Lesson 97: High-level Connection (2)
By Nam Chi-hyung
The technique of crossing is used not only when your stones fall into unexpected danger. If you know how to cross, you can intentionally create a river to cross and lay the proper groundwork.
Diagram 1
The sequence from Black 1 to White 12 is part of a joseki. Black is building territory in the corner with the sacrifice of Black 3. It may appear a bit foolish for Black to play 9 and 11 in this early stage and leave Black 3 by itself; however these moves help form a connection between Black 1 and the black group in the corner. To simply bend at A doesn’t work because of White’s cut at B.
Diagram 2
As you’ve seen in the previous lesson, a knight’s move is very useful for crossing. In this situation, Black 1, a double knight’s move, is the key. If White bends at 2, Black will answer with 3 instead of cutting at A. If White butts at A instead of bending with 2, Black will simply extend at B.
Diagram 3
Black has separated the two ▲-marked white stones with 1 to 5. Now, it’s possible for him to continue the attack by jumping out to the center. However, it is always better to assure the life of your stones first, and then attack the enemy. The simplest way to save Black 1 to 5 would be a cross.
Diagram 4
In a usual situation when you want to connect two stones, three lines apart and divided by an opponent stone in the middle, the correct move is to attach at the dividing stone like Black 1 here. However, if there is an exchange of A and B, the connection fails, as shown up to White 10.
Diagram 5
Therefore, Black has to make sure that White cannot bend against his attachment by exchanging 1 and 2 before Black 3. If White still bends, Black will cut and give atari to the ▲-marked white stone. Instead of 2, if White plays A, then Black can cut the three white stones with B.
Diagram 6
It seems that the three △-marked black stones are helpless, and there is no possibility of connecting them with the black group in the corner. However, with the help of the captured black stone and a subtle change of the sequence, the three stones can be saved.
Diagram 7
To cut directly with 1 is not a good idea. It is naive for Black to expect White to answer with A against Black 3 so that he can cross with B. White 4 is the correct answer to Black 3 and he will play at 3 if Black bends at 4 instead of 3.
Diagram 8
Therefore, the key is to make White play at 2. After White answers with 2 against Black’s bend at 1, then Black cuts at 3 and crosses with 5 by spinning around the white group. If White plays A instead of blocking with 2, then Black will give atari by playing at 4, and then cutting at 2.
The writer is a baduk professor at Myongji University and a professional player of the game.