Tough trollnament opponent #2/2

[balmung]

I made several judgement errors and did not pay close enough attention to the bottom 3 stones which I should have made sure were dead. My response in the upper part was very innacurate and was played on instinct. Please tell me what you think.

http://files.gokgs.com/games/2010/9/5/motmot-HammerTime.sgf

[amnal]

8: An unusual and probably bad shape. This move aims to do two things; attack black, and protect the corner. Unfortunately, it does neither well (instead of performing one efficiently). You should probably play C8 to push black around or C5/C6 to be conservative, instead. This way, black can live in the corner and C7 is in a silly place.

12: This feels like a jealousy stone, just trying to stop black making territory shapes. If you play like this, you get no territory of your own. I think you should step back; the bottom is massive because both players would like an optimal extension from their shimari, even if you shimari is poor. The right side is boring because black cannot perfect it in a single move.

18: This move solidifies maybe 6 points. Maybe it's worth 10 points to stop black's invasion (a fairly random guess). Do you think this is larger than the bottom side? Or even than playing O15 to aim at something bigger in the centre? O18 is territorially greedy, but grossly inefficient this early in the game.

19: Black gets the big point. White has a poor position on the bottom left, the right, and the top. Oh no!

20: This seems bad, it asks black to play a strong splitting attack. You can't attack K3 because it has room to extend or can probably connect (black makes a mistake in the end, so it's better for you). Would black O6 or P7 or similar worry you now? (Not sure which is best)

24: A rather sad shape, though it works out okay for you. You are trying very hard to cut black here without regard for any of the surrounding positions (like the poor Q7 stones). I think black L4 is better than what he plays.

26: Doesn't seem to stop L4, just makes it more powerful. Black should probably play to cut like this, I think.

31: Usually the wrong way to play in this kind of extension, as white's only move is a happy connecting stone. Black has made a mistake to get to this situation, and then to play like this. Connecting is good, I think, though you need to keep an eye on L2.

34: This cut is annoying for white, but far more annoying for black - giving white a lovely ponnuki! Nevertheless, maybe you could consider trying toconnect with B5 - if black stops you doing to, you can attack K3 strongly. It's potentially worrying that black can come back to L2.

38: Seems like a broken shape - I would worry about black E3, though maybe it doesn't quite work. It's certainly storing up bad aji for you.

46: A strange trade on the left, but no matter. Time to cut. I like the spirirt of this move, but again black has strong cuts because your shape is poor (due to earlier play).

56: If you can't connect, don't try! You will just give black wonderful destructive force to attack one side or the other (in this case, E17 is rendered worthless).

I will stop commenting here because I'm going on a bit, and because I think there is plenty to look at so far.

[Joaz Banbeck]

Amnal covered a lot of good points here, so I'll not try to add any.

I note a similarity between this and your other recently posted game: you tend to attack and/or invade without regard for the strength of your own positions. First, make your stones strong, then attack his.

[SolarBear]

First, make your stones strong, then attack his.

I had that problem for a long time - well, I still do, to some extent.

Remember this proverb : "You must make a fist before striking."