Comment on my direction of play

[Fllecha]

Ho all. Im back. For some reason i play only against igowin sorry about that but im in a period very full so i havent time for a real opponent. I ask for some comments on the direction of play and whatever you want.
Any help very appreciated

[skydyr]

Some comments on the game:

[Fllecha]

I really thank you for the comments and that helped a lot. The game was scored w+6.5 so i lost. I play a game every two days when i have some free time and i try to think on every move. I try to find some feeling for invasions and moyo building... I notice that i get a little better every time but with out expert im lost.

[mlund]

I agree with most of skydyr's points. I guess my only concern is that I think you're selling the Low Chinese Opening a bit short - you're not greedy enough!

The Low Chinese opening aims at rapid development on the sides that induces your opponent into invasions and reductions against your framework that will give you an advantageous balance of territory or influence. :W6: seems a little odd because of how low it is - especially with a 3-3 stone in the corner behind it. You should try to take advantage of that in a way the lends itself to the strategic direction of the Low Chinese Opening. A shoulder hit with at L4 would've been my play. I think that's more in keeping with what the bottom part of the Low Chinese Opening is aiming for. You can probably leave that exchange in sente and then play on the top at K16. You can also aim at a similar shoulder-hit on that corner with the white 3-3 stone too.

The wall you've generated in the exchange started with the L4 shoulder hit has massive Influence this early in the game and also extends your framework. It is going to be a lot more costly to invade your structure on the right due to that influence and a lot less profitable to play reductions since the borders of the moyo has expanded.

In contrast, White ignored and played at O3 - largely settling his group and immobilizing you on the bottom side. In that situation I prefer at P5 - the mutual knights-move position between white and black. You both have competing frameworks in this area, so don't settle on a move that walls you off when you can lean on white's framework and push him back instead!

Marty Lund

[Fllecha]

Thanks for comment..Looking at p5 advice effectively leads to a larger influence both in the center and in the corner, starting to squeeze white. I discarded the shoulder hit on his low placement preferring gaining some ground for the moyo on the upper side. Isn't that move bigger?

[Elom]

Hi, the shape at seemed a bit heavy. Does F6 or D12 instead helps black more?

[Fllecha]

I agree with f6 but d12 seems to me like attach to a somewhat isolate stone. Ok it is near a good group but i was afraid to strenghen it. Am i thinking right?

Btw e5 would Be wrong isn't it?

[Elom]

I agree with f6 but d12 seems to me like attach to a somewhat isolate stone. Ok it is near a good group but i was afraid to strenghen it. Am i thinking right?

Btw e5 would Be wrong isn't it?

Yes, D12 doesn't seem like a "great" move as far as I can tell for those reasons, but I just put it as a possible alternative (I'm not strong enough to give "certain" verdicts for 99% of positions ). I'd see it as a secondary option to F6, I guess.

With E5, black doesn't seem to be able to resist against white's cut at e6 with F5 or F6 without getting into a worse-off position, so it seems you're right again on e5, an overplay (as far as I can tell ).

[Bill Spight]

Some comments. skydyr and I agree a lot, as you will see.

Except for neglecting the left side for so long, the direction of play is not such a problem in this game.



Main points:

Do not help your opponent.
Avoid plays which strengthen his stones.
Avoid pushing from behind.
Avoid protecting your own territory instead of taking away his or reducing his potential or hindering his development.

[mlund]

Thanks for comment..Looking at p5 advice effectively leads to a larger influence both in the center and in the corner, starting to squeeze white. I discarded the shoulder hit on his low placement preferring gaining some ground for the moyo on the upper side. Isn't that move bigger?

I think Bill's right in that it's a perfectly valid move unto itself and the niceties might matter more to you as you advance.

I guess the simplest way to look at it is that K16 is big, but L4 is sente - your opponent will respond to it. You can play the shoulder hit sequence, building a wall at the bottom, and then play K16. Now the moyo you've marked out looks like a rectangle instead of a triangle. You've staked out twice as much of the center as you did just playing K16 and letting white respond.

If you are interested in learning more about the moyo game and how moves like the shoulder hit fit into those plans, I recommend doing a search on Takemiya Masaki, 9P. Just watching how he plays black in his most famous moyo games had a huge impact on me as a DDK. Before that moyo games and influence strategies just didn't click for me.

Marty Lund

[Bill Spight]

BTW, you need to play against a stronger opponent, one which will take advantage of passive and slow play. I did a quick search for Igowin Pro. Apparently it adjusts its level to yours. Gack! If you can set it to give you five stones, so much the better.

[Fllecha]

I actually play with igowin pro, not a bad program imo, i like to play against it. I played tons of 9x9 games with it and i was strong about 1k according to his evaluation. I learnt life and Death in a fun way with out boring tsumego. I moved to 19x19 and i have fun playing, but as i pointed out i dont play on Kgs or igs because i have not so much time to invest in Go, so with this ai i can play and stop or playing games every where.

I Will thank you for your review because i didnt know the pushing from behind and other mistakes. I studied it carefully and i try to internalize the concept to not to Over defend my moyos thank you guys