9x9 handicap: Following up on corner cut

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philosophyandgo
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9x9 handicap: Following up on corner cut

Post by philosophyandgo »

I've been playing a lot of handicap 9x9 games and found myself struggling with a relatively simple corner sequence. Responding to the white invasion, I try playing the cut at 4:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$W
$$ --------
$$ . . . . . |
$$ . . 1 4 . |
$$ . 2 X 3 . |
$$ . . . . . |[/go]


In a larger game, where the handicap stone would be at the 4-4 point, I have room to extend the cutting stone. But because the cutting stone is on the second line, extending 4 doesn't work.

Because the cut would be on the second line, should I not be cutting in this scenario? What is a typical way to deal with the approach at 1?
illluck
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Re: 9x9 handicap: Following up on corner cut

Post by illluck »

2 is fine (of course, subject to surrounding as always), but 4 should be hane on outside.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$W
$$ --------
$$ . . . . . |
$$ . . 1 . . |
$$ . 2 X 3 . |
$$ . . . 4 . |[/go]


Btw, your 4 isn't that bad either - just make sure to extend once if opponent plays atari to deny easy life in corner.
DrStraw
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Re: 9x9 handicap: Following up on corner cut

Post by DrStraw »

philosophyandgo wrote:I've been playing a lot of handicap 9x9 games and found myself struggling with a relatively simple corner sequence. Responding to the white invasion, I try playing the cut at 4:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$W
$$ --------
$$ . . . . . |
$$ . . 1 4 . |
$$ . 2 X 3 . |
$$ . . . . . |[/go]


In a larger game, where the handicap stone would be at the 4-4 point, I have room to extend the cutting stone. But because the cutting stone is on the second line, extending 4 doesn't work.

Because the cut would be on the second line, should I not be cutting in this scenario? What is a typical way to deal with the approach at 1?


:w4: does work, but playing on the outside is easier.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$W
$$ --------
$$ . . 7 6 9 |
$$ . 0 1 4 5 |
$$ . 2 X 3 . |
$$ . . . 8 . |[/go]


Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$W
$$ --------
$$ . . . 5 9 |
$$ . 8 1 4 6 |
$$ . 2 X 3 7 |
$$ . . . 0 . |[/go]
Still officially AGA 5d but I play so irregularly these days that I am probably only 3d or 4d over the board (but hopefully still 5d in terms of knowledge, theory and the ability to contribute).
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Re: 9x9 handicap: Following up on corner cut

Post by mitsun »

The OP is struggling with the concept that the cutting stone can be forcibly captured, making it a bad move. Let's not confuse him with situations where a deliberate sacrifice might be good.

Move the position up one line and away from the corner. Can you see that the cutting stone :b1: can again be forcibly captured? This is a more difficult problem, but it comes up frequently in every game. Try playing out some sequences to prove to yourself that W can capture :b1:.

(There are special cases where this might be a reasonable move for B anyway, but generally you do not want to cut if your cutting stone can be captured.)

Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$B
$$ --------
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . O O O O 1 . . . |
$$ . X X X X O . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |[/go]
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