Kirby's Study Journal

Kirby · **#221**

I played a game against KGS 1k today. I think he might be a bit weaker than that, based on the game.

Anyway, here's a short review. I stopped reviewing after I lived in the middle. It seemed like the game was won then. That being said, I could have had a potential crisis, since I played sloppily after gaining a bit of a lead.

Kirby · **#222**

The following positions stuck out as ones where I should have given more thought.

Position 1

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 22 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O O O . | $$ | . . . O O O X W . . . . . O . X O X . | $$ | . . . , X X . . . , . . . . . X X . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Above, I think the clamp is kind of bogus. I should just cut, and it should be fine:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 22 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O O O . | $$ | . . . O O O X . . . . . . O . X O X . | $$ | . . . , X X W . . , . . . . . X X . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

As white is strong on the top, and has a presence on the left, I can't imagine black getting a great result (see SGF variation).

White can live in the corner, so it seems an easy fight for white.

Position 2

In the game, black could have made a strong position with this:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 40 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . O O . . . . . . . O O O . | $$ | . . . O O O X O . . . . . O . X O X . | $$ | . . . , X X X X . X . . . . . X X . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . X . X . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . O X X X B . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . X . O O O . O . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

So in retrospect, it's probably simpler to just answer his approach simply, then invade in a standard way for Chinese opening:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 40 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . O O . . . . . . . O O O . | $$ | . . . O O O X O . . . . . O . X O X . | $$ | . . . , X X X X . X . . . . . X X . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . . 3 . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . 1 . . . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

I think it's much easier for white than with the black wall.

Position 3

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 94 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . O O . . . . . . . O O O . | $$ | . . . O O O X O . . . . . O . X O X . | $$ | . . . , X X X X . X . . . . . X X . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X X . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . O X X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O W . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . X X X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . X . . O X O . O . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . X O . X X O O . O . . | $$ | . . . . . X . X . . . X O O X X X O . | $$ | . . O O . . X O X X X O . O . , O O . | $$ | . O X O . X . O O O X O O . X X X X . | $$ | . X X X . . . . . . O . . O X . O O X | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

With the marked white move above, I started getting really heavy. I should stop overplaying, and let black get territory on the right side - he has many stones there.

Just jumping lightly should be enough:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 94 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . O O . . . . . . . O O O . | $$ | . . . O O O X O . . . . . O . X O X . | $$ | . . . , X X X X . X . . . . . X X . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X X . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . O X X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . W . . O . . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . X X X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . X . . O X O . O . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . X O . X X O O . O . . | $$ | . . . . . X . X . . . X O O X X X O . | $$ | . . O O . . X O X X X O . O . , O O . | $$ | . O X O . X . O O O X O O . X X X X . | $$ | . X X X . . . . . . O . . O X . O O X | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

After getting heavy, it was a bit of a crisis - I had to find a way to live. He played lightly and let me live without problems. The crisis could have been avoided, however, if I simply play lightly. I should have done that.

Magicwand · **#223**

Kirby wrote:

Just jumping lightly should be enough:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 94 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . O O . . . . . . . O O O . | $$ | . . . O O O X O . . . . . O . X O X . | $$ | . . . , X X X X . X . . . . . X X . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X X . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . O X X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . W . . O . . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . X X X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . X . . O X O . O . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . X O . X X O O . O . . | $$ | . . . . . X . X . . . X O O X X X O . | $$ | . . O O . . X O X X X O . O . , O O . | $$ | . O X O . X . O O O X O O . X X X X . | $$ | . X X X . . . . . . O . . O X . O O X | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

After getting heavy, it was a bit of a crisis - I had to find a way to live. He played lightly and let me live without problems. The crisis could have been avoided, however, if I simply play lightly. I should have done that.

IMO above jump is also heavy.
my choice is as below.
when winning..you should not take ANY risk and cover your weakness.
what do you think?

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 94 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . O O . . . . . . . O O O . | $$ | . . . O O O X O . . . . . O . X O X . | $$ | . . . , X X X X . X . . . . . X X . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X X . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . O X X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . W . . . . . . . . . X X X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . X . . O X O . O . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . X O . X X O O . O . . | $$ | . . . . . X . X . . . X O O X X X O . | $$ | . . O O . . X O X X X O . O . , O O . | $$ | . O X O . X . O O O X O O . X X X X . | $$ | . X X X . . . . . . O . . O X . O O X | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

moyoaji · **#224**

Welcome back, Kirby!

I know I'm a few days late, but I actually have only just started really looking around on the forum again for the first time since July.

Kirby · **#225**

Magicwand wrote:

Kirby wrote:

Just jumping lightly should be enough:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 94 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . O O . . . . . . . O O O . | $$ | . . . O O O X O . . . . . O . X O X . | $$ | . . . , X X X X . X . . . . . X X . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X X . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . O X X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . W . . O . . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . X X X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . X . . O X O . O . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . X O . X X O O . O . . | $$ | . . . . . X . X . . . X O O X X X O . | $$ | . . O O . . X O X X X O . O . , O O . | $$ | . O X O . X . O O O X O O . X X X X . | $$ | . X X X . . . . . . O . . O X . O O X | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

After getting heavy, it was a bit of a crisis - I had to find a way to live. He played lightly and let me live without problems. The crisis could have been avoided, however, if I simply play lightly. I should have done that.

IMO above jump is also heavy.
my choice is as below.
when winning..you should not take ANY risk and cover your weakness.
what do you think?

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 94 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . O O . . . . . . . O O O . | $$ | . . . O O O X O . . . . . O . X O X . | $$ | . . . , X X X X . X . . . . . X X . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X X . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . O X X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . W . . . . . . . . . X X X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . X . . O X O . O . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . X O . X X O O . O . . | $$ | . . . . . X . X . . . X O O X X X O . | $$ | . . O O . . X O X X X O . O . , O O . | $$ | . O X O . X . O O O X O O . X X X X . | $$ | . X X X . . . . . . O . . O X . O O X | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

I think it's good positional judgement. This way, I feel white is a good 30 points ahead, with no weak groups.

By the way, it's good to hear from you, again!

Charles Matthews · **#226**

Kirby wrote:

Following are some decisions that I think were rather poor on my part.

Position 1

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 41 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O O X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X O X O O . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X X . X . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X O X W . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X X W . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X W W . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | X W W , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . X W . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X W . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . O O a X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . b O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . O . X . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

In the game, I played 'a' with the intention to pressure the marked white stones.

I think it would have been simpler to just play 'b'. It gives me more territory, and his influence is not great.

I agree. But I'm interested in the whole thought process from :w31:

.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 31 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O O X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X O X O O . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X X . X . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X O X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X O O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . O . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . O . X . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

White has concentrated on the left side. This might be the good moment to try to force with the marked stone. Later on it seems Black mainly succeeds in starting a fight where White is strong. And, as you say, the clamp sequence doesn't help that plan. Either B9 or C9 might be good, depending on the rest of the position.

Kirby · **#227**

Charles Matthews wrote:

I agree. But I'm interested in the whole thought process from :w31:

.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 31 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O O X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X O X O O . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X X . X . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X O X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X O O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . O . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . O . X . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

White has concentrated on the left side. This might be the good moment to try to force with the marked stone. Later on it seems Black mainly succeeds in starting a fight where White is strong. And, as you say, the clamp sequence doesn't help that plan. Either B9 or C9 might be good, depending on the rest of the position.

I like this idea. I played this kind of move in the game after I gave white a strong wall, while I could only play 2nd line moves in return. Definitely better than the game. :tmbup:

Kirby · **#228**

Today I am not reading well. Maybe because of work. Either way, I played a low quality game.

I should have lost for sure, and almost resigned. I threw away the game, but I guess he gave it back to me.

Here is a brief review.

Kirby · **#229**

Here are some thoughts on a few notable positions in the game.

Position 1

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 11 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . | $$ | . . O , . . . . . , . . . W . O . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X . . . . . , . . . . X , X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . X . O . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

I attached as shown above.

I don't really like the shape with 5-5, but it might be better to go faster like this:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 11 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . . 3 . . | $$ | . . O , . . . . . , . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . | $$ | . . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X . . . . . , . . . . X a X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . X . O . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Then approach as shown, or play 'a'. I think it's faster, and better than in game... But during the game, I never like to play this way, since I have bad experience with the shape in the top right.

Still, probably better.

Position 2

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 17 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . X X O . . . | $$ | . . O , . . . . . , . . X O . O . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . W X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X . . . . . , . . . . X , X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . X . O . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

I played as above. It might be ok, though a friend recommended this:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 17 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . X X O . . . | $$ | . . O , . . . . . , . . X O 4 O . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . 2 . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X . . . . . , . . . . X , X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . X . O . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

It's not bad this way, I guess. It's a better shape against the top, probably, though black's shape on the right is better than in game, I feel. Kind of a trade off, but this way doesn't seem that bad.

Position 3

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 21 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . X X O . . . | $$ | . . O , . . . . . , . . X O . O . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . a . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . B , O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X . . . . . , . . . . X , X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . X . O . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Here, I made big mistake. Potentially game losing mistake. I didn't think of him attacking my two stones, and only thought of counter attack at 'a'. So in preparation for that, I imagined the following type of attack:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 21 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . X X O . . . | $$ | . . O , . . . . . , 2 . X O . O . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . 7 5 3 O . . O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . 6 4 . . O X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . 1 , O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X . . . . . , . . . . X , X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . X . O . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

But this is too aggressive, and probably naive. Of course, he didn't play along, and I continued to make mistakes.

Position 4

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 21 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . X X O . . . | $$ | . . O , . . . . . , O . X O . O . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . X , O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1 a . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X . . . . . , . . . . X , X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . X . O . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

At this point, he definitely has local advantage.. So I should suck it up and play a hane underneath at 'a'. It feels weak, but my position is bad locally, so I should just be safe.

Bumping might be another option... *maybe* it'd be safe to tenuki. Still risky, though:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 21 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . X X O . . . | $$ | . . O , . . . . . , 4 . X O . O . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . 1 2 O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X . . . . . , . . . . X , X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . X . O . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Position 5

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 37 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . X X O . . . | $$ | . . O , . . . . . , O . X O . O . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . a . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . X O O X . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O X X . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . W . O X . X | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O X . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O O O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . X . . . . . , . . . . X , X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . X . O . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

In the game, I insisted on keeping him cut with 'a'. But more important than some wild attack attempt is to keep my group strong. Even if he connects with 'a', I don't get attack, but can continue to play elsewhere. It's not the end of the world.

Position 6

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 78 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . X X O . . . | $$ | . . O , . . . . . , O . X O . O . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . O O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X X X | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O . O X X O X | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O X X X O O O | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , O X X O X O O X X | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . O O O X O X X . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . X O O X . X | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . X X O O X X | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . X O O O O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . X X . X . O | $$ | . . . X . . . . . , . . . O X , X X O | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . X . O . X O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

After move 78, above, I've lost the game, basically.

He or she happened to let me win, but it's not worth reviewing that, probably, because the quality of game is low to get to that point.

---

Some takeaways from this game:
1. Don't be too aggressive. Think of what the opponent can do to you instead of only trying to attack the opponent.
2. Read better. I should have read the result of the capturing race much earlier.

I guess those are the main points I learned - not very many, but I was too aggressive this game to play with high quality.

I hope that my next game is of better quality.

mitsun · **#230**

For

did you consider double-hane directly, without the inside atari? The atari gives B an instantly living shape, so should be avoided if possible. The double-hane without atari looks like it gives B much more difficulty. In fact, I do not see an acceptable continuation for B.

Kirby · **#231**

mitsun wrote:

For

did you consider double-hane directly, without the inside atari? The atari gives B an instantly living shape, so should be avoided if possible. The double-hane without atari looks like it gives B much more difficulty. In fact, I do not see an acceptable continuation for B.

I did not consider it. In fact, I played the inside atari nearly automatically, maybe out of habit. Looking at the game record, it looks like I played in 14 seconds - I don't recall thinking about the double-atari during that time. I think that your idea of double-hane is more interesting.

What makes me feel bad about this is not the fact that I missed the double-hane, but rather that I remember the feeling of not even trying to consider an alternative. Sometimes during games, I consciously consider alternative moves, and when one line does not work, I try to think of some sort of preparation to make it work.

What is upsetting is the conscious feeling of not having bothered to read precisely. This definitely occurs periodically in my games, probably more often when I am physically tired. I think that, in order to improve, I will need to overcome these mental shortcuts.

And thank you for your suggestion of double-hane. This shape occurs often, and I will try to make sure I at least consider both double-hane along with inside atari when I see the shape. It certainly seems worth considering here.

Uberdude · **#232**

And if you only consider one move it should be the double hane, as it's usually the better move ;-)

Btw, I think your hane outside for position 4 was best, attach for 1 was fine, kick of 2 maybe better but black didn't take advantage by extending into corner, and pincer of 3 was ok but your toothpaste squeezing plan wasn't good. That missed double hane was a bigger mistake than the ones you identified.

Kirby · **#233**

Thanks for the feedback, Uberdude.

Uberdude wrote:

And if you only consider one move it should be the double hane, as it's usually the better move ;-)

Regarding double hane, I agree it's often a good move. For example, on empty board, it's no threat if white plays :w8:

below:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$B Moves 1 to 9 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . 7 3 1 . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . 9 6 X 2 O X . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . 5 4 8 . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Perhaps the reason I felt inclined to do the inside atari was because there was a nearby opponent stone. I recall having bad experience in the past when nearby stone made it problematic that white could perform the atari on the double hane first. For example:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$B Moves 1 to 9 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . O . 7 3 1 . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . O . 6 X 2 O X . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . 5 4 8 . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

The example here is a bit contrived, but anyway, when you do the inside atari first, you can guarantee cutting apart the stones.
Eg.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$B Moves 1 to 9 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . O . . 3 1 . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . O . 9 X 2 O X . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . 7 4 5 6 . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . 8 . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

I think because he had nearby stone, my first instinct was to guarantee cut, but as is definitely clear, this only helps his eye space, and is not good in most cases.

I think I will need to consider double hane first from now on. But I can understand why it wasn't my first instinct in this case - I've had past experience where it mattered when the opponent cut first.

Uberdude wrote:

Btw, I think your hane outside for position 4 was best, attach for 1 was fine, kick of 2 maybe better but black didn't take advantage by extending into corner...

I agree (though, I'm still undecided about whether attach is better or 5-5).

Uberdude wrote:

and pincer of 3 was ok but your toothpaste squeezing plan wasn't good.

I don't quite follow. Do you mean this sequence?

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 21 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . X X O . . . | $$ | . . O , . . . . . , 2 . X O . O . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . 7 5 3 O . . O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . 6 4 . . O X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . 1 , O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X . . . . . , . . . . X , X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . X . O . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Basically, I agree, because there is still aji for black to make something work with his group on the right, and I've damaged my stone on top significantly.

But even thinking I could get to this position was naive.

Uberdude · **#234**

The toothpaste referred to the 6 for 7 exchange, making a broken shape. Now if that allows the cut of 8 to kill unconditionally and there is no effective black sacrifice I can accept it, but my feeling is to cut with 6 directly and only make that bad push if you need it, or maybe play 6 as kosumi one point lower.

Kirby · **#235**

Uberdude wrote:

The toothpaste referred to the 6 for 7 exchange, making a broken shape. Now if that allows the cut of 8 to kill unconditionally and there is no effective black sacrifice I can accept it, but my feeling is to cut with 6 directly and only make that bad push if you need it, or maybe play 6 as kosumi one point lower.

Ah yes. Seems correct.

Kirby · **#236**

I played a handicap game today. I gave my opponent 2 stones. The game was a little sloppy, I'd say - at least I feel that way.

I feel like I gained a bit of a lead by the middle game, so I didn't feel pressure to play precisely after that. I still should have, though.

Here's a brief review:

Kirby · **#237**

Here are a few of the positions where I feel I could have improved.

Position 1

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 5 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X . . . . . , . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . . . O . . . . . . . X . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . W . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

The move above is one that I like, but it is really more suitable if I have white stones on the right, too. I like the move, but I can't say that it's the best for white here.

It's probably fine to either answer:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 5 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . W . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X . . . . . , . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . . . O . . . . . . . X . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Or pincer:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 5 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 . . . | $$ | . . . X . . . . . , . . . . . O 5 . . | $$ | . . . . . O . . . . . 2 . 1 0 4 3 . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 7 9 . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 5 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . X . . . . 2 , . . . . . O X . . | $$ | . . . . . O . . . . . O . X O O X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O X X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Probably both options are fine, depending on whether I want to have influence or get territory early on.

Anyway, the kick might not be the best here - though I love that move :-)

Position 2

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 7 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . W . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X . . . . . , . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . . . O . X . . . . . X . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

The double approach was because I thought the 3-3 was too easy and ended in gote. However, he could have made a decent position on the left side with the way I played (though it might be better for black if the top left was 4-4 stone instead of 3-3).

If I just go for 3-3 here, white gets sente, and maybe can take advantage of my kick, but black doesn't have potential for something that big like he did in the game:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 7 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . 4 X . . . . . , . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . 2 3 9 O . 1 . . . . . X . . . . . | $$ | . . 8 6 7 . . . . . . . . . O . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 7 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1 . . | $$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . 4 . . 2 . . | $$ | . . O X . . . . . , . 5 . . . O . . . | $$ | . . O X X O . 1 . . . . . X . . . . . | $$ | . . O O X . . . . . . . . . O . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Black's position is nice, but maybe it's a result of my playing the second line move in the bottom right to begin with.

Also, he could have still played this way in the game, too (or play in the left, as I had feared).

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 19 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O X . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1 . . | $$ | . X X . . . . . . . . . . 4 . . 2 . . | $$ | . O O X X . . . . , . 5 . . . O . . . | $$ | . O X O X O . X . . . . . X . . . . . | $$ | . . . O O . . . . . . . . . W . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

So from this, I conclude that the marked white move, above, was bad. I didn't have a good position to use it effectively, and it becomes a burden later.

Position 3

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 35 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . W . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . O O X X X . . . , . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . O X O X O . X . . . . . X . . . . . | $$ | . . . O O X . . . . . . . O O . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

This was too sloppy. As shown in the SGF variation, there is aji for black to hane, and I don't like that aji.:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 35 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . O . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . B , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . O O X X X . . . , . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . O X O X O . X . . . . . X . . . . . | $$ | . . . O O X . . . . . . . O O . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Now that I've given black a wall, it's probably good to split on the top as in the game, but perhaps the problem comes a bit earlier:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . W . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . O O X X X . . . , . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . O X O X O . X . . . . . X . . . . . | $$ | . . . O O X . . . . . . . O O . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

If I play as above, I'm less cramped if black approaches from the top, and still have room to extend if black approaches on the bottom.
For example:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . 1 , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . O O X X X . . . , . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . O X O X O . X . . . . . X . . . . . | $$ | . . . O O X . . . . . . . O O . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

It's a little small for an extension, but perhaps better than playing so close to black's influence on the bottom left.

Position 4

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 41 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . X . . O . . O . X . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . X . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . W . . | $$ | . O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . O O X X X . . . , . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . O X O X O . X . . . . . X . . . . . | $$ | . . . O O X . . . . . . . O O . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Simply, the marked white stone is wrong. I should just approach as follows:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 41 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . X . . O . . O . X . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . X . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . W . | $$ | . O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . O O X X X . . . , . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . O X O X O . X . . . . . X . . . . . | $$ | . . . O O X . . . . . . . O O . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

It would have been better since his kick and pincer (as in variation in SGF) will make white have more pressure.

---

From this game, I learned:
1. Do not play a move that doesn't work well, even if I really like it (the 2nd line response to his approach to the bottom right 4-4 stone).

2. If I reject a variation (eg. 3-3 in bottom left), make sure the alternative produces a better result. Just because I don't like variation A does not make variation B better, unless I've thought about it and concluded that.

3. Do not ignore aji my opponent can exploit, even if I am white in handicap game (eg. his hane on my left side stones would have been annoying, as described in the variation).

Basically, these three ideas come down to one: Play precisely and with a plan, ensuring that my plan produces a good result.

Charles Matthews · **#238**

Kirby wrote:

I played a handicap game today. I gave my opponent 2 stones.

I think it would be consistent to jump out to F5 with :w7:

. Then the footsweep stone would have some attacking meaning.

:b20:

makes sense in the overall position (though :b22:

should be more like F16), and so I think :w23:

could be one line higher. I would definitely prefer :b28:

at E12.

looks weak: play C10, Black B10, and then B14.

:w35:

is another wedge and I'm not sure about the placement again. Black should clearly approach it from the right.

:w41:

If this was at R10 and Black answered at R15, I'd say White could just play N3 and be happy. Black has just made tight shapes.

:w67:

is good, and White's main worry in the game is what happens after Black C10, White B10, Black B11.

Kirby · **#239**

Thank you for the review, Charles. I especially like your comments regarding F5 and R10. I totally agree.

Kirby · **#240**

I played a KGS 2d today. My opening wasn't great, but I read out a sequence I was proud of. I feel like I gained a lead then.

But then I blundered in attack, and he effectively created a moyo in the center. I feel I was about 10 points behind, then.

He was generous, and happened to let me live, so I had a chance. But I couldn't pull through.

Here's the SGF with my review:

Kirby's Study Journal

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