Life In 19x19

:wt: is played low, so I decided that I have more prospects for growth by approaching on the left side first.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$c Move 13 Prisoner Count: B=0 W=0
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . O X X . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O , X . . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Q . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . X . . X . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

I have further potential for influence on the right side with a sequence like this:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc. Move 13 Prisoner Count: B=0 W=0
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . O X X . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O , X . . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 . O . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . , . . 1 . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . X 2 . X . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

But that ends in gote and so I'll hold off on doing something like that for now. Besides, I might want to attack those stones later. They are just far enough away from the bottom left star points that it's possible that an invasion on that side later would be possible and it's certainly easier if I keep those stones weaker than if I strengthen them.

Unfortunately, a play around P5 would be on the border of my potential and would help black with this problem. It will be big soon, but it's also gote for now, so I use my sente for a good approach.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$c Move 13 Prisoner Count: B=0 W=0
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . O X X . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O , X . . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . f . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . c e . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . d . X . a . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . b . . . . . X . . X . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

So, today, we're going to discuss in reverse order, because they're ordered in order of my likely hood of playing them. I'm hoping, through discussion, to figure out which one is best.

F: F isn't a bad play, but it runs counter to my desire to keep as much of the corner as possible. More, if white decides to jump out, they can launch a strong counterpincer, which makes the left side into a brawl.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$c Move 13 Prisoner Count: B=0 W=0
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . O X X . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O , X . . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . 4 , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . W . 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . 5 . X . 3 . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . X . . X . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

At this point, I've written off my pincer stone. This is one option when playing a pincer, take the corner, or take the side.

I find it highly likely that white would just take the 3.3 invasion after the pincer. This isn't a terrible result..

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$c Move 13 Prisoner Count: B=0 W=0
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . O X X . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O , X . . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . 6 W . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . 4 X . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . 2 3 . . . . . . . X . . X . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

As long as you turn the correct direction. Turning the other way gives up the bottom side in exchange for the left. The left side is not as interesting as the bottom here.

After 7, white is likely to try to reduce in the J-K 4-5 area, leading to a brawl. Given that I don't think the results from these joseki suit my desires for the area, I'll move on to E.

E, the kick, is what I would call a 'worst response' situation.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$c Move 13 Prisoner Count: B=0 W=0
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . O X X . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O , X . . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . 4 , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . W 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . X . 3 . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . X . . X . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

After white 4, black has not secured the corner. He has strengthened white greatly. He has built a very loose framwork over the bottom side. But the framework is weak, the corner is invadable (which I won't cover, for space considerations. But Sensei's has quite a bit about the weakness.)

The worst part about this joseki is that it ends up with white having strong territory along the whole right side. Given that I want to avoid strengthening white this much, I absolutely must not play the kick.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$c Move 13 Prisoner Count: B=0 W=0
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . O X X . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O , X . . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . 4 W . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . 1 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . 3 X . . 5 . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . X . . X . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

2-4 is a common mistake. Black doesn't need to defend 1. They can play b3 in sente if white plays b4 to take the stone. This is endgame stuff, so black can play a different move. After 5 though, white can pull back and solidify the large side for themselves on the left.

Notice how black's framework is deeply invadable, but if white plays correctly, their framework on the left is
fairly solid. Black wants to avoid strengthening white this much. Which brings us to C.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$c Move 13 Prisoner Count: B=0 W=0
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . O X X . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O , X . . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . W . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . 1 . X . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . 2 . . . . . X . . X . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

I'll be honest. I don't know black's proper answer after 2, because I'm fairly sure 1 in this case is a blatant error. Black likely plays the splitting move at E5, but I find the continuations here.. rather painful for black. If white plays solidly on the bottom..

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$c Move 13 Prisoner Count: B=0 W=0
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . O X X . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O , X . . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . W . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . 3 . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . 1 . X . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . 2 . . 4 . . X . . X . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Black takes a large corner/left side, but we've already mentioned this isn't the direction we'd like black to develop.


Which brings us to B.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$c Move 13 Prisoner Count: B=0 W=0
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . O X X . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O , X . . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . W . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . 2 . X . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . 3 . . 1 . . . . . X . . X . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

This is a very simple, possible continuation. If black plays this way, he solidly takes some of the corner, but black is low, and feels heavy. White 4 plays well with the top group. Life isn't all bad here. After white 4, black has sente, and can take a big move on the right side, but this is little consolation for the lowness of 1.

Which leaves me with A.

This was where my eye was first drawn, and I think it's still my best option. Let's take a look.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$c Move 13 Prisoner Count: B=0 W=0
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . O X X . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O , X . . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . W . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . 2 . X . 1 . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . 3 . . . . . . . . X . . X . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Notice in this sequence, black has more potential along the bottom. The groups work better together, and feel like one framework, rather than two small groups.

White still gives up a bit of the corner, and still takes sente to play on the right. But this time, without being submissively on the 3rd line, they have better prospects later.

I like the way this looks and feels best, so we'll go with that.

EDIT: I'm trying to write my thoughts as clearly as possible for lower level players to read. Is anyone reading them? Am I writing too much? Should I focus on one or two possible moves rather than deep analysis like this?

I'm making a moyo of the left side. This move allows for me to dive into the corner as a last resort if he invades at a

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$c Move 15 Prisoner Count: B=0 W=0
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . O X X . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O , X . . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . c . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . d . f . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . b . X . X . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . e . . . X . . X . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

If he plays b, I probably jump up do d and aim for e which he might prevent with f, but then I can strongly consider a reduction first, but where is tricky. Another option for him is that he could also play around c to build his own moyo, but I feel like I can still invade easily enough if he does after I secure my own territory.

Of course, I want to approach the top right soon if I can and reducing or invading at the bottom might be fun.

I'm leery sometimes of trying to grow faster than my opponent in a handicap game, but I feel like this is the way that this might head. We'll just have to see.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$c Move 15 Prisoner Count: B=0 W=0
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . O X X . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O , X . . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . b . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . X . X . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . X . . X . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

White's position makes me somewhat uncomfortable because I am leery of the dual weaknesses at 'a' and 'b'. It seems like the moyo he makes has too many holes. However, I'm not sure I know of a better way, and using stable position on the top left to make a framework is strategically sound imo. Would the following variation be better for W? Does anyone have any better ideas?

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . O X X . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O , X . . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . 1 . X . X . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . 2 . . . . . . . . X . . X . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

So, this is always a strange place for me. This point in the opening, the corners are, more or less settled. I could go a few places, but I've chosen this one for simplicity. This is the 'largest' point on the board. Claiming it gives me a nice double wing formation, and makes white work.

Normally, I'd feel that this is too passive. It doesn't pressure white at all anywhere. Except with the fact that with this move, I've sketched out a fairly broad framework.

I can't keep all of it, but I only have to keep enough.

I guess no one was reading my detailed list of move analysis, and how I think about the opening, so I'll just go with this, since it's shorter.

I was hoping a bit that I would get to approach there first, but his distant stone affects mine less than it should. I expect a pincer here. Perhaps I could dive into the corner.

If I dove into the corner, I'd expect it to proceed something like this.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 . . . . . |
$$ | . O X X . . . X . a . X . O . 3 1 . . |
$$ | . . O , X . . . . , . . . . 4 X 2 . . |
$$ | . O . . . . . . . . . . 6 . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . 7 , X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . X . X . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . b . . . X . . X . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

I don't hate this result. I could do this, try to reduce him, try to retain sente and invade on the bottom or grow my moyo on the left.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . O X X . . . X . 8 6 X . O . . . . . |
$$ | . . O , X . . a 9 7 3 4 . . . X . . . |
$$ | . O . . . . . . . . . 5 . 1 . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . b . . . . . . 2 . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . . , X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . c . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . X . X . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . d . . . X . . X . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Perhaps he'd exchange a for b, perhaps not. Either way, he'd get sente and he'd get to play on the bottom left on the border of our two moyos. A play around c is huge. And I really want to get d in sometime soon.

And I thoughts about double approaches, but they give similar results to what I just played. Just a bit different, but I wonder how black would respond to this:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . O X X . . . X . . . X . O . . . . . |
$$ | . . O , X . . . . . . . . . . X W . . |
$$ | . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . . , X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . X . X . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . X . . X . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Maybe this:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . O X X . . . X . . . X . O . 3 2 . . |
$$ | . . O , X . . . . . . . . . . X 1 . . |
$$ | . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . . , X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . X . X . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . X . . X . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Or this:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 5 7 . . |
$$ | . O X X . . . X . . . X . O 8 2 3 . . |
$$ | . . O , X . . . . . . . . . . X W . . |
$$ | . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . . , X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . X . X . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . X . . X . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Anyway, these are some of my thoughts. It might be fun just to see what happens.

This is the only move worth thinking about. I could discuss why all the other joseki are too slack here. The key is the upper left group supports the pincer strongly. The only decision that remains is to decide what white's best response is, and decide on your responses.

If white jumps out, the joseki proceeds easily.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$c Move 16 Prisoner Count: B=0 W=0
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 6 7 . |
$$ | . O X X . . . X . . . 1 . W . 8 5 . . |
$$ | . . O , X . . . . , . . . . . X 9 . . |
$$ | . O . . . . . . . . . . . 2 . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . 3 . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . . , X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . X . X . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . X . . X . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

This is not what I'd call Ideal, it kills the aji in the corner, but it does settle the groups, so white may play this way. Usually, jumping out involves a counter attack on the left pincer, but that's pretty hard to do without further endangering the weak two stones.

Given that the counter pincer is also not great in this case, white should probably consider using this stone a different way.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$c Move 16 Prisoner Count: B=0 W=0
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . O X X . . . X . . . 1 . W . . 2 . . |
$$ | . . O , X . . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . . , X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . X . X . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . X . . X . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Given that I think this is the best response, I have to decide which way to play it.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$c Move 16 Prisoner Count: B=0 W=0
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 . . . . . |
$$ | . O X X . . . X . . . 1 . W . 4 2 . . |
$$ | . . O , X . . . . , . . . . 5 X 3 . . |
$$ | . O . . . . . . . . . . 7 . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . . , X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . X . X . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . X . . X . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

This is my inclination to proceed. Black gains a wall which benefits the right greatly, white gets pressed small in the corner.

That's assuming white takes the corner in the first place.

If we turn the other way, you only gain a few more points on the top, rather than the large potential of the right.

That's assuming white moves into the corner at all, but I'm fairly confident, the sequence is necessary for white. If they don't, I'll be surprised.

So I thought about it.

I would really love this move if it helped build a huge central moyo:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

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

But it really doesn't. I feel like it does more to secure some black territory and the influence is too easily negated by black. Also, black gets sente.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . . . |
$$ | . O X X . . . X . a . X . O . O O 7 . |
$$ | . . O , X . . . . , . . . . X X X 8 . |
$$ | . O . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 . 3 6 . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . . , X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . X . X . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . X . . X . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

I feel like this is playable with a potential future invasion at a.

If black blocks this way:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

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

The stone on the right's value is diminished, but he gets sente. And his top side looks big. Perhaps I could reduce it in sente, but the previously distant stone now looks well placed.

I don't know if I feel like I gain that much by the other move I examined, but I could wait and see if he answers "correctly". To be quite truthful, I'm not sure which way is best.

But, I decided to dive into the corner, because I like the second result the best after the follow up sequence. Whether it's right or not is another question entirely. I'll let a strong player answer that question.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc Move 19 Prisoner Count: B=0 W=0
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 . . . . . |
$$ | . O X X . . . X . . . X . O . 3 1 . . |
$$ | . . O , X . . . . , . . . . 4 X 2 . . |
$$ | . O . . . . . . . . . . 6 . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . . , X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . X . X . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . X . . X . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Joseki line?

Again, this was the required move by white. I'm happy with it, since it allows me to build up my framework and gain influence while squashing white.
The important thing to recall right now is that his left side is possible to invade, as is my right side.

We'll probably start fighting soon.

If I can get sente, I will probably invade the bottom. Though I've also considered expanding my moyo on the left. It's tricky trying to decide what to do.

The proper response to a shoulder hit is to extend. Extending up would be better if I already had a stone somewhere around the white stone in the lower right. Since extending up allows me to be separated from my strong wall, instead, I'm going to deprive white of a base. Since white's stone has no support, this movement, even if he pushes me down all the way along the wall, weakens his stones and strengthens mine.

I don't think this is the proper play in this board situation. Were I white, I'd play a cap over the star point, to reduce, rather than this deep, baseless, and unsupported invasion. That said, I'm famously bad at properly responding to such things, so maybe I'll screw up somewhere in this and it will work out for white anyway.

I'd be hesitant to play the shoulder hit you did, because of the "play away from thickness" principle. Were you worried about creating a weak group here or getting pushed into black's wall? It seems like maybe black made it easy blocking underneath instead of Q10, what do you think?

Well, the shoulder hit is not really within black's sector lines:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$c
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . . . |
$$ | . O X X . . . X . . . X . O . O O . . |
$$ | . . O , X . . . . , . . . . X X X . . |
$$ | . O . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . . , X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . X . X . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . X . . X . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ {LN N15 R10}[/go]

If black pushes up, so can white:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$c
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . . . |
$$ | . O X X . . . X . . . X . O . O O . . |
$$ | . . O , X . . . . , . . . . X X X . . |
$$ | . O . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 O . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . . 1 X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . X . X . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . X . . X . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ {LN N15 Q10}[/go]

Now white's stones are certainly outside of black's sector line.

Of course, if black felt that he had a chance to attack (kill) white, he could play like this:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$c
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . . . |
$$ | . O X X . . . X . . . X . O . O O . . |
$$ | . . O , X . . . . , . . . . X X X . . |
$$ | . O . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 . O 2 4 . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . . , X 3 . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . X . X . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . X . . X . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ {LN N15 P9}[/go]

But then 2 is sente and black's stones are split.

Now, black wants to avoid this, so my current move should be sente.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . . . |
$$ | . O X X . . . X . . . X . O . O O . . |
$$ | . . O , X . . . . , . . . . X X X . . |
$$ | . O . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . 3 . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . . , X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . X . X . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . X . . X . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$c Move 27 Prisoner Count: B=0 W=0
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . . . |
$$ | . O X X . . . X . . . X . O . O O . . |
$$ | . . O , X . . . . , . . . . X X X . . |
$$ | . O . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . W . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . . , X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . X . X . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . X . . X . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Again, I think this is a mistake on the part of my honorable opponent. Let's discuss why.

When in a contact fight, it's important to strengthen your stones. This maneuver opens a weakness. Generally speaking, he's moving in what would be the correct direction if he weren't playing directly against a solid wall, but..

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$c Move 27 Prisoner Count: B=0 W=0
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . . . |
$$ | . O X X . . . X . . . X . O . O O . . |
$$ | . . O , X . . . . , . . . . X X X . . |
$$ | . O . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 W 5 . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1 3 . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . . , X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . X . X . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . X . . X . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

This looks not so good for white. 2 at 3 looks even worse. This weakness is urgent to exploit. Too slack would be this response:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$c Move 27 Prisoner Count: B=0 W=0
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . . . |
$$ | . O X X . . . X . . . X . O . O O . . |
$$ | . . O , X . . . . , . . . . X X X . . |
$$ | . O . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . W 1 . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 2 3 . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . . , X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . X . X . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . X . . X . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

While this is still good for black, white gets to jump away now, and the black group has weaknesses for later.

There is a third way of dealing with things:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$c Move 27 Prisoner Count: B=0 W=0
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . . . |
$$ | . O X X . . . X . . . X . O . O O . . |
$$ | . . O , X . . . . , . . . . X X X . . |
$$ | . O . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . W 3 . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1 . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . . , X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . X . X . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . X . . X . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

If white blocks with 2 at 3, black will happily push through, and cut the weak group in half.

This is simplest, and ends with the most territory for black. It's possible that I should play this way instead of playing my impulse move of cutting first. But, the cut introduces weaknesses, and leaves white heavy and unballanced, so we'll go with that.