Nexik’s Baduk

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Star point is one of the first moves one play learn to play in corner. Beginners start with this because it is easy to found it. On the board it is marked by dot. Unfortunately when one strength grow up, it is more clear that using it isn’t easy task. Many stronger player said that if you’re playing star point you must be flexible. Of course it is right, but it’s easier to said than to do. I think this 5 principles will help you understanding the issue of playing flexible with star points.
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Dia.1 - Trick move

Last time I show tsuke-nobi joseki which is very good in high handicap games. Of course in handicap games white will try to complicate situation. One the way to do that is play white 5 from Dia.1 This move is very tricky. You can easily be trapped but if you play correct way you oppent will in big trouble.

Dia.2 - Split white in two

First impression is play black 1 from Dia.2 but white get some territory in corner and had sente to start fight with 8 and 10. This variation is bad for black because he has korigatachi on right side.

Dia.3 - Taking right side

Black of course can play 1 at Dia.3 but white position is very comfortable compare to tsuke-nobi joseki(Dia. 1)

Dia.4 - Try to back to joseki

Black can play 1 at Dia.4 to back to standard joseki after white san san, but here white will play 2 and 4 and his position is even better than in Dia.3, so again black is trapped.

Dia.5 - Correct move

The correct answer is black 1 on Dia.5. Now white is cut in two like in Dia.1 but this time black takes one white liberty and the figtht is good for black. the exchange 4 to 7 is forced. If white play at 5 then black 4 will give black very comfortable result. After white 8 black 9 is tesuji. Now the aji at N3 is very big…

Dia. 6 - Black is leading

If white connect at 1, black will jump to 1 forced white to make a life, but after black 8 the fight is very good to black can get some profit by attacking white weak group. If white don’t play 1 black will cut at N3. Now everyone know that white 5 is hamete and if black play correct move than white will be in big trouble. Conclusion: tsuke-nobi joseki in high handicap games is very powerful.

Dia.1 - Tsuke-Nobi Joseki

Last time i discuss about kosumi-tsuke joseki in 9 stone games. The conclusion was: kosumi-tsuke is powerful move in handi games but in 9 stone game one wants something less fighting. On 9 stone game the proper joseki to choose is tsuke-nobi joseki in Dia.1

When white play 7 black need to play at 8 or B, because of bad aji after cut. This joseki gives black solid shape and some sure territory in corner, but the most important thing in this joseki is follow up.

Dia.2 - Follow up

Latter black 1 is very powerful move in sente. If white play tenuki balc will kill white playing 3. Next 4 and 5 are miai points, so white group is dead. Black 1 is sente so white must play 2 at A and run to the centre.

Of course before you start to play tsuke-nobi joseki you need to know some variation.

Dia.3 - First variation

White can play at 1 to take some points from black corner, but black will play 2. Sequence to black 10 is forced if white will continue than handicap stone at K4 is in perfect place. Of course there is some bad cutting aji at R4, but black wall is really powerful and the game is now much easier for black.

Dia.4 - Black choice

If white will invade in san san black can play very similar to Dia.3, but sometimes he want to play on bottom side. After black 2 white 3 is only move. Next black 4 is good idea to get rid of bad aji and take sente to play somewhere around F4.
If white play 1 instead of 3 in Dia.4 he will get unsatisfactory result. After white 1 black must be careful and don’t play hane - keima at 2 is must. Later black A is sente, so two white stones aren’t big issue.

When one play high handicap game than he must to play simple joseki and try to obtain sente to. play big moves.