WGC - 3-3 Invasion of 4-4 - Bad Hane Variation - Part 1

Summary

The video examines a 3-3 invasion of a 4-4 corner, focusing on Black’s premature, greedy hane in the standard variation. James Story explains how White can punish it and emphasizes that the best continuation depends on whether a ladder works for White.

Main Ideas and Sequence

The standard sequence begins with White invading at 3-3. Black blocks, White extends, Black plays a hane, White crawls underneath, Black extends, and White extends again.

At this point, Black has a sound, standard move available. The video instead examines what happens when Black plays a premature hane in an attempt to gain more. White can cut the black stones. Black cannot simply push upward or use an atari to resolve the position, because White can escape and take the corner.

How White Punishes Black’s Greedy Continuation

After White cuts and Black extends, White comes around the other side rather than choosing a more passive response.

Black’s sound option is to protect the cutting point, but this gives White a way to escape while securing the corner. If Black instead tries to crush White:

• White uses an atari-and-ladder threat.
• Several ordinary attempts to stop the ladder fail because White can atari from the other side and restart it.
• Black therefore needs an unusual empty-triangle shape. This avoids the ladder and gives Black a chance to turn and attack White’s stones.

White first plays an atari on the opposite side, prompting Black to connect and form a bulky shape. White then makes a solid move that renews the threat to atari and net Black’s stones, forcing Black to defend again.

The Ladder Determines White’s Plan

If the ladder is favorable for White, White can choose a move that aims to capture Black’s corner stones. If the ladder is unfavorable, White should choose a different continuation to settle and live in the corner. The presenter says that alternative will be covered in another video.

The video also demonstrates a sequence for making two eyes in the corner: White uses ataris and extensions, and Black cannot simply force White to die or force its own way out.

Ko Threats and the Cost of the Fight

After White establishes a viable corner position, Black can cut across the relationship between White’s knight-move stones. The resulting fight does not give Black a simple way to live, kill White, or escape. Instead, Black has a series of ko threats—the presenter counts eight.

White can ultimately capture roughly ten stones, worth about 22–23 points in the corner, but must contend with those ko threats. The result depends strongly on the ladder and the ko fight, not just on the initial corner sequence.

Practical Lesson

The presenter recommends replaying the sequence on a board and studying what each move accomplishes. Players should recognize the premature hane, understand White’s cut-and-ladder tactics, and check whether the ladder works before choosing how to handle the corner.

Speakers and Sources

• James Story — host and presenter of the World Go Channel video.
• Go World magazine, Summer 2000 — identified by the presenter as the source where he found the variation.