(;GM[1]FF[4]SZ[19]AP[SmartGo:3.1.6]CA[UTF-8]
GN[ChineseOPening1--Feng Yun]
PW[White]
PB[Black]
RU[Japanese]ST[2]LB[pc:A]
C[A Thorough Analysis of the Chinese Opening by Feng Yun 9p.

Feng Yun 9p is one of the very few women 9p players in the world and the only one who is a US resident. She runs a highly regarded go school: fengyungoschool.com . This analysis of the Chinese Opening is her first contribution as a new contributor to the AGA E-Journal.

It is helpful to know this joseki in order to better understand the Chinese opening. Please click A to see the joseki.]
(;B[pd]
C[Now let's talk about the Chinese opening. See the variation.];W[dd];B[pq]
;W[dp];B[qk]LB[nc:A][qf:C][po:D][mp:B]
C[Black's three moves on the right side form the Chinese opening, also known as the "bridge" shape. 

The next white move normally is chosen to approach from the more open area at A or B. A rush to invade at C or D would result in being attacked by Black.

Please click each move as you go through them to see the variations.  

]
(;W[nc]LB[lc:B][pf:A]
C[This is probably the most common approach. A is the common response for Black. 

A pincer at B seems safe, but it may not be a good joseki choice for this opening. Click both to see the variations. ]
(;B[pf]
C[Black would be happy to add another move to strenthen the "bridge". ];W[jd]
C[White makes an extension to settle this side. ])
(;B[lc]
C[This pincer is not commonly played in the Chinese opening, ];W[qc]
C[White will simply take the corner, ];B[qd];W[pc];B[od];W[nb];B[me]LB[pj:B][qk:A]
C[However, although this is a common enough joseki, because the black A stone is a bit far away, it leaves the threat of a shoulder hit at B. ]
;W[mp];B[po];W[jp];B[cj];W[pj]
C[For example, this white shoulder hit reduction move can easily push Black down on the side and eliminate Black's influence in the center. ]
;B[qj];W[pi];B[pk];W[nj];B[ok];W[li]
C[Black loses center influence.]))
(;W[mp]
C[If White chooses to approach the 3-4 corner, then this is the right direction. ]
;B[po]
C[Black protects the corner with a one space jump, ];W[jp]
C[White makes an extension to settle on the side. ])
(;W[qf]
C[It is not common for White to invade so early, ];B[qe]
C[Black should kick to attack, ];W[pf];B[nd];W[qi]
C[Although White has a two space extention to make a base, ...];B[oj]
C[... Black would continue to attack and gain forcing moves to build up lower right corner. ]
)
(;W[po]
C[This white invasion is too early; this is exactly what Black hopes White will do, ]
;B[np]
C[Black can attack and start to build up territory on the bottom side, ]
;W[qq];B[qr];W[qp];B[rr]LB[qk:A][qm:B]
C[If you refer to the joseki discussed in the beginning, you will understand that White's next move should be an extension at A, however, because Black already has a stone there, now White is left with only a narrow extention at B. Obviously, White is not satified. And now you get the point of how the Chinese opening works! Of course, this case only happens with White's coorperation. ]
))
(;B[pc];W[pe];B[nd];W[qc];B[qb];W[qd];B[ob];W[qi]
C[This is a joseki. It is closely related to the Chinese opening. ]))

