In Sente: Tech Skill! "The Catapult"

[@JohnWaltz]

I like that you are breaking down some joseki, and explaining why they're typically played. The part i find most difficult with reading, and trying to learn joseki, is typically, WHY did they play that way, and what makes it so "optimal". Videos like this really help it make more sense in my head. Thanks!

[@InSente]

+John Nothaft I'm glad it can help! to be perfectly honest, my joseki knowledge is horrible. But learning the concepts of what you want to accomplish in the opening can really help 'create' josekis that are more or less totally playable up to an SDK level. I'll think about how to make a more comprehensive joseki video for the future

[@urusama6039]

Love it! More or these pls:D

[@Tetrix0]

You are my hero!

[@pizoteuno]

I have heard mentions of using a joseki dictionary in this and many other teaching videos. I'm unclear, however, on how one would look up this sequence in such a dictionary. What would my search terms be?

[@Secret_Moon]

This is just a trick move which depends on black making a series of fatal novice mistakes. The first one is S4 at 2:58. Any decent player would know to cut at S6 instead. White would have to connect at S4 or defend at S3 if he doesn't want to lose the corner, both of which still leave white shape in the corner very vulnerable if he commits to play P6. Second, even if black makes the first mistake, they would naturally go into the corner at R2 first after white plays P6. And third, even if they make another mistake and don't play at R2, no one will defend against P6 with N4. That's a very bad move. A normal play would be at P5 or at O4 or even O5 would work. No one makes a 2 space jump and let yourself cut off when it's too clear white's intention is attacking the wall. So at best you are expecting black to make 3 consecutive terrible mistakes for this to work out, and in any other situation, you are having a floating white group swirming in the middle beside a solid black group.

[@joshu860]

Nice video, thx for sharing this with us. One thing you could tell your viewers is that this black response at S7 was wrong. If black answers correctly at P6 then he gets a huge wall and the catapult no longer works. Building a strategy on trick moves may lead to wrong decisions. However, your video showes a nice way to punish that black mistake.

[@InSente]

thank you! But I don't think this is a 'trick move'. As long as black remembers to descend, white's group is now floating and has to make shape, which gives black some side and bottom profit. White gets some center presence, and so it's even for both sides. Both variations are playable, according to the Dans I've talked to. Josekipedia actually recommends S7 if black is strong in the area. But yes, your point is also a good variation for players to know, and is a good way to proceed, thanks for the mention!

[@gamarad]

maylay

[@pifl]

More please

[@sander31415]

Nice video. One question would be how good are continuations where black does defend correctly. That is, is it 'joseki with pitfalls' (about equal if played correctly) or just 'trick play' (bad for white if played correctly)

[@InSente]

+sander31415 thanks for the feedback! So in this case, if black plays correctly it is good for both sides. black does get some territory, but white can make shape for his group pretty easily, and his goal of stopping black from making the wall even bigger was achieved. The invasion point at H3 is also in play for white, so even if black plays correctly white is not bad.

[@MaxGamer64]

Gamecube controller in the thumbnail...are you a melee player as well by any chance?

[@InSente]

haha, my friend is a god at smash and he taught me a lot during college XD. I def don't play regularly anymore, but I'm pretty familiar with the competitive scene through my friend

[@MaxGamer64]

Very nice, I love the game myself. Now go too!

[@pouncebaratheon4178]

Did you watch G4? The Mango v. Leffen match in Loser's bracket was too good. Made my friends who don't play melee watch singles top 8 with me and they were freaking out over it.

[@elasand9821]

What if Black doesnt extend at S7 but hanes at P6 ?

[@InSente]

whit can just calmly capture S6 by playing at S7. Black will need to spend an extra move at O7 to keep white enclosed, and white will have sente to either invade black's bottom immediately, cut black's surrounding stones, or take sente elsewhere. So, this variation, when played normally, is considered even, unless black makes the mistake in this video.

[@elasand9821]

i see, thanks for the prompt reply!