Bill Spight 2008-03-08 07:56:51
SpongeBob wrote:
The page on Sensei's is exactly what I was looking for ...
Well, maybe not. The SL page is unfortunately written to sound authoritative. It is not. In particular, the "Joseki 1" diagram is not joseki, nor is it as good for White as it suggests.
- Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$c
$$ +---------------------------------------+
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$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . 4 2 O . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . W 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . 3 B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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$$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
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$$ +---------------------------------------+[/go]
As you say, this is not good for Black. The exchange, B1 - W2, strengthens White's corner, and does what for Black? And B5 is too close.
- Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$c Joseki -- NOT!
$$ +---------------------------------------+
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$$ | . . . O . 4 . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . W 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . 1 B 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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$$ | . . 5 , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
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$$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
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$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ +---------------------------------------+[/go]
This diagram is a little better for Black, but not much. The exchange of B1 and WC is not good for Black here, because Black has lost the 3-3 invasion. Yes, you will sometimes see this sequence in pro games, but only in special circumstances.
I play the footsweep myself. (In fact, I was the first kid on my block to do so.

) It is a situational play. This is not the situation. Black's attitude in this case should be to regard it as
kikasare, getting pushed around. White has played to protect his corner, but that is against the spirit of the 4-4 point. Black can be satsified with this exchange, and treat the BC stone lightly. It has done its work.
- Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$c Approach from the other side, too
$$ +---------------------------------------+
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$$ | . . . . . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . W . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
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$$ +---------------------------------------+[/go]
I would approach from the top. To be consistent, White will have protect the corner again, and Black can develop on the top side, as White falls behind.
