Shin Jinseo beated Ke Jie with 9 knight moves

This game took place on July 23, 2024, during the China Weiqi League. Shin Jinseo 9P, played with white against Ke Jie 9P. Despite both being top go players, the match was one-sided. Before this game, Shin Jinseo had already achieved seven consecutive wins against Ke Jie, and this match was also a complete victory for Shin.

Question 1: At this point, what big points can White choose?

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White 1's two space extension is a basic joseki, but the structure is flat, and Black 2's expension on the lower side is dynamic.

White 1's super large knight move is also a basic joseki, but Black can still expand and limit White's development by this forcing sequence.

In the actual game, Shin Jinseo's knight move (the first knight move) was an excellent response, countering Black's formation on the lower side while developing White's own influence.

Ke Jie responded with Black 2's sharp move, hoping for White to extend, forming a repetitive pattern. However, Shin Jinseo ignored this and extended with moves 3 and 5, coordinating with White 1 to form a structure on the upper side. White 1's knight move had already limited Black's ability to pincer or shoulder hit at D6.

Q2. After a few moves, what big points can White choose?

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In the actual game, Shin Jinseo chose a knight move (the second knight move), stabilizing his position while weakening Black's group on the lower right side. Black couldn't find a point to exert force.

Q3. Ke Jie became anxious in the actual game, hastily initiating a battle. Although he destroyed some of White's territory in the lower right corner, White blossomed in the center, leaving Black with an isolated group, making the situation desperate. Despite this, Shin Jinseo continued to play the best moves. Can you find them?

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Shin Jinseo first pressured with White 1's knight move (the third knight move), forcing Ke Jie to make a living group. Then White blocked the black group at point 3 (the fourth knight move).

Black 4's knight move was a good move to escape, but White 5 was also a good move, forming a miai (mutually exclusive options) at points A and B.

Q4. Ke Jie used all his skills to rescue his stones on the bottom line and got the initiative to block at the top. How should White respond?

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White 1 and 3 destroy Black's shape, creating cutting points. Then White 5's great move (the fifth knight move) was very smooth. Now Black's komoku + diagonal move became weak...

Black had to strengthen, and White 2 jumped, pressing Black on the upper side while limiting the activity of the stone at E14.

Black 3 and 5's moves reinforced his own position while threatening White on the upper side. However, Shin Jinseo remained unfazed, calmly reinforcing with a knight move (the sixth knight move).

Q5. Ke Jie's invasion is the last battle in the entire game. How should White respond?

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Shin Jinseo first harassed the upper side, targeting Black's cutting points (the seventh knight move).

After a sente exchange, he used a shoulder hit at point 7 (the eighth knight move).

After Black 1's push, White 2 and 4's simple sacrifice sealed the center, resulting in a huge advantage for White.

However, Shin Jinseo, being very combative, chose to cut at move 4 to meet Ke Jie's challenge.

As a result of the battle, Shin Jinseo captured the left side, and what about the center?

Shin Jinseo seized the critical point (the eighth knight move), causing significant trouble for Black...

Ke Jie didn't dare to connect his two stones, choosing to jump out instead. Shin Jinseo mercilessly captured the two stones, achieving a solid position throughout the board. Even if Black managed to make a living group in the center, it was hard for him to secure enough territory to stay in the game. Ke Jie, disheartened, resigned.