Life In 19x19

Hello.

In 9x9 Go, at my newbish level (10 kyu) I see a lot of people opening at the 3-3 point.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Bc
$$ +-------------------+
$$ | . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . , . . . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . , . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . , . . . , . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . |
$$ +-------------------+[/go]

It seems a bit passive for Black. After all, Black has a komi to surpass, so he should be more aggressive.

So my question is: what's the strongest response for White?

Alcadeias wrote:Hello.

In 9x9 Go, at my newbish level (10 kyu) I see a lot of people opening at the 3-3 point.

$$Bc
$$ +-------------------+
$$ | . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . , . . . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . , . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . , . . . , . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . |
$$ +-------------------+

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Bc
$$ +-------------------+
$$ | . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . , . . . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . , . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . , . . . , . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . |
$$ +-------------------+[/go]

It seems a bit passive for Black. After all, Black has a komi to surpass, so he should be more aggressive.

So my question is: what's the strongest response for White?

"Tengen" or the opposite 4-4 are my usual answers, keeping the symmetry and stacking a "bigger" point of control. Same quadrant 4-4 if I feel reckless/bored.

Alcadeias wrote:After all, Black has a komi to surpass, so he should be more aggressive.

As you noticed, komi is relevant at much weaker levels on smaller boards. White can play pretty passively and win if black doesn't challenge white strongly on a 9x9 board. Frankly, a lot of white moves are probably fine. Even another 3-3 point is likely okay, banking on a win by komi. As you play more experienced players, you'll likely start to see a shift away from the 3-3 point, which I think beginners tend to play because it's a star point and where they got their handicap stones (see also 4-4 on larger boards) rather than due to a particular strategy.

That said, opening on 3-3 could be a viable strategy, with the idea of claiming some territory and making a solid group to fight and then proceeding to challenge white wherever white plays.

how about not playing 9x9 and work on 19x19.

Magicwand wrote:how about not playing 9x9 and work on 19x19.

I'm not going to dignify that with any further response.

Anyways, as white I usually just take the opposing 3-3 point (diagonal) and see what black does. I feel that opening gives white an easier time with 6.5 komi. It's probably not the strongest response, but probably among the safest.

illluck wrote:

I'm not going to dignify that with any further response.

guess what percentage of koreans actually play and enjoy 9x9.
if you want to run then get off your butt and stop crawling with baby board.

i guess i dignified myself since you didnt.

Magicwand wrote:

illluck wrote:

I'm not going to dignify that with any further response.

guess what percentage of koreans actually play and enjoy 9x9.
if you want to run then get off your butt and stop crawling with baby board.

i guess i dignified myself since you didnt.

You didn't. We play go because we like. If we like to play 9x9 why should we stop and only play 19x19?

Back in the NGA summer camp I played a couple 9x9 with Mikyung Cho. She said she didn't play 9x9 very often and wasn't a big fan but knew pros that liked it a lot.

RBerenguel wrote:

Magicwand wrote:

illluck wrote:

I'm not going to dignify that with any further response.

guess what percentage of koreans actually play and enjoy 9x9.
if you want to run then get off your butt and stop crawling with baby board.

i guess i dignified myself since you didnt.

You didn't. We play go because we like. If we like to play 9x9 why should we stop and only play 19x19?

Back in the NGA summer camp I played a couple 9x9 with Mikyung Cho. She said she didn't play 9x9 very often and wasn't a big fan but knew pros that liked it a lot.

I will not dignify this response but... for a math persone, response lacks logic.

Not sure if you'd know logic even if an iff hit you on the head.

If you enjoy tic-tac-toe,Please play and enjoy.

For a person who is expert in if and iff to remain at 5 kyu..... no further comment

Magicwand wrote:If you enjoy tic-tac-toe,Please play and enjoy.

For a person who is expert in if and iff to remain at 5 kyu..... no further comment

I'm lucky to know a bit about a huge amount of things, go among them. You could do the same.