Dictionary of modern fuseki - problem 2

[Joaz Banbeck]

What's the best move, 'a' or 'b'?

$$c Problem 2
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Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$c Problem 2
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[Chew Terr]

For who?

[amnal]

For who?

I think black. Both moves would be strange for white, but make sense for black.

[topazg]

"a" for me.

[tj86430]

For who?

Given 8 white and 8 black stones on the board, my guess would be black.

[Chew Terr]

Oh, thanks. Then yeah, 'a' for me as well. If I DID play 'b', it would be a point lower to better eye things like the already-interesting corner invasion. 'a' just seems more efficient/multi-purpose, though.

[Stable]

A!
It's still too early to worry about closing the corner, white doesn't have a moyo as such down the left, but w definitely dominates the left and a is the interface between the left and black's moyo.

[emerus]

Oh yeah, undoubtedly A, if black B, white expands near A happily.

[Joaz Banbeck]

For who?

Given 8 white and 8 black stones on the board, my guess would be black.

Ooops, yes, it is black to move.

[Dusk Eagle]

I agree with 'a' here. Black expands his moyo, and reduces white's along the left and top.

[Joaz Banbeck]

This one seemed rather obvious. Everyone seems to prefer 'a', and the book agrees.

[Bantari]

This one seemed rather obvious. Everyone seems to prefer 'a', and the book agrees.

I think both moves suck.

Having said that - i think this is a 'style' question. Play for moyo or for fight. Split the game into small areas, or not?

I often see such problems, and each time I ask myself this: If you get 100 pros to look into this position, how many of them would pick which move? How many of them would play a totally different move? Why do we assume that there is one 'correct' play in this position? And why do we assume that, if there is, the author of the problem knows it?

I have no doubt that its just my weakness that speaks here, but I can't help but wonder....