Initiative
In the endgame, playing sente moves are often decisive. It goes without saying that capturing the initiative is equally important.
Diagram 1: Even if you're not a beginner, this might be an interesting position to start from. Since the positions are symmetrical, both parties should end up with similar territories. Or do they? Black 1 tries to increase his own territory while reducing that of White. If White answers with 2, Black will play 3, 5 and 7, and each time White will have to answer these moves.
Diagram 2: Once White follows Black's moves, the sequence through 32 is almost inevitable. In the middle of the board, many moves are played but the difference is only one or two points--the outcome does not change. The final score is Black 65+61=126 against White 57+ 60=117, a difference of nine points. The result is not even close. In other words, once you start compromising, you will lose.
Diagram 3: So what to do, then? If Black threatens to invade with 1, White should ignore it and make an equally big or bigger threat with 2. If both players do this consistently, it is quite possible they will end up with a position similar to the one shown here. After white 28, all marked stones look like they are dead, even if those stones seemed unassailable when the players started out. In games between pros, who avoid compromises, situations like these often occur.
Problems
Problem 1: After black 1 and white 2, Black invades with 3. How should White respond?
Problem 2: White to play first and win. Use sente moves against Black's corners to reduce Black's potential territory and get an advantage.
Problem 3: How should White respond to black 1? More importantly, how do you think the positions will develop 10 moves or 20 moves ahead? Try a few possibilities for each move and compare the results.
Solution to last week's problems
Solution: Black 1 is sente and forces white 2 (White makes two eyes at the marked spots), enabling Black to switch to 3 to force 4 (again White makes eyes at the marked spots in the center), before finally taking the largest gote move with 5. In the end, Black wins by two points.
Reference: So what happens if Black plays a gote move with 1? White will play at 2. Even if Black now corrects himself and plays 3 for 4, and then 5, after white 10, both players will end up with nine points each.
Try different combinations for yourself, and you will see Black can win only if he first plays his sente moves 1 and 3 in the Solution.
Want to find out more? Come to Ben's Cafe in Takadanobaba, Tokyo (03-3202- 2445), where the English speaking go community congregates every Sunday, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Ben's Cafe can be accessed at www.benscafe.com.
Van Zeijst is a four-time European go champion and European representative at the Fujitsu World Championship.