Thick?

[daal]

After playing pretty territorially for the last year or so, lots of 3-3's and so on, I've decided to turn over a new leaf, and to try to learn to play thickly. So far, the results have been pretty good, and I am pleased to find that it is somewhat relaxing to let an opponent take territory and then look for a way to attack him later in the game. Here is a recent game, and essentially what I would like to hear is if you consider my play thick, and if not, what are alternative moves that would have been thicker. I played black. Thanks!

[Uberdude]

To get started:
- 7 good and thick
- 15 ok, but s16 and s15 also possible. s16 is aiming to get sente for o17 turn which is very big. White could then capture s16 in sente but you don't mind that as you get thicker.
- 17 first mistake I feel, maybe trying too hard to be thick and not severe enough. You should want to block at o17 or s15, they both are huge and threaten the r17 cut. If o17 and white s15 crawl you are happy to answer and get thick. White's stronger counter is the r14 clamp, and you can descend once but if twice white can cut and you don't have the ladder. You could then cut and get 2 stones, but that's probably not worth losing the 3. So you could connect and let white connect under and then cut.
- 19 is overconcentrated and wrong side. Either play a thick move to munch the corner stone at r5 (but even then some aji, so maybe r2 but that's not thick. I would feel no need to add another move to that corner, you are happy for white to live small and make you thicker. Or better yet o17 is big and thick. Or help f3, say double approach. If you want to play thickly you don't want weak groups.
- lower left good

[Bill Spight]

Some comments on the opening.



Main focus: After you have built up strength (thickness), make use of it by enterprising play, even if it is a bit thin.

[daal]

Thanks to both for your comments. I often seem to fail to press my advantage, for example missing o17, or not attacking the group on the bottom. Also good to remind me that 19 isin the wrong direction. Good to have some things to look out for next game!