I was reading a commentary on the recent game between Gu Li and Lee Changho. The commenter said that black 1 in the diagram below was questionable, and black 1 at "a" is the right shape. Black 'a' would seem odd to me, and appear to allow white more influence along the left side. Any thoughts?

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$c
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . X X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . X O O X . O . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . X O . O . . . , O . . O . X . . .|
$$ |. . . O . . . . . . . . . . O . X . .|
$$ |. . X X O O X . . . . . . . . X O X .|
$$ |. . . . X X O . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . O X . a . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . O 1 . . . . . . . . . . . X . .|
$$ |. . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . O . . . . . , . . . . . , X . .|
$$ |. . . . . O . . . . . . . . X . . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

"a" would threaten the ladder at "b". invites White to strengthen himself at "c".

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The Adkins Principle:
At some point, doesn't thinking have to go on?
— Winona Adkins

Visualize whirled peas.

Everything with love. Stay safe.

Beautiful!!
Empty triangle a batter move than tiger's mouth.

I am always happy to see examples where simple 'common bookish rules and knowledge' breaks or is superseded by needs of the position...
Such rules and knowledge might be good 'hints', but never ever absolutes. So many players forget that! This is why when people comment on moves with 'bad shape' or 'no good, you just made an empty triangle' - I just ache for them to explain further rather than just repeat pulp.

PS. Well, you asked for 'thoughts', not explanations. This was a thought.
Bill gave a good explanation.

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- Bantari
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