I Really Didn’t Mean to Play Go!
Chapter 318: Life-and-Death Defense and Framework

Higashiyama Kaoru stared intensely at the board before him,

his mind furiously calculating countless variations centered around that lone white stone at 17-7!

This cut —

was terrifying.

Even the referees and recorders beside him had completely frozen,

and the countless viewers glued to their TVs and computers were equally dazed!

Yet in this moment,

Higashiyama Kaoru was extraordinarily calm —

so restrained he was ice-cold.

After a while,

Higashiyama Kaoru finally reached into his bowl,

picked up a stone,

and swiftly placed it!

Da!

Eighteen Columns, Three Rows — Hane!

"Hane!"

Seeing this move,

the crowd finally snapped out of the shock from Yu Shao's previous cut.

But after carefully analyzing Higashiyama Kaoru's hane,

many turned pale again!

"Neither atari was feasible —

so Higashiyama Kaoru chose another path,

giving up a stone,

and haned into the corner!"

Yu Shao stared at the board,

his expression growing more solemn.

After a brief thought,

he picked up a stone and quickly played:

Da!

Eighteen Columns, Two Rows — Hane!

As White’s stone landed,

Higashiyama Kaoru instantly played his next move:

Da!

Seventeen Columns, Eight Rows — Atari!

Previously, Black’s atari was impossible —

but now, after inserting the hane,

the situation had completely changed!

Yu Shao quickly responded.

Da!

Eighteen Columns, Seven Rows — Extend!

"If I don't reinforce,

White will escape to the upper side,

ruining my framework.

I must solidify it!"

Higashiyama Kaoru calmly watched the board and picked up a stone.

"But because of my earlier hane,

he has no choice but to eat my sacrifice stone up top."

Da!

Sixteen Columns, Eight Rows — Connect!

Yu Shao swiftly followed:

Da!

Eighteen Columns, Four Rows — Atari!

Higashiyama Kaoru had anticipated this completely.

His expression remained unchanged,

calculating furiously —

Life and Death!

"If I reinforce again,

White will escape to the upper left and attack.

I must connect —

otherwise I’ll gain no advantage!"

Without hesitation,

Higashiyama Kaoru picked a stone,

his gaze sharp:

"I must attack fiercely —

cut off White’s escape completely!"

Da!

Seven Columns, Three Rows — Extend!

"Extend directly?!"

The live-streaming viewers were utterly shaken!

Only after thinking carefully did they realize:

If Black hadn’t extended immediately and instead reinforced elsewhere,

the entire formation would collapse!

Meanwhile —

In England, deep into the night.

A blond, slightly chubby man stared unblinkingly at his computer screen,

his expression one of utter shock and excitement.

"Amazing... absolutely amazing!"

He sucked in a deep breath,

then snatched up his phone and quickly called his friend.

Even as the call rang,

he kept his gaze locked on the screen,

terrified of missing even a single move.

After a few busy tones,

the call finally connected.

"Hello? Why are you calling so late..."

Before his friend could even finish,

the chubby man cut him off, practically shouting,

"Get up! Wake up right now! Watch the China-Japan-Korea Team Tournament!"

"But I was going to sleep... I figured I’d watch the replay tomorrow..."

"Get up NOW!"

The blond man growled, even more worked up as he saw White's next move appear on the screen!

"If you weren’t at the venue in Seoul,

fine, but if you also miss watching this match live —

you will regret it forever!"

"This is a match that must be watched without knowing the result!"

"Watching the replay after knowing who won —

is meaningless!"

"I swear, this game —

will shake the world of Go!"

"It will be remembered by history — absolutely!"

Hearing his friend’s overwhelming excitement,

the man on the other end was utterly stunned.

He knew his friend well —

this guy wasn’t the type to exaggerate.

"I’m getting up right now!"

Soon, the sounds of someone scrambling out of bed and getting dressed echoed through the phone.

"Right away!"

The blond man hung up,

his heart still pounding wildly

as he stared back at the screen.

And then —

he watched as Higashiyama Kaoru placed another black stone!

"Placed there?!"

The blond man’s eyes widened as realization dawned,

as if the clouds parted and the sun broke through!

Scenes like this played out around the world.

The number of live viewers skyrocketed!

More and more people flooded the live stream —

even in the middle of the night across Europe and America,

countless people dragged themselves from bed to watch!

The comment section exploded,

a torrential river of messages flying past!

Everyone who looked at this board was utterly swept up —

The exchanges during the opening phase were dazzling,

every move containing hidden traps,

every tactic lethally precise.

One couldn’t help but be awestruck!

Soon, under the eyes of the world—

Yu Shao placed another stone.

Da!

Two Columns, Fourteen Rows — Atari!

Black squeezed White along the top edge three times,

White crawled twice underneath,

and finally —

White completely killed two black stones on the first and second lines!

At this point—

White had firmly secured all four corners!

Forming a classic Four-Corner Cross Pattern!

Meanwhile, Black’s external influence surged —

his central potential swelling like a storm.

The overall board had formed:

White’s territory against Black’s framework!

Framework vs Life-and-Death!

These two were natural enemies —

like water and fire, like Black and White themselves!

Framework seeks to enclose the center —

but building influence in the center is extremely difficult,

subject to attacks from every direction!

Thus, in Go there’s the old adage:

"The high rule the center."

Those who can master the center —

are true masters!

Life-and-death fighting, on the other hand,

aims to destroy the opponent’s framework,

fighting within their sphere of influence,

seizing opportunities from chaos —

a brutal, unpredictable game!

No one good at life-and-death battles is weak.

And now —

this game was shaping up as a direct clash:

Framework versus Life-and-Death!

If Black secured the center — Black wins!

If White broke through — White wins!

Everyone stared at this board shining with bizarre light,

holding their breath involuntarily!

Just the first sixty moves —

and it was already earth-shattering.

What about the middle game —

where the fate of the entire board would be decided?!

Everyone had the same thought in their heart:

"This might be..."

"The pinnacle duel between Framework and Life-and-Death!"

Under the world's gaze,

Higashiyama Kaoru placed another black stone.

Da!

The sound of the stone landing seemed to echo across the entire world!

Eight Columns, Two Rows — Turn down!

It was a massive move,

laying hidden threats for future attacks!

Yu Shao responded,

placing a white stone with quiet precision.

Da!

Two Columns, Three Rows — Extend!

A direct counter —

neutralizing Black’s latent threats!

"How will Black continue the enclosure?"

"Maybe a large knight’s move —

a small knight’s move would be too conservative."

"Or maybe a big jump —

but White might follow immediately to split!"

The live chat rolled by like a waterfall!

Moments later —

under countless eyes—

Black made his move!

Da!

A lone black stone stood at the center of the vast, empty board.

Ten Columns, Eight Rows — Center Clamp!

At the sight of that black stone—

the previously roaring chat suddenly fell utterly silent.

A deep, chilling stillness swallowed the world!

Black had not used a small jump,

nor a large jump,

nor even a big knight’s move —

but a Center Clamp!

A single stone —

to enclose nearly half the board!

"This is..."

"This is..."

"Black... is trying to..."

"Enclose half the board!!!"

After a beat of stunned silence—

the chat erupted like a tsunami!

Seeing that move,

everyone couldn’t help but shiver —

their hair standing on end!

In Go, victory is determined by territory —

but enclosing too much is dangerous.

The bigger the framework,

the easier it is for the opponent to invade and destroy it!

Normally, strong players enclose small, safe spaces.

Yet Higashiyama Kaoru—

was enclosing half the board!

They had expected a battle between Framework and Life-and-Death —

but they hadn’t imagined Higashiyama Kaoru would stake everything!

The black stones spread into a giant, murderous net—

inviting White into a life-or-death duel!

"Although such a big enclosure isn’t impossible..."

Someone stared at the board and muttered:

"But how many people in the world have the courage for such a move?"

And in everyone’s mind,

one phrase echoed:

"After Higashiyama Kaoru, there will be no more geniuses!"

In truth, Go is not lacking in geniuses.

Almost every professional player can be called a genius —

it’s impossible to reach pro level otherwise.

But among so many geniuses—

how many dared to enclose half the board in one fell swoop?!

"So..."

"How will White invade?"

"Or destroy the framework?"

Someone asked quietly.

Inside the competition venue.

Yu Shao gazed calmly at the board,

then slowly reached into his bowl.

The next moment—

his hand fell decisively!

Facing Black’s enormous framework,

almost any player would think about invading—

smashing into the framework—

launching a life-or-death battle!

But—

Yu Shao’s White stone—

Eighteen Columns, Eight Rows — Turn!