Hello.
I was wondering what was the best way to place handicap stones in 9x9, considering the fact that there is no komi and White is much stronger than Black.
Basically there are three questions: what's the best way to place 2 handicap stones? what's the best way to place 3 handicap stones? what's the best way to place 4 handicap stones?
"The best way" does not mean the way that leads to the highest winning margin for Black if both sides played optimally. It means the way such that Black has a very simple plan to win, even if it's just by a few points, and White can't do much against it.
For example, in the following two diagrams, Black might be able to kill everything and take the whole board or almost the whole board, but it's a little risky and if Black makes a lot of mistakes he might lose.
Instead, Black should maybe place his stones like in the following diagram. He will not be able to kill everything and take the whole board, but Black has a very simple plan to win: he's just going to get the lower part of the board and win by a few points. And it's going to be pretty hard for White to do anything against this.
Or maybe this handicap placement might be really strong:
If White plays 1 trying to get something at the top, Black plays 2. And then if White wants to live at the bottom it will be very hard for him since he will have two groups at the bottom near the triangles which would be disconnected between each other and therefore they might get killed - there's a 9x9 proverb which says "Two groups might live but the third will die". And if White can't live in the lower half of the board, Black will win by a very big margin, even if there is a komi.
What's the best way to place handicap stones in 9x9 ?
What's the best way to place handicap stones in 9x9 ?
Last edited by Alcadeias on Wed Jan 28, 2015 8:14 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Bonobo
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Re: What's the best way to place handicap stones in 9x9 ?
I’m only around 12k, but I think I like thisAlcadeias wrote:I was wondering what was the best way to place handicap stones in 9x9, considering the fact that there is no komi and White is much stronger than Black. [..]
or perhaps even better this: or this:
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Re: What's the best way to place handicap stones in 9x9 ?
I think that this is the best place to 2 handicap stone. White can fight and white isn't bound to die.
I can't imagine play with 3 stone of handicap in 9x9. 4 stone is too dificult to thinking to me imagination. Because it will do a automatic black victory.
I can't imagine play with 3 stone of handicap in 9x9. 4 stone is too dificult to thinking to me imagination. Because it will do a automatic black victory.
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Bill Spight
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Re: What's the best way to place handicap stones in 9x9 ?
The Adkins Principle:
At some point, doesn't thinking have to go on?
— Winona Adkins
Visualize whirled peas.
Everything with love. Stay safe.
At some point, doesn't thinking have to go on?
— Winona Adkins
Visualize whirled peas.
Everything with love. Stay safe.