The game of go is also known ...

By Rob Van Zeijst

The game of go is also known by the name "shudan," literally meaning "handtalk." You communicate and negotiate with your opponent whenever you play a move. Of course, to an extent, you will adjust your moves depending on how your opponent plays. However, most people will settle on a certain style that does not change much and players often have personalities that may be quite different on and off the board. Are you aware what kind of player you are on the board? Are you too aggressive, too passive, too emotional? Or do you have other negative tendencies? Can you stay calm and play a more detached kind of move--a move that does not have much impact now, but that will radiate strength and show resilience later. A honte, or honest, proper move?

Referred to as the proper, or honest, move, honte is a play that often covers weaknesses and builds strength, although it feels rather slow.

In this game between Pak Jung Sang and O Meien (White) for the 6th Samsung Cup in 2001, O failed to play the honte and a rough fight broke out.

Diagram 1: O's games are usually interesting because he sets up huge moyo--frameworks of potential territory--that are "liquid," meaning they suddenly appear out of nowhere and move from one place to another. That is exactly what happens when White plays 28 and 30. With moyo go it is important to have no weak groups, which is why White reinforces with 32. Black is now forced to invade with 33 and run away with 35. However, 36 probably was a mistake. White hoped Black would connect at A. He probably disliked the prospects of black B, white C, black D, white E, and black F. However, Black did not connect at A and started a major counteroffensive. We will look how this game develops next week.

Diagram 2: After a pincer at 3, A, B or C, the moves through 12 form a joseki. Black 13 is a follow-up move that neutralizes the aji of white 2. The farther away the pincer (in this case 3) is from his wall, the more urgent 13 becomes.

Diagram 3: Many amateurs know this variation of the small Nadare joseki. Where should White play after black 19?

Diagram 4: White 20 is honte, the proper move. It eliminates the aji of the black stones there.

Diagram 5: If White refuses to add a move, Black can force the sequence through 13 and build a nice territory on the lower side. Now you can see why playing honte can be very important.

Solutions to last week's problems

Solution 1: After black 1, white 2 is honte. Without the marked black stone, white A is a good move too, but it is slow in this case.

Reference 1: White 1 is not honte. It is actually a bit of a crude move as it strengthens Black; Black is happy to reinforce with 2.

When researching this situation, I found 7 games where 1 was played against more than 40 pro games with white 1 in Solution 1. The winning percentages were not significantly different, although reference 1 was used overwhelmingly in Korea while solution 1 was used more often in Japan.

Solution 2: After the marked black stone, White should reinforce with the honte of 1. In addition to properly defending, this is huge in terms of points as well and urges Black to defend with 2.

Reference 2: Pincering with 1 is out of the question. Black can now cut with 2 and 4 and capture the corner in the sequence through 18. Note if white A, black B and vice versa; therefore White's corner is dead.

New problems

Problem 1: The moves through 12 are a joseki. Usually, Black will follow up with A to build influence along the lower side or B to make territory on the left side. However, it is possible for Black to keep his options open and play elsewhere. If that happens, how can White eliminate Black's option? In other words, where is White's honte?

Problem 2: Look at Diagram 1. Instead of 36, where should White have played? Can you also guess where Black played instead of connecting at A?

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. You can enjoy free lessons, 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.