Life In 19x19

Both K16 and O17 (and many other normal moves in large open areas) are excellent choices, there is nothing wrong with any of them, it is just a matter of style.

Just chose a move you feel good about, and don't be afraid to experiment with different such moves, see what works for you.

While I thoroughly agree with the advice to enjoy experimenting, I'm unsure it's just a matter of style.

In the following position, in a 3-stone game, Black played sanrensei as shown. But Kitani commented that sanrensei at A was better because of the position of the White stone. He said it made it easier to play Black B.

Surely if there's one thing that AlphaGo has shown it is that the whole board does matter.




Later in the same game, Black did play the other sanrensei but again Kitani criticised this, not as a bad move but because he thought there was a better one available. He recommended the irregular approach of Black A, with White B, Black C to follow. This gives Black the initiative with more opportunities to control the game.

John Fairbairn wrote:

Both K16 and O17 (and many other normal moves in large open areas) are excellent choices, there is nothing wrong with any of them, it is just a matter of style.

Just chose a move you feel good about, and don't be afraid to experiment with different such moves, see what works for you.

While I thoroughly agree with the advice to enjoy experimenting, I'm unsure it's just a matter of style.

In the following position, in a 3-stone game, Black played sanrensei as shown. But Kitani commented that sanrensei at A was better because of the position of the White stone. He said it made it easier to play Black B.

Surely if there's one thing that AlphaGo has shown it is that the whole board does matter.




Later in the same game, Black did play the other sanrensei but again Kitani criticised this, not as a bad move but because he thought there was a better one available. He recommended the irregular approach of Black A, with White B, Black C to follow. This gives Black the initiative with more opportunities to control the game.

In the first diagram the lower side san ren sei is clearly inferior to that on the right side because the mokuhazushi white stone in the upper left is in a position that restricts (reduces) the influence of the san ren sei on the bottom.