The adage "if you don't know ...

By Rob Van Zeijst

The adage "if you don't know where you are going, you'll probably end up somewhere else" is a popular quote in many self-help books. By extension then, a plan is preferable to no plan. However, that does not mean that if a plan does not work out as envisioned, the result is a failure. Since the go board is not a closed system and the situation changes accordingly, it is important to stay flexible and keep changing your strategy.

Hints for improving your game

It is said a player will win if he ends up connecting all of his stones to form one large group. On the other hand, it is also said that the maximum number of live groups a player can achieve is seven. Cutting is an important feature of the game, but if a player keeps cutting away, you may think that his opponent will end up with more than seven groups. However, as cutting means being cut as well, that is a myopic way of looking at things.

Diagram 1: Kogo's Joseki Dictionary contains this variant, a deviation of the normal variation shown in Reference 1. After black 15, White can cut at A. But should he?

Reference 1: The moves through 18 form the standard joseki--there are more variations, but this is the simplest one. Even though Black is alive in the corner, he should not allow himself to be locked up. But he should keep White's groups apart. A good way to do this is black A, which would be followed by white B and black C. This puts pressure on White's left side, which translates into extra center strength for Black.

Diagram 2: Returning to the play in Diagram 1, if White cuts right away with 16 and 18, he ends up being cut as well when Black plays at 19. The sequence through 30 is what can be expected. After 31, White has little territory and a weak group as well. This is a terrible result.

Diagram 3: Instead of cutting, it is better to make Black come back and connect his stones. This can be done by playing at 16. Of course, Black can push out with A, followed by white B, black C, white D and so on. but there are two drawbacks. First, pushing like this automatically eliminates White's weakness at E. Second, Black will always be handicapped with the possibility of the cut at 17. Therefore, it is better to defend right away at 17, making White defend at 18. A similar situation occurred in a pro game, except that the marked stone was absent.

Conclusion: As Diagram 2 indicates, cutting can be a mistake. In the ensuing battle, the result can be disastrous. Not cutting and forcing the opponent to come back with a defensive move may be more worthwhile, as Diagram 3 illustrates.

Diagram 4: In a game between Taiwan's strongest player, Zhou Jun-xun, and the current Honinbo, Shinji Takao, in the Fujitsu Cup in 2003, this situation occurred. Black 1 bottles up the marked stone. However, white 2 tries to revive its aji (potential). But black 3 threatens to cut at A. After the 4-5 exchange, White connects with 6. However, he leaves these stones to run out with 8 and 10, and then play an excellent magari (bend around) at 12. The white marked stone still has aji that White exploits with 14 and 16. These moves also threaten Black's marked stone. We will continue this game next week.

Solution to last week's problem

Solution 1: Black 1 is a good double nozoki (peeping move) as it threatens to cut at both 2 and 5. White' s best defense is at 2, but black 3 is an excellent tesuji (skillful move)--again Black does not actually cut, although he still threatens to do so. If White plays at 4 to prevent Black from linking up his stones along the edge, Black will cut. After white 8, black 9 makes a hanami ko (flower-viewing ko), meaning Black has little to lose and White a lot. This is bad for White. Therefore, in the actual game, White defended at 1 (the vital point) as soon as possible to secure about 9 points in territory.

New problems

Problem 1: Look at Diagram 4 and try to determine how white B and white C can exploit the aji of the marked white stone. Consider a few variations.

Problem 2: Where should White play to kill the black stones? Hint: Cutting at A does not work, but what about threatening to cut?

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.