How to Beat KataGo at 3 stones -- Another example

 In this game, KataGo invaded an adjacent corner to its corner, instead of the diagonal one.  I had trouble coming up with a good strategy against this, so tried something different, which worked.


The strategy being used is to create corner situations that can be taken advantage of later, by using 4 space extensions from the handicap stone. These induce corner sequences where the W corner can be killed.

In order to get a second extension, B needs to leave the Upper Right (UR) with sente.  One approach would be to tenuki right away, which I use then W invades the diagonal corner.  Here a different approach was used.


Using this approach there are two issues to contend with.  One is that since a perpendicular structure is being used for the 4 space extensions, there is a greater chance KataGo will bend around the corner, in which case it cannot be killed later.  The second issue is dealing with the 3 stones, which KataGo will attack.


I held by breath after playing 24. Would KataGo hane underneath, defeating the strategy?  No, it tenukied at 25, meaning the opportunity to set up the desired corner situations on the left should come about.

The overall strategy involves 4 points:

1. Kill 2 corners.

2. Develop someone other territory (only killing the 2 corners won't be enough).

3. Don't allow W a super large territory.

4. Keep the B groups secure.






The UR B group is reasonably strong, so the attempt to kill the corners begins.


The corners have been surrounded, and both killable either by hane or at the 2-1 point.  Before doing so, an attempt is made to create an additional territory, the second of the 4 points of the strategy discussed above.


At this point I felt confident in winning the game, provided I could kill both corners on the left side. The lower left corner looks like it will be very large, and with the small corner in the lower right, Black will have too much territory for W to match.


I liked 64 very much, as it does three things.  Most importantly, it further strengthens Blacks group.  It also puts pressure on the W group on the left, and serves to limit the territory W will make on the right.


At this point, both corner groups have been killed, and the game is essentially won, provided the B group in the upper right isn't captured.


96 was a horrible move, but 98 was adequate to secure the B group.


KataGo resigned a few moves later, which is typically does at move 153, if its algorithm indicates its chance of winning is sufficiently small. The margin of victory was about 37 points, the same as the advantage of 3 stones KataGo gives, making the strategy sufficient to not only win the game, but to keep the handicap advantage throughout.

Here are the final moves:





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