Yoda has always been a promising player from even before turning pro at the age of 14 and entering the Meijin league at only 18. But while he won minor titles and recorded good winning averages, for many years he was regarded as a "talented player who never quite made it." However, a few years ago he had a mental breakthrough and captured the Meijin title that he recently defended successfully for the second straight time.
In addition to the Meijin title worth 36 million yen, the Gosei title increased his earnings by another 7.7 million yen.
Today's theme is moving the dividing line between potential territories in your favor, which we will illustrate using the fifth game of the Gosei title match. The game has a couple of points that are of didactical interest.
After both players map out their territories clearly, their respective borders can be very close to one another. How can a player increase his own territory while decreasing that of his opponent?
Diagram 1: The moves through 18 have a nostalgic feel, as this looked like a fuseki (opening) from the 1950s or '60s. Leaving white 6, 8, and 10 on their own involves a special strategy. White relies on his skill to make sabaki (light shape providing eye-space). In the old days, white 18 was often answered at 20, white A. However, this leaves Black in two minds from where to approach white 2--at 19 or at 21. Black 19 immediately puts us in the present. With white 20 and black 21, each player goes his own way. The moves through 28 form a joseki (standard exchange). The problem is what to do next?
White has a moyo (potential territory) in the upper part of the board, while Black has a moyo on the right, extending all the way to the lower right and lower side. On his next move, it is Black's goal to increase his moyo and decrease White's. How should Black play?
Diagram 2: Black 1 and 3, which force a response with 2 and 4, comprise a good combination that limits the scope of White's potential while expanding Black's moyo in this area in sente. Black then maps out and reinforces his territory in the lower right by playing at 5, putting pressure on all of White's marked stones.
Diagram 3: In contrast, if Black plays at 1 immediately, White will probably jump to 2. This threatens the marked black stones with an invasion at A. If Black defends at 3, and we assume the same moves 4 through 6 as in the actual game, the difference becomes clear. Black's position is narrow, while White's shows scope for expansion.
Diagram 4: The moves 29 through 33 were actually played in the game. This leaves White with no choice but to move out with 34 and 36. While defending at 42 next might have been normal for Black, black 37, which hits the vital point, was a severe attack that denied White easy eye-space. In the sequence to 49, Black takes profit and almost completely gobbles up the marked white stone while White settles his group. Next, it is White's turn. Where should he play to limit Black's moyo and strengthen his own territory? In short, how can he move the line between potential territories in his favor?
Diagram 5: Yoda's next move was the jump to 1. A lesser player might have pulled out the marked stone to save it. However, Yoda wanted Black to capture the marked stone with A, white B, black C, after which White can switch to the next large spot. For comparison, imagine a black stone at 1. This would threaten black D, white E, black F, splitting White's position or making it very low. White 1 defends and threatens to rescue the marked stone, so it has both defensive and offensive qualities while setting up a moyo on the left.
New problems
This week's problems involve damezumari (shortage of liberties).
Problem 1: Black to play and kill the white group.
Problem 2: Black's marked stones have only four liberties. He has to capture the two marked white stones to connect them to his buddies, but how? Black to play and free his marked stones.
Solution 1: Black 1 is the correct move. White can't play at 3 as Black cuts at 2. Therefore, White has to play at 2, but now he has to little space to make eyes.
You'll find the solution to Problem 2 next week.
Want to find out more? Come to Ben's Cafe in Takadanobaba (03-3202-2445 or www.benscafe.com), where the English-speaking go community congregates every Sunday starting at 11 a.m. You can enjoy free lessons until 1 p.m.
Van Zeijst is a four-time European go champion and European representative at the Fujitsu World Championship.