Page:Smith - The game of go.djvu/147

Rh 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

Plate 19 (A)

1. R 14. "Kogeima kakari." This is the most usual move for attacking the corner. The purpose of White's first move is to lay a basis for future aggression; he cannot, of course, play in the corner immediately, neither can he play nearer the black stone with advantage.

2. N 17. This move supports the handicap stone and also gains as much ground as possible for Black. Beginners would generally find O 17 more safe and conservative.