PeterPeter wrote:
So the white pincer stones on f17 and k17 are more of a liability than an asset?
No, they are an asset with weaknesses, just like black's one point jumps. It is a very common situation in Go that weaknesses in your own positions prevent you from exploiting weaknesses in your opponent's positions. If the weaknesses in your positions are repaired, only then does it become feasible to exploit your opponent's; it's all about balance. The example of adjacent one point jumps is in fact a very common one. The reason the wedge at
a is ineffective is that black j16 is basically a sente peep against white's one point jump to k15. (I think black should atari this way, the atari from the left looks like it could get dangerous for black.)
- Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Wc
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If white now realises the k16 weakness and connects there, then black connects and white's wedge achieved worse than nothing: it made black stronger and with more eyeshape and gave white two stones with few liberties.
- Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Wc Abort -> fail
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If white cuts, which is the only consistent thing to do after the wedge, then at a minimum black can capture k17 to live at the top. However white has got some outside so this isn't necessarily good for black.
- Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Wc Capture k17
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$$ | . . . O . O . X X O 8 . O . X . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . W W X 6 7 9 . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . . . X 5 O . . . . . . . . . |
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However, black may be able to be more ambitious and cut at L15. This leads to a more complicated fight that I haven't read out yet. The sort of outcome I plan for as black is to sacrifice h15 and h13 in exchange for killing the white stones at k17 and n17: this would be a good trade for black. (Notice that thanks to h15 and h13 white can't connect at l17 or k14 captures the cutting stones in a ladder).
- Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Wc Fight hard.
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$$ | . . . , . . W W X 6 7 . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . . . X 5 O 8 . . . . . . . . |
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So now what did I mean by if the weaknesses in white's shape are repaired? That he gets a stone at k16 due to black peeping the other side. So say the following sequence occurs:
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[go]$$Bc
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$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . 3 9 . . . . . . |
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$$ | . . . , . . . . . 2 1 6 7 a . X . . . |
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Now if white wedges and black ataris from the right, he dies thanks to white already having k16.
- Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Wc
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$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . X X . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . O . X 4 O O X O . X . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . 3 1 2 O X O X X . X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . . . X 5 O . O O . . . . . . |
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But that doesn't mean the wedge works, as black can now decide (noticing that white already has k16) to atari the other side. Notice how when white connects he makes an ugly double empty triangle. Before I said this way is dangerous for black, but probably he won't die, and he already got a lot of profit from capturing n17.
- Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Wc
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$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . X X . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . O 4 X . O O X O . X . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . 2 1 3 O X O X X . X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . . 5 X . O . O O . . . . . . |
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Wanting to wedge one-point jumps is an extremely common beginner trait, and one that you will unlearn as you get stronger. However, you can go too far the other direction and never consider the wedge when occasionally it is a good move. I remember one pro game, I think it was Lee Changho vs Cho Chikun, with a devastating wedge of a one-point jump which I think Cho must have overlooked, I'll see if I can find it when I get home.