Hi all,

I just played a game for ASR League Delta I. I fell behind during the opening, and didn't know how to cope with this during the middle game. Therefore, my analysis focuses on the early stages of the game. In particular I was wondering what you would have played for moves 6, 14 and 16.



Thank you in advance for taking the time to help me with this.

Cheers,
Hushfield

6: Your marked variation 1 is the most common move for white here, probably because it has a good relationship with the top right 4-3 point. If that is a 4-4 point, other moves become common.

Your variation 2 is also a fine idea but would normally start at G4. F4 is a little close, and probably allows black a strong pincer if he wants to. G4, K4 and K3 all follow this similar idea and are fine.

Of course, we must not forget that in the opening it is hard to find an actively bad move

8: This move is fine. Very good, even, as it sets up the kobayashi shape that is quite powerful. Black D18 is not worth worrying about, as it is quite small right now, especially since white is threatening a shimari.

10: Big area, but I think D5 is a better way to play. Black D5 would perfect his moyo, but if you play D5 now you live quite easily.

14: ...
A - Yes, I don't think this is a good point.
B - Very big. I think I prefer E though.
C,D - Big, but not urgent, I think. I want to prevent black perfecting his moyo.
E - This is the vital point of black's moyo. I think you should play it - if you think you'll get a weak group now, imagine how hard it will be later when black gets to go here!

It is annoying to let black play G17 or whatever later, so maybe it's okay to play there now, it is not my choice.

16: I still think D5 is a good place to enter the moyo. Possibly many of your ideas are also good.

20: I am inclined to make lighter shape, such as K6.

28: Maybe this is better at K2. This creates more interesting aji, thanks to the K5 cut.

35: I suggest a witty rejoinder, such as "so's your face"

36: Not worthless, but it's hard for me to say if it's better to play the L5 atari and M3 vital point - which probably gets at least 1 eye on the edge, though I haven't read if black has a strong resistance.

76: Yes, A is very big.

I'll stop here, since your main questions were about the opening, and the fight here probably dominates the game anyway.

Your opening and strategic decisions were fine. Don't second-guess yourself so much
Work on tactical fighting, tesuji and reading, to progress quickly.

W move 20) Banish this move from your repertoire. This heavy play helps B more than W.
W move 28) Is there anything better? How about K2, threatening F2 capture or K5 cut?
W move 46) Can you draw back to F8? Can the two B stones escape?
Moves 53-54, 55-56) Great exchanges for W. Thank your opponent.
Moves 58-69) B is thin here, but this attempt to cut ends badly, leaving B stronger than before. I think the problem is that the first move (L10) is on too small a scale. Cutting with M8 goes for a bigger prize and makes it hard for B to sacrifice a small piece.
W move 78) Didn't you already banish this move from your repertoire? The aji in this position is R8 -- your groups might not really be disconnected.
W move 106) should just be P6 -- B is not going anywhere. When your opponent is down, kick him some more.

6: what you played looks good enough move to make.
14: i would play J17 but what you played is fine also.
16: there are too ways to play at this point. i would probably make my decision on who i play against. but..not knowing who that person is..D5 looks nice.

_________________
"The more we think we know about
The greater the unknown"
Words by neil peart, music by geddy lee and alex lifeson

Thank you very much for the input, it's greatly appreciated. I see the main problem during the opening was my hesitation to approach the bottom left corner. Indeed, waiting is only going to make matters worse there. I've looked at the tactical advice, and all of the options you presented seem more elegant and efficient. Off to do more tsumego.

I hope you don't mind but I want to ask why you answered B 211?
Black has but one own stone in atari and one of yours, but he does not treathen to cut your stones. I don't see why that is a ko threat?
You decided to answer it and safe one stone to just throw away 6 stones on move 218.
Do I miss something here?

Edit: Ah forget it, i did miss something^^