Black and White are both rated at about amateur 3 or 4 dan AGA. This game was played on the Internet.
This is the position after the initial moves. Black is aiming for the popular mini-Chinese opening. The more usual approach when playing this opening is to play as in Diagram 1 below. However, Black is not sure White will answer as in Diagram 1.
If White plays 2 this way (2 is sometimes at A), Black 3 creates the mini-Chinese opening pattern.
White may also play a pincer at 2 or an approach at A. Black plays as in the game to avoid the possibilities of Diagram 2, and, of course, after Black 5 in the game, Black can still hope to get in the approach move at the bottom left later.
White 6 is the biggest move. Approaching at A would let Black make thickness that works well with the bottom right position. See Diagrams 3 and 4.
Black would be very happy with this result.
This result would also be excellent for Black.
From which direction should Black approach White 6?
Black 7 is from the wrong direction. If Black wants to play in this area, at A would be better because Black will want to play later at B. This would be better for Black than 7 and B, which would make Black overconcentrated.
If Black approaches from the bottom as in Diagram 5, this would be good if Black could get both A and B, but since go is a game of taking turns, that is not going to happen. After Black plays A, White plays B, and Black will not have good shape on the right side. B would be an ideal point for Black, as it would have a very good relation with the other black stones in the area.
The correct direction for Black to approach on this side is at 1. The large knight’s move is usually played in this position because Black A would not put enough pressure on the white stone, and Black B would be too close to the white group after White settles.
If Black extends from the top as in Diagram 6 and White responds with this 2, what is Black’s next move?
This Black 3 shows why Black should approach from the top: Black can force White to help Black develop a large territorial potential in the bottom right. The next diagrams show why Black 3 is the correct direction: The best way to make territory is not passively but by attacking the opponent’s weak stones.
If White plays elsewhere instead of at White 4 in Diagram 9, Black will push at A and force White B. White cannot allow this.
If Black plays this 9 after Diagram 9, White will reduce at 10. Black 9 should be at A.
What if White plays 8 in Diagram 9 as this reducing move?
Black pushes up twice and then gets to make this very severe cutting move at 13.
Continuing from Diagram 12, White must play 14 and 16. After this, where should Black play?
Continuing from Diagram 13, after the Black 17–White 18 exchange, where should Black play?
This Black 19 is the right move.
If White now plays this way, Black will be happy. White gets sealed in and can just make life (five stones on the third line lives with the first move), but this is painful for White. Black can play at A to separate the two white groups.
This concludes our mini-lesson on this opening pattern, which demonstrated the importance of direction of play and making territory while attacking.
Now back to the actual game, in which Black approached the white stone on the right side from the bottom.
White 8 could also be at A; it is just a matter of style. Black 9 would usually be at B.
Where should White play to strengthen the two stones on the right side?
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