I Really Didn’t Mean to Play Go!
Chapter 319: Board Vision, Calculation, Imagination!

Everyone was staring at the TV screen, their eyes full of shock and confusion.

“He didn’t force his way in to live, or even try an invasion and reduction, but... chose a turn?”

However, the moment they carefully examined that move, everyone felt a chill running down their spine!

After this turn, not only did White’s shape grow stronger, but the Black stones on the right side’s outer edge became thinner. White was clearly ready to launch a fierce attack against the Black stones on the right, and with the White formation on the lower side as well—

White was actually aiming for a massive framework fight, going head-to-head with Black’s influence!

If White successfully formed a framework on the right side, combined with a territorial lead, then this mutual framework strategy would be more than enough for White to compete with Black!

This truly was a case of “surround Wei to rescue Zhao,” and even the following variations weren’t that complex.

But the concept behind this move was so astonishing, so far from conventional thinking—it completely shattered all expectations!

“A turn?”

Inside the match venue, Higashiyama Kaoru’s previously composed expression finally changed uncontrollably.

That turn, which didn’t carry even a hint of aggression, had completely caught him off guard. Yet now that he looked at it, the move was even fiercer than a direct forceful invasion and fight within Black’s territory!

In Higashiyama Kaoru’s mind, he was rapidly calculating the possible developments from that move. The deeper he went, the colder his expression became. Cold sweat appeared down his back.

So vicious!

Finally, after a brief moment, Higashiyama Kaoru clenched his left fist, reached into the Go bowl with his right hand, picked up a stone, and placed it with gritted teeth!

Tap!

Column 18, Row 9 – Hane!

Yu Shao also immediately picked up a stone and placed it swiftly.

Column 16, Row 5 – Connect!

As White’s stone landed, Higashiyama Kaoru almost didn’t hesitate and quickly followed with his own move!

Tap!

Column 18, Row 5 – Atari!

Not long after, seeing Yu Shao place another stone, Higashiyama Kaoru quickly followed, refusing to be outdone.

Soon, after several more moves, when Yu Shao placed again, Higashiyama’s eyes flashed with ferocity. Accompanied by a “clack,” he picked up another stone and placed it again!

Tap!

Column 13, Row 8 – Jump!

“He jumped.”

Yu Shao stared at the board, already seeing the intent behind that large knight’s move.

“You want to use that move to forcibly neutralize the potential of my White formation?”

After thinking for a moment, Yu Shao finally picked up a stone and placed it on the board!

Tap!

Column 14, Row 3 – Attach!

Upon seeing Yu Shao’s move, Higashiyama Kaoru’s expression darkened.

He had tried to sabotage White’s potential to form territory in advance, stopping White from creating a mutual framework situation, but in doing so, he exposed some minor weaknesses in his own formation.

Though small, those flaws were immediately seized upon by White—and ruthlessly attacked!

Now, White was starting to press the attack!

Higashiyama Kaoru stared grimly at the board. After a moment of thought, he again picked up a stone and played rapidly.

Column 13, Row 2 – Hane!

White quickly responded!

Column 12, Row 2 – Hane!

“He’s going straight for my weak points... Now... I can only patch it up and wait for the next change!”

Higashiyama Kaoru immediately grabbed a Black stone and played quickly.

Column 14, Row 2 – Connect!

The next moment, Yu Shao picked up a stone and played again!

Upon seeing that move, Higashiyama—

His expression instantly changed. He looked up at Yu Shao across from him, eyes full of disbelief!

White’s blade, sharpened over ten years, had finally been drawn!

This move—one stone charging deep into enemy lines, breaking into Black’s territory with brute force, was about to stir up a storm across the whole board!

Column 5, Row 8 – Small Knight’s Move!

---

Inside the Review Room...

“He... he invaded!”

Seeing the White stone fall on the TV screen, the female commentator couldn’t help but gasp.

The audience erupted.

“An invasion is one thing, but that point? That’s... that’s way too deep!”

“How did he dare? Isn’t he afraid of getting wiped out?”

“I wouldn’t dare go that deep even against an amateur 3-dan! Does he really think he can survive Black’s kill attempt?”

Everyone stared wide-eyed at the screen, scalp tingling as they looked at the shockingly aggressive White stone.

This kind of invasion—it was as forceful as it gets, something nobody even dared to think about!

Given Black’s massive territorial framework, the safest plan would’ve been reduction. Invasion always carries risk. But in this case, since Black’s territory was so large—greedy to the point of arrogance—it made sense to take a chance.

Still, this small knight’s move went way, way too deep. Just now, Black’s move tried to surround half the board—already excessive—but White’s invasion strategy? Even more outrageous!

White had just charged in solo, plunging into Black’s core. What awaited him next would be Black’s overwhelming counterattack!

On the board, Black and White stones continued to alternate under everyone’s gaze.

Onstage, the male and female commentators mirrored the moves on the demonstration board.

But after just a few moves, everyone’s expressions changed, goosebumps rising across their skin!

“If Black cuts and plays at the top, then the capturing race will actually favor White!”

Onstage, the male commentator stared at the board blankly, then suddenly raised his head to look at the upper right corner, eyes full of shock.

“That turn earlier—White’s entire sequence in the upper right wasn’t actually meant to create a mutual framework with Black!”

“Now it’s clear: White knew Black would try to jump and ruin the mutual framework, so all those moves were just to leave some aji, to prepare for this invasion!”

“From the moment of that turn, White... was laying the groundwork for this entire grand strategy!”

As his voice echoed, the audience buzzed with realization, their minds reeling. Looking up at the demonstration board, everything suddenly felt surreal.

“This…”

If Black plays the cut and atari above, White wins the capturing race. He could directly capture Black’s vital stones—once they fall, Black’s whole position collapses!

But if Black plays a defensive move to stop White’s capture, then White can just peck twice, wait for Black to run, then attach from the outside—those three Black stones will die, and White will live!

The entire hall fell silent.

Right now, everyone was thinking the same thing—

What kind of board vision does it take to plan this far ahead?

What level of calculation does it take to see through all the possible variations after that turn?

And what kind of imagination does it take to come up with the idea of using outside aji to dive this deep into enemy lines?!

Finally, after a long think, Black made his next move.

Column 5, Row 9 – Atari!

“Even though the variations are complex, Higashiyama Kaoru saw this line too. That’s why he chose to go for the atari from the left.”

Seeing the move, the commentator finally snapped out of it. His eyes lit up: “A calm and solid move—this should indeed avoid White’s upper aji!”

Then, the next White stone landed on the TV screen.

The female commentator glanced at it, immediately picked up a stone, placed it on the demo board, and said: “White can only connect here—it’s the only proper move.”

“Next, Black must also connect—otherwise his shape will fall apart.”

The male commentator nodded, then laid out two follow-ups: “After Black connects, White must attach. If Black extends, White’s position will collapse!”

The next two moves unfolded exactly as predicted.

Black: Column 4, Row 9 – Connect!

White: Column 5, Row 9 – Attach!

Then—

Black: Column 9, Row 11 – High Knight’s Move!

“So it was a large knight’s move—what a fierce move!”

The male commentator took a deep breath, feeling the sharpness of the play, then explained: “This move tries to lock White down, forcing White to pay in blood for charging in alone!”

The female commentator also looked at the board with shock, murmuring, “I can’t even imagine... how to respond to this…”

Just as her voice faded, under the gaze of the whole world—White made his move!

Column 8, Row 9 – Jump!

In that instant, it was as if everyone had been struck on the back of the head. They stared at the board, dumbfounded at the freshly placed White stone!

The hall fell silent once more.

“A brilliant move…”

After a long pause, the male commentator finally swallowed hard. Cold sweat rolled down his cheek like beads.

He looked at the board and murmured, “With a single move, White struck right at the flaw in Black’s shape—precise and ruthless!”

---

Inside the Korea-Japan Discussion Room.

Honinbo Shinwa was watching the screen. As Yu Shao was about to move, he reached into the Go bowl—but froze the moment he saw Yu Shao play. His hand stopped mid-reach.

“That move hit the timing perfectly—it aimed straight at the weakness in Black’s large knight’s move.”

An Hongshi was silent for a moment, then slowly said: “If Black plays a defensive move, and White jumps, not only does he expand his eye space, he also reconnects with reinforcements in the upper right—and uses that aji again.”

Lee Junhyuk stared at the big screen, completely dazed.

Suddenly, as if realizing something, he quickly asked, “Then what if Black plays a diagonal connection to protect both sides?”

Before An Hongshi could reply, Honinbo Shinwa answered: “It won’t work.”

Lee Junhyuk paused and looked at him.

Honinbo Shinwa stared at the screen with a grave expression. “If Black connects diagonally, White’s attach becomes sente. Black’s best reply is a placement—

Even though White looks to be in danger, if you carefully examine the board, you’ll find White has aji not just above—but below too!”

Everyone turned to the board, mentally calculating—and their faces immediately changed with shock!

“This…”

Park Zhiguo stared at the board in disbelief, trembling inside.

Yes—besides the upper right, upon closer look, White also had aji in the lower part of the board!

If White jumps, Black can only capture. White then plays atari—that’s sente. Black must connect, and then White extends—and even the White reinforcements on the left come into play!

“So flexible…”

Park Zhiguo stared at the screen, muttering in a daze, “How is this possible… how can anyone maneuver in such a narrow space?”

At that moment, An Hongshi finally spoke in a deep voice:

“Now, Black has no options left. He can only directly poke at White’s thin area—and force a fight!”

On the screen—

Black played!

Column 7, Row 8 – Placement!