Catalin opened the game with diagonal opening and did not back down from the fight. But "at w's 56, b57 was too strong. Even b59 should capture one stone at J18. But b57 should have protected at w58. W60 should have exchanged 62 peep first. B69 exchange with w70 should have been omitted. Rather, b needed to find stronger attacking moves. After white got 96, the game is difficult for b to win." said Lee Sedol.

Lee Sedol said in the game chat, after the game, that should have been at

Thx a lot for posting the game. According to the schedule from the link, Lee Sedol had white. I think game three was a cool and instructive game. I put down every stone on my goban and tried to grasp the timing of the moves. Interestingly, although I am only 4 kyu, I understood many of the moves and understood what was "going on".

I wanted to post here some of my observations and thoughts to the game:
-interesting opening from black. I liked how black approached the black corners twice and then drew back to the hoshi to build a moyo. I find it cool to start a game with a plan like that and then to just follow it, for fun. As white, I would have invaded the moyo on the 4-5 point as well, but I dont know what I would then have responded as black.
24: I find it hard in my games to find the right time to play this kind of "Zwischenzug", which here ensures an eye at the top.
26: instructive (obvious to some?) way of making shape, I think.
28: Again, the timing for an invasion like this one is something I want to learn too.
50, 56: awesome indirect combination! I always play too directly, so its always too obvious what my plans are.
107: ok this was a VERY big point, but would it be possible for black to just protect against the white cut?

game 4:
Lee Sedol verses Andy Liu
W+R

Just curious, is there any specification for what happens if Lee Sedol wins 2 games at 2 stones? Does it go directly to 3?

I'm hoping we win one before it gets that far

Don't forget that on a good day, Taranu is not a pushover for Lee. http://ranka.intergofed.org/?page_id=6908

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Occupy Babel!

On a good day, Taranu can beat Lee in the opening. I doubt he will ever beat Lee at middlegame fighting.

My feeling is that if Taranu can play evenly in the opening on a good day, he can win on two stones, which is what I meant, not that I'd be anything but surprised if Taranu won an even game.

But we shall see, unless Andy wins on 3 points reverse komi (possible, but I wouldn't bet on it).

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Occupy Babel!

Seems so effortless from Lee Sedol, I have a slight fear that the maximum handicap might not be reached within 10 games.

Thats unreasonable though, right?

Today's game

Lee Sedol vs Gangsheng Shi
3.5 reverse komi

Interesting game. I guess Gangsheng Shi deserves kudos for keeping it close, though Lee Sedol just felt soooo in control. Despite reverse komi, he didn't need to gamble.

Thoughts:
1. Giving white that double wing in the lower right seemed too easy, and it got very big.
2. It is very hard to make central territory against world class players. Lee Sedol kept slapping down every attempt, without taking risks.
3. Is anybody strong commenting these games?

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- Brady
Want to see videos of low-dan mistakes and what to learn from them? Brady's Blunders

Lee Sedol's comments on this most recent game:

If he can win while making a misclick the handicap will almost certainly need to increase.

Haha, I was puzzled by h4, trying to work out how probing between black's two answers (g4 or h3) affected the continuation on the left, but now I learn it was a
misclick!

Misclick nightmare! I guess on go9dan.com you cannot have an undo - so it's like the IGS league games. People end up restarting those after 180 moves so they can finish them. Tragedy!

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North Lecale

Actually, you can undo on IGS, but only if you know the right console commands

Sure. But they are playing arguably the strongest player in the world. No shame in needing a few stones head start to beat him.

I think IGS disallows undo for league games, much like KGS disallows undo in tournament games.

15 years ago or so, when Kobayashi Koichi was the top player in Japan, a series of games was set up between him and shodan pros, where the "handicap" changed every game. As I recall he pushed them to three stones. Lee's official rank is 9-dan but in practice he is clearly stronger, maybe 11-dan? If that were so then it wouldn't be surprising for him to push weakish shodans to four stones. I think it is also relevant that these are fairly quick games and the difference in strength will show itself more in fast games. Anyhow it's very interesting and I'm rooting for the youngsters