11k(?) looking for help

[konfuzed]

First off, I just started playing a few months ago, and I learned most of what I know from looking at malkovich games. This forum has been a huge help. I think I'd be completely lost if not for what I learned here and from a few people at my go club. Last week, I started playing a KGS game or two each day, and somehow my rank has been spiraling out of control but I still feel like I have no idea what I'm doing. It feels like I'm stuck in a rut because I lose almost every corner fight and try to salvage the situation by grabbing influence. Anyway, I'm having trouble even figuring out what's actually going on in the last game I played, and I'd really appreciate it if somebody could give me some pointers, or even help me interpret the board. I've never had a game reviewed, but I feel like it could really help me understand things better. Thanks for your time.

[kwhyte]

There's a lot more that can be said, and I'll try to post a longer review when I have time. However, the first move to really get my attention was black 26 - what are you trying to do with this move?

[konfuzed]

I was expecting 27 and 28 to go as they did, and my intention was simply to run away to the center in a solid, cautious way. In my last game I horribly lost the first corner fight and resigned when I was trapped, so that may have been part of the problem psychologically.

[kwhyte]

I was expecting 27 and 28 to go as they did, and my intention was simply to run away to the center in a solid, cautious way. In my last game I horribly lost the first corner fight and resigned when I was trapped, so that may have been part of the problem psychologically.

I'm not objecting to the plan of getting out to the center, it is a natural response once your stones don't seem to have room in the corner to live easily. However, the specific move chosen is very slow and inefficient. You could, for example, play directly at 30 and get out much faster. The shape of your stones after 26 is very heavy ( meaning lots of stones without much eye shape or flexibility). After black 30 you could remove at least any one of the stones at D4,E4, and E3 (a shape called an "empty triangle" which is infamous for being inefficient in most situations) without significantly hurting black's position - a sure sign that something went wrong here.

[konfuzed]

I'm not objecting to the plan of getting out to the center, it is a natural response once your stones don't seem to have room in the corner to live easily. However, the specific move chosen is very slow and inefficient. You could, for example, play directly at 30 and get out much faster. The shape of your stones after 26 is very heavy ( meaning lots of stones without much eye shape or flexibility). After black 30 you could remove at least any one of the stones at D4,E4, and E3 (a shape called an "empty triangle" which is infamous for being inefficient in most situations) without significantly hurting black's position - a sure sign that something went wrong here.

Basically I thought my opponent would be able to cut some of my stones by playing e4 if I played 30 instead of 26.

[EdLee]

konfuzed, welcome to Go and this forum.
If you have not finished 100 games yet, it's a very good idea to try to do so as quickly as you can.
Here are few ideas, mostly shape problems:

[gogameguru]

Just a quick comment to add to Ed's:

For your move at L3, K3 would be a simple, but much stronger, move that makes miai (i.e. you have plans A and B) of J2 or L2 next. Whichever one white takes you take the other. If you prevent white's group at the bottom from becoming strong, it will be harder for white to threaten your lower left corner successfully.

It looks like you already have a reasonable feeling for how the game is supposed to work. You just need more experience in the basic mechanics of shape to put a stronger backbone into it. Take Ed's advice and play more. If you want to study something, focus on tesuji and shape.

[Bill Spight]

Your game is quite impressive for having started only a few months ago. I would not worry about rating or rank, as you will be improving rapidly. Try playing as a 10 kyu one week, a 9-kyu the next, etc. Don't worry if your games are not rated.

A few comments:

[konfuzed]

Thanks to everyone who replied. It's hard to believe how helpful the go community is. I need to study what everyone wrote more closely later, but I already feel like a few things "clicked" and will hopefully help me in the future.