Even though Naoki Hane lost ...

By Rob Van Zeijst

Even though Naoki Hane lost the Kisei title when Keigo Yamashita swept him 4-0, he is still a force to be reckoned with. Last week, Hane won the NHK Haya Go tournament broadcast by the channel every Sunday. This was the first time no Nihon Kiin member from the Tokyo branch had played in the final. Hane is from Nagoya, and his opponent, Toshiya Imamura, hails from the Kansai area. The game itself was a huge free-for-all that spread all over the board. As only 30 seconds were allowed per move, it was truly exciting. Although Hane may have a reputation as a player with a steady, unadventurous style, in the final he certainly did not shy away from a fight. If you missed the game on TV, you can still follow the moves on http://gobase.org.

Now let's continue the final game for the Kisei title in which Yamashita (White) defeated Hane and pocketed \42 million in prize money.

Diagram 1 (1-38 represents moves 81-118): Last week, we saw how White used kikashi (forcing moves) to settle his group at the top left, while Black played kikashi moves to lay waste to White on the left and make territory there for himself.

When Black plays at 1, Hane has about 50 points in territory. White has only around 30 points in solid territory. However, the center is still up for grabs. How Yamashita uses kikashi to make territory in the center is instructive. Using the aji (potential) of his marked dead stones, white 2 threatens to attach at A, which would probably be followed by the sequence black 3, white B, black C and white D or E. Black must defend with 3 but White plays kikashi moves at 4, 6 and 8, threatening to cut at F. Again Black must defend with 5, 7 and 9. These exchanges give White center influence and points while Black gets nothing. White then starts to seal off the lower part of his center with 10 and 12. Black 11 defends against G as well as the sequence white H, black I and white J. White cuts off the black marked stone with 14. Backed up by his center stones at 2, 4 and 6, White cuts off black 19 with 18 and 20. Black 25 for 26 is a great kikashi (see Diagram. 2). Black 29 is an attempt to play kikashi but White counters with 30 (see Diagram 3). When White plays 38 he is leading slightly. Yamashita eventually won by 2.5 points.

Hints for improving your game

This game illustrates how local kikashi are used to enforce a global strategy in which White managed to take the center.

Diagram 2: Instead of the A for B kikashi, White could play at 1, Black would defend at 2, and White can switch elsewhere, e.g., to 3. Even if Black cuts at 4, he cannot save his marked stone as White can play at 5. In contrast, after the A-B exchange, White must defend at C in response to 4. This means, Black can then set free his marked stone by playing at 5 himself.

Diagram 3: In response to White's marked stone, Black could cut at 1, but white 2 is a nasty move. If Black wants to keep his center connected he must play at 3. White plays kikashi 4 for 5, and connects with 6. Black struggles to connect with 7 through 13. White can now play at A or B and decide the game by a large margin.

Solution to previous problem

Solution 1A: This problem has multiple facets. If Black wants to make life quickly, he should play kikashi with 1 through 5, and then attach at 7...

Solution 1B: Another possibility is for Black to play 1 and 3. Usually White will play at 4. Black can block at 5 to settle the shape. After black 7, White can play at A or B. If White plays at A, Black will respond with B. If White plays at B, Black will answer with C.

Solution 1C (white 8 connects at 1): White 4 is usually a bad response to black 1 and 3. Black must not connect at 6 but block at 5. White can capture one stone with 6, but must connect (where he took black 1) with 8. After black 9, White's stones on the right are weak and Black is strong in the center.

Reference 1: Note the kikashi moves of Solutions 1A, B and C are bad if White has no stone at A. In that case, Black should force the kikashi sequence 1 through 6 and switch to 7 to attack White's isolated stone.

Conclusion: Kikashi is an exchange that gives an advantage, e.g., by forcing your opponent to play useless moves while playing useful moves yourself.

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.