In boxing, defending yourself ...

By Rob Van Zeijst

In boxing, defending yourself with your arms and fists is imperative because one punch could end the bout. In go, cutting without thought is like throwing a punch while leaving your defense wide open. If your opponent has no defense, an outright cut might be good, but in many cases it is better to make him waste a move to defend against a threat to cut. Now let us look at the game between Masao Kato (Black) and Cho U, the current Honinbo, in the semifinals of the 2003 Oza title match.

Diagram 1: Hostilities start quickly with 9 and 11, developing into a running battle into the center. The key combination to move into the center is the one-space jump, such as 12 and 16. Should White worry about being cut here? As Diagrams 2 and 3 show, the answer is no. As he cannot cut, Black makes White connect with 18 and 28 and uses his two moves at 17 and 27 to reinforce his own position. The combination of 25, 27 and 29 puts severe pressure on White's group. White needs to break through Black's net. But how? White 30 is an attempt to do this. Do you find it surprising that Black does not cut immediately at A, followed by white B and black C? Could White capture the cutting stone with D? We will continue this game next week.

Hints for improving your game

Cutting usually leads to a hairy fight. However, it is possible to exploit your opponent's weaknesses to strengthen your own position. This is often done in the form of a kikashi forcing move or nozoki (peeping move) that force the opponent to connect his stones. The trick is to distinguish between a good kikashi and aji-keshi, a bad move.

Diagram 2: Cutting with 1 directly does not work well. In the sequence through 6 White connects his stones while Black does not benefit by the exchange.

Diagram 3: In response to 1, White can also play from the other side with 2 and 4. Black can cut with 5, which weakens the marked white stones. However, after 6, Black's marked stone is in trouble.

Diagram 4: Since it is unlikely that Black can cut White's group, the usual thing to do is to play a nozoki move--one specific type of kikashi--with 1 to force White to connect with 2. Because White is stronger after this exchange, Black then defends with 3. The idea is to play a nozoki move on one side in order to defend on the other. This diagram illustrates this idea perfectly.

Solutions to last week's problems

Solution 1A: A forcing move is the underlying idea here, even before considering life or defense for that matter. Black 1 is the vital point, usually answered by white 2. Black then defends with 3. Note the exchange 1 for 2 strengthens Black more than White.

Solution 1B (white 14 connects where he captured 5): Oops! If White feels the urge to try to cut off 1 by playing 2 and 4, Black cuts with 5, forcing White to connect with 6. After 7, if White wants to save his stones, the sequence through 15 can be expected. This is a disaster for White.

Solution 1C: White 2 is another possibility Black should prepare for. Although White bottles up one stone with the sequence through 10, and Black has to defend at 11, it is clear Black's wall is superior to White's territorial profit. White, therefore, should follow Solution 1A.

Solution 2 (Black throws in with 5 where the marked stone was captured): This is part of a joseki. Black 1 threatens to cut. The correct move for White is putting two stones in atari with 2. Next, Black cuts with 3, White captures the two stones with 4 and Black throws in where the marked stone was taken. White 6 ensures two eyes. This is an example where both players show flexibility in regards to the cut at 3.

Reference 1: In contrast, connecting with 2 would fall in with Black's plans. Black sacrifices two stones and builds excellent influence in the sequence through 7. Later on, White can bottle up one stone with A, followed by black B, white C, black D, white E and black F, but thanks to the 1-2 exchange, White has to spend another move at G.

Reference 2: White 2 is a move that gives him an even worse result. The moves through 12 can be expected, after which Black builds superior center strength with 13.

New problem

Problem 1: Here again is the situation in Diagram 1. If Black cuts with 1, White will cut with 2 and Black must draw back with 3. What is the fate of Black's cutting stone at 1?

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.