Life In 19x19

Thank you Bill, a lot to think about and digest there.

Tried to add comments to this while I was reviewing. I feel like I shouldn't have won.

Some thoughts, mostly on the opening, with hopefully correct sequences this time:


The kill in the upper left was huge, to say the least.

Interesting game. Here are a few thoughts, mostly on middle game sequences which struck me as problematic.

-- S17 is the right move in many circumstances, but Q18 should also be considered. The move you played is good when it undercuts the base of the B group below, but that is not really the case here. It is also good when W has at least an equal opportunity to make an extension around L17 or M17, but in this game B already has a stone there. If B can manage to play P18, he might manage to undercut and even attack the W corner. The alternative Q18 secures two eyes immediately, leaving W in a better position for later fighting.

-- I do not care much for this jump, but it is quite flexible, so I could be wrong. My objection is that it builds outside influence which is mostly negated by the B stone at J17. Pressing at D15 would have a similar problem. How about the joseki starting with C17? Or I suppose you could pincer at C14 and start a difficult fight. Fortunately B soon answered C17 timidly at B17 and you ended up with an acceptable result.

-- You may not know this sequence, but if you had approached the corner at C5 (a perfectly fine alternative) and B had bumped at C4, you certainly know the stand at D5 is good, making miai continuations at C8 and E3. So you could transpose to that position. But wait ....

The B atari and connection at K7 and L7 was hugely important, making W overconcentrated to the left and giving B a strong position in the center. In contrast, imagine W atari and connection at the same points. Wouldn't that put B on the spot? Since O7 is also sente, the entire B group can be enclosed, and will have to scramble to live inside. The transformation in center influence would be enormous. After that, the W continuation at E4 in the corner would be reasonable, making territory above.

:w170: would be better style at P14, preserving more aji, making it difficult for B to find a good answer. Try reading out some of the possibilities, which get quite complicated. I am not sure B can prevent W from breaking through here.

:w176: should clamp at F2, capturing the B stone outright.

Thank you both, plenty to think about there. mitsun, your comment on was the most jarring one. I think my compulsion to reply locally, I resisted playing that sequence, is something I need to think about. skydyr, yeah I need to think your sequence on the top for white was much better than in game, something to think about.

Boidhre wrote:Thank you both, plenty to think about there. mitsun, your comment on was the most jarring one. I think my compulsion to reply locally, I resisted playing that sequence, is something I need to think about. skydyr, yeah I need to think your sequence on the top for white was much better than in game, something to think about.

Um... which sequence at the top?

Your alternate . Simpler and probably better than what I played.

Ah, of course. I feel that press is kind of the default 5-3 joseki, since the 5-3 point is looking to build on the right (in this game) and it limits your opponent while expanding its potential. There are lots of other interesting choices as well, but if this one isn't okay, you kind of need to start thinking about a special strategy.

skydyr wrote:Ah, of course. I feel that press is kind of the default 5-3 joseki, since the 5-3 point is looking to build on the right (in this game) and it limits your opponent while expanding its potential. There are lots of other interesting choices as well, but if this one isn't okay, you kind of need to start thinking about a special strategy.

Yeah I neglected that area too long in the game. Trying to experiment with leaving areas unsettled for a while. Landing me in trouble but eh, we'll see what I can learn from it.

Almost a year. Plenty of health problems, in and out of the hospital a lot, a lot of scans etc but things are looking a bit better at the moment. My head is a bit clearer too (meds/sleep issues) so I started playing again. I've been playing turn based games and some live over the board ones. I'm rusty but it's coming back slowly, it's nice to enjoy the game again, playing with impaired concentration is just very unpleasant. One of the Irish players on OGS was nice enough to give me a live even game tonight so I took him up on it. My OGS rank is a very old rank from the original OGS server a few years ago.

I've added a few comments/alternate moves where I spotted things.





Any comments welcome.

Hi Boidhre,

C15, perhaps.

K14.

H13/J12 ?

K11 first, then H13 ?

F10 ?

A few thoughts in addition to EdLee's:

looks normal to me

For you may want to consider if black can play C8 in sente against white's lower group.

This is awesome! I want to make one of these. Keep it up!

RegularPerson wrote:This is awesome! I want to make one of these. Keep it up!

Hah, given my year long gaps in play I wouldn't describe this as awesome but a monument to neglected hobbies.

Then again, with all these young ones on the servers us married 30+ year olds with kids need to band together.

Boidhre wrote:with all these young ones on the servers us married 30+ year olds with kids need to band together.

Count me in. Darn whippersnappers with their plastic brains and rapid progress!