Hey all, this is my first game post for review. I was white, it was a three stone handicap game. Any remarks are greatly appreciated!

As for my own ideas:
I think I was too passive in the game.

After , should I invade the bottom immediately? I still have the potential 2pt extension on the right.

19: Looking again, it seems like a strange play. Maybe I should have played R11 instead

45: This cut seemed like a good idea, but he was too strong, though I did get the opportunity to slip underneath his black stone...

57: Mistake. I should have just kept marching along I think, which is why I lost 3 stones, and he was able to nudge into my center.

87: This seemed good. I was trying to cut black and I was hoping to gain a few points, I wonder if I could have done better.

129-135: Reading mistake on my part.

I feel like I should have invaded into the lower left at some point in the early game, I am just not sure when. Thanks again for any comments!

Agreed, see diagram for further comments; but remember I am only 7 kyu so better comments will surely follow.

BTW I think your opponent played quite strong for an 11 kyu, so no need to feel bad.

Here are a few comments--take them with a grain of salt, etc.


I agree . You’re very perceptive, and I think you have a chance to improve very quickly by correcting a few things and trying not to be too passive.

Move 5: I don't like this move - it doesn't pressure black at all, and doesn't secure any territory. If white wants to break things up a bit, he can play something like D12, or just C17 and complete the common joseki.

Move 7: This is another passive move, and it doesn't prevent black from getting a "double wing" formation, while the similar move at K3 would. But I would probably approach at F3. I like the R14 approach too (though if white K16 was at K17, it would be nicer IMO). Also, you should know that black's extension with is too far, but since there's no white stone at c17, it is more playable. I probably wouldn't jump in immediately at C12, but remember for later it leaves a point of attack to break up the left side.


Move 9 doesn't do anything--the stone at R10 has an extension on either side (so if black approaches from one side, white can extend to the other). Also, I think would be better at K4, because the "double wing" shape with C10 and K3 is generally considered inefficient--the side stones are too low, and should be at D11 and K4. I would immediately play the 3-3 invasion at C3, though it would make black thick, it isn't so bad for white because K3/C10 are so low.

Move 11: I really don’t like this invasion—it helps black secure territory. I like C3 better.

Move 17: This move secures very few points for white, and gives black a chance to close off the corner. Before this move, white had the 3-3 invasion at R3, which would have been much better.


There is no reason to play in this area—the groups are safe, and only a few points are up for grabs. I still like C3. On the upside, the sequence through 25 has some potential to help reducing later.

Move 36: This starts a bad sequence for white—sure white gets a few points in the middle right, but black gets WAY more in the exchange.

Whether an idea is good or bad doesn’t usually depend on the strength of your opponent.


The center is always smaller than it looks.

Move 65: This just helps black get stronger, removing potential weaknesses.

Move 73: Avoid making moves like this—what is it doing? Securing 2 points maybe?

Move 75: Also wasted move.


Cut what? There is a proverb – don’t cut two living groups. This invasion should probably die. I would D2 and cross my fingers at this point.

Move 93: What if black cuts at G4?

Move 119: ??


Yeah—white should just connect in sente.


Good observation. I make similar mistakes in my games. But timing of invasions isn’t the only issue—it is also avoiding plays that help your get stronger, which makes invading much more difficult.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc diagram 1
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . . X X O O . O . . |
$$ . . . X X X X O X X O . . . |
$$ . . . X . X O O . . X O . . |
$$ . . O X , . X . X . X O . . |
$$ . O . O X . . . . 2 X O . . |
$$ . O . X . . . . . X O 1 . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . 4 3 . . . |
$$ ----------------------------+[/go]

diagram1. Connecting at 1 is not optimal, I think.

Thanks for the ideas. I will try to avoid some of these mistakes, and really try to be a bit more aggressive.