Unfortunately the author does not go on explaining why exactly White is happy to have Black on the second line in this situation and I feel like he might have expanded on this fundamental principle a little bit more...

Would you be so kind to shed some light on it?

Thanks.

I'm guessing that black gains ~1 point per move while white thickness towards the centre is much more valuable.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$W If White has a sente, he will play 1 to 7.
$$ ------------------
$$ . . . . . . . . .|
$$ . . 6 4 2 . . . .|
$$ . 7 5 3 1 X X . .|
$$ . . . . . O O . .|
$$ . . . . . . . . .|
$$ . . . . . . . . .|
$$ . . . . . . . . .|
$$ . . . . . . . . .|
$$ . . . . . . . . .|[/go]

On an empty board, is bad. As ilFuria points out, it gains only 1 point or so along the side, while gains more than that in the center. How much more is unclear, but the consensus is that it gains more than 2 points. IMO, and in the opinion of many others, it gains more than 3 points.



IMO, this position is worth around 25 points for Black, somewhat less than a 2 stone handicap.

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