I Really Didn’t Mean to Play Go!
Chapter 68: The Rejected Playstyle

As the black stone landed, Yu Shao reached into his Go bowl and retrieved a white stone.

Click.

Column 4, Row 16—Star Point!

The moment Yu Shao played his move, the boy opposite him picked up a black stone and quickly placed it on the board.

Column 16, Row 17—Small Point!

"He chose a diagonal Small Point?!"

The spectators gasped at the move.

This layout, though solid and reliable, often results in fragmented board positions, leading to intricate, interconnected battles. Even the smallest misstep can cause the entire game to collapse. It demands exceptional calculative depth and precise control over the game, making it unfriendly to inexperienced players.

Throughout the morning matches, no one had dared to choose such a strategy. As amateur players, everyone prioritized simpler, more manageable layouts to secure victory.

"Choosing this strategy in a competition doesn’t seem very wise."

"But he was a dojo trainee—he should be capable of handling a diagonal Small Point, right?"

"Even if he can handle it, he’s not a professional. A safer and simpler layout would have been the better choice. He should know that..."

"Precisely because he understands this," Zheng Qin suddenly spoke from among the crowd, "he chose the diagonal Small Point."

The onlookers froze in confusion.

He understood it, so he chose it? That seemed illogical.

Zheng Qin’s eyes reflected the board as he explained, "He wants to settle the game in a chaotic, fiercely contested battle, where every move decides life or death."

The crowd exchanged puzzled glances.

"A diagonal Small Point, huh?"

Yu Shao’s expression remained calm as he observed the boy’s choice. While this opening was rare in the current era, Yu Shao had encountered it often in his past life before transmigrating.

The stronger a player’s skills, the more they lean toward complex battles, as these allow their strength to shine. In high-level games, it wasn’t unusual to see breathtaking positions where multiple dragons clashed across the board.

Yu Shao picked up a stone and gently placed it.

Click.

Column 4, Row 4—Star Point!

With his second move, he established a classic diagonal Small Point vs. Double Star Point layout.

The boy across from him wasted no time, placing another stone on the board.

Click.

Column 15, Row 3—Small Knight’s Enclosure!

The combination of a Small Point and a stone in the outer area formed an Unassailable Corner, a highly secure and difficult-to-penetrate position in the upper-right corner.

"An Unassailable Corner with a diagonal Small Point?"

Yu Shao raised an eyebrow in slight surprise.

This layout, though not as obsolete as the Great Avalanche, had largely fallen out of favor among top-tier players. Back in the 1960s, it was quite popular, but the advent of AI-go-driven strategies, which prioritized speed and efficiency, had rendered this slower layout rare.

Yu Shao pondered for a moment before making his move.

Holding his wrist steady, he let his fingers drop.

Click!

Column 17, Row 15—Small Knight’s Approach!

The crisp sound of the stone hitting the board rang out like a resonant chime.

For a moment, the crowd was stunned. Then their eyes widened in disbelief.

"A Small Knight’s Approach?!"

The spectators stared at the white stone on Column 17, Row 15, their expressions incredulous.

"Why... a Small Knight’s Approach?"

Among the crowd was He Yu, who had arrived at the venue unnoticed. His brow furrowed as he observed the move.

While Yu Shao’s midgame prowess had impressed him earlier, this opening baffled him.

"It’s... too weak."

Many others shared his sentiment.

"Wasn’t the purpose of the Small Knight’s Approach to prevent Black from forming another Unassailable Corner? But that’s such an outdated strategy. It’s been abandoned for ages!"

The disappointment in some voices was palpable.

"In the past, players feared letting Black secure two Unassailable Corners, considering the formation too solid and unassailable. But modern Go theory has debunked that fear."

"Sure, the Unassailable Corner emphasizes territory, but it’s slow and prone to stagnation. There’s no need to counter it with a Small Knight’s Approach anymore."

"These days, a high approach is preferred. Black would extend, White would bend, and Black would retreat. Then both sides split their efforts, with the game evenly matched."

"But with a Small Knight’s Approach, Black has a perfect follow-up at Column 17, Row 11—a move that combines extension and clamp for immense pressure!"

The room grew quiet.

Jiangling First High’s strength didn’t seem all that intimidating after all.

Even the boy facing Yu Shao froze upon seeing the move.

"Seriously? Is that it?"

Casting a glance at Yu Shao, he picked up a stone and quickly placed it.

Click!

Column 17, Row 11—Extension!

This sharp move was both suppressive and destructive, perfectly exploiting the weakness of the Small Knight’s Approach.

Yu Shao, however, remained composed, as if he had anticipated this exact response.

The Small Knight’s Approach, once a staple strategy, had fallen into disuse for precisely this reason. But when AI Go programs came into play, they revisited and reevaluated the move, presenting startling new insights.

AI analysis revealed that while Black’s extension at Column 17, Row 11 was excellent, it opened the door for White to execute a Flying Press in the lower-right corner—an astonishingly effective move brimming with subtle menace.

However, this move’s value was elusive to human players, requiring an understanding and precision few could achieve.

Yu Shao picked up another stone and calmly placed it.

Click.

Column 15, Row 16—Flying Press!