I Really Didn’t Mean to Play Go!
Chapter 309: Empty Triangle and Crude Moves

Meanwhile, on the other side of the competition venue, the commentary room for the large-board review was bustling with people.

The competition hall did not allow unrelated individuals to enter, and the national team review rooms were even more off-limits. Those who wanted to watch the match had to do so from the commentary room.

The ones responsible for explaining the five team matches today were Korean players Moon Yonghyun, 9-dan, and Ryu Dahye, 6-dan.

However, since there were five games, they would only explain the main player match in detail on the large board. The remaining four would be briefly reviewed.

“They’ve determined the turn order. Lee Junhyuk plays black, and that kid Yu Shao is playing white,” someone commented after seeing the result on the TV screen.

A man in his thirties, recalling what Yu Shao had said during the team tournament opening ceremony, frowned and muttered, “Although Lee Junhyuk lost to Higashiyama Kaoru yesterday, it was still an honorable loss.”

“Lee Junhyuk’s strength is recognized by all.”

Crossing his arms, he continued, “I want to see what this game turns into. If Yu Shao doesn’t at least match Higashiyama’s performance from yesterday, how will he explain himself?”

“How could he possibly match that game? That kind of match isn’t something you can just replicate. Forget matching it—he probably can’t even beat Lee Junhyuk.”

A balding middle-aged man beside him stared coldly at the live broadcast. “Maybe he does have some skill—otherwise, he wouldn’t dare say those things.”

“But if he loses to Lee Junhyuk, that would be the ultimate embarrassment. I’ll be laughing my *ss off.”

Someone seated in front turned and added, “Seriously, arrogance needs limits. Does he really think Moon Yonghyun and Higashiyama are just random talents? Arrogant fool.”

“He’s probably just a frog in a well.”

A young man curled his lip. “Among China’s new generation, aside from Su Yiming, only Whitey was decent.”

“I beat Whitey, then beat Zeng Jun in the challenge match—ten straight wins—so now I think I’m invincible?”

“I’ve never even seen a real genius. I don’t know what Korea and Japan’s Go worlds are like, so I just assume what I’ve seen is the whole world.”

The group ranted on, until Ryu Dahye began placing stones on the demo board, finally pulling their attention back to the screen.

“The match has started!”

“Zhu Luzhen’s first move is on the star point!”

Both sides opened slowly. Soon the board settled into a star point versus high approach formation. Then, it was Moon Yonghyun’s turn to play.

Moon quickly placed his stone.

Column 8, Row 8 — Small Knight’s Move!

“Zhu Luzhen chose a small knight’s move instead of a large knight’s move to secure the corner. Star-point and large-point with a small knight’s enclosure—pretty rare,” Ryu Dahye remarked with surprise. She then placed a white stone on the small board.

“Choosing the small knight’s enclosure, huh?”

Nearby, Zhu Luzhen, 8-dan, stared at the board thoughtfully. “In a previous challenge match, Qin Lang responded to the unassailable corner with a shoulder hit. Maybe Moon Yonghyun anticipated that and chose the small knight’s move?”

At that moment, on the screen, Yu Shao also made his move.

Column 7, Row 18 — Single-Space Extension to Secure the Corner.

“A single-space extension?” Ryu Dahye’s eyes lit up with surprise. “That’s also a pretty rare way to secure a large-point corner!”

Usually, players use small knight’s moves to secure unassailable corners and build solid board positions. But in this game, black opted for a high small knight’s move, and white chose a one-space jump—both rare.

...

Inside the Japanese review room.

“Su Yiming opted for the 3-3 point, but interestingly, Yu Shao—who usually plays 3-3 first—didn’t play 3-3 on black’s side. He instead made a single-space extension and is waiting to see how things develop.”

“Qin Lang chose the diagonal small point. Looks like he wants to extend the fight and go for a delicate game?”

“Le Haoqiang chose the double star point, and Bae Yeon did too…”

“……”

They watched the live screen while replaying moves on their own boards. Almost every game was being discussed.

Higashiyama Kaoru kept his eyes fixed on Board One, silent.

On the board, black and white stones alternated.

“Tomorrow… my opponent will be this guy.”

Higashiyama couldn’t help but recall what Yu Shao had said during the team tournament opening.

“I’m going to beat him and make him apologize! I won’t allow myself to lose to him!”

“Anyone who says that kind of stuff—what right do they have to be called a Go player?!”

After Yu Shao made the one-space extension, Lee Junhyuk responded with a small knight’s approach to the lower right corner. Yu Shao also replied with a small knight’s move. Then, Lee Junhyuk played a small knight’s move into the corner, probing white’s territory.

White ignored the probing and tenuki’d to the upper right, playing another small knight’s move.

Then—

White played at Column 8, Row 4 — Four-Space Extension!

“A four-space extension?”

Higashiyama blinked, snapped out of his thoughts.

Everyone noticed Yu Shao’s move and turned toward the live feed of the main match.

“...A four-space extension?”

Fujiwara Terashima frowned. “Extensions of two or three spaces are common here, but a four-space extension? There’s a clear black invasion point on that side.”

Higashiyama finally looked away from the screen. After thinking, he picked up a black stone and played it on the board.

“If black invades directly, white can press from this side and threaten black’s weak large knight’s shape.”

Higashiyama continued analyzing, placing follow-ups: “If black reinforces the upper-left, then white can press into the upper-right and start a complex fight.”

“In that case, the invading black stone ends up isolated and unsupported.”

Everyone frowned slightly, calculating variations, and finally nodded.

“But Lee Junhyuk won’t fall for that.”

Higashiyama looked back at the screen. “He’ll see it. He’s not someone you can handle so easily!”

“If he doesn’t invade immediately, but builds up and invades later, it’ll be far more dangerous!”

Just as Higashiyama finished speaking, Lee Junhyuk placed his next stone!

Column 15, Row 3 — Diagonal Push!

“Nice move!”

Onishi Keikawa was slightly stunned but quickly understood the move and muttered, “After this push, white will have to extend.”

“Then white ends up with a stand plus four-space extension. If white doesn’t reinforce, black can invade. If white does reinforce, it’s awkward!”

Sure enough, white played next.

Column 14, Row 4 — Extend!

Black followed.

Column 7, Row 3 — Two-Space Extension!

Everyone's expressions grew tense.

“That’s not a soft move at all. It threatens white’s three stones and forces a reinforcement. But… white doesn’t seem to have a good way to respond!”

On screen, a hand held a white stone and slowly placed it.

Everyone was stunned—even Higashiyama.

Beneath black’s small-point stone, a white stone appeared!

Rather than reinforce against black’s pressure, white charged right into the upper-left star point.

Column 4, Row 4 — Bump!

...

Inside the competition hall.

“Bump?”

Seeing Yu Shao’s move, a flicker of confusion appeared in Lee Junhyuk’s eyes.

“He didn’t reinforce but invaded directly? If I hane on the right, white extends, then I stand… but if white cuts, that could be annoying. So I should hane on the left instead?”

Lee Junhyuk stared at the board, thinking it over. Then, he finally picked up a stone and placed it down.

Clack!

Column 8, Row 7 — Right Hane!

Seeing black’s move, Qin Lang also picked up a stone and placed it slowly.

Clack!

Column 5, Row 3 — Hane!

Black and white alternated rapidly, and the stones began spreading across the upper-left corner.

Soon, Yu Shao picked up another white stone and placed it.

Column 3, Row 3 — Cut!

“Nice move!”

Seeing that play, Lee Junhyuk’s expression grew extremely serious. He could already sense the brilliance of the cut and was frantically calculating follow-ups in his mind.

“If I capture to the left, white’s block becomes sente. If I take, white ataris and seals off the outside—my black group’s in deep trouble!”

“If I escape outward, white can atari from above and capture the two-space extension stones. And because white has a lingering atari-block combo in the corner, my black stones will be caught in a bind!”

“If I reinforce the corner, white peeps from the outside. Then not only is the invasion neutralized, but my two-space extension group gets captured!”

The deeper he calculated, the graver Lee Junhyuk’s expression became.

“If I go hard and try to force a capture—say I atari, white takes, I atari again, white connects, then I atari again hoping to start a capturing race… but white has better prospects. I can't kill those stones!”

In just one minute, Lee Junhyuk had already calculated several lines, each more than ten moves deep.

After a minute, he picked up a stone and placed it.

Clack!

Column 3, Row 2 — Atari!

“He played here?”

Yu Shao calmly studied the board, calculating as well. After about thirty seconds, he picked up a stone and quickly placed it.

Clack!

Column 8, Row 5 — Atari!

Seeing that, Lee Junhyuk responded instantly.

Column 7, Row 3 — Connect!

Clack, clack, clack…

“You’re really going to hold this line with an empty triangle?”

After a moment, when Yu Shao placed another stone, Lee Junhyuk’s expression shifted slightly. A hint of disbelief crossed his face.

“He actually played such an inefficient empty triangle move, like it’s nothing?”

On the board—

Column 6, Row 3 — Block!

The white stone created an empty triangle—an inefficient, clunky, and ugly shape most players try to avoid.

Lee Junhyuk couldn’t help but look up at Yu Shao, but saw him simply gazing back at him—calm, steady.

It was as if... he didn’t even realize what a strange move he’d made. As if he were just waiting quietly for Lee Junhyuk to respond—because any move Lee made was already within his grasp.

Lee Junhyuk’s eyelid twitched. He remembered what Yu Shao had said at the opening ceremony. Seeing that calm look now, a surge of anger suddenly bubbled up inside him.

For a moment, he had the mad urge to just drop a stone at Column 1, Row 1, just to see if Yu Shao had really anticipated it.

“Calm down…”

But he held back. Shaking the thought away, he looked back at the board. After a pause, he picked up a stone and quickly placed it.

Clack!

Column 7, Row 2 — Hane!

Yu Shao responded just as fast.

Column 5, Row 5 — Push!

The exchange continued rapidly:

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Black: Column 5, Row 6 — Hane!

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White: Column 6, Row 6 — Hane!

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Black: Column 6, Row 7 — Extend!

...

After several more moves, it was Yu Shao’s turn again.

He picked up a stone and placed it slowly.

Clack!

Column 6, Row 5 — Connect!

Lee Junhyuk, who was just reaching into his Go bowl, froze.

“He… made life here directly?”

Sure, making two eyes like this wasn’t impossible. But just like the earlier empty triangle, this move seemed crude and submissive—no one would seriously consider playing this way.

“The strongest move here would be to directly attack my black group!”

Lee Junhyuk frowned, about to make his move, when his pupils suddenly shrank in realization.

“No… after this move, white’s group is completely alive, with no aji left outside!”

“Not only that—he still has a forcing sequence to push through the corner and link up with the stone at the top. And on the right…”

“Because white’s stand was sente, it even indirectly supports his earlier four-space extension!”

“Worse still—looking closely, my black stones in this area—”

“They have no effective follow-up!”

The situation on the board was horrifying.

In the commentary room, everyone stared at the large board in disbelief, their expressions frozen with shock.

“How is this possible…?”

The young man who’d earlier mocked Yu Shao as “narrow-minded” now gaped at the board, sweat dripping down his face.

“Yesterday, Higashiyama Kaoru wracked his brain, using divine moves, and still came out even by move 50. But in this game, aside from that one cut, white’s moves all looked plain…”

He bit his thumbnail, voice trembling.

“In fact, most of white’s shapes are empty triangles and crude moves, and yet… and yet…”

“Lee Junhyuk is already behind after only 40 moves!”

It wasn’t just him. Around the room, many people had to cover their mouths to stop themselves from gasping aloud. What had just unfolded defied common sense—it sent chills down everyone’s spines!

On the commentary platform, Moon Yonghyun and Ryu Dahye were also stunned, placing follow-ups on the demo board.

“If black flies in from above, white can attach. If black extends, white crawls. In the end, black just makes his shape heavy and gains nothing.”

“But…”

Moon Yonghyun wiped sweat from his brow as he laid out more variations. “If black hanes, that’s no good either. White cuts, black ataris, white extends, black plays the tiger’s mouth, white connects…”

“In the end, black breaks a little territory, but white thickens the center dramatically. It’s a net loss.”

“So…”

Moon Yonghyun could only conclude, reluctantly, “Black has no good follow-up in this local fight…”

The room fell into utter silence.

After a while, black finally played again.

Column 7, Row 17 — Small Knight’s Move!

Moon Yonghyun snapped out of his daze and took a deep breath. “That area’s too tough to play. Lee Junhyuk shifted to the bottom side!”

“A good move!”

“He stayed calm. Because white’s earlier shoulder hit weakened the second line, this move precisely targets that flaw and continues the pressure on white’s fourth-line stone!”

“Don’t worry, everyone. A temporary setback is just that!”

“Black may be slightly behind in the top area, but the board is still wide open. The game is far from over! Go is never about winning or losing one moment!”

Ryu Dahye nodded. “Everyone knows—Lee Junhyuk’s ability to fight back from behind is renowned. Even in massive disadvantages, he’s reversed games countless times!”

“And this isn’t even a huge loss—it’s just a minor slip. The board is still very close!”

Hearing that, the audience’s eyes lit up. Hope reignited.

“Right! Hasn’t Lee Junhyuk pulled off comebacks before?”

“Even yesterday, he was down badly and still managed to force a Triple Ko in the end!”

“Let’s go, Lee Junhyuk! You can do this!”

The commentary room erupted in cheers!

Since this was Korea’s home ground, nearly everyone present was Korean, and they shouted their support for Lee Junhyuk with all their might.

Just then, white finally played again.

“White played—let me see…”

Moon Yonghyun glanced at the screen and reached to place it on the large board.

But the next moment, after seeing where the white stone landed, he froze.

Gulp.

After a second, Moon Yonghyun swallowed and finally placed the white stone on the demo board.

Column 13, Row 16 — Shoulder Hit!

Everyone in the review room was stunned again!

Moments later—

“Lee Junhyuk was threatening the second line weaknesses… and Yu Shao not only didn’t defend—he shoulder-hits on the lower right?!”

A balding man finally couldn’t hold it in and exclaimed, “He’s turning the tables, threatening black’s low third-line formation instead?!”

...

On the board, stones continued to fall.

“He’s completely ignoring my territory…”

Lee Junhyuk’s face turned grim. He placed a stone.

Yu Shao quickly responded.

Column 7, Row 16 — Press!

“So he’s giving up all the solid territory below—handing over the third line completely—to force me down and block my big moyo development?”

Lee Junhyuk gritted his teeth and played again.

Theoretically, this approach was possible—but it was risky to the point of being unreasonable!

It was “correct yet unreasonable”—a contradiction that made perfect sense.

Normally, if someone invades, you deal with it. But Yu Shao gave up the entire side, allowing black to claim firm territory, just to lower his shape!

But whether white could actually claim more territory around the outside? That was a gamble—and anything could happen in Go. Just one misstep and all could be lost.

“This idea works in theory—but only in theory!”

“Sacrificing territory to gain influence is common, but giving up all territory for influence? That kind of board vision is beyond human reach!”

Seeing Yu Shao drop another stone, Lee Junhyuk steadied himself and frantically calculated again. Then he finally placed a black stone.

“If you’re gonna play like this…”

“Then—bring it on!”

Clack!

Column 4, Row 17 — Diagonal Push!

“Excellent move!”

Even the referee nearby narrowed his eyes.

“This diagonal keeps the pressure on the outer area. If white doesn’t connect, he’ll be cut off for sure!”

He mentally calculated. Though hard to find, the follow-ups were now clear.

“After white connects, black ataris. After white answers, black plays the 3-3 point. White is forced to cut and defend, and black uses that to expand his territory on the upper side!”

“Not only does black secure the bottom, but that stone also relieves the tight liberties up top—and even blocks white’s outer territory!”

Yu Shao stared at the board, watching that deceptively simple black stone. Then he picked up a white one and slowly placed it.

Clack!

Column 8, Row 15 — Atari!

The referee’s eyes widened!

“That diagonal was absolutely sente—yet he didn’t connect? He counter-ataris instead?!”

Lee Junhyuk couldn’t believe it either, staring at the just-placed white stone.

“He’s not afraid I’ll cut?!”