A few weeks ago, we talked about ...

By Rob Van Zeijst

A few weeks ago, we talked about how Cho U beat his father-in-law, Koichi Kobayashi, to advance to the NEC Cup final, where he met Ryu Shikun. These days, Ryu is not in the news a lot and he is not among the top earners anymore. About 10 years ago, he broke through to the top by becoming Tengen twice while only a 7-dan. A keen and fast reader of the board, he is still among the most talented players but might have become too complacent after his early success.

NEC Cup final

In this game, Cho hopes to add the NEC Cup to his Honinbo, Meijin and Oza titles and win \15 million in the process. With his bold style, Ryu is often at his best when he is black. However, in this game he is white.

Diagram 1: With 12 and 13, White and Black follow their own paths. Black 15 is unusual but helps set up a huge framework on the right. This prompts White to invade with 16, instead of extending to B, the usual response. Following white 18, black 19 starts an aggressive effort to cut with 23 in an attempt to expand the right side. White wants to set his stone at 18 free. However, doing so immediately is dangerous as Black could hurt him by playing at C, the vital point of this shape. To prevent this, White first uses the crosscut tesuji 24-26. Black manages to immobilize two white stones, but White improves his shape sufficiently to allow him to free up 18 with 34. White tries to settle his stones with 36, but the nozoki (peeking) move at 37 is a strong countermove that launches a long and fierce battle. We will continue this game next week.

Crosscuts

The crosscut-kirichigai-is a high-level technique, often employed to settle the shape or make sabaki (a light shape).

Diagram 2: Black 1 illustrates the crosscut. Although black 1 cuts his opponent's stones, his own stones are cut in a similar manner. White can capture either of Black's stones, but at the cost of Black strengthening his other stone.

Diagram 3: If a black stone is present at around A, White might want to help his stone at 1 by using the crosscut combination of 3 and 5. Black 6 is a standard response, although this allows White to make a good shape with 7 through 11 in sente.

Solutions to last week's problems

Solution 1A: After a pincer such as white 2, the crosscut combination of 3 and 5 is a common technique to make a good shape. His aim is to sacrifice 3 and make a strong shape on the outside. After white 8, Black usually has two alternatives A and B.

Solution 1B: (white 12 is played where 4 was captured) After the previous diagram, if Black plays 1, White can play at 2 after which the moves through 12 are a joseki (standard exchange). Later, Black can play at A, followed by a white stone where the stone next to 4 was taken (capturing black 3 and 11 in the process), black B and white C. On the other hand, Black can also play D, possibly followed by white E and black F. In both cases, the white marked stone is not in a very good position.

Solution 1C: In this situation, white 2 is a popular move. Depending on the ladder, the moves through 11 are one possibility. Again, White's marked stone is in a strange place.

Solution 1D: In a game more than 70 years ago, the variation through 19 was played. White's marked stone is too close to his wall, and Black builds superior influence.

Solution 2: White 1 is a stunning move. If Black connects at 3, white 4 puts him on the spot. Black 2 is the best response, but white 3 forces black 4. White can then seize two stones with 5. The moves 6 and 7 are miai, meaning that if Black plays at one spot, White will play at the other. Black is doomed. This is not a really difficult problem when presented like this, but it is hard to spot in an actual game.

This week's problems

Problem 1: Black 1 is a probe. If White responds with 2, where should Black play next?

Problem 2: Where should White play after black 5? Try to visualize a few sequences after that.

The English-speaking go community congregates at Ben's Cafe (03-3202-2445, www.benscafe.com) in Takadanobaba, Tokyo, every Sunday, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

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