Thursday, May 21, 2009

Drection Judgement (1)

Let's have a direction judgement this time. Please look at the diagram below.



In the diagram, white just played a pincer in response of black's kakari. It's black's turn now. From A-F, where should black play next?

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Wimmer Joseki

Wimmer joseki is a very rarely used joseki invented by Manfred Wimmer, 2pro.

The Wimmer joseki arises from a usual joseki (see diagram below)


The Wimmer joseki starts with black's block at 1. The usual respond for this move is at A.


The joseki goes as below.


After the sequence, black 1 is a must. Or black's position will be horrible.

A must!


A horrible continuation

After all, I think this joseki is playable if you have the ladder. If you don't, think twice. Have fun with this joseki :D

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Tsumego (4): The Answer

Here is the answer for tsumego (4)


White can't play at other place

Hane Naoki Took the Lead

The 64th Honinbo sen has started. The first title match has been played at May 13-14.

In this game, Hane Naoki, Honinbo played as white, while Takao Shinji the challenger played as black.

The game started with black played an unusual mini-chinese fuseki.
Up to move 31, black has a strong influence in the right side,
while white solidly taking the corner.

Board position up to move 56

In his blog, Takao Shinji think, at move 31, black should played
N16 first, before attacking white's group by playing a keima.

First variation

I think the variation Takao Shinji gave is better than the actual game.

Second variation

In the actual game, black got trouble with saving his cutting
stone, eventhough Takao Shinji successfully saved his group at move 111.


Takao Shinji did the fujite for move 65.

During the yose, black tried to play a ko fight in the bottom
board. However, this is a mistake. Black should calmly played N1 to
gained sente.

A calmer yose

In the end, Hane Naoki won by 2.5 points.


The next game will be played 2 weeks from now.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Tsumego (3): The Answer

Here is the answer for tsumego(3)



White plays 1 first. Black for sure must play with 2. White 3 is the living tesuji here. Black plays 4 to help his two stones.

Black can't atari from the other side at 4.


White will play 2 if black plays A2. After the sequence, white lives easily without any complication.

Back to the first diagram, after 5 and 6, white 7 is the living move for white. Black block with 8 and white plays hane at 9, and black will capture with 10. White forces black to connect with 11 to establish her eye. The sequence goes from 13-15 and white lives.

How if black play B4 instead of A1? White will still alive with the same way.



What if black doesn't connect and cut at B7 instead? White will still alive through the sequence below

Friday, May 8, 2009

Fujisawa Shuko Passed Away at the Age of 84

The Honorary Kisei, Fujisawa Shuko (whose name originally was Tamotsu, but he changed it to Hideyuki, which may also be pronounced Shuko) has passed away on May 8 at Tokyo Hospital because of pneumonia.


Fujisawa Shuko was born in Yokohama,Japan. He was known as one of the "three crows" along with Toshiro Yamabe and Suzuki Keizo.

Fujisawa turned pro in 1940 and it took him a while to get on top. He need 23 years to reach 9 dan, he started a title run in the early 60's, 70's, and 80's. He would win his first major title in 1962, the Meijin. He then won two Asahi Pro Best Ten titles in 1965 and 1968. He won his second major title, the Oza, of which he would hold for three consecutive years from 1967 to 1969. The same year that he lost the Oza, he would win the NHK Cup. The Meijin title was Fujisawa's again when he won it in 1970. He then went on a dry streak of titles. By 1976, he won his first title since the Meijin in 1970. The Tengen was that title.

Fujisawa Shuko is best known for his successfully Kisei defend. He won the 1st Kisei tournament, back in 1976 and defended it for six concecutive years. For his achievement, Nihon Kiin awarded the Honorary Kisei for him.

Other than Kisei, he also made a big surprise when he won the title Oza in the age of 67 and held it for two years. He set a new record for the oldest player to defend a title. A record which is still unbreakable today.

Besides Go, he is known as a successful real estate dealer. He's also known for his calligraphy and has had several exhibits of his works. Fujisawa has a reputation for drinking and gambling.


Several books by him:
* Fujisawa Tesuji Dictionary

* The Nadare Joseki (Go Super Books #1)
* Reducing Territorial Frameworks
* Shuko The Only Move
* Fujisawa Shuko Weiqi Classroom
* The Creations of Shuko (Japanese and Chinese only)
* The Perceptions of Shuko (Japanese and Chinese only)
* The World of Shuko (Japanese and Chinese only)

Fujisawa Shuko's pupils:
* Abe Yoshiteru
* Mimura Tomoyasu
* Kurahashi Masayuki
* Fujisawa Kazunari
* Amano Masafumi
* Takao Shinji
* Nakazawa Ayako

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Tsumego (4)

Another tsumego people. This one is much much easier than the last one.


White to live. White only need one move. Where is it?
p.s: about the last tsumego, I'll post the answer one week from now.

Tsumego (3)

Here you go..another tsumego problem. White to live. Enjoy :)