This is a game I played on kgs today. It was my first time playing as white in a handicap game and I feel like I won based more due to a number of small mistakes (and one big one) that black made rather than anything I did right. Anyway, I was hoping for feedback.
A few thoughts of my own (please correct me if I'm wrong)
1. Move 137 is embarrassing. I was focusing on the bottom and completely missed that my four stones were in atari. The sequence following it was not good for me either.
2. 245 should have been played at 246
3. 289 should have been played at 290
4. I was really thrown off when black didn't play joseki, and I don't think my response was as good as it could have been.
Anyway, thank you.
Beginner handicap game. All feedback welcome
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EdLee
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Twitchy Go
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Re: Beginner handicap game. All feedback welcome
I noticed while glancing quickly through the game. (I have a big deadline tomorrow, or I'd be more in depth) 
Anyway, the game quickly became one big fight sprawling across the board. This might work in low handicap games, but at higher handicaps not so much. W wants to play very lightly. I apologise that this is not directly about your game. But playing against a handicap requires a more methodical approach. And if you've had no experience playing W in such cases it helps to be exposed to the following idea. That is what I think at least.
Surely not the best of playing(only a 12kyu myself) and B is playing somewhat badly(2 is a mistake I see alot in high handi games i play against people, it leaves the 3-3 open.) but does illustrate what I'm saying i hope. W is aiming to make B defend the marked stone. This lets W create nice influence that will be used to make a fair share of territory later.
A possible continuation, maybe
How I see it is this. W is given a komi to offset the advantage B has going first. In a handicap game W has no komi(beyond tiebreak) and B has even more stones of an advantage. Therefore you want to avoid playing in a way that 1. Seals you onto a side. 2. starts a fight before you have anything to help you in said fight.
Ideally W begins the game floating like a butterfly, then proceeds to drop on B groups like a whale. B is left somewhat dazed and confused as to what the heck just happened
I hope what little I have to say is helpful when playing W in future handi games.
And as EdLee said, welcome to the game : )
Anyway, the game quickly became one big fight sprawling across the board. This might work in low handicap games, but at higher handicaps not so much. W wants to play very lightly. I apologise that this is not directly about your game. But playing against a handicap requires a more methodical approach. And if you've had no experience playing W in such cases it helps to be exposed to the following idea. That is what I think at least.
Surely not the best of playing(only a 12kyu myself) and B is playing somewhat badly(2 is a mistake I see alot in high handi games i play against people, it leaves the 3-3 open.) but does illustrate what I'm saying i hope. W is aiming to make B defend the marked stone. This lets W create nice influence that will be used to make a fair share of territory later.
A possible continuation, maybe
How I see it is this. W is given a komi to offset the advantage B has going first. In a handicap game W has no komi(beyond tiebreak) and B has even more stones of an advantage. Therefore you want to avoid playing in a way that 1. Seals you onto a side. 2. starts a fight before you have anything to help you in said fight.
Ideally W begins the game floating like a butterfly, then proceeds to drop on B groups like a whale. B is left somewhat dazed and confused as to what the heck just happened
I hope what little I have to say is helpful when playing W in future handi games.
And as EdLee said, welcome to the game : )
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blindgod
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Re: Beginner handicap game. All feedback welcome
Oops. I originally said that 289 should have been played at 290. What I meant was 279 should have been played at 280. Sorry for any confusion.
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EdLee
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EdLee
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tenuki-
EdLee
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and 
above are wrong -- W would push through with 
-- B's shape is -
EdLee
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and split W into two groups --
group, and 
is already starting to die a slow natural death:-
Twitchy Go
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Re: Beginner handicap game. All feedback welcome
Urgent points first and all that. EdLee, would you agree with my posts point. I firmly believe that W needs to play somewhat lighter in handi games and try to avoid fighting initially to allow some influence to build. I think its a good point to be made but, since my example is not an example could I get your opinion on the matter?
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EdLee
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Bonobo
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Re: Beginner handicap game. All feedback welcome
Dang, I meant to submit this post last night but apparently I forgot. Anyway, and even though B11 has now been mentioned before … here is what I wrote:
________________
I’m just a lowly DDK, and I’ll leave it to better players to comment on the game itself, but …
… the game’s not over, methinks, except if B would give up. With passing, W left B two cutting/invasion opportunities:
If Black cuts the latter, I think B can at least turn it into a Seki, quite a loss for W. If B cuts B11 then (I think) it’s a small gain for B and a small loss for W.
(I’m slightly dyscalculic, have to take off my shoes if I need to count to 20, so please check all my allegations about amounts or area.)
Also, if Black should be able to put stones on G12 and H11 then B would earn one point of territory, so W should pay attention there, too. Small, but nevertheless territory
First time I dare to comment something here, I hope I didn’t write too much BS or break some rules.
Greetings, Tom
________________
I’m just a lowly DDK, and I’ll leave it to better players to comment on the game itself, but …
… the game’s not over, methinks, except if B would give up. With passing, W left B two cutting/invasion opportunities:
- B11
- K2
If Black cuts the latter, I think B can at least turn it into a Seki, quite a loss for W. If B cuts B11 then (I think) it’s a small gain for B and a small loss for W.
(I’m slightly dyscalculic, have to take off my shoes if I need to count to 20, so please check all my allegations about amounts or area.)
Also, if Black should be able to put stones on G12 and H11 then B would earn one point of territory, so W should pay attention there, too. Small, but nevertheless territory
First time I dare to comment something here, I hope I didn’t write too much BS or break some rules.
Greetings, Tom
“The only difference between me and a madman is that I’m not mad.” — Salvador Dali
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EdLee
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Twitchy Go
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Re: Beginner handicap game. All feedback welcome
Posting my answers to EdLee's fun challanges in my new study corner
I did not want to completly hijack this thread, but didn't want to leave everyone hanging... well if anyone cared much.
I did not want to completly hijack this thread, but didn't want to leave everyone hanging... well if anyone cared much.
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blindgod
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Re: Beginner handicap game. All feedback welcome
Maybe I'm wrong on this, but if black plays K2, then I play L1, I don't think there's anything black can do in that space other than die.
And thank you for pointing out B11. I can't believe I missed that. I think I was overly concerned about time since I had recently lost a won game due to time. But then again, with 5-30s, it shouldn't have been a concern.
Thanks for your time. I wasn't happy with how I played, but I see that as indicating a game where there's a lot I can learn from.
And thank you for pointing out B11. I can't believe I missed that. I think I was overly concerned about time since I had recently lost a won game due to time. But then again, with 5-30s, it shouldn't have been a concern.
Thanks for your time. I wasn't happy with how I played, but I see that as indicating a game where there's a lot I can learn from.
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cyclops
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Re: Beginner handicap game. All feedback welcome
blindgod wrote:Maybe I'm wrong on this, but if black plays K2, then I play L1, I don't think there's anything black can do in that space other than die.
Blindgod, look at to what your stones are connected. Even in heaven God would not find so many eyes, not even when blind.
That means you can just cut K2 off at J1 and say thank you.
Last edited by cyclops on Tue Apr 17, 2012 5:28 am, edited 2 times in total.