double approach and strange followup

Phelan · #1

I was playing white, and got double approached by an opponent in the top left corner. I was expecting an invasion, but he just extended. I wasn't sure how to deal with it.
After that, I spent most of the game thinking I was losing by a lot, but it ended up being 20 points.
I'd appreciate comments, especially on the top left corner, and my approach on the bottom right. I'm not sure that was the best thing to do at that point.

fwiffo · #2

With the double-approach after the pincer, you can play this joseki (the diagonal is normally used when the double approach comes after a tenuki instead of a pincer):

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$B $$ ------------------ $$ | . . . . . . . . . $$ | . . . . . . . . . $$ | . . 9 7 . 3 . . . $$ | . . . O . . . . . $$ | . . 8 . . . . . . $$ | . . 1 4 0 . . . . $$ | . . 6 5 . . . . . $$ | . . 2 . . . . . . $$ | . . . . . . . . .[/go]

pretty much pins down the original approach stone so you don't have to deal with two opposing groups at once. You can omit :w10:

for sente, leaving behind some aji. I use this a lot lately (or the same thing but with :b3:

high) as the approaching player because I am so bored of the usual pincer joseki.

Solomon · #3

20 is bad, because it lets Black slide under at L2 and sweep your base away. M3 also looks nasty. Simply responding with L4 is best.

Regarding your double approach question, I think 32 is suboptimal; why not double hane? There's no need to worry about your D16 group because you always have C17 as long as you keep C14 under control. In general, if your opponent double approaches and you kosumi but he doesn't take the corner, then usually taking the 3-3 yourself is best. I know Yilun Yang also covered this situation in one of his books, but I can't remember which one sadly.

Joaz Banbeck · #4

Take the corner.
The logic for the upper left corner is fairly simple: you are expecting him to invade the corner because you regard it as a good move by him. But he does not do it. So if having the corner is a good thing, and he doesn't do it, you should. QED.

Phelan · #5

Thanks all!

double approach and strange followup

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