Usually most people would say that the first move is not so important and thus would require little to no explanation. However, I think the first move is very important, if for different reasons than why other moves are considered important in Go. It lays the foundation not only for your stones, but for your mind as well. There is an interesting trivia that Yoda Norimoto once spent 20 minutes for his first move
!
Say, for instance, I were to begin the game by playing at the 5-4 point instead of the 3-4 point. In that case, I would already begin to think about ways of utilizing influence and thickness from the move because the 5-4 places more emphasis on influence than territory and is more center-oriented (http://senseis.xmp.net/?54Point).
However, I don't think the converse is necessarily true for me regarding the 3-4 point: I am placing a bit more regard to territory than influence by playing the 3-4, but my main reason for playing this move is mostly by its comfort level to me. The 5-4 is a perfectly viable move (especially in larger handicap games where a corner is still open - 3 basically), but it is not a move I am very comfortable with. I know less joseki for it, I'm more of a cash player than an investment player, and with 2 stones I think it's fine to get myself out of the mindset that it is a handicap game and just treat and approach the game as if it were even and try to catch up naturally. If Black takes the time to occupy the other corner (which is most likely), then it also allows me to play my favorite fuseki:
- Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$c
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . 1 . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . , . . . . . , O . . |
$$ | . . . . . 2 . . . . 4 . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]
Of course, I am making the major assumption that Black will play 3. However, a pincer would be just fine for me because it allows for a few complications early in the game. Again, I emphasize that I am treating this game as if it were even, but at the same time I should also anticipate variations that are more complicated because it allows more opportunities.
) and zinger is shodan. Due to the nature of Malkovich games, we decided on a reduced handicap of 2 stones. We also decided databases would be fair game, although he stated he wouldn't use it. I may, at most, use it sparingly if only for post-move analysis rather than making my move (no promise there though 
).
I only remember a few moves of joseki here, so I'll have to wing it if he plays something unexpected. In general I expect to capture the corner, perhaps with crappy shape, but still decent profit.