this stage there is no particular reason to rush to play at 21.

At the present time, if I were playing, I would first make the capping play of black 2 in Diagram 4. If White defends at 3, black 4 puts pressure on the opponent while solidifying the upper right corner.

Moves 22–23

White 22 is an ideal move. Following black 21, allowing Black to make the checking extension of A would be suffocatingly restrictive on white. With white 22 a lull came in the action, so with a glance at the possibility of moving out with the two stones in the upper left, Black makes the shoulder hit on the lower side with 23, seeking an opportunity to start a fight.

Diagram 5

Continuing, in Diagram 5, if White pushes at 1, Black makes the commonsense jump at 2, then when White hanes into the position with 3, with the moves through white 9 Black has not accomplished much useful.

Diagram 6

In regards to this, my own plan was to make the attachment of black 2 in Diagram 6 as a probe to see how White would react. Should White defend at 3, Black plays 4 and 6, entering into a sphere of unfathomable complications, but Black has an acceptable position.

Moves 24–30

I suppose that Cho Meijin did not think there were good prospects in immediately playing on the lower side either, and so made the attachment of white 24 on the left side. This is a flexible conception entirely in keeping with Cho Meijin’s style, and what is more, it is one that is rich in resourcefulness. I played the hane below of black 25 in order to take sente and turn to black 27.

But as might be expected, when incurring the forcing move of white 28 and the attack of white 30, Black’s failure by playing at 25 is obvious.

Diagram 7

For black 25, even if it ends in gote, it was better to play the hane above of black 2 in Diagram 7 and the thick move of black 4, indirectly supporting the stones.

Moves 31–33

After Black moved out with 31 and 33, Cho Meijin sealed his move to end the first day’s play, choosing white A and plunging into a violent middlegame. Even though this game started with one of my favorite set-ups, by playing the two questionable moves of black 21 and 25, the opening ended up becoming one that was not easy for Black.

The order of moves following black 33 will be given in Chapter 3, Game 4, “Indomitable Perseverance”.

33 moves. O Rissei wins by 3½ points.

Strategy 2: A Shoulder Hit Against A Knight’s Move Corner Enclosure

White: O Rissei 9 dan
Black: Kobayashi Koichi Meijin
Komi: 5½ points
Date: 1995–09
Event: 43rd Oza
Round: Challengers' Final
Commentary: O Rissei

Moves 1–5

Through the corner enclosure of black 5, Kobayashi Koichi Meijin (at the time) played one of his favorite opening set-ups.

Move 6

Here, in regards to the shoulder hit of white 6, Go Seigen 9 dan said, “The meaning behind this is to place the emphasis on speed and developing activity in the center, so it has the full value of a single move in the opening.”

Diagram 1

In response to white 6, if Black plays 2 in Diagram 1, White will answer with 3 and turn to attack the corner with white 5 and the fuseki becomes one in which White will not fall behind in terms of speed.

Moves 7–11

Furthermore, after the sequence through black 11 in the actual game, in the future White has the powerful playing method of 1 through 5 in Diagram 2.

Diagram 2

The Point is to View the Marked White Stones as Light

Move 12

Since the stones on the upper side have performed their role as forcing moves, they can be viewed lightly. “If they work effectively when fighting breaks out, that will be good.” So White will turn to the big point at 12, and that is the strategic point in this opening. It is best to understand that if White moves out immediately with the stones, they will become heavy.

Moves 12–20

In reply to white 12, when Black defends at 13, with the moves following white 14, both sides occupy big points through white 20.

Move 21

Here, Kobayashi Meijin entered the 3–3 point with black 21.

Perhaps this gives the impression of being a little bit premature, but if things were left as they are, white A would consolidate the corner in good form; therefore it is probably best for Black to hurry to play 21 now.

Move 22

Blocking at white 22 is correct.

Diagram 3

Using this move to block from the direction of white 2 in Diagram 3 leads to the sequence through white 16, at which time limits the effectiveness of White’s outward influence, making White dissatisfied.

Moves 23–25

Taking Real Profit

Moves 26–30

Exchanging black 29 for White taking real profit in the corner starting with 30 is par for the situation.

Diagram 4
5: connects

With these moves, white 2, 4 and 6 in Diagram 4 are also joseki, but besides being somewhat slack in terms of territory, in the present game this way of deliberately building outward influence would be hard to develop due to the stones on the left side.

Moves 31–35

Regarding black 33, now this has become a first rate big point that cannot be neglected, which prevents White from aiming at A (white 1 in Diagram 2).

In answer to this, white 34 is sente. It is played with the idea of “If it plays a role in the future fighting…” not with the intention of moving out here immediately.

Moves 36–39

In response to the checking extension of white 36, it is natural for Black to make the forcing move of 37, then counterattack with 39.

Move 40

The reply to this with the diagonal move of white 40 is proper form.

Diagram 5

Black would probably answer White’s use of 40 to jump to 2 in Diagram 5 by immediately connecting with 3, making White’s play slack.

Moves 41–44

After white 42, black 43 is par for the situation, so White defends the lower left corner with 44 and the position may be said to be one in which White is not dissatisfied.

Next, Black capped with A, starting a violent confrontation with both sides vying for superiority. This will be thoroughly analyzed in Chapter 2, Game 2, “Dripping Cold Sweat”.

The following Reference Figure shows a game from the 53rd Annual Honinbo League played against Cho Sonjin 8 dan (at the time).

White: O Rissei 9 dan
Black: Cho Sonjin 8 dan
Komi: 5½ points
Date: 1998–02
Event: 53rd Annual Honinbo League
Commentary: O Rissei

Moves 1–5

Move 6

In response to the shoulder hit strategy of white 6, Black chose 7 and 9, so White turned to 10. When Black made the pincer of 11, White made the double attack on the corner with 12, resulting in a fuseki in which White is not inferior in terms of speed.

Moves 7–16

Moves 17–22

Moves 23–24

However, when Black played 23, the hane of white 24 was an overplay.

For white 24, jumping to white A would no doubt produce an acceptable result.

Moves 25–29

So Black played hane in return of 25 and answered white 26 with the forcing move of black 27, then turned to black 29 and everything became difficult and painful.

After this, Black made some questionable moves and White won by resignation.

Moves 30–39

Moves 40–49

Moves 50–60

Moves 61–75

Moves 76–90

Moves 91–110

Moves 111–130

Moves 131–150
142: connects

Moves 151–170

Moves 171–184

184 moves. O Rissei wins by resignation.