Where's the best play?

Kirby · #1

Here's the board position:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Wcm1 $$ +---------------------------------------+ $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . O . . . . O . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O , X X . . . X . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . O O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ +---------------------------------------+[/go]

Where is the best place to play?

In the game, I played this:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Wcm1 $$ +---------------------------------------+ $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . O . . . . O . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O , X X . . . X . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . O O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ +---------------------------------------+[/go]

But I do not know what is best. It feels slow to respond to white's approach:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Wcm1 $$ +---------------------------------------+ $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . W . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . O . . . . O . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O , X X . . . X . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . O O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ +---------------------------------------+[/go]

And the stones on top seem awkward for invading:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Wcm1 $$ +---------------------------------------+ $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . W . . . . W . . . . W . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O , X X . . . X . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . O O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ +---------------------------------------+[/go]

What do you all think?

perceval · #2

my 6k thoughts:
The most urgent seems to be to support C15 as otherwise W would probably be able to build the top or right while pressuring it.
So i would consider a, b or c

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Wcm1 $$ +---------------------------------------+ $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . O . . . . O . . . . . | $$ | . . . , a . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . b . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . c . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . d . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O , X X . . . X . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . O O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ +---------------------------------------+[/go]

a seems more suited to reduce the top, otherwise b is slower than c but maybe i ll pick it anyway to try to be more solid when i reduce the top later.
So my personal choice would be a, and if i get sente probably finish the double wing formation at d, getign the last bi point
my second choice is b, then c.
d seems less urgent.
if there is another point to consider i do not see it so i ll be interested if someone can point it out.

Feel free to correct my poor judgment

flOvermind · #3

Just a few general thoughts on the position:

- All white stones are on the third line or lower.
- The left side looks uninteresting, with the low, solid position in the bottom left.
- The top side looks really flat, and therefore hard to develop.

- The top left corner is unfinished, but I don't think it's urgent.

Generally, I think that's a rather complicated position for both players...

With both the top and left side being relatively uninteresting, it's really hard to find a good continuation for the top left corner. If you're feeling adventurous, you could start the taisha, with the aim of grabbing corner territory. Locally, the corner itself seems most interesting, but I have no idea where that will actually lead (in my case, probably to a catastrophic reading error and resignation).

I also considered perceval's 'a', but I'm not sure I really want to give white solid territory in exchange for a wall that is facing such a solid corner. It certainly isn't a bad move, but I wouldn't play it.

So I'd play along the proverb: "When in doubt, tenuki

".

Some interesting spots on the board:
The right side hoshi: Builds a double-wing formation, so it can't really be bad. Seems like the biggest point on the board, according to "standard" fuseki theory.
Tengen: Ultra-influence style, capitalizing on the low position of white.

Of course, I'm not that strong, but I'm strong enough to know that I actually have no clue where the best move is in this position

. So I'd love to see some comments from stronger players.

Solomon · #4

White is strong at the bottom, and C6 makes the left side hard to develop. White also has support for his top left stone. So I'd try to play a move that settles quick and doesn't engage in a fight which would be disadvantageous to you. Hence:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Wcm1 $$ +---------------------------------------+ $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . B O . . . . O . . . . O . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O , X X . . . X . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . O O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ +---------------------------------------+[/go]

perceval · #5

flOvermind wrote:

Corner is unfinished, but I don't think it's urgent.

that is where i differ i think : i fear a severe pincer like so:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bcm19 $$ +---------------------------------------+ $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . O . . . . O . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . 4 . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . X . 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . 1 . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O , X X . . . X . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . O O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ +---------------------------------------+[/go]

..and i am not sure were it might go after that but i believed that W would be able to build something on top or right "naturally" while B leave locally or escape.
but i maybe wrong just because i cant really see behind this position.
maybe if i knew the joseki i would know exactly what shape W territory might take and be less afraid.
looking at eidogo:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Wcm20 followed by @a , @b $$ +---------------------------------------+ $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . O . . . . O . . . . . | $$ | . . 5 , . 3 . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . 6 X . 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . 1 9 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . 7 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . a 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . b . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O , X X . . . X . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . O O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ +---------------------------------------+[/go]

i don't know how to judge that ... maybe W territory isn't so imposing now, but i am proably not showing the best sequence anyway.

Chew Terr · #6

Though the top-left was my first instinct, I think I would probably play the top-right 3-3, because it threatens a fairly severe attack with M17. Perhaps Araban is right though, and one should play for sente in the top left before making your move to the right.

flOvermind · #7

flOvermind wrote:

If you're feeling adventurous, you could start the taisha, with the aim of grabbing corner territory. Locally, the corner itself seems most interesting [...]

Araban wrote:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Wcm1 $$ +---------------------------------------+ $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . B O . . . . O . . . . O . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O , X X . . . X . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . O O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ +---------------------------------------+[/go]

LOL... I always miss the most obvious move

Fredrik · #8

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bcm1 $$ +---------------------------------------+ $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . 2 . . . . O . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O , X X . . . X . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . O O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ +---------------------------------------+[/go]

As people has previously stated, White has kind of a flat position. Looking at the board, I can not comphrend the order of moves. Did White answer 1 at 2? Nontheless, Black already has the "superior" position.

Chew Terr wrote:

Though the top-left was my first instinct, I think I would probably play the top-right 3-3, because it threatens a fairly severe attack with M17. Perhaps Araban is right though, and one should play for sente in the top left before making your move to the right.

Generally, the 3-3 would be a bad move here.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bcm1 $$ +---------------------------------------+ $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . 2 a . . . O . . 3 . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . 4 . . . X . . . | $$ | . . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O , X X . . . X . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . O O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ +---------------------------------------+[/go]

When White has a stone at 2 or A, Black should _not_ play R17, as doing so would only help white defend his position at top with very good shape.

If White gets to play R17 first, it's not a big deal for Black and he can aim to invade the top at a later stage if feasible, or play 6 depending on the surrondings. Black is not unhappy being "forced" to play 5.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bcm1 $$ +---------------------------------------+ $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . 2 . . a . O . . 4 . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . 1 . . . . . . . . . 7 . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O , X X . . . X . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . O O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ +---------------------------------------+[/go]

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bcm1 $$ +---------------------------------------+ $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . O . . . . O . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . a . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . 1 . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O , X X . . . X . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . O O X . . . . . . . b . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ +---------------------------------------+[/go]

The position itself is very interesting, and I believe there are several possibillites for Black.

As Black, I would play at 1 to develop the most interesting part of the board, lowerright which corresponds greatly with Blacks joseki-choice in lowerleft. In the future I would aim to play at A. Next I would expect white to play 3-3 in the lowerright or approach at B.

The reasoning for not answering in upperleft is as following:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bcm1 $$ +---------------------------------------+ $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . b O . . . . O . . . . O . . . . . | $$ | . . a , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O , X X . . . X . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . O O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ +---------------------------------------+[/go]

1. I do not understand how white got the stone on the top, and because white are low on both sides, I do not fear an attack as Whites moyo-potential from attacking is extremly limited.

In addition, if White does not start from "attacking" at "a", Black will always have the opportunity to sabaki at "b". However, it would not be wise to play "a" at the current juncture.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bcm1 $$ +---------------------------------------+ $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . O 5 . . . O . . . . O . . . . . | $$ | . . 2 , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . X 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . 1 . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O , X X . . . X . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . O O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ +---------------------------------------+[/go]

It would not be difficult for Black to handle..

As closing words I would like to say that because the game is still so early, I don't really think there is an optimal way of playing. Kirbys original move might not be the best direction, but it still settles one stone and is joseki. From a local point of view the move is excellent, and I find it hard to critize it. It will definetly not decide the game :-)

Magicwand · #9

kirby:
your move seems like the best move.

edit: i think it is a only move you can make.

Bill Spight · **#10**

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bcm1 Approaches strength $$ +---------------------------------------+ $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . O . . . . O . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . W . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . W , X X . . . X . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . W W X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ +---------------------------------------+[/go]

I do not like the play in the game because it approaches White's strength ( :wc:

).

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bcm1 Builds a framework $$ +---------------------------------------+ $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . W . . . . O . . . . . | $$ | . . . , 2 . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . 1 . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O , X X . . . X . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . O O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ +---------------------------------------+[/go]

My first thought is :b1:

, to build a large framework. But that allows :w2:

, which rectifies White's low stance on the top.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bcm1 Battle $$ +---------------------------------------+ $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . W . . . . O . . . . . | $$ | . . . 2 1 . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . X 3 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O , X X . . . X . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . O O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ +---------------------------------------+[/go]

If

, White can start a fight, and the :wc:

stone exerts some influence.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bcm1 Settles the corner $$ +---------------------------------------+ $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . 1 O . . . . O . . . . O . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O , X X . . . X . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . O O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ +---------------------------------------+[/go]

to settle the corner comes to mind, as well.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bcm1 Low $$ +---------------------------------------+ $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . W . . . . O . . . . . | $$ | . . . , 3 . . 1 2 , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O , X X . . . X . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . O O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ +---------------------------------------+[/go]

Another thought is :b1:

to take advantage of White's low stance on the top side. White will probably reply with :w2:

, and then :b1:

is there to support :b3:

.

This play is not original. For instance:

Solomon · **#11**

Bill Spight wrote:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bcm1 Builds a framework $$ +---------------------------------------+ $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . W . . . . O . . . . . | $$ | . . . , 2 . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . 1 . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O , X X . . . X . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . O O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ +---------------------------------------+[/go]

My first thought is :b1:

, to build a large framework. But that allows :w2:

, which rectifies White's low stance on the top.

I think this looks great for Black, tbh.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bcm1 $$ +---------------------------------------+ $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . W . . . . O . . . . . | $$ | . . . , 2 . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . 5 . . . . . 1 . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O , X X . . . X . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . O O X . . . . . . . . . . 3 . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ +---------------------------------------+[/go]

Dusk Eagle · **#12**

I'm a bit late to the party, but I also would just want to play at the right-hand star point. Black's area is large, while white's is flat.The :bc:

group doesn't appear to be in much trouble.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bcm1 $$ +---------------------------------------+ $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . O . . . . O . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . 1 . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O , X X . . . X . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . O O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ +---------------------------------------+[/go]

If white pincers like perceval fears, jumping out may be fine, but my idea is to just attach on top:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Wcm1 $$ +---------------------------------------+ $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . O . . . . O . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . 6 . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . 1 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O , X X . . . X . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . O O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ +---------------------------------------+[/go]

I like this result, but I can't guarantee you it's correct.

Edit: Actually, I'm not so sold on this result as I think about it more, as I can't find a good spot to place :b6:

.

gogameguru · **#13**

How about this?

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bcm1 $$ +---------------------------------------+ $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . O . . . . O . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . b . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . c . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 a . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O , X X . . . X . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . O O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ +---------------------------------------+[/go]

I prefer it to moves like 'b', because it's obvious that invading the 3-3 point in the lower right will be reasonably good for white after black makes double extensions (i.e with 'b'). This makes it harder for white to find a good move next.

Black 'a' is an alternative (depending on your style) and black can aim to play around 'c' later either way.

I don't think the left side is that interesting and white doesn't have that much potential there. If white tries to attack on the left side with 1, black could do something like this:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Wcm1 $$ +---------------------------------------+ $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . 7 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . 6 4 O 3 . . . O . . . . O . . . . . | $$ | . . . 2 . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . 8 . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . X X . . . X . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . O O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ +---------------------------------------+[/go]

White 7 is usually small, but is natural in this position. It helps white's pincer stone indirectly by keeping black unsettled. Nevertheless black seems to have a good game.

It looks like taking the 3-3 point would be more severe for white, but...

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Wcm1 $$ +---------------------------------------+ $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . 3 O 5 a . . O . . . . O . . . . . | $$ | . . . 2 . 4 . . . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . 1 . . 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . b . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . c . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . X X . . . X . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . O O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ +---------------------------------------+[/go]

Now white is flat everywhere and black can play 'a', 'b' (or even 'c') next. Black looks great on a whole board scale, so the other diagram was better for white.

Black plays the diagonal move at 2 partly because of white's stone at J17. Starting a tactical fight at the top would make J17 useful, so black can play simply to make it overconcentrated instead.

Tami · **#14**

I liked both Frederik and the Guru's suggestions a lot, but may I throw in a completely different idea?

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bcm1 $$ +---------------------------------------+ $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . O . . . . O . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O , X X . . . X . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . O O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ +---------------------------------------+[/go]

This move seems to press down from the widest area possible, and offers support to the marked black stone. The drawback to it would be that it's not sente, but is its size enough?

flOvermind · **#15**

I did consider a move in this area, but I have a few problems with that:

- It may look like a typical "move between two frameworks", but white doesn't really have a framework here, just a solid corner. So this is a single purpose move, just increasing the black framework, doing not much else.

- I actually think white can completely ignore it, and probably ignore a followup, too, and still be fine in the corner. So the move isn't really "pressing down" anything. Besides, white is already low on that side, so why should you press down more?

- On the concrete move: I think it's a bit loose. As white, I'd think about cutting, working towards a splitting attack between this and the top left black stone. Or perhaps first pincer in the top left, and then cut. The corner itself seems solid enough to support this agression. This actually gives white the opportunity to build something substential on the left, and that feels wrong after white already got a solid corner.

In summary, it all boils down to "stay away from strength"

.

But of course, since I'm probably a bit weaker than you are, you should take these comments with a large grain of salt

Magicwand · **#16**

Tami wrote:

I liked both Frederik and the Guru's suggestions a lot, but may I throw in a completely different idea?

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bcm1 $$ +---------------------------------------+ $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . O . . . . O . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O , X X . . . X . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . O O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ +---------------------------------------+[/go]

This move seems to press down from the widest area possible, and offers support to the marked black stone. The drawback to it would be that it's not sente, but is its size enough?

black is trying to build a moyo but he has two weak group that can be attacked in sente.
that attack might distroy black's influence and might make that move useless.

i think it is better to reenforce black's weakstone than play that move.

gogameguru · **#17**

Tami wrote:

I liked both Frederik and the Guru's suggestions a lot, but may I throw in a completely different idea?

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bcm1 $$ +---------------------------------------+ $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . O . . . . O . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O , X X . . . X . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . O O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ +---------------------------------------+[/go]

This move seems to press down from the widest area possible, and offers support to the marked black stone. The drawback to it would be that it's not sente, but is its size enough?

Interesting question Tami. Like flOvermind, I briefly considered this move, but dismissed it because it felt wrong. I know it's not particularly helpful when people come and tell you it's all about feeling, so I'll try to explain in more detail. I think it's mostly about timing. It's partly also that I don't think the left side is interesting, because there's not so much potential there. I understand that you're thinking more about the centre though.

Firstly, a small detour. Any pressing move like :b1:

below results in an exchange of territory for influence (obvious maybe, but important):

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$B An even exchange? $$ +---------------------------------------+ $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . O 2 . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . 1 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ +---------------------------------------+[/go]

Is the exchange even? White has gained a certain amount of profit, while black has potential. I know "it's joseki" but black's potential could end up being worth more or less than white's profit depending on the whole board context and the subsequent play. And black's return on investment doesn't have to be local, so it's quite complicated of course,

If you play this way as black at the very beginning of the game, it's not necessarily 'bad', but you are making an investment with an uncertain return. Some people call that gambling. Some people play like this as part of their style, and that's fine. Other people prefer not to because it takes the subtlety and flexibility out of the position and locks you into a particular kind of game. Black now feels compelled to justify his previous moves and that limits his strategic freedom quite a bit. (Speaking personally, I experimented with this kind of power based style quite a bit, but I don't play that way anymore. I prefer the flexible approach now.)

So coming back to Kirby's game, you have to think about the value of the stones you're placing in the centre in exchange for giving white territory. I think white should respond like this:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bcm1 White takes profit $$ +---------------------------------------+ $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . O . . . . O . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O 2 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O , X X . . . X . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . O O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ +---------------------------------------+[/go]

After white :w4:

, white has taken more territory and the potential of black's marked stone in the top left has been further reduced. Black has gained some potential in the centre though. Do you feel that it's enough?

Black :b1:

is sente by the way. Not because it threatens to attack white in any way, but because black can easily create a lot of potential on the left side if black plays another move. Like this:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bcm1 Black's marked stone becomes an excellent move $$ +---------------------------------------+ $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . O . . . . O . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . 3 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O , X X . . . X . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . O O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ +---------------------------------------+[/go]

I also don't think there's any value in white trying to resist by cutting here. The large scale position in this part of the board greatly favours black if white cuts. So if white cuts there needs to be a very sharp tactical sequence that quickly settles things locally. If the fight expands, then white's cutting stones will just become a heavy group. The likely result is that cutting will help black take territory on the left side and the bottom.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bcm1 Fighting greatly favours black on a large scale (note black has 'a' at any time) $$ +---------------------------------------+ $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . O . . . . O . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . d . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . c . . . | $$ | . . . 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . 1 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O 2 3 . . . . . . . . . . b . . . | $$ | . . . a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O , B B . . . B . . . . . B . . . | $$ | . . . O O B . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ +---------------------------------------+[/go]

So I think :b1:

is a reasonable move, but I also think it's too early to play it, because we don't know if it's going to become a good exchange yet. You have to factor in that the whole board looks good for black in nearly all variations because black seems to have played much better in the opening. I still prefer to quietly accumulate power with 'b' and see what white does next. After 'b' your move might become very good later. Also, instead of playing on the star point with 'd', black 'c' also feels better. Don't play a move just because there's a dot on the board ;-)

.

Regarding Magicwand's comment, he and I are basically saying the same thing in (except he's more concise).

Magicwand wrote:

black is trying to build a moyo but he has two weak group that can be attacked in sente.
that attack might distroy black's influence and might make that move useless.

i think it is better to reenforce black's weakstone than play that move.

I don't see any of black's stones as being weak or able to be attacked though. Rather I think those groups are in balance with the stones around them and white and black both have various sente moves available. Black is flexible.

Where's the best play?

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