What sets winners apart from losers? ...

By Rob Van Zeijst

What sets winners apart from losers? It is not the knowledge they have, nor the techniques they employ, nor even the latest strategies and tactics. Of course, these may give the go player an edge, but nothing is more important than mental stamina--maintaining concentration throughout a game. Many games are lost in the endgame due to loss of concentration or motivation. Watching top players in action leads me to believe that they have fun discovering new and better solutions to the problem each board situation poses. Once they think what they do is a chore, mental fatigue kicks in and takes its toll on performance. So when playing go, try to have as much fun as possible.

Diagram 1 (White 12 connects where the marked stone was captured): By winning this game by a mere half a point, challenger Shinji Takao (White) is on his way to dethrone defender Cho U for the Meijin title. In fact, during the entire match, Cho looked rather tense and tired while Takao appeared fresh and ready to take on new challenges. After black 5, White seems in trouble, but he goes on to make two eyes easily in the sequence through 36, before reinforcing his weak side on the right with 38. After 44, White has eyes at A and at B and is ahead. Black's wall is neutralized and he has little territory left. However, Black invades White's largest territory with 45. How should White respond?

Diagram 2: White 46 through 50 is the correct way to deal with the marked invader. Black takes a small corner while White keeps most of his territory on the left and has sente to switch to 52. However, this was probably better at 53 and Black jumps at the chance with 57 through 63. These efforts pay off dividends because White must defend his isolated group with 76, allowing Black to cut with 77 and 79. After black 85 the game is very close but White is leading by a hair and pulls off a half-point victory.

Reference 1: In response to 1, White can also play 2 and 4, followed by the sequence through 12. However, Black is alive now and can switch to A or B. White has lost his territory and his wall may come under attack as well, so this is not too good.

Diagram 3: In the sixth game for the Meijin title, Takao (White) decides to keep Cho off balance by adopting the Shusaku kosumi stategy with 2 and 6. Black 9 combines an extension with a pincer against 8. Things become interesting when Black attacks with 23. How should this move be answered? White 24 is a clever response (see References 2-4). Black uses three moves to defend while White reinforces with 30. Now Black needs to strengthen his group with 31 and 33, and White does the same with 32 and 34. Black 35 is worth over 20 points and aims at invading at A after 37, forcing White to defend at 38. After black 41, White needs to reinforce his stones but how? Neither B nor C seems to do the trick.

Reference 2: The marked two stones are a two-space extension, but this is not secure. Black attacks with 1 in the game. His aim is to split White's position. In the sequence through 11, Black captures two white stones.

Reference 3: To prevent this cut, White could defend at 4, but Black seals him in with 5. White cannot easily make eyes. For example, the sequence white A through black H leaves White with a heavy group.

Reference 4: Therefore, White would prepare for 10 by playing 2 and 4 first. If Black answers with 3 and 5, White becomes sente and this invalidates the cutting sequence A through E.

New Problems:

Problem 1: After black 41 in Diagram 3, how should White defend his stones? Note that the best defense is attack.

Problem 2: When White invades with the marked stone, after white 2, where should Black play?A or B?

Problem 3: Where should Black play to kill the White group?

Van Zeijst is a four-time European go champion and European representative at the Fujitsu World Championship.