I Really Didn’t Mean to Play Go!
Chapter 90: The Common Move Becomes Brilliant

The audience held their breath in collective astonishment.

At first, they thought White was merely trying to compensate for Black’s advantage in the upper-left corner by forcing a fight along the right-hand side, hoping to balance the scales through sheer aggression.

But that wasn’t White’s true intention.

Only now, with White’s extension revealing their plan, did everyone collectively gasp in realization.

Nobody had expected this: White wasn’t aiming to gain a local advantage through a skirmish. Instead, White used this skirmish as a tool to freeze the board position and dictate the flow of the game!

At this juncture, Black was forced to choose between a one-space jump or a peep. Either move was necessary to avoid losses. While White might not secure a local profit, they would gain the potential to dominate the central area.

White wasn’t concerned with the immediate gain or loss of a few points or stones. White’s sights were set far beyond, on the greater possibilities of the midgame and endgame—on achieving a long-lasting advantage!

Even though White might lose some points in the opening, the potential to develop the center would leave them on equal footing with Black.

Recognizing that tactical superiority wasn’t feasible, White sought an alternative path, striving to achieve strategic dominance over Black.

This masterful thought process was nothing short of extraordinary.

"It’s as if we’re operating on entirely different wavelengths… This level of play is completely beyond me," someone muttered in awe, their earlier doubts now replaced with admiration.

It’s hard for people to admit their inferiority to others—unless the gap is so vast it becomes undeniable.

At this moment, Yu Shao picked up a black stone and placed it on the board.

Thud.

Column 4, Row 11—Squeeze!

The sound of the stone hitting the board rippled like a thunderclap, breaking the silence and shaking the room.

"A squeeze?"

"A squeeze?!"

Everyone’s eyes widened in shock, and they instinctively leaned forward in their seats.

Black’s move was completely unexpected—it wasn’t the one-space jump or peep everyone assumed to be the only options.

"What is this…"

Zheng Qin was dumbfounded, staring intently at the freshly placed black stone with disbelief plastered across his face. "Not a jump or a peep, but a squeeze here?!"

He Yu rubbed his eyes, his expression equally incredulous.

Even Zhou De blinked in confusion as he tried to process the situation.

"Did Old Yu just play the move I was thinking of?"

Zhou De, accustomed to Yu Shao consistently making unpredictable moves, was taken aback when Yu played the very move he had considered.

Unable to contain his excitement, Zhou De turned to Xu Zijin beside him, only to see her staring at the board in utter disbelief.

"Could it be a brilliant move?!" Zhou De thought, his heart racing with exhilaration. "Am I a genius after all?"

Chen Jiaming adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, his analytical mind racing.

"At first glance, this squeeze seems advantageous for Black. But in reality, it benefits White. Black is trapping their own liberties—it’s a standard crude move."

"However, if this squeeze really is a crude move, Black would suffer significant losses. Yu Shao wouldn’t make such a mistake."

Chen Jiaming replayed the sequences in his head, trying to identify what he might have overlooked.

"Is there an extraordinary follow-up here?"

In the game, Su Yiming also froze upon seeing the squeeze.

"He… actually squeezed in there?"

Su Yiming stared at the board, lost in thought. After a moment, his expression shifted as he seemed to grasp something, his gaze trembling.

"If I extend outward and he follows with an attachment, then the squeeze… cuts through White’s vital shape!"

"Unbelievable…"

"This squeeze is completely irrational—it’s not a move anyone would normally consider, let alone the follow-up attachment!"

Su Yiming looked up and cast a deep glance at Yu Shao before quickly placing another stone.

Thud!

Column 15, Row 12—Extend!

This extension was no surprise to the crowd—it was the most natural counterattack for White in this position.

Yu Shao wasted no time and immediately played his next move.

Thud!

Column 4, Row 13—Attach!

The stone landed like a thunderclap, sending shivers through the spectators. It was only at this moment that they finally understood why Black had played the earlier squeeze.

"If White blocks above, Black can stand, forcing White to connect. Black then jumps, and if White tries to atari, the earlier squeeze creates a cutting point!"

"This attachment is the follow-up to the squeeze. Without it, the squeeze would’ve been a pure loss. But with this attachment, what seemed like a crude move… becomes a brilliant one!"

The realization left the room in stunned silence, an eerie chill settling over everyone.

Black had not been oblivious to White’s plans to dominate the center. Instead, Black was confident in gaining a tactical advantage in this skirmish.

And Black… had succeeded!

Su Yiming stared at the board, his expression steady but his left hand clenched tightly, betraying his inner turmoil.

Though he had anticipated Black’s attachment, its actual execution still weighed heavily on him.

In the silent tension, Su Yiming picked up another white stone and placed it on the board.

Thud!

White’s next move had begun.

Column 17, Row 17—Attach!

"Attaching to the 3-3 point! White is making a counterstrike!"

The crowd’s eyes were glued to the board. Everyone understood White’s intent, and the tension in the room was palpable. It felt as if the board itself was alive, with every corner brimming with danger and uncertainty.

On the other side, Yu Shao picked up a black stone and placed it without hesitation.

The two players continued their rapid exchange of moves.

The sound of stones hitting the board resembled the clash of swords, each move like a glint of steel. Every placement carried the weight of a fierce battle, leaving the spectators deeply shaken.

Thud!

Thud!

Thud!

Finally, after more than a dozen consecutive moves, Su Yiming halted his play, no longer following Black's lead.

The room was silent.

Though the venue remained packed, the stillness was almost eerie.

It was now abundantly clear: even though White’s responses had been near-perfect, the opening still left White at a significant disadvantage. Black had widened the gap considerably.

Su Yiming lowered his gaze to the board, waves of emotion surging through his heart.

"I’m at a severe disadvantage…"

"After sacrificing in the upper-left corner, though I suffered some losses, they were within an acceptable range. Even the squeeze earlier, which caught me off guard, shouldn’t have caused such a significant decline. My attachment to the 3-3 point should have helped stabilize the position."

"But… things are far worse than I anticipated!"

Staring at the board, Su Yiming had already assessed the extent of the disparity between Black and White. His heart was heavy with confusion.

"I didn’t make any slow moves. Even if Black gained an advantage, it shouldn’t be this significant after a 7.5-point komi."

Su Yiming raised his head, looking across the board at Yu Shao.

Initially, when Yu Shao opened with a small knight’s move, Su Yiming had been hopeful, expecting a creative surprise under the komi handicap.

But this "surprise" was far beyond his expectations.

While his unfamiliarity with modern joseki sometimes led to slight disadvantages in online games, those were typically manageable. A small loss in the opening could be recovered in the midgame through skillful play.

But this time, the disadvantage was… simply too great!

"If this were one of the online players, I’d feel confident about recovering in the midgame…"

"But he isn’t just another random player from the internet!"

Memories of every move in this game—from the opening to the present—flashed through Su Yiming’s mind like a reel of film. His expression grew increasingly grim.

"Heading into the midgame in this position, even I might lose!"

"If I want to turn things around, I can’t proceed with conventional play."

"If I stick to normal strategies, he’ll use his skill to steadily expand his advantage from the opening. With this kind of lead, it’ll be all too easy for him!"

"I need to disrupt the board and create chaos, looking for an opening amidst the turmoil!"

"I can’t afford even a moment of slack. I must steer the game into the most intense fighting possible! Like a hyena lunging at a lion’s throat!"

"Only in the most complex and chaotic situations can I exploit any weaknesses in Black’s play, mounting a relentless offensive to close the gap—or even surpass him!"

"Otherwise, I’m done for!"

Su Yiming finally reached into his Go bowl and picked up a stone. His eyes were sharp as a blade.

Even he, at this moment, felt immense pressure.

The next moment, the stone landed on the board.

"If I’m to fight Black to the death, then the moment Black aims for a decisive victory… will also be the moment White finds its path to survival!"

Thud!

Column 4, Row 12—Push!