Auto-kick

[Uberdude]

Yeah kick and invade to sacrifice for a big sente corner can be a powerful strategy when the strong white group on the left is not useful. But a strong opponent who is aware of it can avoid it: e.g. make 2 not 3 space extension, or perhaps the initial approach was simply wrong direction. Or just be patient and hope to find a use for the strong group even though black got a nice territory lead locally, or make black's choice aji keshi (e.g. black can't go for centre moyo so well now).

There is also the 3rd line 3 space extension which is similar but white gets a stronger shape. Also white can 2nd line attach under the invader and if black hanes to fight white gets the descent to undermine the corner, though black can not fight and simply hane from the corner.

[ez4u]

That group actually looks very settled for white to me.

But i don't think it would be outrageous for white to tenuki at 6.

If black tries to connect 1, white can get thicker. And it's not like he's making very many points by preventing black from connecting.

I feel like a tenuki at 6 is less severe then a double approach to a corner stone. If I were to attempt to measure it. I could be way off though.

If White tenukies before 6 its group is virtually not alive. That'd be a severe deficit throughout the game, esp. after black gets a big corner and is strong there. Even with 6 white is not settled. If 1 begins to run and has help from nearby stones it can escape and bring white in trouble, so even with 6 white might still need another move to finish 1 off for good and god knows if white gets such a move naturally.

I have 16 pro games in my database with this corner position. White most often plays tenuki next (9 games). If Black goes ahead and cuts with 1 (the most frequent continuation), the most interesting plan for White seems to be to exchange 2 for 3 and then tenuki again! As long as White plays lightly it seems that Black is spending too many stones for too little gain.

$$Bc White tenuki
$$+ - - - - - - - - -
$$| . . . . . . . . .
$$| . . . . . . . . .
$$| . . . . . X . . .
$$| . . . X . . . . .
$$| . X X . . . . . .
$$| . X O O . . . . .
$$| . O 1 . . . . . .
$$| . 3 X O . . . . .
$$| . . 2 . . . . . .
$$| . . . O . . . . .
$$| . . . . . . . . .
$$

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Bc White tenuki
$$+ - - - - - - - - -
$$| . . . . . . . . .
$$| . . . . . . . . .
$$| . . . . . X . . .
$$| . . . X . . . . .
$$| . X X . . . . . .
$$| . X O O . . . . .
$$| . O 1 . . . . . .
$$| . 3 X O . . . . .
$$| . . 2 . . . . . .
$$| . . . O . . . . .
$$| . . . . . . . . .
$$[/go]