In his book Fooled by Randomness ...

By Rob Van Zeijst

In his book Fooled by Randomness, the writer Nassim Nicholas Taleb points out the hidden role chance plays in life and the markets. Using the theorem that an infinite number of monkeys pounding away on typewriters for an infinite amount of time can produce a work of Shakespeare, he says there will always be a few fund managers with stellar performances. According to the writer, the many other monkeys--his words--will just fade away from the stage. However, this does not mean that the randomness factor gives you an unfair advantage over skill.

Hints for improving your game

Let's continue the game we started on Dec. 22 between Cho U (Black) and Norimoto Yoda in the second round for the Oza title in 2003. Note the cutting possibilities, but remember that not all cuts are of equal importance.

Diagram 1 (1-24 represent moves 71-94): Since Black is behind, he played tenuki (elsewhere) at 1 and White attacked with 2, the vital spot. Note White allows Black to connect with 5, but leaves a cut at A. White now makes a few kikashi (forcing) moves with 6 and 8, making full use of his marked stone. This cutting stone has given White many benefits, including capturing a stone at B, a kikashi at C, at 6 and again at 8 (see Reference 1). Next, White turns his attention back to the center and attacks with 12, to build a wall in the sequence through 22. Black is still handicapped by a cut at A and must play at 23 to neutralize White's center influence somehow. After white 24, Black keeps fighting an uphill battle and, after a series of mistakes by White, eventually wins this game.

Reference 1 : After white 1, if Black resists with 2, White makes maximum use of his marked stones to play the strong combination of 3 through 7. Black is lost as the moves to 13 demonstrate. Therefore, in the game, Black had no choice but to pull back at 3.

Cutting into your opponent's position

We can broadly classify cuts as strategic maneuvers or tactical plans. For the former, cutting is used to split two weak groups. For the latter, local advantage is often the incentive. However, the following provides a more detailed classification:

　1. Direct cut.

　2. Creating a defect.

　3. Cutting, then threatening to use the cutting stone to escape.

　4. Threatening to cut.

Diagram 2: This is a direct cut in which Black 3 cuts White's position in two.

Diagram 3: In this joseki (standard sequence), Black would like to have defended at 10, but after the 10-11 exchange, he is not sure what to do. No matter how he plays, such as at A, the play at 10 gives White some advantages, which he can exploit with moves at B, C and D. Thus the cut at 10 created a problem for Black.

Diagram 4: In this joseki, White invades and is locked up in the corner in the sequence through 15. After 7, White cuts at 8--not to cut Black's position, but to give Black a bad shape--then makes life in the corner. Ultimately, Black has to come back and defend with 15. However, White still has aji (potential) around A to pull out the cutting stone.

Diagram 5: Black cannot cut at A because he will be captured. However, he can threaten to cut by playing at 1 (or B, which is too blunt). If White connects at A (usually the best move), black 1 makes sure White has less eye space while Black has more territory. This is a good tactic if he cannot cut directly.

Last week's solution

Solution 1: The cuts at A, B, and C are all important. However, since Black cannot cut at C, it is a good idea to defend against A and B at the same time with 1. After 2, jumping to 3 is good move. Later, he can play D to threaten a cut at C.

New problem

Problem 1: Later in the game shown in Diagram 1, this situation occurred with a cut at A and B. If it is Black's move, how can he make use of these cuts?

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.