© 2001 by Yutopian Enterprises

Tricks in Joseki

Yilun Yang 7 dan

Buy the full book at gobooks.com

The Pocket Skills Series has been written by Mr. Yang Yilun 7 dan, based on more than ten years experience of teaching Go in the United States, and is devised to help the reader achieve the strength of 1 dan. Mr. Yang came up with the idea of printing pocket-size books so that the reader can study Go at anytime and anyplace.

Tricks in Joseki teaches the reader how to apply joseki flexibly and to avoid pitfalls. The techniques are introduced in depth through eighty exercises. We hope that the reader can have fun and get strong at the same time. Enjoy!

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Copyright Page

Tricks in Joseki

Published by
Yutopian Enterprises
2255 29th Street, Suite #3
Santa Monica, CA 90405
1–800–988–6463
sales@yutopian.com
http://www.yutopian.com/go

© 2001 by Yutopian Enterprises

All rights reserved according to international law. This book or any parts thereof may not be reproduced in any printed form, nor stored in any electronic retrieval system, nor recorded in any other medium without written permission from the publishers, except for short excerpts as a part of a written review.

Written by Mr. Yang Yilun 7 dan
Proof Assistance by Steve Bailey, Kyle Grieser, and James Acre

…Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery!

2 Corinthians 12:16

ISBN of the printed version: 1–889554–36–7

Converted for SmartGo Books by John Mifsud.

Contents

Tricks in Joseki

Copyright Page

Author’s Foreword

The 3–4 Point Section

Problems 1–10

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

Problems 11–20

Problems 21–30

Problems 31–40

Problems 41–50

Problems 51–60

Problems 61–70

Problems 71–80

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About SmartGo Books

Author’s Foreword

How fast time flies! I have been teaching Go in the United States for over 10 years. Currently, I have seen that most Go players in the U.S. have noticeably improved and the U.S. has become a stronger country in the World Go community. I am really delighted and excited. However, I have realized that some Go players do not progress naturally. They can play well when the game is peaceful, but they have trouble during battles. I think they lack an important part of Go – reading. In my opinion, no one can avoid the study of reading if they really want to be a strong player.

Thus, I have written this series of books to help people improve and become a 1 Dan player or higher.

For your convenience, this series is formatted as pocket sized books. Now people can do reading practice anywhere, anytime.

Yilun Yang
Alhambra, California, USA
July 1997

The 3–4 Point Section

Learning a joseki is easy. Coping with trick plays is hard.

Problem 1

Black to play

＞＜ ▶︎

The marked white stone is an odd play. What is the proper response for Black?

Answer 1

Correct Solution

＞＜ ▶︎

Black 1 is the key point to take advantage of White’s move. White 2 is proper. Up to Black 5, the sequence is good for Black.

Variation

＞＜ ▶︎

After Black plays at 1, White plays at 2. Black helps his single stone and creates cutting points in White’s shape. This isn’t good for White.

Failure

＞＜ ▶︎

Black 1 is loose. White 2 and 4 are good moves. White’s corner is big and White’s marked stone becomes a wonderful move.

Problem 2

Black to play

＞＜ ▶︎

This is an unusual situation. Can White’s marked stone limit Black’s single stone?

Answer 2

Correct Solution

＞＜ ▶︎

Black 1 is the only move. Black must push out to separate White. Black 3 is the correct sequence. Up to 7, the result is good for Black.

Variation

＞＜ ▶︎

If White extends to 4, Black gets out with 5 and 7. Black 9 gives Black a large profit.

Failure

＞＜ ▶︎

Black 1 is passive. Even though Black 5 gets a good shape on the lower side, White’s outside shape is also nice.

Problem 3

Black to play

＞＜ ▶︎

White just played an impulsive move with the marked stone. Black should be able to punish it.

Answer 3

Correct Solution

＞＜ ▶︎

Black 1 and 3 are the best moves. Black 5 sacrifices first, then Black 7 and 9 capture White’s two stones. This result is good for Black.

Variation

＞＜ ▶︎

After Black plays at 3, White defends with 4. Black 5 is a severe squeeze which flattens White’s lower side.

Failure

＞＜ ▶︎

Black 1 and 3 are bad moves since they help White become stronger.

Problem 4

Black to play

＞＜ ▶︎

During a sequence of joseki moves, White tries to upset Black’s shape with the marked stone. Does it work?

Answer 4

Correct Solution

＞＜ ▶︎

Black 1 and 3 are correct. Black 5 is a severe move. When White cuts with 6, Black makes great shape with 7.

Variation

＞＜ ▶︎

After Black pushes with 5, White blocks at 6, and Black 7 hurts White. If instead White 8 at a, Black will squeeze at b.

Failure

＞＜ ▶︎

For Black 1 to directly save the corner stone is wrong. White 2 separates Black and White makes wonderful thickness.

Problem 5

Black to play

＞＜ ▶︎

When White plays the marked stone, the correct reply is important for Black.

Answer 5

Correct Solution

＞＜ ▶︎

Black 1 is the key point. It increases liberties for the two stones and also decreases liberties for White. White 4 is necessary. Black 5 kills two stones.

Variation
7: connects

＞＜ ▶︎

White 2 appears to be a clever move to attack Black’s corner. But Black’s defense at 9 is fine. White now has two weak groups on the outside.

Failure

＞＜ ▶︎

Black’s attacking move at 1 is too early. White 2 is the key point which kills Black’s corner.