As the deadline for reporting our ...
By Rob Van Zeijst
As the deadline for reporting our earnings to the tax office draws near, some go professionals have quite a bit to report. One of them is Cho U, current Meijin, Honinbo and Oza, who has earned more than 100 million yen from tournaments he played last year. Royalties from books and appearance fees may actually double his income. Cho is only the third person, after Cho Chikun and Koichi Kobayashi, to earn more than 100 million yen from tournaments during one year.
Among other things, Cho U likes to set tsume-go (life-and-death) problems or ask what the best move is in a particular situation. Many of these problems use specific techniques. Let us consider one of them, the hasami-tsuke (scissorlike) technique.
Hasami-tsuke
Diagram 1: White's territory on the right side may look solid, but it has a major flaw. Using the hasami-tsuke technique Black can make a large dent in white's territory.
Diagram 2: Black 1, which applies the scissors to White's marked stone, is correct. White has little choice but to defend with 2, allowing Black to exchange 3 for 4 in sente.
Diagram 3: Black 1 is not nearly as effective. In the variation shown here, Black loses a point compared to Diagram 2.
Diagram 4: People often exchange 1 for 2 before playing 3. This may seem good at first, but the situation unravels. After black 5, White will often play somewhere else, because even if Black captures one white stone by playing his next move at 1, this does not endanger White's marked stones--without the 1-2 exchange it would. In other words, the 1-2 exchange means that White does not need to connect at 1 immediately after Black plays at 5.
New problems
Problem 1: Although it comes in many different forms, this is a famous problem. How can Black kill White's group?
Problem 2: White's task is to save his marked stones. How can he do this?
Problem 3: Black plays and saves his marked stones by capturing two white stones. How? Note the possible hasami-tsuke at right.
Problem 4: Black seems in trouble on two sides. However, if he can capture the corner, he is safe. Where should he play?
Solution to last week's problems
Solution 1A: The aim of the white marked stone is the hasami-tsuke at 1. If Black connects, White plays watari (connects underneath) to take away most of Black's corner. Black can play A or C, usually followed by white B, but he already has lost most of his corner.
Solution 1B: Black 2 through 6 look like an alternative. Black saves part of his corner but White gets a thick shape. This result is good for White.
Solution 1C: Black 2 stops White's watari, but now White can force Black into a low position in the sequence through 10. Later, White may start the sequence A through E to build thickness.
Solution 1D: If White is blessed with many ko threats, he may want to play 1 through 5 to start a ko. Black can play ko at A instead of 6, but in the end (while playing and winning the ko), White captures with 7 and 9. This is very good for White.
Solution to this week's Problem 1: Black 1 constitutes the hasami-tsuke tesuji. In this particular shape, it is also called the belly-hitting tesuji. White has no choice but to connect at 2 allowing Black to connect with 3. White 4 and 6 are a clever sente combination but after black 9, White is doomed. The solution for this problem contains a hint for solving other problems.
Want to find out more? Come to Ben's Cafe in Takadanobaba, Tokyo, where the English-speaking go community congregates every Sunday. You can enjoy free lessons, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Ben's Cafe can be accessed at (03) 3202-2445, www.benscafe.com.
Van Zeijst is a four-time European go champion and European representative at the Fujitsu World Championship.