Life In 19x19

I believe black 153 should've been at j2. None the less, what might have been done earlier to prevent getting so far behind that I had to depend on killing a large group to win?

Just a few random thoughts, I hope this helps

Why cut? Does it give black an attack on one of white's groups or does it mean creating a weak group? Plus, what is the status of black's group in the corner?

feels small. Answering it means black is concerned with the 6/8/10? points on the side. Playing around the k16 seems to be bigger. Building a moyo here means black will be able to use his wall if white invades.

is unnecessary since white's stone is already dead (see Net). If black had used this move to harass , he probably would have made much more points on the upper side.

At 57, my opponent had played a ladder breaker and I didnt want my E3 group to become a bigger weakness than a strength.

Joelnelsonb wrote:At 57, my opponent had played a ladder breaker and I didnt want my E3 group to become a bigger weakness than a strength.

It's only a ladder breaker if you try to capture white's stone in a ladder. As Shenoute pointed out, you can capture it in a net. Can you see how?

Uberdude wrote: It's only a ladder breaker if you try to capture white's stone in a ladder. As Shenoute pointed out, you can capture it in a net. Can you see how?

I do not. It appears to me that if I don't play F12 (or something similar) than my opponent plays E12 and escapes.

I think I see it now. If my opponent plays E12 than I play F13?

After white escapes at e12, it is your move. How can you capture him? Note the marked stone is helpful:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$B
$$ . . . . . . .
$$ . , . . . . .
$$ . # . . . . .
$$ . X X O . . .
$$ . O X O X . .
$$ . O O X X . .[/go]

Edit: Yup, you got it and ninja-d me!

My take on the game:


As a few general points, black fell behind through a joseki mistake in the lower left, followed by letting white build a large area on the top side when black should have been able to attack to keep white from settling easily. Early on, black traded territory for thickness, but the thickness never got used and ended up looking pointless by the end of the game.

Here is another game where I fell behind quickly and had to play more aggressively to catch up. Obviously I'd like to learn to better avoid such positions. (Note that the scoring system screwed up. Black should've won by 15 1/2

Late game blunders, indeed.

a) What did black have to do for move 191?
b) What should you have done for move 192?
c) Since you missed it, what did black have to do for 193?
d) What should you have done for 194 instead of passing?

Hint -- look at the large white group near the left edge. What is its status? (if it is white to move). Are you sure? This is a "shortage of liberties" problem.

Ouch! nice call! Glad my opponent didn't see it!

Well this is a problem I have at my level too. Dismissing from the mind questions about the status of groups that have already been decided, forgetting that a play might still be needed as outside dame are filled so need to keep revisiting the matter.

However certainly a review all over the board needed before passing.