The Monthly Go Proverb

- I'd like to remind you of the most important proverb of all -
"Don't follow proverbs blindly"

The Monthly Go Proverb
Respond to an Attachment with a Hane

Explanation
This is one of those situational proverbs that advises the proper response. Of course, situational proverbs have the most exceptions, but they're also the most helpful proverbs, since they deal with a specific shape. When your opponent attaches to your stone, the first response you should take into consideration is the hane.

Illustrations

Diagram 1

Diagram 2

Diagram 3

Diagram 4

Diagram 5

Diagram 6

Diagram 7

Here, white attaches a stone to black's stone.

The natural response for black is to hane. It reduces white's liberties and as threatens to atari with one more move. In such a close encounter, the person who is a move ahead has the advantage.

Here, black attaches to the top of white's stone. This is a joseki play, and the correct response is hane. It builds white's influence and limits black's influence simultaneously.

Here, black 2 in response to white 1 is large move. It limits white's eye space (imagine if white had a stone at 2 instead) and also strengthens the otherwise lone black stone.

This is a case where the attaching stone has strong support. A hane on top of this stone invites an atari and a hane on the bottom lets black secure the corner.

In this case, it is best for white to extend solidly. Since he is one move behind, he must be more cautious.

Here's a joseki example of the attachment-hane combination. Black attaches at 1, white hanes at 2, creating influence on the top and threatening to atari black. Black extends at 3 threatening to hane under, but white 4 gets there first and secures the corner. Black then jumps to 5 to create a base for the black group.

Go Sensei

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