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[go]$$Bc Shusaku kosumi, wedge
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$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 . . . . |
$$ | . . 4 , . . . . . , . . . . . , 3 . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 . . . |
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$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , 8 . . |
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$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 . . |
$$ | . . 1 , . . . . . , . . . . a , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 . . . |
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plays the Shusaku kosumi, which is almost certainly playable. But the modern AI style is the press at a. The wedge, , prevents a Black framework on the right side. It is probably playable, but may be a minor error.

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[go]$$Bcm9 Traditional base
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$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . 7 . . . . . . 6 . . O . . . . |
$$ | . . O , . . . . . , . . . . . , X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . |
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$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , O . . |
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$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 . . |
$$ | . . . 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . |
$$ | . . B , 8 . . . . , . . . . 4 , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . 5 . . 3 . . . O . . . |
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$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

seems a bit far from the corner to be a good counterpincer. However, after , forms a traditional base on the side as well as a 5 space extension from the stone in the bottom left corner.

'a' has a certain classical flow to it, and I guess that this is the game move (and that it is from the Edo period).

I'd like to play 'b' nowadays, because it seems to have more impact (to my modernized eyes). The most important aspect seems to me that it takes control of that quadrant (John's diagonal), but it also significantly increases the potential for making a big territory there. That two groups are more or less connected afterwards is just another way to look at it (tangential thought: this is the good kind of connection, through mutual control, not through dame).

Looking at 'a', while classically one might congratulate it for preventing a black extension, it seems quite thin. On the other hand, it makes somewhat miai between connecting to the upper left or extending/limiting to the lower left. Then again, if Black just invades, White has to handle two groups. Maybe this is the kind of complications that White wants in a no-komi game, but I don't like it.

Speculatively:
Current position:
1. a is unusual shape, not tight enough when there are weak groups around. it seems that C8 is better to sacrifice. b is standard joseki move as B has stones around though a little overconcentrated locally. I think b must be better than a.

Opp to play
1. D15 is tempting though B has influence on the left. Probably not terribly urgent yet as extending on top is big. But probably W D15 remains big. P5 is probably biggest given so much support. D3 also big.

Past:
1. Seems standard. B is dying in the lower right and B has too many moves pressuring it. The lower left is reasonable shape for B but W can still live well with one move. So I prefer W. I think it is the fault of and
.

Check:
1. ?