WeRead Powered by ReaderPub
The Game of Go: The National Game of Japan cover

The Game of Go: The National Game of Japan

Chapter 21: VI
By Arthur Smith
Open in WeRead

Explore more books like this:

How To ...Sports/Hobbies

About This Book

The work provides a practical, English-language introduction to the Japanese board game go, combining a concise history of the game's origins, clear explanations of rules and terminology, and systematic instruction in openings and joseki, including handicap play. It includes annotated example games and problems drawn from Japanese masters, pronunciation guides for technical terms, and commentary aimed at helping beginners progress to intermediate skill. Illustrations and selected translations of Japanese analyses support practical study.

[Contents]

VI

Handicap

Black is supposed to have stones at O 4 and Q 4 also; these are called “Shiki ishi.”

White Black
1. F 3. “Kogeima.” 2. H 3. By this move Black at once attacks the white stone and also prepares to connect with the stone at O 4.
3. F 5. White must get out towards the middle of the board. 4. L 3. “Tenuki”; that is, it has nothing to do with the corner in dispute; Black feels he has an opportunity to take territory. It is interesting to note that if the “Shiki ishi” at O 4 were at N 3, then Black would play No. 4 at H 5.
5. D 6. White attacks the handicap stone. 6. D 2. This is an important defensive move.
7. E 2. 8. B 5. Black tries to escape.
9. B 6. 10. C 6.
11. C 5. C 7 would be good also. 12. C 7.[128]
13. B 4. 14. D 5.
15. C 4. 16. C 3.
17. B 7. 18. C 8.
19. E 6. White must support stone at D 6. 20. A 5. This is a very well considered move for Black.
21. A 4. 22. B 3.
23. A 6. Takes two. 24. B 8.
25. A 3. The corner is now an example of “Semeai”; the question is which side can kill the other first. 26. B 2.
27. A 2. 28. B 1.
29. D 1. 30. A 8. If Black plays at C 1, the corner will become “Seki,” as it is, the white group is dead.

Black has much the best of this variation.