Two games (4kyu).

[p2501]

My opponent asked me to write my thoughts down to our last two games. This is the first one, I will post the other one later.
Other players thoughts are most welcome!

(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]AP[CGoban:3]ST[2]
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]KM[6.50]
GN[p2501-Tompy-777087-20121220]PW[Hannes (p2501)]PB[Jeff Thompson (Tompy)]WR[3k]BR[4k]DT[2012-12-12,2012-12-20]GC[Game ID: 777087
Game Type: GO (1:1)
Rated: Y

White Start Rating: 4k (+44%) - ELO 1744
Black Start Rating: 4k (-19%) - ELO 1681
White End Rating: 3k (-3%) - ELO 1797
Black End Rating: 4k (-34%) - ELO 1665]PC[Dragon Go Server: http://www.dragongoserver.net/]SO[http://www.dragongoserver.net/game.php?gid=777087]C[Jeff asked me to write my thoughts down on our two last games, so here they are.]RE[W+15.50]XM[265]
;B[pp]
;W[pd]
;B[dp]
;W[dd]
;B[jp]
;W[qn]
;B[ql]
;W[qq]
;B[pq]
;W[qp]
;B[po]
;W[rn]
;B[om]
;W[cn]
;B[dj]
;W[fq]
;B[dn]
;W[cq]
(;B[co]
;W[dq]C[I was happy black blocked this way and I got to have a small access to blacks moyo.]
;B[cm]LB[nc:A][cf:B]C[To slow for my taste, but solid. I would have preferred to play more active like A or B.]
;W[cg]C[After C7 I felt an approach at C14 woud be to good for black. But I also thought this move was lacking something.]
;B[hq]LB[eg:B][pg:C][gp:A]C[I found this move weird. Seems to be a territorial move, but black started to play a moyo game before, so he should seek to expand it, so shutting white in would be more appropriate. Maybe something like A, B or C?]
;W[gp]C[Looking back this move doesn't feel very good, but I didn't like to get shut in.]
;B[qf]C[The low approach seemed odd, it is asking to slide into the corner. Also the area behind it has an open skirt.]
;W[nc]C[I found it hard to come up with a good move so I played what I felt was most solid / normal.
I feared black would jump now, rather than sliding into the corner.]
;B[rd]C[With O17 in place I thought I could start something now,]
;W[qg]C[Perhaps the wrong move, but I couldn't think of something better at the time.]
;B[pg]
;W[qh]
;B[ph]
;W[qi]
;B[pe]
;W[pi]
;B[qd]
;W[ni]C[I wanted to cut around A, but somehow I couldn't resist jumping out first. Felt like honte at first, and like slack later.]
;B[pl]C[Bye bye cut.]
;W[pc]
;B[qb]
;W[kj]C[A bit daring to neglect the O17 group, but I wanted to reduce black center quite badly.]
;B[ic]C[I feared a move a lot closer to O17, blacks move seems to timid.]
;W[kc]C[Comfortable two space jump for white.]
;B[fc]
;W[ec]
;B[fd]C[Over concentrated position for black.]
;W[fb]C[I played this hane to get some more control of the corner, which still had aji.]
;B[gb]
;W[eb]
;B[ib]LB[aa:1][ba:2][ca:3][da:4][ea:5][ab:6][bb:7][cb:8][db:9][ac:10][bc:11][cc:12][dc:13][ad:14][bd:15][cd:16][ae:17][be:18][af:19][bf:20][rp:21][sp:22][rq:23][sq:24][br:29][cr:31][dr:33][er:35][rr:25][sr:26][bs:30][cs:32][ds:34][es:36][rs:27][ss:28]C[Shape wise this looks odd, but black is looking under whites group from both sides now, not much territory to expect here for white.

Lets do some counting.

White 36 + 6.5 = 42.5]
;W[oh]LB[ra:7][sa:8][rb:5][sb:6][rc:3][sc:4][qe:1][re:2][ak:42][bk:43][ck:44][al:34][bl:35][cl:41][am:36][bm:37][an:38][bn:39][cn:40][lp:30][mp:31][np:32][op:33][iq:23][jq:24][kq:25][lq:26][mq:27][nq:28][oq:29][ir:16][jr:17][kr:18][lr:19][mr:20][nr:21][or:22][is:9][js:10][ks:11][ls:12][ms:13][ns:14][os:15]C[Blacks is harder to count, but it seems even.]
;B[rg]C[I don'tknow what blacks reason for this move was. Maybe black thinks White S14 would force him to live in the corner in gote. Looks hard to kill.]
;W[ne]C[Seemed like a good move shapewise.]
;B[kd]
;W[lc]
;B[jd]C[Locally good for black, but not the most interesting area of play in my opinion.]
;W[kn]C[Maybe L5 would have been even better.]
;B[lo]C[Continueing here might make white heavy locally, black seems strong here. Also L6 served its purpose in restricting black for the moment - so I played elsewhere.]
;W[ck]
;B[cl]C[This allows white to play the string move at D9, bad shape for black.]
;W[dk]
;B[ci]
;W[ek]
;B[fi]C[There seems to be a shape problem, but I didn't find a severe punishment for it right away - at least white got good forcing moves locally.]
;W[gk]
;B[ce]C[I totally misjudged that invasion. Maybe white could have killed it, maybe white should have prevented it.]
;W[df]
;B[cd]
;W[de]
;B[bb]
;W[cc]
;B[bc]
;W[bf]
;B[cb]
;W[dc]
;B[be]
;W[ae]
;B[ad]
;W[af]
;B[ab]
;W[gf]C[Splitting and attacking black seemed like the obvious thing to do - lookg to settle and perhaps get compensation along the way.]
;B[hi]
;W[ik]
;B[ff]
;W[fg]
;B[gg]
;W[fh]
;B[fj]
;W[fk]
;B[hj]
;W[hf]
;B[gh]
;W[dh]
;B[ej]
;W[gj]
;B[gi]
;W[ig]
;B[hk]
;W[hl]
;B[il]
;W[hm]
;B[jk]
;W[ij]
;B[jj]
;W[ii]
;B[ih]
;W[ji]
;B[jh]
;W[ki]
;B[jg]
;W[fe]
;B[ie]
;W[jf]
;B[kf]
;W[if]
;B[lg]C[Black connected up, white settled and got a better presense in the center. Not the ideal outcome for white, but good enough after the shock of the black invasion in the top left corner.]
;W[lh]
;B[nf]
;W[ng]
;B[of]
;W[jb]C[Still looking for aji to kill the black dragon, using endgame moves.]
;B[me]
;W[pb]C[White got to close off both sides of the skirt, felt good.]
;B[rb]
;W[md]
;B[oe]
;W[le]C[I never want to follow the intentions of my opponent, and that made me find this move.]
;B[nd]
;W[mf]
;B[ld]
;W[ne]
;B[ke]
;W[od]C[Obviously better for white, plus the black dragon is no longer connected.]
;B[ge]
;W[ef]
;B[he]C[Clearly alive now though, but in gote.]
;W[io]C[Very big move I think, nice shape too.]
;B[jc]
;W[kb]
;B[bk]LB[fm:B][bp:A]C[This is helping white more than black, to settle the area I would rather play A or B.]
;W[bj]
;B[bl]
;W[bi]
;B[bp]
;W[bq]
;B[aq]
;W[ar]
;B[ap]
;W[br]
;B[mn]LB[ll:B][rm:D][ln:A][gr:E][qr:C]C[Too timid I think, A seems better. Black seems to be behind a little, after white got additional points at the top right. So maybe something like B would be in order or C/D/E]
;W[gr]
;B[hr]
;W[pr]
;B[or]
;W[qr]
;B[ko]C[I was tempted to ignore it and play P1.]
;W[jn]
;B[ml]
;W[ll]
;B[lm]
;W[km]
;B[lk]
;W[kl]
;B[mk]
;W[kk]
;B[hp]
;W[ho]
;B[gs]C[Gote sequence for black. Too small.]
;W[fs]
;B[hs]
;W[os]
;B[nr]
;W[ns]
;B[ms]
;W[ps]
;B[mr]
;W[rl]
;B[rk]
;W[rm]
;B[rj]
;W[rh]
;B[rf]
;W[ip]
;B[iq]C[I think the game is finished now.]
;W[jo]
;B[kq]
;W[cj]
;B[di]
;W[ep]
;B[eo]
;W[cp]
;B[bn]
;W[fo]
;B[fn]
;W[ok]
;B[pk]
;W[gn]
;B[oj]
;W[nj]
;B[nk]
;W[pj]
;B[ol]
;W[ha]
;B[hc]
;W[ed]
;B[gd]
;W[ga]
;B[ia]
;W[fa]
;B[hb]
;W[fm]
;B[en]
;W[pn]
;B[on]
;W[qa]
;B[ra]
;W[pa]
;B[qo]
;W[ro]
;B[mg]
;W[mh]
;B[lf]
;W[me]
;B[og]
;W[nh]
;B[em]
;W[el]
;B[sh]
;W[si]
;B[sg]
;W[ri]
;B[ln]
;W[qc]
;B[rc]
;W[ch]
;B[aj]
;W[sk]
;B[dl]
;W[gq]
;B[qk]
;W[eh]
;B[kg]
;W[sj]
;B[ja]
;W[ka]
;B[ai]
;W[ah]
;B[ak]
;W[da]
;B[ca]
;W[mj]
;B[lj]
;W[li]
;B[db]
;W[ea]
;B[do]
;W[oi]
;B[ok]
;W[cf]
;B[bd]
;W[ff]
;B[hh]
;W[]
;B[]
;W[]TW[la][ma][na][oa][lb][mb][nb][ob][mc][oc][nd][ee][ag][bg][dg][eg][bh][mi][jj][jk][fl][gl][il][jl][sl][gm][im][jm][sm][hn][in][sn][go][so][fp][rp][sp][eq][rq][sq][cr][dr][er][fr][rr][sr][as][bs][cs][ds][es][qs][rs][ss]TB[aa][ba][sa][sb][ac][gc][sc][hd][id][sd][qe][re][se][pf][sf][al][nl][am][bm][dm][mm][nm][an][cn][nn][ao][bo][mo][no][oo][kp][lp][mp][np][op][jq][lq][mq][nq][oq][ir][jr][kr][lr][is][js][ks][ls]C[White: 51 territories + 2*3 dead stones(B) + 3 prisoners + 6.5 komi = 66.5
Black: 48 territories + 2*0 dead stones(W) + 3 prisoners = 51
Result: W+15.5])
(;B[dq]
;W[cp]
;B[co]
;W[bo]
;B[do]
;W[bn]C[I think this variation would be more conistent with blacks earlier plays on the right.]))

[Joaz Banbeck]

19: I tend to agree with your continuation that makes a wall facing the other way. Not only does it look bigger for black, it is more consistent with move 17.
But, I have to recommend that you not give your opponent the opportunity to make such good moves, even if he is inclined to miss them. At move 18, you should probably hane at D7.

...it is dinnertime...more later...

[p2501]

This is game two.

(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]AP[CGoban:3]ST[2]
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]KM[6.50]
GN[p2501-Tompy-775499-20121212]PW[Hannes (p2501)]PB[Jeff Thompson (Tompy)]WR[4k]BR[4k]DT[2012-12-05,2012-12-12]GC[Game ID: 775499
Game Type: GO (1:1)
Rated: Y

White Start Rating: 4k (+37%) - ELO 1736
Black Start Rating: 4k (-12%) - ELO 1688
White End Rating: 4k (+44%) - ELO 1744
Black End Rating: 4k (-19%) - ELO 1681]PC[Dragon Go Server: http://www.dragongoserver.net/]SO[http://www.dragongoserver.net/game.php?gid=775499]RE[W+11.50]XM[260]
;B[qp]
;W[dd]
;B[pc]
;W[dp]
;B[oq]
;W[qf]
;B[pe]
;W[pi]
;B[pk]
;W[rd]
;B[qe]
;W[re]
;B[qc]
;W[pf]
;B[rc]LB[mc:A][jq:B]C[Feels small, doesn't require a response by white.
A would be better, as played later anyway. Or black could also go for a double wing formation with B.]
;W[jq]
;B[cf]
;W[fc]
;B[bd]
;W[cg]
;B[cc]
;W[ce]
;B[be]
;W[df]
;B[bf]
;W[eh]
;B[mc]C[Feels restricted, timid.]
;W[mq]
;B[jo]C[I never know how to really deal with this move.]
;W[lp]
;B[hp]
;W[mn]
;B[pn]
;W[qk]
;B[ql]
;W[qj]
;B[rl]
;W[bg]
;B[cn]
;W[cl]
;B[fp]
;W[dn]
;B[cq]
;W[co]
;B[dq]
;W[bp]
;B[bq]
;W[hr]
;B[gr]
;W[hq]
;B[gq]
;W[dc]
;B[cb]
;W[jc]
;B[je]
;W[lc]
;B[md]
;W[mb]
;B[nb]
;W[lb]C[I was glad I got my way for the last couple of moves.]
;B[le]
;W[rk]
;B[dj]C[Looking bad from how this played out I handled this move wrong I think.]
;W[gm]
;B[dm]
;W[cm]
;B[en]
;W[bn]
;B[dl]
;W[em]
;B[el]
;W[fm]
;B[fj]
;W[gk]
;B[gi]
;W[hj]
;B[hi]
;W[ip]
;B[ho]
;W[io]
;B[in]
;W[hn]
;B[kl]
;W[jm]C[White ir probably following blacks intentions here, lots of forcing moves.,]
;B[jl]
;W[il]
;B[km]
;W[jn]
;B[kn]
;W[im]
;B[lo]
;W[mo]
;B[ji]
;W[ie]
;B[he]C[This move suprised me.]
;W[id]
;B[if]
;W[ni]C[Trying to get a feeling again.]
;B[oh]
;W[oi]
;B[of]
;W[li]
;B[jj]
;W[mg]
;B[fa]
;W[fb]
;B[da]
;W[ga]
;B[ea]
;W[hb]
;B[sd]
;W[se]
;B[rf]
;W[rg]
;B[hf]
;W[ih]C[I thought I was behind and tried something here.]
;B[jh]
;W[kg]
;B[jf]
;W[sc]
;B[rb]
;W[bj]
;B[nr]
;W[mr]
;B[lf]
;W[op]
;B[pp]
;W[oo]
;B[om]
;W[nq]
;B[or]
;W[lg]
;B[ph]
;W[qh]
;B[ep]
;W[eo]
;B[fo]
;W[fn]
;B[hs]
;W[sl]
;B[sm]
;W[sk]
;B[rm]
;W[is]
;B[gs]
;W[ir]
;B[ag]
;W[ah]
;B[af]
;W[ci]
;B[ff]
;W[jg]
;B[ig]
;W[aq]
;B[ar]
;W[ap]
;B[bs]
;W[na]
;B[ob]
;W[nf]
;B[oe]
;W[og]
;B[pg]
;W[qg]
;B[ng]
;W[nh]
;B[og]
;W[mf]
;B[sb]
;W[ij]
;B[ii]
;W[ok]
;B[ol]
;W[nk]
;B[kp]
;W[kq]
;B[fh]
;W[ei]C[I was happy to find this move.]
;B[ej]
;W[fg]
;B[gh]
;W[gg]
;B[ef]
;W[eg]
;B[ee]
;W[de]
;B[di]
;W[dh]
;B[ck]
;W[bk]
;B[oa]
;W[ma]
;B[lk]
;W[hg]
;B[hh]
;W[fd]
;B[fe]
;W[hd]
;B[cp]
;W[do]
;B[ms]
;W[ls]
;B[ns]
;W[gj]
;B[fi]
;W[po]
;B[qo]
;W[ne]
;B[nd]
;W[pj]
;B[cj]
;W[pl]
;B[pm]
;W[mj]
;B[bl]
;W[bi]
;B[db]
;W[fk]
;B[ek]
;W[kh]
;B[fl]
;W[gl]
;B[ld]
;W[kd]
;B[jd]
;W[nn]
;B[sd]
;W[pk]
;B[qd]
;W[sf]
;B[gd]
;W[gc]
;B[ge]
;W[ed]
;B[lj]
;W[ki]
;B[jk]
;W[ik]
;B[kj]
;W[eb]
;B[go]
;W[sc]
;B[ml]
;W[nl]
;B[nm]
;W[mm]
;B[qn]
;W[on]
;B[lm]
;W[mk]
;B[ll]
;W[jp]
;B[ko]
;W[sd]
;B[ke]
;W[kc]
;B[]
;W[]
;B[]TW[ha][ia][ja][ka][la][gb][ib][jb][kb][ec][hc][ic][rf][dg][sg][bh][ch][lh][mh][rh][sh][ai][mi][qi][ri][si][aj][nj][oj][rj][sj][ak][hk][al][bl][hl][am][bm][hm][an][cn][en][in][ao][bo][no][mp][np][iq][lq][jr][kr][lr][js][ks]TB[aa][ba][ca][pa][qa][ra][sa][ab][bb][pb][qb][ac][bc][nc][oc][ad][od][pd][ae][ih][dk][kk][qm][rn][sn][ro][so][gp][rp][sp][eq][fq][pq][qq][rq][sq][br][cr][dr][er][fr][pr][qr][rr][sr][as][cs][ds][es][fs][os][ps][qs][rs][ss]C[White: 54 territories + 2*1 dead stone(B) + 7 prisoners + 6.5 komi = 69.5
Black: 55 territories + 2*0 dead stones(W) + 3 prisoners = 58
Result: W+11.5])

[plu3m]

In first game, how about at P14, Q14 or P13 instead of R13

[Tompy]

First, howdy. I never knew this site existed... I think I'll be here a lot.

I am black in these two games.

My opponent has made some very good comments and I have learned some things. Thank you.

Joaz, the "right" way to block seemed too good to be true. I failed here and spent some time laughing at myself for a few moves after.

The feeling I get when I played both of these games was that my opponent and I were even somewhere in the middle. My opponent had created "something" that I couldn't define which gave him all the points in the end. This "something" was a position which did not "look like points" but in the end yielded points. I was curious to learn if there were some moves or ideas I neglected or perhaps some moves he felt gave him an advantage.

When I have time to consider the games I'll make some comments of my own.

But so far my opponent (p2501, if that is his real name, which I doubt ) has kindly pointed out some fundamental ideas I need to keep in mind.

Thank you.