Life In 19x19

White 14 seems a bit greedy to me, leaving weakness behind. But it makes the game interesting too, can't complain We shall see whether I'm good enough to benefit from it.

Seriously considered F16 for this move too. Then the question would be how good structure white gets on left side, and how much aji there is left. Will explain current plan later, when not on iPad.

Generally, when the opponent has stones supporting his kakari (such as the White stones in the bottom-left in this case), loose pincers are to be preferred. The reason for this is that close pincers can come under attack very easily in such situations. Now I just need to come up with the right joseki to take advantage of TIM82's move.

Now, Black would be well advised to play a 2-space extension on the left (at "a"). Playing in the corner with would, instead, lead to difficulties after . The ensuing attack would enable White to easily build a moyo on the left side.

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[go]$$Bc
$$ --------------------------------------
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . , . 1 . . . , . . . . . , X . .|
$$ |. O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . a , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. O O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. X O O . O . . . , . . . . . O . . .|
$$ |. X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Explanation of plan still to be done - busy with real life.

I was planning to play a counter pincer right away, but perhaps I can find a more skillful way of getting a moyo. I'm currently trying to decide between these moves:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wcm18
$$ --------------------------------------
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . , . X . . . , . . . . . , X . .|
$$ |. O . O . b . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . a . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . d . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . c . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. O O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. X O O . O . . . , . . . . . O . . .|
$$ |. X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Original plan at :
If black plays at A or B, I'll try to get the points marked C, aiming to developing both sides fast and giving white the upper left corner. I still have some trouble seeing how white gets enough in this family of josekis (see my earlier game with EdLee).

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Bcm15
$$ --------------------------------------
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . a X . . c . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , X . .|
$$ |. 2 . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . b . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . c , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. O O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. X O O . O . . . , . . . . . O . . .|
$$ |. X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

After I played I realised white may indeed play as in the game. However, now I'm happy to play the F16, which I considered for previous move too, for two reasons:

To my eye, there is now more aji in the white structure on the left side with the 15-16 sequence in place.

If Intrepid would happen to follow the typical corner josekis after my F16, there are variations which will let me give white the corner and take development on both sids, which I was trying to do originally.

If I counter-pincered like I intended to, I was worried that would force . Such an exchange would strongly interfere with any sort of ideas of building a moyo by White.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc
$$ --------------------------------------
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . , . X . . . , . . . . . , X . .|
$$ |. O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. 3 X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. O O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. X O O . O . . . , . . . . . O . . .|
$$ |. X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

The move in the game prevents this possibility and applies additional pressure on both Black groups.

There was also the possibility of leaning onto Black's top group to gain strength against the Black stone below. However, the trade seems good for Black because Black has a stone in the top-right corner.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc
$$ --------------------------------------
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . X 4 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . , 3 X 5 . . , . . . . . , B . .|
$$ |. O . O . 1 2 8 . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . . 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. O O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. X O O . O . . . , . . . . . O . . .|
$$ |. X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

I was kind of expecting Intrepid to play a pincer of some kind here. Let's see what he's planning.

In Takemiya style, the moyo has to emerge naturally. Usually, this is accomplished by letting the opponent take as much side and corner territory as he or she wishes in exchange for outside thickness. However, it can also mean building a moyo as a consequence of an attack on one of opponent's groups. By the looks of it, I might get the chance to demonstrate just that in this game. With this in mind, is essential. It weakens Black's two-space extension while strengthening the weak White group below it.

I like how the game is developing, so far. It should prove to be very interesting and hard-fought.

So, the plan is this.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Bcm21
$$ --------------------------------------
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . , . X . 3 . , . . . . . , X . .|
$$ |. O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . O . 2 . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . X , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. O O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. X O O . O . . . , . . . . . O . . .|
$$ |. X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

I initially wanted to play as below, but then seems potentially problematic.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Bcm21
$$ --------------------------------------
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . 1 , . X . . . , . . . . . , X . .|
$$ |. O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . 2 . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . X , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. O O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. X O O . O . . . , . . . . . O . . .|
$$ |. X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Since Black did not reinforce the top, White can play there now. After this move, White usually takes the corner (and makes life). This is contrary to the Takemiya style guidelines, but if this White group becomes strong, White can launch a much more effective attack on the Black group below it.

Ok, if we would play bookish sequences from here, I would probably cede the corner to white and get thickness towards right in gote. Scrap that, gote + points for white sucks. should enable me to fight more strongly - how many groups do you want create, Intrepid? If white tries to enclose, I will push, cut and fight. Otherwise I will just cut and fight.

I'm having quite busy and stressful period at work - that might have an effect on my aggressiveness here, or not

If somebody wants to see some bookish sequences mentioned above, just tell, I'll add them when not so busy.

Black's last move seems questionable to me. I expected the following:

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[go]$$Bc
$$ --------------------------------------
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . X 4 . . O a . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . , . X . 1 2 , . . . . . , X . .|
$$ |. O . O . . . 3 . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . X , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. O O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. X O O . O . . . , . . . . . O . . .|
$$ |. X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ |. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

After , White takes the corner in gote, so Black can come back to cut at "a" or sometimes tenuki elsewhere. Instead, after in the game, Black risks getting confined to the corner while also making his left group more vulnerable.

As a parenthetical remark, I'm starting to question my play in the top-left. Given that I'm trying to play Takemiya style, getting into complicated josekis/local fights isn't something I should be aiming for early in the game. The problem with complicated fights is that it's easy to lose control/hard to predict the outcome. This is bad from the point of view of Takemiya style because, if it's hard to know the outcome, it's hard to know whether the result will have helped the moyo-building process or hurt it. Takemiya often eschewed complications in the opening and I probably should have done the same. However, the situation looks fine, so far. I think I still have a good chance of ending up with a big moyo in this game.