Different pinchers after approaching 4-4
Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2014 3:53 am
I am trying to understand the differences between different pinchers on a low approach to a 4-4 stone. Of course, there are many scenarios where pincher would be wrong, e.g. when the pincher stone would be easily attacked. For simplicity, let's assume that pincher is a reasonable move. There are six choices:
I am under the impression that one-space-low-pincher (a) and two-space-high-pincher (d) are most common. Am I correct? If that is the case, why one-space-high-pincher (b) and two-space-low-pincher (c) are rarely played? Also, what might be some scenarios that would call for three-space pinchers (e and f)?
With respect to the comparison between (a) and (d): I have come up with the following. It seems that, not surprisingly, that low pincher is more severe, and high pincher has better influence. Please let me know if I've made any mistakes, or if there is any other important differences that I have missed.
(i) White can choose to press the one-space-low-pincher stone to build influence, but that would give black a lot of territory. White cannot do that on the two-space-high-pincher stone.
(ii) Two-space-high-pincher stone would make white easier to live, whereas one-space-low-pincher is more severe, and living locally is more difficult. (Yes, W4 for one space pincher is typically not good because it ruins entering 3-3, but I include that for comparison.)
(iii) White is more likely to tenuki facing the two-space-high-pincher, since there is more aji left of his stone:
(iv) If white chooses to enter 3-3, it is often okay for black to ignore the approach stone for one-space-low-pincher, but the risk for ignoring is higher for two-space-high-pincher. (I assume the direction of blocking; the sente issue here would not matter if the blocking is the other way.)
(v) If white approaches from another direction, the following are two possible variations. The low pincher allows black to cut immediately after W2, and black ends up with a more "territorial" position. Black can also skip B7 to get sente. On the other hand, the high pincher doesn't give black a base, allows white to live bigger, but the marked white stone is also damaged, and thus black seems to have better influence.
I am under the impression that one-space-low-pincher (a) and two-space-high-pincher (d) are most common. Am I correct? If that is the case, why one-space-high-pincher (b) and two-space-low-pincher (c) are rarely played? Also, what might be some scenarios that would call for three-space pinchers (e and f)?
With respect to the comparison between (a) and (d): I have come up with the following. It seems that, not surprisingly, that low pincher is more severe, and high pincher has better influence. Please let me know if I've made any mistakes, or if there is any other important differences that I have missed.
(i) White can choose to press the one-space-low-pincher stone to build influence, but that would give black a lot of territory. White cannot do that on the two-space-high-pincher stone.
(ii) Two-space-high-pincher stone would make white easier to live, whereas one-space-low-pincher is more severe, and living locally is more difficult. (Yes, W4 for one space pincher is typically not good because it ruins entering 3-3, but I include that for comparison.)
(iii) White is more likely to tenuki facing the two-space-high-pincher, since there is more aji left of his stone:
(iv) If white chooses to enter 3-3, it is often okay for black to ignore the approach stone for one-space-low-pincher, but the risk for ignoring is higher for two-space-high-pincher. (I assume the direction of blocking; the sente issue here would not matter if the blocking is the other way.)
(v) If white approaches from another direction, the following are two possible variations. The low pincher allows black to cut immediately after W2, and black ends up with a more "territorial" position. Black can also skip B7 to get sente. On the other hand, the high pincher doesn't give black a base, allows white to live bigger, but the marked white stone is also damaged, and thus black seems to have better influence.
