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28. Shaddy (1d) vs. Marcus (4k)
http://www.lifein19x19.com/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=340		 Page 1 of 5
Author:  Marcus [ Thu Apr 29, 2010 8:15 am ]
Post subject:  28. Shaddy (1d) vs. Marcus (4k)
Greetings again, all you folks! I will once again be starting one of these crazy games.

For those who don't know me, I am Marcus316 on KGS, and the same on GD. I took the opportunity to drop the 316 from my moniker upon joining L19. There can be only one, right? :P

Anyways, I wanted to play another of these games. I find them entertaining, even if they do make me paranoid sometimes. Shaddy has offered me a challenge I could not refuse, so here goes nothing!

Game details:
Code:
Black: Marcus, 4k
White: Shaddy, 1d
Handicap: 0
Komi: -40.5

Details: No game databases or joseki dictionaries allowed.


Without further ado, I shall start this game.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Bcm1 Move: 1 - Black Prisoners: 0 - White Prisoners: 0
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]


EDIT: Unhidden as safe

Let's go! I'm going to have to keep my eyes open for traps. That reverse komi is HUGE, though. My opponent will likely need to bully me into making very passive moves, or fool me into huge mistakes. The former is not likely to work very well on me, I don't think. It's always possible I'll over-think things and play passively anyways, but I'm pretty good with responding solidly.

As for the other, well, I'm a MASTER at fooling myself into huge defeats. This is likely where my game will fall apart.

Recently, my opening seems to have become a little awkward. My style of play is changing again, so I won't know what kind of game I'm aiming for until my opponent makes a few moves. I know that for a little while I would always be playing for similar style openings (mostly Kobayashi or Mini Chinese). Maybe I'll play something like that again. We'll see.
Author:  topazg [ Thu Apr 29, 2010 8:17 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Malkovich #28 - Shaddy (W, 1d) vs Marcus (B, 4k) - 0H -4
Good luck both, it's nice to see another big reverse komi game :)
Author:  Shaddy [ Thu Apr 29, 2010 8:50 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Malkovich #28 - Shaddy (W, 1d) vs Marcus (B, 4k) - 0H -4
Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Bcm1 Move: 1 - Black Prisoners: 0 - White Prisoners: 0
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . 1 . . . |
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$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]



So, the 3-4 point! My decision for the first move was between this and the 3-5 point, so I'll first explain why I didn't pick the 3-5. Since it's a high reverse komi game, I can't afford to give a lot of territory away. I must complicate, and the 3-5 point doesn't have a lot of really complicated joseki. There's the taisha, but it's really easy to play a simple variation that take the corner and leaves me with only influence, like
Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Bcm1 Move: 1 - Black Prisoners: 0 - White Prisoners: 0
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . 3 , . . . . . , . . . . . 1 . . . |
$$ | . . 5 . 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

6 must protect the cut. This has already given W ~8 points in the corner, and I don't have anything yet. It's playable, but I'd feel really uncomfortable fast. My best bet, I think, is to play pincers and complicate the game with a lot of groups and kill something.
As for why I picked the top left, I plan to allow black to play a diagonal opening if he likes. That would suit me perfectly in this game, since it leads to more fighting. (note after: hah, that was stupid)

Oh, and I'll go for the mini-chinese opening if I can, I think it makes people uncomfortable. Anything that does that is good in my book.
edit: uh.. my diagrams aren't showing up, which is weird since I copy-pasted marcus's diagram code. Anyone know what's going on?
Author:  Marcus [ Thu Apr 29, 2010 9:01 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Malkovich #28 - Shaddy (W, 1d) vs Marcus (B, 4k) - 0H -4
Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Bcm3 Move: 3 - Black Prisoners: 0 - White Prisoners: 0
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
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$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . 1 , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
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$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]


EDIT: Unhidden as safe

Doesn't this look familiar? Oh yeah! This is how Malkovich #9 opened! I'm pretty good at remembering moves from my own games. White then took the 3-3, and I made a two-space high approach in the upper left.

I think I'll try for a Mini Chinese opening. Who knows? Maybe my opponent will let me do so. It's a very loose formation of stones, so it might offer an opportunity to my opponent to mix me up and create the chaos needed to regain that crazy 40 points.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Bcm1 Mini Chinese
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . 1 . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 . . |
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$$ | . . 3 , . . . . . , . . . . . 4 . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . 7 . . . . 5 . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]
Author:  Shaddy [ Thu Apr 29, 2010 9:15 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Malkovich #28 - Shaddy (W, 1d) vs Marcus (B, 4k) - 0H -4
Fixed it
Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Bcm3 Move: 3 - Black Prisoners: 0 - White Prisoners: 0
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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$$ | . . X , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
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$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Also considered while making this move were the 3-5 points and the 3-3. I don't like the bottom-side 3-5 because then black can just enclose his corner and the influence it gives on the bottom side becomes worth a whole lot less. The other 3-5 I discarded because it wants to take the right side, which is ok, but I'll then follow it with a knight's approach to the star point and black will get a stone on the top side, where my 3-4 is facing. Not cool. The 3-3 is out, too low and not enough development potential. I'm too far behind to do that. The other 3-4 is out, it gives him sente with two facing komoku which gives him an large advantage- he can approach and if I pincer, he counter-pincers/extends.

So, why is this 3-4 better? It faces his star point, true, but that's ok, pincer for me works better here because the star point with an extension is not as bothersome as a 3-4 with an extension - easier to invade and stuff. I'll pincer his approach and try to get sente to approach along the top side.
Author:  fwiffo [ Thu Apr 29, 2010 9:54 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Malkovich #28 - Shaddy (W, 1d) vs Marcus (B, 4k) - 0H -4
Out of curiosity, what did you have to change to make your diagrams work?
Author:  Shaddy [ Thu Apr 29, 2010 10:13 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Malkovich #28 - Shaddy (W, 1d) vs Marcus (B, 4k) - 0H -4
When I copied them, each line of diagram was preceded by four spaces. I got rid of the spaces
Author:  Marcus [ Thu Apr 29, 2010 10:17 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Malkovich #28 - Shaddy (W, 1d) vs Marcus (B, 4k) - 0H -4
Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Bcm5 Move: 5 - Black Prisoners: 0 - White Prisoners: 0
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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$$ | . . X , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]


EDIT: Unhidden as safe

Well, so much for Mini Chinese. Not a big deal, though. I can be flexible. Two 3-4 points to approach. Either one would be fine. I chose to approach the upper left because I should be able to get it to work well with a possible shimari in the lower left for me.

Lately, most of my 3-4 approaches have been 1 point high approaches. I'm more comfortable with them, I guess. There are a lot of variations possible, and likely this is going to get pincered.

I've begun some joseki studying in the last few months. One of my favourite things to do is examine a joseki line and figure out why other moves might not work as well as the recommended line.

An example is a new-ish pincer joseki I've been playing around with lately:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Wcm1 Corner Pincer Joseki - Part 1
$$ ---------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . a . . . . . .
$$ | . . 3 X . . 4 . . .
$$ | . . . , . . . . . ,
$$ | . . . 1 . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . 2 . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . , . . . . . ,[/go]


So, Black plays at :b4: here ... What does White do? I've seen a lot of players play at a, but it doesn't quite work out as expected:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Wcm5 Corner Pincer Joseki - White Mistake
$$ ---------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . 8 6 1 . . . . . .
$$ | . . O X 4 . X . . .
$$ | . 7 2 3 . . . . . ,
$$ | . . 5 O . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . X . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . , . . . . . ,[/go]


I have been taught that this is a good result for Black. It does tend to look pretty good. White looks squished.

So, how about the proper continuation? Well, I don't really know it. I suppose it could be transposed into something more familiar (at least, I think the following is a joseki shape):

Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Wcm5 Corner Pincer Joseki - Transpose?
$$ ---------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . 2 . . . . . . .
$$ | . . O X . . X . . .
$$ | . . 1 , . . . . . ,
$$ | . . . O . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . X . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . , . . . . . ,[/go]


I'm not sure how to evaluate this one, as the joseki shape we end up in is not one I'm very familiar with. For reference:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Bcm1 Corner Pincer Joseki - Reference
$$ ---------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . b 5 . . . . . . .
$$ | . . 4 1 a . 7 . . .
$$ | . . 6 , . . . . . ,
$$ | . . . 2 . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . c . . . . .
$$ | . . 3 . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . d . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . , . . . . . ,[/go]


White has options at a, b, and c ... possibly even d. I don't know enough about this particular Joseki, so that might be harder to play against.

Going back to this other joseki position, here's the continuation I know a little better:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Wcm5 Corner Pincer Joseki - Part 2
$$ ---------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . 2 . . . . . .
$$ | . . O X . . X . . .
$$ | . . a 1 . . . . . ,
$$ | . 3 . O . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . B . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . , . . . . . ,[/go]


White really needs to defend at :w7: . It's an important point that Black should take if White neglects it, as playing a black stone at :w7: would threaten the cut at a, and help the marked Black stone. A very important point.

There are probably a number of other variations. I don't know them yet. I've only just begun to look at this joseki.

Notes on Joseki for Beginners:

Learning joseki is not about memorizing moves. I'm sure you've all heard that before, but it should be emphasized. If you simply memorize joseki, you will not be prepared to punish opponents' mistakes or recognize opportunities to deviate for profit. Do not memorize joseki.

Instead, break a joseki down and examine each move. Joseki are a beautiful series of moves, honed through thousands of games played by top players around the world. Each move has meaning. Each move has purpose.

For those just starting to look at joseki, I would recommend examining a joseki from various angles. You can examine the shapes in a joseki, looking at: cutting points, extensions, contact moves, and sacrificial stones. You can examine forcing moves, experimenting with tenuki at various points in the joseki. You can examine the size of the territory given to each player, or the influence.

Joseki study is HARD. Many players recommend new players do not even consider looking at joseki until they are quite a bit stronger. While I don't agree with the idea of NO joseki for beginners, It is not something to simply dive into and expect good results. Start slow. Learn one or two ... but LEARN them instead of memorizing them. Get help from stronger players. Joseki can help teach a beginner about all the concepts above, so long as they recognize that just knowing the joseki moves is not enough. Ask questions, and examine every move. :)

Anyways, that's my Rant for Beginners.
Author:  Shaddy [ Thu Apr 29, 2010 12:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Malkovich #28 - Shaddy (W, 1d) vs Marcus (B, 4k) - 0H -4
Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Bcm5 Move: 5 - Black Prisoners: 0 - White Prisoners: 0
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . W . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Right. Usually, I hate this joseki: it feels like black gets too much and w gets no territory, only a stable group. In this situation, though, it gives me some important things: a strong group on the top side, and sente.
(also, no other joseki works well, I think. I can't play a knight's attach on his stone, approaching the bottom left would become too big and I couldn't get a mini chinese. I can't pincer, he's got a stone in the bottom left corner and I'd have to extend and then I wouldn't get a mini chinese. I could tenuki, but 5-4 joseki yield too much influence along the left.)
The thing I want most right now is a mini-chinese on the right side. After that, I want a position on the bottom, and after that I want to invade the left that's going to be produced.
My ideal sequence goes like this

Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Wcm1 Move: 3 - Black Prisoners: 0 - White Prisoners: 0
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . 3 . 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . 2 O . . . . . . c . . 8 . . . . . |
$$ | . . 4 , . 1 . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . . . . . b . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . a . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

and now I'm ready to invade the left, or if he doesn't reinforce the top right I'll attack that.


Sorry, can't unhide this yet.
Author:  Marcus [ Thu Apr 29, 2010 1:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Malkovich #28 - Shaddy (W, 1d) vs Marcus (B, 4k) - 0H -4
Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Bcm7 Move: 7 - Black Prisoners: 0 - White Prisoners: 0
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . 1 O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . O . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]


EDIT: Unhidden as safe

Okay, no pincer. White is playing a calm game, and is looking to settle things.

Here's what I expect:
Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Bcm1 3-4 High Approach Joseki
$$ ---------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . 6 4 . . . . . . .
$$ | . . 3 O . . . . . .
$$ | . . 5 , . 2 . . . ,
$$ | . . . 1 . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . 7 . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . , . . . . . ,[/go]


Nothing unusual to say here. I don't know many continuations after :w2: , so I must be content to let my opponent dictate the flow of this corner.

I expect an approach to my 3-4 in the lower left after this.

More Discussion for Beginners:
The above mentioned Joseki is fairly basic. Let's break it down a little bit and talk about how to think about joseki.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Bcm1 3-4 Joseki, Move 2
$$ ---------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . O . . . . . .
$$ | . . . , . 2 . . . ,
$$ | . . . 1 . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . , . . . . . ,[/go]


White's first move, :w2: , stretches out from the corner towards the top side. What's important about this move? First, it is supported by the 3-4 stone, and supports the 3-4 stone in turn. It's not too far away, so Black isn't able to attack either stone very easily. Second, The black stone, :b1: is now outnumbered two to one.

If Black doesn't respond, what can White do?

Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Bcm1 3-4 Joseki, No B3
$$ ---------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . O . . . . . b
$$ | . . a , . 2 . . . ,
$$ | . . . 1 . . . . . .
$$ | . . . 5 4 . . . . .
$$ | . . . 7 6 . . . . .
$$ | . . . . 8 . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . , . . . . . ,[/go]


Here's one possibility. White makes a formidable wall, and can either extend along the top or take the corner, both with easy access to the center for the late-middle game fighting.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Bcm1 3-4 Joseki, No B3
$$ ---------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . O . . . . . 8
$$ | . . 6 , . 2 . . . ,
$$ | . . 4 1 . . . . . .
$$ | . . 5 7 . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . 9 , . . . . . ,[/go]


Another possibility. White can take a huge corner, effectively in sente. So, neglecting :b3: gives White some very good follow up moves. Black clearly needs to respond locally in some way to keep White from taking too much.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Bcm1 3-4 Joseki, Move 3
$$ ---------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . 3 O . . . . . .
$$ | . . . , . 2 . . . ,
$$ | . . . 1 . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . , . . . . . ,[/go]


Why play the attachment? We could try other alternate moves:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Bcm1 3-4 Joseki, Alternate B3
$$ ---------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . 4 O . . . . . .
$$ | . . 3 , . 2 . . . ,
$$ | . . . 1 . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . , . . . . . ,[/go]


Here, Black gives up a huge corner. White is alive. Black still needs to add some moves to make his stones strong. This is too passive for Black, giving White way too much.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Bcm1 3-4 Joseki, Alternate B3
$$ ---------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . O 4 . . . . .
$$ | . . . , 3 2 6 . . ,
$$ | . . . 1 . 5 . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . , . . . . . ,[/go]


Building a wall, but giving the entire corner and a chunk of the top side to White in the process. White is again strong, while Black can be easily attacked.

You can try any number of alternate moves, to see what results you get. The reason the attachment is played is to make more space for Black to live, and give some access to the corner.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Bcm1 3-4 Joseki, Move 3
$$ ---------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . 3 O . . . . . .
$$ | . . . , . 2 . . . ,
$$ | . . . 1 . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . , . . . . . ,[/go]


So, :b3: touches a stone, and White needs to respond. If not, Black will take the corner away from White, even though White played in this corner first.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Bcm1 3-4 Joseki, No W4
$$ ---------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . 5 . . . . . . .
$$ | . . 3 O . . . . . .
$$ | . . . , . 2 . . . ,
$$ | . . . 1 . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . , . . . . . ,[/go]


This looks too good for Black, given that Black did not start out in this corner. White's two stones are now weaker than Black's group.

You can see how there are reasons for each move in the joseki. Experiment yourself with alternate moves, different ideas, and see what the result is. Get help from a stronger player if you're unsure about anything, and look for familiar shapes and formations that occur in your own games.
Author:  Shaddy [ Thu Apr 29, 2010 3:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Malkovich #28 - Shaddy (W, 1d) vs Marcus (B, 4k) - 0H -4
Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Bcm7 Move: 7 - Black Prisoners: 0 - White Prisoners: 0
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . 1 O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . O . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

trigger:
if you c16, i will e18
Author:  Marcus [ Thu Apr 29, 2010 4:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Malkovich #28 - Shaddy (W, 1d) vs Marcus (B, 4k) - 0H -4
Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Bcm9 Move: 11 - Black Prisoners: 0 - White Prisoners: 0
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . 1 , . O . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]


Trigger accepted.

EDIT: Unhidden as safe

Just slightly different from my expectations.

Now we will probably see White approach the lower left. I don't have anything more to say for now. Let's see what his plan is.
Author:  Shaddy [ Thu Apr 29, 2010 6:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Malkovich #28 - Shaddy (W, 1d) vs Marcus (B, 4k) - 0H -4
Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Bcm9 Move: 11 - Black Prisoners: 0 - White Prisoners: 0
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . O . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . W . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]
Author:  Marcus [ Fri Apr 30, 2010 7:32 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Malkovich #28 - Shaddy (W, 1d) vs Marcus (B, 4k) - 0H -4
Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Bcm13 Move: 13 - Black Prisoners: 0 - White Prisoners: 0
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . 1 . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . O . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]


EDIT: Unhidden as safe

So, he decided to approach my 4-4 stone at Q16 instead. No need to force things into crazy complications. I will play calmly and make the standard Knight's Move response to his approach. The reason I prefer to play this is to make sure that my opponent doesn't make a double approach.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Bcm13 Pincer, Double Approach
$$ -------------------
$$ . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . . 4 6 . . |
$$ , . . . 2 . X . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . 5 . . |
$$ . . . . . . 3 O . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . 1 . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ , . . . . . , . . . |[/go]


An approach like this is solid and works well with the upper left for White. I feel like this makes White's stones work better together than Black's stones on the whole board.

White is playing very flexibly, but also solidly. It will be hard to attack any of White's groups for profit. So, I really need to keep an eye on my own groups. As soon as one of my groups is weak enough to attack, White will jump all over it.

All in all, though, I like White's approach to this heavily reverse-komi game. It feels like White wants to build some solid groups to be able to attack from when an opening arises. As a stronger player, he's likely to be building more efficient shapes in the opening, and if the game had a smaller komi I would be forced to attack early.

The downside to this strategy is that I have the advantage of both moving first as Black and a large komi bonus, meaning that White will want to complicate things earlier in the game.

Looking at the opening, I'm a little surprised that my opponent has played so calmly, allowing me to make the obvious and simplifying responses to his moves. My opponent offered a diagonal fuseki, which I took advantage of, since it makes it more difficult to build a large moyo. Without a large moyo to make up the 41 extra points my opponent needs, I would expect some heavy fighting, and joseki choices that take advantage of my lack of knowledge, compared to the 1d player.

Since I'm not pincering his approach stone, I suspect that White will now make a Mini Chinese formation on the right.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Bcm13 White making a Mini Chinese formation
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . 1 . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . O . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . c . . . |
$$ | . . X , . . . . . , . . b a . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]


If this is White's plan, I can approach it in a number of ways. My most likely approaches are a, b, and c (though I don't rate them in that order; I'm least likely to play at a since I know it the least).

There are problems with playing each of these, and we're starting to get into the area where White can make complications I'm not as familiar or comfortable with.

a) I just don't know enough continuations from this move. White will likely swallow the group whole and rip me apart. This would be a true test of my reading skills. However, it does limit White's expansion along the bottom edge.

b) I usually play this type of approach against traditional Chinese openings. However, I'm not sure I can blindly play at b without considering responses that I never see from opponents of my own rank:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Bcm13 Mini Chinese, Approach
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . 1 . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . O . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . a . . . |
$$ | . . X , . . . . . b . . 3 . c , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]


I usually see either a or b, and whichever point my opponent takes, I take the other. It's worked out well for me in the past. However, White also has c as a response to B15 ... and I don't know how best to deal with that.

c) Sometimes, against a Chinese opening, I'll jump in and make a small cramped group:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Bcm13 Mini Chinese, Invasion Part 1
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . 1 . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . O . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 . . . |
$$ | . . X , . . . . . , . . . 4 . , 7 . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O 5 . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 8 . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]


Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Bcm23 Mini Chinese, Invasion Part 2
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . O . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , 8 6 . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 . . O 5 . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 . 7 . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 9 X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . O 2 3 . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . X , . . . . . , . . . O . , X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O O . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]


I think something like this is typical. This might work out, but it relies heavily on my opponent playing out the sequence I expect. That's a dangerous assumption.

Anyways, all that hinges upon White playing Mini Chinese. We'll have to wait and see what White actually plays.

Beginner Notes:
Let's talk a bit about strong and weak groups in the opening. In this game, White is making groups of stones that are not easy to attack. They are strong groups. I see a lot of weaker players playing very loose moves in the opening, trying to hold on to as much of the board as possible. While there are many "big" moves on the board to take in the opening, leaving one or two stones in little groups across the board is not a good way to begin the game.

Like most aspects of go, there's a balance that needs to be struck between "fast" moves that develop quickly, and "solid" moves that protect your groups.

The balance can be tricky, as a move that's "fast" is likely to be called "weak" or "disconnected", and a move that's too "solid" is just "slow". Let's look at moves 10 and 11 again:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Bcm9 Move: 11
$$ ---------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . O . 2 . . . . .
$$ | . . X O . . . . . .
$$ | . . 1 , . O . . . ,
$$ | . . . X . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . x . . . . . . .
$$ | . . a . . . . . . .
$$ | . . 3 . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . , . . . . . ,[/go]


I could have played at a instead of B11. Why did I choose to jump as far as I did? B11 leaves a weakness at x for White to exploit later. Comparatively, White's group in this corner is stronger. W10 leaves very little place for Black to attack. Yet neither W10 nor B11 is wrong, in my opinion. W10 is a "solid" move, protecting both the D18 cut and the F16 stone. B11 can be considered a "fast" move, extending further at the expense of a little bit of safety for the group.

There are many of these choices to make in the opening. Understanding your opponent's choices can give you something else to use in judgment for your own moves.

B11 was chosen because White made a very compact group. I took the opportunity to play a little faster. However, now that I have a weakness to worry about, I want to be careful on the rest of the board so I don't build up numerous weaknesses that White can eventually attack severely to gain numerous points.

So, points to consider for this lesson:

1) Balance your opening moves between "fast" and "solid" moves. Try to minimize the number of weaknesses you leave behind, so you don't have to always come back and fix things.
2) Be aware of the weaknesses in groups and shapes. My suggestion for improving on this is to take the opening of one of your games you play and examine each group (both colors) after every tenuki. You can also take a higher rank game or pro game and do the same thing.
3) Try not to attack your opponent's weak groups immediately. It is better to keep the weak points in your opponent's position in mind while you make your own position solid. It is always better to attack from a position of strength.

This is not easy, of course. Finding the right balance of "fast" and "solid" takes practice and experience. Identifying weaknesses takes study. Knowing when to attack takes both study and experience. Likely you will play many games where any or all three of these eludes you (I've played many in a row for days sometimes). Don't get discouraged! We're all on the same learning path, and we all have our stumbles.
Author:  Shaddy [ Fri Apr 30, 2010 11:07 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Malkovich #28 - Shaddy (W, 1d) vs Marcus (B, 4k) - 0H -4
Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Wcm14 Move: 13 - Black Prisoners: 0 - White Prisoners: 0
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . O . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , 1 . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Ok, new plan. I realized if I play the mini-chinese and let him enclose that corner, it's too slow - black will have too much solid territory. I'm now going to try to get sente in the bottom left to return and get the mini chinese on the right.
Author:  topazg [ Fri Apr 30, 2010 12:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Malkovich #28 - Shaddy (W, 1d) vs Marcus (B, 4k) - 0H -4
I think Black should do a far high pincer now. I must confess, having tried this sort of reverse komi myself against a similar strength opponent in a Malkovich game, I think White's making it very easy for Black. Straightforward territorial josekis will leave a very steep job of clawing the game back in the second half.
Author:  Redundant [ Fri Apr 30, 2010 12:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Malkovich #28 - Shaddy (W, 1d) vs Marcus (B, 4k) - 0H -4
@Topazg
As someone who knows Shaddy personally ... he definitely is still capable of complicating the game. If black were to do a pincer, I would expect him to choose a difficult variation, or one of the many trick plays that he's very fond of.

Nevertheless, Shaddy did say at lunch today that he's not a big fan of how he allowed the diagonal fuseki. He wants to adopt a moyo stategy, and the fuseki choice is making it rather difficult.
Author:  fwiffo [ Fri Apr 30, 2010 12:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Malkovich #28 - Shaddy (W, 1d) vs Marcus (B, 4k) - 0H -4
My sealed move:
Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Bcm15
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . O . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , O . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]
Author:  topazg [ Fri Apr 30, 2010 12:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Malkovich #28 - Shaddy (W, 1d) vs Marcus (B, 4k) - 0H -4
@Redundant

Quote:
As someone who knows Shaddy personally ... he definitely is still capable of complicating the game. If black were to do a pincer, I would expect him to choose a difficult variation, or one of the many trick plays that he's very fond of.


I'm sure he can complicate things - Problem is, he isn't doing it ... yet! I'm amazed how quickly the opportunities for it disappear in the fuseki in games where your opponent has plenty of time to think like these. Still, it's going to be exciting when those trick plays start appearing - I'm trying to do mine from move 6 in my game :D
Author:  Marcus [ Fri Apr 30, 2010 1:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Malkovich #28 - Shaddy (W, 1d) vs Marcus (B, 4k) - 0H -4
Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Bcm15 Move: 15 - Black Prisoners: 0 - White Prisoners: 0
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . O . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , O . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . 1 . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]


Anyone who has questions or wants me to elaborate on anything, please feel free to ask. Of course, if you wish me to continue to ramble on the way I've been doing, that's fine as well.

EDIT: Unhidden as safe

General Thoughts:
Ah, White has begun to play a little more aggressively. This is where I need to evaluate the board and start planning. Let's examine the board:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Bcm15 Board Position - Corners
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . P . P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . Z P . . . . . . . . . Y . . . . . |
$$ | . . Z , . P . . . , . . . . . Y . . . |
$$ | . . . Z . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Q . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . Z . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . B , W . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . @ . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]


We should try and find the big and urgent moves.

:ex: : In the upper left, both sides are fairly well settled. There are no big moves, and definitely no urgent moves.

:et: : In the upper right, White has left the Joseki unfinished on order to play a bigger move (the approach against :bc: ). Black could easily make a big move in that area, but there are no urgent moves for Black here.

:es: : Approaching the 3-4 in the lower right is a big move as well, but it is not urgent yet.

:ec: : This leaves us with the lower left. Certainly, a black response here is a big move, but is it urgent? If I don't respond, the corner could end up following a 5-4 joseki sequence instead. So, not necessarily urgent either.

So, I would say there are no urgent moves on the board at this point, but plenty of big moves.


Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Wcm14 Possible Moves
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . O . . . , . . . . . X . T . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . C . . . . . . . . . . . S S . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S S . . |
$$ | . . X , 1 . C C . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . C C . C C C . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]


Look at all those possibilities. Let's trim it down a bit. My next move could:

1) Defend the lower right corner (no pincer)
2) Pincer W14
3) Approach the lower right
4) Attack the white stone in the upper right

Right away, I'm going to eliminate my 4th option, since it's not as big a move as approaching an unfinished corner (in the lower right) or responding to an approach (in the lower left). I can save that option for later if White does not come back to fix it.

The three remaining possibilities are all big plays. Let's eliminate another. I don't think option 1 works well for this game.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Bcm15 Defend - No Pincer
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . O . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , O . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . c b . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]


The problem with all 3 of these options is that Black has spent so many moves on the left. White's stones have a good balance across the board. Black should have no less, otherwise the game is no longer balanced.

So, either I play a pincer in the lower left or I make my own approach in the lower right.

If I make another approach in the lower right, White then has two Black stones to attack. I don't think I want to split my stones up so much like that. I guess it's time to break out the variations ...

Variations:
Which pincer?

Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Bcm15 Pincers
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . O . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , O . . b . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . a . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]


These two pincers are the pincers I am most familiar with, but I really don't know them as well as I'd like. There are so many variations, and I've only just begun to study them on my own.

Option a)

Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Bcm15 Pincers
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . O . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . b c . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , O . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . a . . . 1 . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]


I can see White playing one of 3 ways here.

a)
Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Bcm15 Pincers
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . O . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 . . . |
$$ | . 5 X 4 O . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . 2 . . . 1 . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]


Haha, awesome. Not likely, though ...
Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Bcm15 Pincers
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . O . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . 5 X 4 O . 7 . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . 2 . . 6 1 . . . 9 . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]


Is this even reasonable for White? I don't know enough variations for this yet.

b)
Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Bcm15 Pincers
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . O . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . 3 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . b . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X 7 O 0 . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . 6 5 8 1 . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . 9 a . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]


Maybe W16 is not reasonable here? I don't know.

c)
Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Bcm15 Pincers
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . O . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 . . |
$$ | . . . . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . 7 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . 3 . 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , O . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . 5 6 . 1 . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]


Ugh ... maybe not B21-23.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Bcm15 Pincers
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . O . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . 3 . 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 . . . |
$$ | . . X , O . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . 5 6 . 1 . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]


Better.

What about the other pincer I'm considering?

Click Here To Show Diagram Code
[go]$$Bcm15 Pincers
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . O . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . e b . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . c . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , O . . 1 . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . d . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]


I'd say these 5 are all somewhat likely (though I've been told d is sub-optimal, so White is unlikely to play it.

Of these, I know how to deal with b and d, and some of how to deal with a and b. However, there's always the possibility that my opponent will play c, forcing me into a fight where I'm not as familiar with all the tricks. I'd like to avoid that, so the first pincer is my choice!

Beginners:
A couple points to talk about here. First, balance in all things. White has spread his stones out across the board. Relative to White, Black is very concentrated on the left side. That's not necessarily bad, but a balanced game requires stones in all parts of the board. Especially in a diagonal opening, where there are usually more small groups of stones and fewer large frameworks. Be aware of the whole board and find moves that spread your influence.

To balance this, of course, you want to make sure your stones are not left too weak. In the current game, White has three lone stones, where Black has only one. I should be able to profit from that difference, if I'm careful and don't create too many weaknesses.
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