Chapter VIII: Problems 201 (4)

The work from which my “Joseki” have been selected was compiled by Inouye Hoshin, and published in November, 1905. It was originally written for the “Nippon Shimbun,” a newspaper published in Tokio. Of course, the annotations accompanying these “Joseki” are not the original ones from the Japanese text. Many of the things which I point out would be regarded as trite and obvious to a good player, and my annotations are intended solely to aid beginners in understanding some of the reasons for the moves given. It must also be understood that the series of “Joseki” which I have inserted falls far short of completeness. In a Japanese work on the game there would be at least five times as many.

Although the “Joseki” have been studied by the Japanese masters from the earliest times, it does not mean that the ordinary player in Japan is familiar with them; just as in this country we find a majority of Chess players have a very limited acquaintance with the Chess openings, so in Japan many players attain a fair degree of skill without a thorough acquaintance with the “Joseki.” It would certainly very greatly aid the beginner in attaining proficiency if he were to study these examples, and follow them as nearly as possible in actual play.

It would seem to us that in compiling a work on “Joseki,” or openings, we would commence with the openings where no handicap is given, and later study those where there were handicaps; it is another instance of the divergent way in which the Japanese do things that they do just the opposite, and commence their treatises with the study of openings where handicaps are given. Inasmuch as this is a book on a Japanese subject, I shall follow their example and shall commence the study of “Joseki” in games where Black has a handicap.

As we have already seen, the handicap stone is always placed on a certain fixed point, which is the fourth intersection from the edge of the board in each direction, and White has five recognized methods of playing his first stone in relation to such handicap stone. These are called “Kogeima kakari,” “Ogeima kakari,” “Daidaigeima kakari,” “Ikken taka kakari,” “Nikken taka kakari.” We shall take up examples of these in their order.

I

Handicap

Plate 19 (A)

WHITE BLACK

1. R 14. “Kogeima kakari.” 2. N 17. This move supports
This is the most usual the handicap stone and
move for attacking the also gains as much ground
corner. The purpose of as possible for Black.
White’s first move is to Beginners would generally
lay a basis for future find O 17 more safe and
aggression; he cannot, of conservative.
course, play in the corner
immediately, neither can
he play nearer the black
stone with advantage.
3. R 17. This is a direct 4. R 16. Black plays to
attack on the corner. prevent the connection of
White can either connect the white stones.
with his first stone or
form a living group in the
corner.
5. S 16. White threatens to 6. S 15. Black breaks the
connect. connection by this move.
7. S 17. White cannot play at 8. R 15. Black also must
R 15 at this time because connect. Beginners are
he would lose the stone at prone to neglect these
S 16. necessary connecting
moves.
9. P 18. Since White cannot 10. P 17. Black plays to
connect, he must play to connect his stones, and at
form two “Me” in the the same time confines
corner. White to the corner.
11. Q.17. White makes his 12. O 17. Black must connect
corner as large as to prevent White’s escape.
possible. This move is
also “Sente,” because it
threatens to break through
Black’s line.
13. S 14. White threatens 14. T 14. Prevents “Watari.”
“Watari,” and again Black
must reply at once.
(“Sente.”)
15. Q 14. To confine Black’s 16. P 15. An important
group and prepare for defensive move. Otherwise
territory on the right White could almost envelop
side of the board. the black stones.

Even game. White has a small territory in the corner, but Black has greater possibility of expansion.

II

Handicap

WHITE BLACK

1. R 14. 2. N 17.
3. R 17. 4. R 16.
5. Q 17. In place of trying 6. P 16. Black prevents White
to connect as before, from getting out.
White threatens to extend
in the other direction.
7. S 16. Threatens to connect 8. S 15. Black stops it
again. again.
9. S 17. 10. R 15.
11. O 18. White again must 12. O 17.
form “Me” in the corner.
13. N 18. White extends as far 14. M 18. Black stops the
as possible. advance.
15. P 17. White must look out 16. M 17. Black must connect.
for the safety of the
stones at N and O 18.
17. P 14. To prevent Black’s 18. O 14. Black extends as far
extension and form a basis as he can.
for territory on right
side.
19. O 13. 20. N 14.

Again White has the corner and Black has better opportunities for expansion.

III

Handicap

Plate 19 (B)

WHITE BLACK

1. O 3. 2. R 7.
3. Q 3. This variation is 4. R 3.
called “Kiri Kaeshi.” This
move does not attack the
corner so aggressively as
the preceding examples.
5. R 4. This is the 6. Q 5. This is an important
characteristic move of move for Black; if he
this variation. plays elsewhere, he will
get a bad position.
7. R 2. White threatens the 8. S 3.
black stone. If Black
defends White can divide
the corner.
9. P 2. “Kake tsugu.” If 10. S 2. Formerly S 4 was
White does not make this given as Black’s move, but
move, Black will get the it is not so good, because
“Sente” with a superior White replies at R 8 with
position. a fine attack.
11. S 1. White cannot neglect 12. R 5.
this move. If Black were
allowed to play at R 1, he
would get the better game.

In this opening the corner is about evenly divided.

IV

Handicap

WHITE BLACK

1. R 14. 2. N 17. 3. P 14. Preparing for “Kiri 4. R 11. Called “Tenuki.” Not Kaeshi” on the other side necessarily played at R of handicap stone. 11. The word means that Black “draws out” and plays in another part of the board. 5. P 16. 6. P 17. 7. Q 17. “Kiri Kaeshi.” The 8. R 17. effect of this move is generally to divide the territory. 9. Q 18. 10. R 18. 11. P 18. 12. O 17. 13. R 16. 14. Q 15. 15. S 18. 16. R 15. 17. S 16. 18. S 15. 19. S 17. 20. P 15.

White has the corner, but Black has better chances to make territory later.

V

Handicap

Black is supposed to have another handicap stone at D 4.

Plate 19 (C)

WHITE BLACK

1. C 14. “Kogeima.” 2. F 16. “Ikken taka hiraki.”
This “Joseki” was an
invention of Murase Shuho.
3. H 17. White confines 4. C 11. Black prepares to
Black’s advances. get territory on left side
of the board.
5. B 16. White plays to take 6. D 14.
the corner.
7. C 15. 8. D 13. Better than D 15, as
it confines White more
effectively.
9. C 17. 10. D 17.
11. H 15. 12. C 16.
13. B 18. 14. C 18.
15. B 17. 16. C 13. A very good move; it
shuts White in the corner
and assures Black a large
territory on the left side
of the board.

This opening might be continued as follows:

WHITE BLACK

17. D 18. 18. E 18. 19. C 19. Takes. 20. D 7.

or

17. C 6. 18. D 18. 19. B 13. 20. B 12. 21. B 14. 22. C 8.

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 4. L 3. “Tenuki”; that is, it
towards the middle of the has nothing to do with the
board. 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 6. D 2. This is an important
handicap stone. 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 12. C 7.
also.
13. B 4. 14. D 5.
15. C 4. 16. C 3.
17. B 7. 18. C 8.
19. E 6. White must support 20. A 5. This is a very well
stone at D 6. 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 26. B 2.
example of “Semeai”; the
question is which side can
kill the other first.
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.

VII

Handicap

Black is supposed to have a handicap stone at Q 4 also.

Plate 19 (D)

WHITE BLACK

1. F 3. 2. F 4. “Tsuke te.” Again Black takes the aggressive from the start. 3. G 4. 4. F 5. 5. E 3. 6. D 3. 7. G 5. 8. G 6. 9. J 5. White’s best move. 10. D 6.

Black has the better position.

VIII

Handicap

Plate 20 (A)

WHITE BLACK

1. O 17. “Kogeima.” 2. O 16. “Tsuke te.” 3. N 16. 4. O 15. 5. Q 17. 6. P 17. 7. P 18. 8. P 16. 9. N 18. 10. R 17. 11. Q 18. 12. N 15. 13. M 16. 14. R 10. Black abandons stone at R 17 in order to get territory; an amateur might be tempted to play No. 14 at R 18, but in that case White could spoil Black’s chance to get space on the right side of the board. 15. R 16. 16. R 15. 17. S 16. 18. S 15. 19. S 17. 20. P 10.

White has the corner, but Black has practically secured a large territory on the right.

IX

Handicap

WHITE BLACK

1. R 14. 2. Q 14. “Tsuke te.” 3. Q 13. 4. P 14. 5. O 17. White attacks from 6. R 15. the other side also. 7. R 13. 8. P 18. 9. N 16. 10. S 14.

Black has the corner. White has a chance on both sides.

X

Handicap

WHITE BLACK

1. R 14. “Kogeima.” 2. Q 14. “Tsuke te.” 3. Q 13. 4. P 14. 5. O 17. White attacks from 6. O 16. Black responds from the other side as before. the outside as in the case of move No. 2. 7. P 17. 8. Q 17. 9. P 16. 10. R 13. 11. R 15. 12. Q 15. 13. R 12. 14. S 13. 15. S 12. 16. N 17. 17. N 16. 18. O 15. 19. M 17. 20. N 18. 21. M 18. 22. N 13. 23. M 16. 24. T 13. 25. Q 12. 26. S 15.

Black has the corner and also an outlet to the center. White has a chance to form territory on both sides. Black’s position is preferable.

XI

Handicap

Black is supposed to have a stone at D 4 also.

Plate 20 (B)

WHITE BLACK

1. R 6. 2. K 3. This move is an
invention of Murase Shuho;
it would not be played
unless Black had a stone
at D 4. Black’s intention
is to develop territory in
either corner depending on
the nature of White’s
attack.
3. O 3. White attacks the 4. Q 6.
right-hand corner from
both sides.
5. Q 7. 6. P 6.
7. R 3. This is a direct 8. R 5. Black must play here
attack on the corner. before playing at Q 3. It
also gives Black the
“Sente.”
9. R 7. White must connect. 10. Q 3.
11. Q 2. 12. S 2. This is a clever
move. Amateurs would be
tempted to play at P 2,
which would be very bad
for Black, as White would
then get the entire right
side.
13. R 2. 14. S 3. Secures Black’s
connection with R 5.
15. M 3. White must extend his 16. K 5. Black plays to shut
boundaries or his stones in White as much as
will die. possible; he also supports
his stone at D 4.

Black has the better game.

XII

Handicap

Plate 20 (C)

WHITE BLACK

1. C 13. “Ogeima Kakari.” 2. C 15. This is to prevent
This is another method of White from playing at B
commencing the attack; it 16.
does not attack the corner
so directly, but it gives
White a better chance on
the sides or center.
3. G 17. White attacks from 4. E 17. Preventing White
the other side in the same from entering at D 18;
way. this secures the corner
for Black.
5. C 17. This is a “Sute 6. B 16.
ishi” or sacrificed stone.
White threatens to connect
it with one side or the
other.

The game is about even; if White does not play at C 17 on the fifth move, Black gets much the better of it.

XIII

Handicap

WHITE BLACK

1. N 17. “Ogeima Kakari.” 2. P 17. Preventing the entry
at Q 18.
3. R 14. White attacks the 4. S 15. Very important move
other side with “Kogeima.” for Black; if Black makes
a move elsewhere at this
point (“Tenuki,”) White
gets much the better of
it.

XIV

Handicap

Plate 20 (D)

WHITE BLACK

1. C 7. 2. C 5.
3. G 4. “Nikken taka kakari.” 4. E 2. A very important
This is another method of move; if Black plays
attacking from the other “Tenuki,” White can at
side. once enter the corner.

Suppose Black does not play No. 4, E 2, but plays elsewhere, then the following continuation might occur:

WHITE BLACK

4. “Tenuki.” 5. D 2. 6. E 3. 7. E 2. 8. F 3. 9. G 3. 10. F 2. 11. G 2. 12. G 1. 13. C 3. 14. B 4. 15. B 3. 16. D 6. Black must get out toward the center. 17. B 6. Threatening “Watari.” 18. B 5. 19. H 1. 20. F 1. 21. B 1. By means of this move the white stones in the corner live.

White has the better of it.

XV

Handicap

WHITE BLACK

1. N 17. 2. P 17.
3. Q 14. This is another 4. O 15. Black plays to get
method of attack, called out toward the center, as
“Ikken taka kakari”; it White’s third move does
does not give White a base not menace the corner.
for attacking the corner
immediately.
5. N 15. White also plays out 6. N 14.
toward the center,
otherwise Black would shut
him in at M 16.
7. M 15. 8. P 13. Amateurs might play
at O 14; the text move
protects the connection
and extends also.
9. Q 13. 10. P 12.
11. R 11. Beginners might play 12. M 14.
at Q 12; this is always
bad play.
13. L 15. 14. S 15. Protecting the
corner against the white
stone at Q 13.

Even game.

XVI

Handicap

Plate 21 (A)

WHITE BLACK

1. M 17. “Daidaigeima”; not 2. O 17. Black defends the
so much used as the other corner from that side.
attacks.
3. R 14. “Kogeima.” White 4. S 16. Black again prevents
attacks from the other the advance into the
side. corner.
5. P 16. White threatens the 6. P 15. P 17 looks like the
connection between the obvious defense, but this
handicap stone and No. 2, would shut Black in the
otherwise Black would play corner and give White the
at R 12, with the better game.
advantage.
7. P 17. 8. Q 17.
9. O 16. 10. P 18.
11. O 18. 12. O 15.
13. N 16. Much better than 14. Q 13. This attacks the
immediately taking the white stone at R 14; it
single black stone. also defends the
connection at Q 15.
15. R 12. Much better than R 16. R 13.
13; in that case White
would lose both stones.
17. S 13. 18. Q 14.

Black has the better of it.

XVII

Handicap

WHITE BLACK

1. H 3. 2. F 3.
3. C 6. 4. C 5. This is an
alternative method of
defending the corner.
5. D 6. 6. F 5. Black plays to avoid
being shut in the corner,
also it can be
demonstrated if he
neglects this move his
stones will be killed.
7. F 6. 8. H 4.
9. J 4. 10. H 5.
11. G 3. 12. F 2. This is a good move.
F 4 would be weak. The
text move defends and at
the same time threatens
White’s stones on line 3.
F 4 would give White a
chance to play elsewhere
(“Tenuki”) which is a
great advantage.
13. J 3. 14. E 5. Black cannot neglect
this move, or White can
break in with a winning
attack.

Again Black has the better of it. He has a chance to play at J 1 on the next move. The relation of this stone to the stone at F 2 when at the edge of the board is called “Ozaru,” or the “great monkey,” and it generally gains about eight spaces. This is also shown among the examples of end positions.

XVIII

Handicap

WHITE BLACK

1. C 8. 2. C 6. 3. E 2. This is another 4. D 2. method of trying to get in the corner. 5. D 3. 6. E 3. This is the crucial move of this variation; if Black plays No. 6 at C 3, he gets the corner, but White gets the better game. 7. C 3. 8. C 2. 9. C 4. 10. D 5. 11. F 2. 12. B 3. 13. B 4. 14. B 2. 15. G 4. 16. E 4.

Black has the better of it.

XIX

Handicap

Plate 21 (B)

WHITE BLACK

1. O 4. “Ikken taka kakari.” 2. Q 6. This is Black’s best This is the fourth method answer. of commencing the attack. 3. R 8. 4. P 7. Black intends to follow up this move on one side or the other, the two points being Q 9 and M 3. This is called “Hibiku,” or “to echo.” 5. Q 10. White defends on one 6. M 3. side. 7. N 5. White must get out. 8. M 5. 9. M 6. 10. M 4. 11. P 3. 12. Q 3. 13. O 8. 14. L 6. 15. S 6. 16. S 5. 17. R 5. 18. S 4. 19. R 6. 20. P 4. 21. O 3. 22. S 2. Black prepares to form “Me” in the corner.

White must now play at O 6 to save his stones on the left side.

This “Joseki” is very much spread out; it is difficult to say who has the better of it.

XX

Handicap

WHITE BLACK

1. D 14. 2. C 14. Not so good as F 16. 3. C 15. This is not White’s 4. D 15. best move; it is done to confuse Black, and will win if Black does not know how to reply. 5. C 13. 6. B 14. 7. B 15. 8. B 13. D 13 would be bad. 9. C 17. 10. D 17. 11. C 18. 12. C 12. 13. D 13. 14. D 18. 15. D 19. 16. C 16. 17. B 16. 18. A 15. 19. A 17. A 16 would not do. 20. E 19. 21. C 19. 22. F 18. “Kake tsugu.” Black must protect his connection; this situation arises frequently. 23. B 18. White plays on the 24. F 15. only point to save the corner. 25. D 12. 26. C 11. 27. D 11. 28. C 10.

Black has the better game.

XXI

Handicap

Plate 21 (C)

WHITE BLACK

1. D 13. “Nikken taka 2. F 16. Black has a variety
kakari”; this is the fifth of moves at his command;
method of opening the the text move is probably
attack. best.
3. H 17. 4. C 10. Really “Tenuki.”
Black can play equally
well at C 7.
5. B 16. 6. C 16.
7. B 14. 8. B 17.

Black has the corner and White has commenced to envelop his stones. The following continuation might occur:

WHITE BLACK

5. F 18. 6. D 18. 7. E 17. 8. C 15.

Black’s last move in this continuation is interesting, because it will make “Kake tsugu” no matter which way White tries to break through. If he should play at D 17, White could get through at E 16.

XXII

Handicap

WHITE BLACK

1. N 16. 2. O 17. This is an
alternative defense.
3. N 17. 4. O 16.
5. O 15. 6. N 18. This is Black’s best
move. If he plays at P 15,
White replies at O 18 with
a good attack.
7. M 18. 8. O 18.
9. M 15. 10. N 14. This stone will be
sacrificed, but while
White is killing it Black
gets advantage elsewhere.
11. N 15. White must connect. 12. Q 14.

Black has the better of it.

XXIII

Handicap

WHITE BLACK

1. G 4. 2. D 7. This is another defensive move. 3. D 3. 4. E 3. This is better than C 3; in that case Black gets the worst of it. 5. E 4. 6. C 3. 7. D 2. 8. E 5. 9. F 4. 10. C 4. C 2 is not so good. 11. C 2. 12. B 2. 13. E 2. White must look out 14. C 10. for his three stones. B 1 would be a bad move.

The corner is divided, but Black has better prospects.

XXIV

Handicap

WHITE BLACK

1. F 3. 2. C 7.
3. C 9. 4. D 3. Black’s three stones
are now called “Ogeima
shimari”; they are
supposed to be a strong
formation protecting the
corner.
5. C 5. The point of this 6. D 5.
variation is to show that
White can strike in on
this move and yet live.
7. C 6. 8. D 7.
9. B 7. 10. B 8.
11. B 6. 12. C 8.
13. D 6. 14. E 6.
15. E 7. White threatens from 16. C 4.
the outside.
17. B 9. 18. E 8. Black cannot venture
A 8, as his four stones
would then die.
19. A 8. “Watari.” 20. F 7. Takes.

White has entered the corner and still his stones will live.

XXV

Handicap

Plate 21 (D)

WHITE BLACK

1. C 6. 2. G 3. 3. J 3. 4. C 4. 5. E 6. Instead of entering 6. G 5. Black tries to get the corner, White attacks out toward the center; from both sides. this move also prevents White from playing at E 3. 7. J 5. 8. G 7. 9. F 8. 10. H 2.

Black has a good game.

We now come to the “Joseki” where no handicaps are given. In such cases, of course, Black has the first move. The first stone is generally played on an intersection adjacent to the point on which the handicap stone is placed when given. There are, therefore, eight intersections on which the first stone might be played. In the lower left-hand corner, for instance, these would be C 3, C 4, C 5, D 3, D 5, E 3, E 4, E 5. By common consent C 3 has been rejected as disadvantageous for the first player, because the territory obtained thereby is too small. E 5 has been rejected because it allows the adversary to play behind it and take the corner. D 4, or the handicap point, is also not used. The other six points may be divided into duplicate sets of three each, and, therefore, there are only three well-recognized methods of playing the first stone. These are: in the lower left-hand corner, C 4 or D 3, the most usual and conservative, which is called “Komoku,” or the “little ‘Me’”; E 4 or D 5 which is bolder, called “Takamoku,” or the “high ‘Me’”; and E 3 or C 5 which is not so much used as either of the others, called “Moku hadzushi,” or the “detached ‘Me.’” We shall give about an equal number of examples of each of these methods of opening the game, commencing, as is customary in the Japanese works, with “Takamoku.”

I

No Handicap

Plate 22 (D)

BLACK WHITE

1. D 5. “Takamoku.” This is 2. D 3. This is White’s best
the most aggressive of the answer. E 3 is also good.
three methods of opening. C 3 is bad.
3. C 3. Black plays to get 4. C 2. Best; if he attempts
territory on the left; he to cut off at C 4 he gets
attacks from inside. a bad game.
5. C 4. Black extends. 6. E 2. Necessary to secure
the connection at D 2.
7. C 9. Black takes territory 8. G 4. White takes space to
on left side. the right.

Even game.

II

No Handicap

BLACK WHITE

1. Q 15. “Takamoku.” 2. Q 17.
3. P 17. Black attacks from 4. P 18.
the outside.
5. P 16. 6. O 17. White plays to get
territory on one side or
the other; he will
sacrifice one of his
stones on line 17.
7. O 18. This stone is 8. N 18. White plays to
intended as a sacrifice to secure the left-hand side.
aid Black in getting the
corner. It is better than
Q 18.
9. Q 18. Black now secures 10. O 19. Takes.
the corner.
11. R 17. 12. O 16. An important stone;
it is played to secure
White territory on the
left, also to aid in an
attack on the right-hand
side.
13. P 14. This is also 14. K 16. White returns to his
important as it extends original plan and secures
Black’s territory; he territory to the left.
cannot neglect it.

Even game.

Suppose Black neglects P 14 on his thirteenth move, we would then have the following continuation:

BLACK WHITE

13. “Tenuki.” 14. P 14. 15. Q 14. 16. Q 13. 17. R 13. 18. R 12. 19. Q 12. 20. P 13. 21. R 11. 22. S 12. 23. S 11. 24. S 13. 25. R 14. 26. Q 11. 27. P 12. 28. S 10. 29. R 10. 30. Q 10. 31. R 9.

White has the better of it.

III

No Handicap

Plate 22 (A)

BLACK WHITE

1. P 16. “Takamoku.” 2. R 16.
3. Q 14. The purpose of this 4. P 17. White tries to get
move is to confine White out on the left.
to the corner.
5. O 17. Black prevents this. 6. Q 17.
7. O 16. 8. R 14. White tries the
other side.
9. R 13. Black stops him. 10. S 14.
11. Q.16. If Black wishes 12. R 17.
“Tenuki,” this is good,
otherwise S 13 would be
better.
13. E 17. “Tenuki,” but,
nevertheless, played with
reference to the stones on
line O.

Even game. White has the corner, but Black has better possibilities.

IV

No Handicap

BLACK WHITE

1. E 16. “Takamoku.” 2. C 16. 3. D 14. 4. E 17. 5. D 16. Black threatens to 6. D 17. break into the corner. 7. C 17. Black repeats his 8. B 17. threat; in reality it is a sacrificed stone. 9. C 18. This stone may be 10. B 18. White must play here lost, but it aids Black in to save his stones. attacking from the outside. 11. C 15. 12. B 16. 13. F 17. 14. D 18. 15. E 18. 16. C 19. Takes two. 17. G 16.

This is an old “Joseki” which used to be popular; it fell into disuse and was revived by Murase Shuho. It is good enough for White if he has an outlying stone or two in the neighborhood, otherwise it is bad play for White.

V

No Handicap

The following stones are supposed to be on the board: Black, Q 13, R 13, R 15; White, Q 14, P 16, Q 17.

BLACK WHITE

1. Q 5. Black plays 2. R 3. White plans to
“Takamoku,” thinking to prevent Black’s connection
connect with stones on and reduce the Black
line 13. territory.
3. P 3. This is an error; if 4. Q 4.
Black wishes to frustrate
White’s plan, R 4 is the
correct play.
5. P 4. 6. R 5.
7. R 6. 8. S 6.
9. R 7. 10. S 7.
11. R 8. 12. S 8. White has now made a
formidable attack on the
Black territory.
13. R 9. 14. P 5. If Black gets this
point, his line would be
too strong.
15. Q 6. 16. Q 2. Important; not merely
to attack Black on line P,
but it prevents Black from
coming to R 2, which would
mean 10 “Me”; it also
prepares for O 2.

White has the better of it.

Variation commencing at White’s sixteenth move:

BLACK WHITE

16. O 5. Not so good as No.
16, Q 2.
17. R 2. 18. S 2.
19. Q 2. 20. S 4. White secures the
necessary two “Me.”
21. M 3.

Black now has secured territory at the bottom of the board and confined White to the corner with the better game.

VI

No Handicap

Plate 22 (B)

BLACK WHITE

1. Q 5. 2. Q 3. 3. O 4. 4. R 5. 5. R 6. 6. R 4. 7. S 6. 8. O 2. 9. “Tenuki” at Q 15.

White has the corner; Black can afford “Tenuki” at move nine because if White cuts at Q 6 Black can still get a good game. In fact Q 15 indirectly defends the connection at Q 6.

VII

No Handicap

Plate 22 (C)

BLACK WHITE

1. D 15. 2. D 17. 3. G 16. Old “Joseki,” 4. C 15. originated by Konno Genko in the Middle Ages. 5. C 16. 6. D 16. 7. C 17. 8. C 18. 9. B 18. 10. D 18. 11. B 15. 12. C 14. 13. B 14. 14. C 13. 15. E 15. 16. B 19. 17. B 17. 18. B 13. 19. A 16. This gives Black two 20. G 18. “Me.” 21. H 18. 22. G 17. 23. H 17. 24. F 16. 25. F 15. 26. E 16. 27. G 15. 28. F 18. Important move for defense. 29. C 10.

Black has the better of it.

VIII

No Handicap

Plate 23 (A)

BLACK WHITE

1. P 17. “Moku hadzushi”; not 2. Q 15. This is called
so much used as the other “Takamoku kakari”; it is
two openings. It is more one of the two general
conservative than methods of replying to
“Takamoku.” “Moku hadzushi.”
3. R 16. Black plays to 4. R 15.
secure the corner.
5. S 16. The corner is now 6. R 11. S 15 would be good
safe. also.

Even game.

IX

No Handicap

BLACK WHITE

1. R 15. “Moku hadzushi.” 2. P 16. 3. P 15. Black plays to 4. O 15. confine White. 5. P 14. Necessary to prevent 6. Q 16. White plays to get White breaking in. the corner. 7. R 16. 8. N 16. Very important; if neglected, Black gets the corner, and also destroys White’s adjacent territory. 9. R 10. 10. R 17. 11. S 17. 12. S 18. 13. R 18. 14. Q 17. 15. S 16. 16. K 17.

The corner is evenly divided, and neither side has an advantage.

X

No Handicap

BLACK WHITE

1. P 17. 2. Q 15. “Takamoku kakari.”
3. P 15. 4. P 16. This is an invention
of Murase Shuho.
5. O 16. Black cannot play at 6. Q 16.
Q 16 without getting a
very bad position.
7. Q 17. 8. R 17.
9. R 18. 10. S 16.
11. S 18. 12. O 17.
13. N 17. 14. O 18.
15. P 18. 16. N 18. This and the two
preceding stones are
sacrificed; Black
naturally expects White to
cut at O 15. The text move
is a brilliant invention
of Murase Shuho.
17. M 17. Black cannot neglect 18. O 15.
this move.
19. N 16. 20. P 14. Takes.
21. K 17. Defensive; Black 22. R 10.
loses the “Sente.”

White has much the better game.

XI

No Handicap

Plate 23 (B)

BLACK WHITE

1. P 3. “Moku hadzushi.” 2. Q 5. “Takamoku kakari.” 3. P 5. 4. P 4. 5. Q 4. This is not a good 6. O 4. move for Black and will result in his getting a confined position. 7. R 5. 8. Q 6. 9. R 4. 10. O 3. 11. P 2. 12. O 2. 13. R 6. 14. Q 7. 15. S 8. Black cannot play at 16. E 3. R 8, as White would cut at R 7.

White has the better position.

XII

No Handicap

Plate 23 (C)

BLACK WHITE

1. C 15. 2. D 17. “Komoku kakari.”
This is the alternative
method of defense to this
opening.
3. F 17. Black attacks from 4. E 17. This is the crucial
both sides. move. White plays thus
first to get a strong
position on line 17, also
to prepare for getting out
at D 15. Two connected
stones always form a
strong base.
5. G 16. 6. D 15.
7. D 14. 8. E 15.
9. B 16. Black now invades 10. B 17.
the corner; he wishes to
occupy C 17, an important
point.
11. C 17. 12. C 18.
13. C 16. 14. B 18.
15. E 18. 16. D 18.
17. G 14. 18. F 14.
19. D 13. Guarding the 20. G 13.
connection at C 14.
21. H 14. 22. F 12.

Black has the better position. This is an old “Joseki.” It is not much liked at the present time.

XIII

No Handicap

BLACK WHITE

1. C 15. 2. D 17.
3. F 16. This is a variation; 4. E 17.
the intention is to
confine White to the
margin.
5. E 15. This is to prevent 6. G 17.
White from coming to D 15.
7. H 16. 8. H 18. This is a correct
move. H 17 would be
inferior.
9. G 16. 10. K 17.

Even game.

XIV

No Handicap

Plate 23 (D)

BLACK WHITE

1. C 5. 2. D 3. 3. F 4. 4. E 3. 5. C 3. This is unusual; E 5 6. C 2. is the customary move. 7. C 4. 8. G 3. 9. B 2. 10. G 4. 11. E 5. 12. D 2. 13. G 5. 14. J 4.

Even game; the corner is divided.

XV

No Handicap

Plate 24 (A)

BLACK WHITE

1. R 16. This move, called 2. P 17. White’s best reply.
“Komoku,” is the most
frequently used opening
when there are no
handicaps; it is also the
safest for the weaker
player.
3. N 17. This move is called 4. R 17. White plays to get
“Ikken basami”; this is the corner.
the most usual way of
continuing: it gives Black
an attack at once.
5. S 17. 6. Q 16.
7. R 15. Black must extend; R 8. R 18. White must do the
18 would be bad. same; he cannot play at S
18.
9. Q 13. 10. S 18. White cannot neglect
this move after Black
plays at Q 13; if Black
had played at R 12, White
could have played
elsewhere.

Black has the better position.

XVI

No Handicap

BLACK WHITE

1. Q 17. “Komoku.” 2. R 15.
3. R 13. “Ikken basami.” 4. Q 13. This time White does
not try for the corner,
but attacks the black
stone at R 13.
5. Q 12. 6. Q 14.
7. N 17. Black abandons the 8. R 12.
stone at R 13 in order to
get greater territory; if
he defends it at R 11,
White plays at N 17 with a
better game.
9. R 11. 10. S 12.
11. Q 11. S 11 would be bad. 12. S 13.
13. R 16. 14. S 15.

Black has the better position.

XVII

No Handicap

BLACK WHITE

1. D 3. “Komoku.” 2. C 5. 3. C 7. 4. H 3. White in turn attacks the black stone at D 3; G 3 would be too near. 5. D 5. Black connects his 6. D 4. stones and shuts White in. 7. E 4. 8. C 4. 9. D 6. 10. C 3. 11. E 2. 12. D 2. 13. E 3. 14. L 3. White can afford to play for a greater space, as his stones in the corner will live even if he loses the stone at D 2. 15. B 6. 16. B 5. 17. C 2. 18. B 2. 19. D 1. Takes. 20. B 1.

Even game.

XVIII

No Handicap

Plate 24 (B)

BLACK WHITE

1. R 4. “Komoku.” 2. P 3. 3. M 3. “Nikken basami.” This 4. Q 5. White plays to get is the second variation in out toward the center. this opening. 5. R 5. 6. Q 6. 7. R 7. 8. R 6. 9. S 6. 10. S 7. “Sute ishi.” 11. S 8. 12. Q 7. 13. R 8. It would be bad play 14. S 5. to take immediately. 15. T 7. Takes. 16. R 3. 17. S 4. 18. S 3. This move is made to secure “Me” in the corner. 19. Q 4. 20. P 4.

The game is about even.

XIX

No Handicap

BLACK WHITE

1. C 4. “Komoku.” 2. E 3.
3. H 3. “Nikken basami.” 4. D 5. White attacks the
stone at C 4.
5. D 4. 6. E 4.
7. E 5. This is a bad move if 8. D 6.
White replies correctly,
otherwise Black gets the
better of it.
9. F 5. 10. D 2. This is an important
move; it attacks the black
stones on line 4 and also
prepares for White to
extend at G 4. C 2 would
be bad, as Black would
play at F 4.
11. B 6. Black defends his 12. G 4.
threatened position.
13. F 7. 14. D 8. White must extend.
15. B 2. 16. H 4.

Black’s third stone at H 3 is now called “Uke ishi,” or a “floating stone.” White has the better position.

XX

No Handicap

Plate 24 (C)

BLACK WHITE

1. D 17. “Komoku.” 2. C 15. 3. C 12. “Nikken basami.” 4. D 12. White attacks the stone at C 12 in this variation. 5. D 11. 6. C 13. 7. C 11. 8. G 17. White attacks the other black stone. 9. E 16. 10. F 15. 11. C 16. The old book move 12. E 15. was E 15, but this gave “Tenuki” to White.

Even game.

XXI

No Handicap

BLACK WHITE

1. C 4. “Komoku.” 2. E 3.
3. J 3. “Sangen basami.” This 4. R 4. White takes advantage
move attacks the white of his opportunity and
stone but not so directly plays in another corner.
as the preceding
variation. It is the
invention of Honinbo
Dosaku.
5. D 3. 6. E 4.
7. B 6. 8. J 5.
9. M 3. It will be seen in 10. H 3.
this variation that the
stones are played farther
apart than in the
preceding “Joseki.”
11. H 2. 12. H 4.
13. D 8. This is an important 14. O 3.
move for Black.
15. M 5. 16. L 4. “Nozoku.” It
threatens Black’s
connection on lines M and
3.
17. L 3. If Black defends at M 18. G 2.
4, White replies at K 2.
19. J 2. 20. L 5.
21. M 4. 22. P 5.

This “Joseki” really deals with two corners.

XXII

No Handicap

Plate 24 (D)

BLACK WHITE

1. D 3. “Komoku.” 2. C 5. 3. C 9. “Sangen basami.” 4. C 3. 5. C 2. 6. D 4. 7. E 3. 8. B 3. 9. E 4. Preparatory to 11 at 10. D 6. A good move. E 5 C 15; generally No. 9 is would be bad, because played at H 3. Black would reply at D 6 with a better game. 11. C 15. (Not in diagram.)

We will now insert ten examples of openings, as distinguished from “Joseki.” As already stated, these are by Murase Shuho. In these examples Black is supposed to make the best possible moves, and therefore White always finds himself at a disadvantage.

I

Plate 25

Black has a handicap of four stones.

WHITE BLACK

1. R 14. 2. Q 14.
3. Q 13. 4. P 14.
5. R 15. 6. R 16.
7. O 3. 8. R 10. Formerly in such a
case as this Black played
at R 7. This move replied
to White’s move at O 3 and
at the same time from a
distance attacked White’s
stones at R 14 and R 15.
It is better to confine
the last two stones by the
text move.
9. P 13. 10. R 12.
11. Q 15. 12. P 15.
13. R 13. 14. P 16.
15. N 13. 16. P 10. This move is better
than R 7.
17. R 3. 18. R 4. This move is better
than Q 3, which although
it cuts off O 3 and R 3
would leave Black’s stone
at R 10 weak.
19. Q 3. 20. P 4.
21. P 3. 22. N 5.
23. L 17. 24. G 17.
25. O 17. 26. N 16.
27. P 18. 28. Q 18. Black is quite
satisfied to have merely
the necessary two “Me” in
this corner, because he
has a much larger
territory to the left.
29. J 17. 30. C 10.
31. Q 6. 32. O 4.
33. M 4. This move is better 34. O 8.
than O 7 because Black
could follow at N 3 in
that case. Q 6 is a “Sute
ishi” or sacrificed stone.
It has the effect of
forcing Black to play 34 O
8, and later on will help
still further to narrow
down Black’s territory. At
the same time every attack
on the Black position from
the outside would be made
more effective by the
presence of this stone.
Possibly it could also be
used later in “Ko.” Black
makes his 36th, 38th and
40th moves in order to
secure his position which
is weakened by the
presence of the white
stone at Q 6.
35. F 3. 36. M 5.
37. L 4. 38. L 5.
39. K 5. 40. K 6.
41. J 5. 42. F 4.
43. G 4. 44. E 3.
45. F 5. 46. E 4.
47. G 3. 48. D 7.
49. R 18. Beginners would play 50. P 17.
at S 16 or Q 17.
51. O 18. 52. Q 19.

II

Plate 26

Black has a handicap of four stones.

WHITE BLACK

1. R 14. 2. Q 14. 3. Q 13. 4. P 14. 5. R 15. 6. R 16. 7. R 10. 8. K 17. 9. O 3. 10. G 3. 11. H 17. 12. F 17. 13. M 17. 14. O 17. 15. O 18. 16. P 17. 17. K 18. 18. L 18. 19. L 17. 20. J 18. 21. K 16. 22. J 17. 23. J 16. 24. H 18. 25. M 18. 26. P 3. 27. O 4. 28. Q 6. This move has the same effect as R 6. 29. J 3. 30. C 10. 31. C 6. 32. C 4. 33. C 8. 34. E 10. 35. F 7. 36. G 5. 37. C 12. 38. D 7. 39. D 8. 40. C 11. This move is very important because it prevents the stone at C 12 from making a connection with that at C 8. 41. E 12. 42. F 9. 43. F 8. 44. H 9. 45. H 7. 46. H 12. 47. C 14. 48. K 19. 49. M 15. 50. J 5. 51. K 7. 52. K 9. 53. L 3. 54. R 8.

III

Plate 27

Black has a handicap of three stones.

WHITE BLACK

1. R 4. 2. P 3. 3. L 3. 4. G 3. 5. Q 3. 6. P 4. 7. Q 6. 8. M 5. The following is also good.

B. L 5, M 3, M 4
W. J 3, M 2, Q 8

White playing at Q 8 in order to prevent Black from playing at R 5. 9. K 4. 10. K 6. 11. H 4. 12. G 4. 13. J 6. 14. K 7. 15. G 6. 16. R 11. Black cannot play at R 5 without seeing P 3 and 4 cut off. 17. R 9. 18. Q 14. 19. C 6. 20. C 4. 21. C 14. 22. G 17. 23. C 17. 24. C 16. 25. D 17. 26. E 16. 27. B 16. 28. B 15. 29. B 17. 30. C 15. 31. E 17. 32. F 17. 33. D 14. 34. F 15. 35. M 17. 36. C 8. 37. E 6. 38. D 11. 39. B 14. The ordinary answer 40. E 8. to this is A 14, but this time Black cannot play in this way since White would follow at B 12 and thus threaten the black stones at C 8 and D 11. 41. J 7. 42. K 8. 43. H 9. 44. G 11. 45. A 15. Black could not 46. J 10. occupy A 14 on his 42d and 44th moves. 47. H 3. 48. O 17. 49. J 17. 50. G 2. This move is necessary for the security of the Black position, and at the same time Black does not lose the “Sente” by this move.

IV

Plate 28

Black has a handicap of three stones.

WHITE BLACK

1. R 14. 2. R 5. 3. P 4. 4. Q 3. 5. P 3. 6. Q 2. 7. R 7. Formerly in this case 8. R 6. White played at L 3 and Black replied at Q 6. 9. Q 7. 10. P 5. 11. O 17. 12. Q 14. 13. Q 13. 14. P 14. 15. R 15. 16. R 16. 17. P 13. 18. O 16. 19. N 16. 20. P 17. 21. O 18. 22. O 13. 23. O 12. 24. O 14. 25. K 17. 26. L 3. 27. C 14. At this move White 28. L 5. abandons P 3 and 4. If he replied to Black L 3, then there would follow:

B. L 3, L 4, L 5, L 6, G 4
W. M 4, M 5, M 6, M 7

and Black has a decisive advantage. 29. C 8. 30. C 6. 31. E 14. 32. C 15. 33. B 14. 34. F 16. 35. E 2. 36. D 2. 37. D 3. 38. C 3. 39. E 3. 40. C 2. 41. J 3. 42. E 4. 43. G 3. 44. K 2. The importance of this move, when a territory merely has the protection of L 3-L 5, has been commented on before. 45. J 5. 46. P 6. 47. O 8. 48. N 12. 49. O 11. 50. H 17.

V

Plate 29

Black has a handicap of two stones.

WHITE BLACK

1. R 4. 2. D 15. 3. D 17. 4. F 16. 5. C 15. 6. C 14. 7. C 16. 8. D 14. 9. C 8. F 17 is just as good. 10. E 18. Then would follow:

B. G 17 W. F 18 11. D 18. 12. P 3. 13. L 3. 14. P 6. 15. R 7. 16. J 3. 17. L 5. 18. J 5. 19. L 7. 20. R 3. 21. S 3. 22. Q 4. This move and 24-R 2 are necessary because of the white stones on line L. 23. R 5. 24. R 2. 25. O 17. 26. C 6. 27. D 11. 28. F 12. This move is very good, otherwise White plays at E 16 and breaks into the Black position. 29. F 9. 30. Q 14. 31. K 16. 32. R 9. 33. S 2. If Black plays at R 34. P 9. 9, this move is necessary for the security of the white group. 35. C 12. 36. E 17. 37. D 16. 38. F 14. 39. G 15. 40. F 15. 41. H 17. 42. J 7. 43. O 4. 44. Q 5. 45. R 8. 46. M 6. 47. L 6. 48. Q 9. 49. F 3. 50. E 3. 51. G 2. This is a fine move. 52. K 2. By means of it Black is compelled to play at K 2 and White can occupy F 5 on his 53d move and thus escape, whereas without G 2 White could only have played at F 4, whereupon Black could have cut off the retreat at F 6.

VI

Plate 30

Black has a handicap of two stones.

WHITE BLACK

1. Q 3. 2. D 17. 3. C 15. 4. C 13. 5. J 17. 6. D 15. 7. D 16. 8. E 16. 9. C 16. 10. D 14. 11. C 17. 12. E 18. 13. C 18. 14. L 17. Black could prevent White’s next move of E 15 by playing 14–G 15. 15. E 15. 16. F 16. 17. E 13. 18. E 14. 19. F 15. “Shicho” is 20. H 16. This move makes the impossible because White Black position secure. already occupies Q 3. 21. F 14. 22. C 11. 23. L 16. 24. M 17. 25. J 16. 26. H 15. 27. G 13. 28. J 14. 29. M 16. 30. N 16. 31. N 15. 32. O 16. 33. L 14. 34. J 12. 35. G 11. 36. D 9. 37. H 10. 38. J 10. 39. J 9. 40. K 10. 41. G 8. 42. D 6. 43. K 9. 44. L 10. 45. M 8. 46. N 10. 47. J 15. 48. H 14. 49. N 13. 50. J 3. White could not occupy this point without endangering the upper position. 51. L 3. 52. J 5. 53. P 8. 54. P 10. 55. Q 13. 56. L 5. Black does not need to further defend his position E 17-P 10, because it surely has two “Me.”

VII

No Handicap

Plate 31

BLACK WHITE

1. C 4. 2. Q 3. 3. D 17. 4. E 3. 5. D 5. 6. R 16. 7. R 5. 8. O 17. 9. F 4. 10. G 3. 11. O 4. 12. O 3. From here the game might continue as follows:

B. W.
N 3 P 4
O 2 P 3
N 4 Q 6
R 7 K 3

but this is bad for Black. 13. P 4. 14. P 3. 15. N 4. M 3 would be just as 16. R 4. good. 17. N 3. 18. S 5. 19. J 3. 20. C 11. White abandons the stones at E 3 and G 3. If he were to play at G 4, Black would reply at C 11 with too great an advantage. 21. C 14. 22. C 8. 23. D 3. 24. J 17. 25. G 17. 26. J 15. 27. J 5. Now the two white 28. Q 12. stones are cut off. 29. L 15. Black cannot venture 30. L 17. any farther in. 31. P 16. 32. P 17. 33. Q 16. 34. Q 17. 35. R 15. 36. S 16. 37. P 13. 38. P 12. 39. N 13. 40. O 13. 41. O 14. 42. O 12. 43. L 13. 44. R 6. 45. D 7.

VIII

No Handicap

Plate 32

BLACK WHITE

1. C 4. 2. C 16. 3. Q 3. 4. R 5. 5. R 9. 6. O 5. 7. N 3. 8. R 12. 9. P 9. 10. Q 16. 11. R 4. 12. Q 5. 13. P 4. 14. P 5. 15. M 4. 16. M 7. 17. O 17. 18. E 16. 19. C 10. 20. E 3. 21. D 5. 22. K 17. 23. R 17. 24. Q 17. 25. R 16. 26. Q 15. 27. Q 18. 28. P 18. 29. R 18. 30. P 17. 31. R 14. 32. Q 14. 33. R 13. 34. Q 13. 35. S 12. 36. K 15. 37. C 13. 38. E 13. 39. Q 12. 40. R 15. 41. S 15. 42. S 16. 43. S 14. 44. P 12. 45. R 11. Takes. 46. M 5. This move is necessary because Black’s position above it has become strong. 47. O 13. The continuation would now be either 48 P 13, 49 O 15, or 48 O 15, 49 P 13.

IX

No Handicap

Plate 33

BLACK WHITE