I don't really know many 3-4 joseki sequences, but in an effort to grow as a player I've started playing 3-4 approaches and pincers. The idea being that I should be able to experiment freely on the board using tactical fighting rules, and then compare the result in game with known josekis and see where I differ and try to figure out why.
In that spirit, this was the board position from a recent game. I was white; white to play
So I followed the proverb "a tricky rabit has two escape holes" and descended like so. The idea being that I could aim at either 'a' or 'b' for eyespace.
Black responds like this, trying to seal me in (I don't think it's all that good in this position because the top isn't developable for black, so it's a single purpose move):
Looking this up in a joseki database afterwards, this is locally fine play so far. In this position I decide that the top is strong enough, so I attach to grab some of the corner. My thinking in game is that this would be sente, and I could then run out and/or attack black's pincer stone. And black obliged, and we played thusly.
In post game stone doodling, though, I wondered: does black actually need to play 4? Can he instead play like this and seal white into the corner/in a low position?
The strongest refutation I've found so far in my stone doodling is this:
And black has sente to take an extension along the top or fortify the cutting points and just be overwhelmingly thick. I think this greatly favors black. Which is why I think the attach and withdraw isn't in any of the joseki databases I have.
If white tries to be greedy instead, all the variations I've tried have his position collapsing or just crawling along the second line forever.
I'd be interested in others' thoughts. Maybe there's some tesuji I'm missing and this is actually okay for white? Or maybe there's a more direct way to punish white?
3-4 High approach low tight pincer question
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Bill Spight
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Re: 3-4 High approach low tight pincer question
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.
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Solomon
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Re: 3-4 High approach low tight pincer question
The purpose of 
is to split B's stones into two groups and play aggressive, not to settle in the corner. So this variation
is a no-no. You want to break out and ensure Black is still separated:
You want one of 'a' and 'b' and since Black can't play two moves in a row, you can. 'a' ensures Black doesn't stabilize his top group and works well with the 4-4 stone on the left in your main diagram, whereas 'b' pincers R13. As long as your group is safe, you go for one or the other and keep the pressure. So it helps to have support close by to play a move like in your second diagram.
If you want to settle rather than try to fight, then instead of:
Just attach right away:
is to split B's stones into two groups and play aggressive, not to settle in the corner. So this variationis a no-no. You want to break out and ensure Black is still separated:
You want one of 'a' and 'b' and since Black can't play two moves in a row, you can. 'a' ensures Black doesn't stabilize his top group and works well with the 4-4 stone on the left in your main diagram, whereas 'b' pincers R13. As long as your group is safe, you go for one or the other and keep the pressure. So it helps to have support close by to play a move like
in your second diagram.If you want to settle rather than try to fight, then instead of:
Just attach right away:
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Solomon
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Re: 3-4 High approach low tight pincer question
You already showed it in your original post?Numsgil wrote:So what's the refutation if white does try to get the attach and withdraw?
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Bill Spight
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Re: 3-4 High approach low tight pincer question
makes 
a bad play.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.
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Dusk Eagle
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Re: 3-4 High approach low tight pincer question
I would say this diagram is quite favorable for black in and of itself, though
at 'a' is still probably better 
.If we reorder the moves like above,
- are a joseki, but then why on earth would white play 
?Also, one minor thing:
in your stone doodling diagram would be better at 
below. Otherwise white will push through at rather than play at 'a'.Ninja'd by Bill.
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dedroid
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Re: 3-4 High approach low tight pincer question
just noting something
here 6 could be at 7
i like this better for black.
here 6 could be at 7
i like this better for black.
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kivi
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Re: 3-4 High approach low tight pincer question
Numsgil wrote:
The strongest refutation I've found so far in my stone doodling is this:
2 at 5: