We were talking in another thread about unusual openings and such. I've been trying to practice mixing things up in the openings, playing based on direction of play rather than just using the few joseki/moves I'm comfortable with. Topazg and I really enjoyed this game (particularly the opening), so I'd love to get a few comments about what works and what doesn't.



We discussed, and I DO know that 73 should probably have been at S12, as my best chance. And 97 was too deep, but by that point, I felt I could lose quietly or overplay with a roar.

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Someday I want to be strong enough to earn KGS[-].

Ideas!

I just want to think about this position for a few moments.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Bc
$$ +---------------------------------------+
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . . . W . . X . . O . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . W . . . . . . X . . O . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . a . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . Y . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . c . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . b X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . x . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . O . . . . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . , Y . . . . , . . . O O X X . . |
$$ | . . X . . . O . . . . . O . O X O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . O X . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . |
$$ +---------------------------------------+[/go]

My impression of this board is that it is being dominated by white`s relatively uncontested framework on the bottom side of the board. That looks the most interesting. I guess black should either reduce that, try to build something equally or more interesting of his own (in sente, if he wants to catch up to white ...) and / or play on the border of it and his emerging framework on the right. I have marked places I have thoughts on

a - this is likely where I would play. It feels sente against the two white stones to me, at least they will be very unhappy if white tenukis. Black is not really in trouble anywhere himself, so starting something here to develop his framework seems great to me.

b and c - I very often miss these moves in games when they would be good. They turn a black minor weakness into a strong point of development. They seem small but are often very good. b seems to have the idea of competing on the border of black and white's framework, while c makes a direct invasion of the right seem quite unappealing to white. I would be interested in a stronger player's opinion of these moves at this juncture. They might be too small considering white's big framework in the south.

Triangled black stones - They are both wondering why they were high. When you play a stone (especially high stones) you must justify it to yourself and your opponent as a good move. Contrast the white circled stones, who are justifying why topazg played high.

x - You played here. While it is near the border of white's and your desired frameworks, it is also next to a white ponnuki, and near a black weakness (that one point jump), while not being connected to anything. Topazg showed you some problems with this move immediately, and Shaddy has also expounded this fight, so I won't.

Loons.

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Revisiting Go - Study Journal
My Programming Blog - About the evolution of my go bot.

Interesting ideas, guys!

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The Adkins Principle:
At some point, doesn't thinking have to go on?
— Winona Adkins

Visualize whirled peas.

Everything with love. Stay safe.

Many thanks all, very interesting, especially your comments Bill (I'm especially pleased to see I got some of your ideas and concerns, although I completely take your point on G3)

This is my write up of that game, for those interested: