According to one story,

By Rob Van Zeijst

According to one story, the difference between a manager and a visionary is that the former decides which trees to cut down, while the latter determines how to develop the forest. In go, a player must unite both these concepts by deciding what area to develop or fight in and for what goal, and then determine how best to achieve this.

The greatest difference between new and veteran pros does not lie in fighting skills but at a level where it all comes together: strategy. Top pros are great strategists who come to the board with a vision. To understand their reasoning, we have to master a large number of techniques. This week, we will continue to study the scissorlike hasami-tsuke technique.

Hasami-tsuke

Diagram 1: Black 1 attaches to the marked white stone to form the hasami-tsuke. Let us see how this can be used in tactical maneuvers.

Diagram 2: The marked black stones seem in trouble. The only way out is by snaring one of White's surrounding groups. But how?

Diagram 3: Black 1 does the trick with a hasami-tsuke in relation to the white stone marked with an X, as it traps the two white stones marked with a triangle. If White connects at A, Black will play at B, and vice versa. If White plays at C, the sequence black D, white E and black F will follow, preventing White from connecting his marked stones.

Diagram 4: This problem appeared last week. Imagine this situation without the numbered moves. To kill off White, Black can use the hasami-tsuke of 1 in relation to the marked stone. White 2 through 8 is White's strongest line of defense, but black 9 kills the entire group.

Solutions to last week's problems

Solution 2: To save his three marked stones, White should play at 1. If Black resists with 2, white 3, 5 and 7 will destroy Black's corner.

Reference 1: If White plays at 1, Black easily defends his corner with 2, 4 and 6, trapping two white stones.

Reference 2: Black's best response usually is to drive a wedge through White's marked stones with 2 and 4, then defend with 6. Black's thickness is superior to White's territory, especially as Black can seal in the corner and bolster his strength with A.

Solution 3: The problem was to free up Black's marked stones. Black should play the hasami-tsuke of 1. In answer to 2, black 3 completes the trap. White's marked stones cannot escape as they have only two liberties left against Black's three. Therefore, Black wins the capturing race.

Solution 4A: Black 1 and 3 are the right combination. Although white 6 and 8 threaten to make a ko in the corner, black 9 will prevent this. However, white 10 and 12 threaten to make a ko on the right side.

Solution 4B: Black 13 is a clever move. This induces white 14 and black 15. After white 16, black 17 puts the white stones in atari as they can be captured on the next move.

Solution 4C: This is the situation after black 17 in the previous diagram. Even if White has many more ko threats than Black, he still cannot win in this situation because it is a double ko. If White captures at A (after playing a ko threat), Black will play at B, putting the seven marked White stones in atari. If White plays a ko threat and recaptures with B, Black will then capture White's stone at A. In other words, while Black's marked stones are never in atari, White's marked stones are always in atari and have no way out.

Problems

Problem 1: This sequence occurred in a pro game more than 70 years ago, before it became a fixed pattern. After black 3 through 7, white 8 seems to be a strong move. Find alternative responses for Black. What is his best move?

Problem 2: Black's group looks rigid enough. However, White has a move that can kill Black off. Where should White play?

Want to find out more? Come to Ben's Cafe in Takadanobaba, Tokyo (03-3202-2445, http://www.benscafe.com), where the English-speaking go community congregates every Sunday. You can enjoy free lessons, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Van Zeijst is a four-time European go champion and European representative at the Fujitsu World Championship.