Life In 19x19

I'm just getting back into go after almost 5 years of not touching it at all, and I'm pretty rusty, especially my fighting skills.

I played the following game yesterday as black: https://online-go.com/review/149426

I have three main questions:

• 1. How was the opening (up to black 35)? I think I was slightly ahead in the early game, but a couple moves seem questionable.
  
  2. Does B11 allow white to connect unconditionally? Was there any way for me to cut? Playing out some variations, it seems like I probably couldn't have.
  
  3. Black 59 was wrong I should've played F12 directly. I believe this would've allowed me to cut successfully right? But at this point, is that even the most important play?

Anything else you'd like to point out is more than welcome.

Here's the game for ease of viewing:

Hi digbybare,

Welcome back.

You can consider to kick W first (exchange B C5 - W D6 first, before you jump).

W makes a nice shape -- you didn't take advantage of your stone.
( Re: ).

Maybe slow. ( Re: .. ) No severe follow-up because you allowed W to make a nice shape by .
You can consider J3 direction.

You can consider J3 direction.

Slow.

Unclear what you're trying to do with this move.
Globally, J3/K3 direction is the final unclaimed big point.
If you want to attack W, you can consider to first peep at D12,
to make W heavy while preventing his connection.

B11 is a standard way to connect;
if you want to prevent it, you need certain shapes.
Example: if your was at D10 instead.

Almost a pass.
Example: F14, if you want to stop W.

Peep first at F14; then you can stop W.

What's wrong with F15.

Bad wedge.

In addition to EdLee's commentary, also stands out to me.

Black's move is a bit of and endgame move, trying to claim the top left as territory. However, it also basically asks white to make his moyo strong and almost into territory while black still has weaknesses on the top side. I'd much rather protect the single stone on the left to keep white cut into two weakish groups which can then be harassed naturally.

digbybare wrote:Anything else you'd like to point out is more than welcome.

Ed suggested at C5; I'd put it more strongly, that you go wrong here by not playing B5 or C5. Your makes little sense if White can just settle quickly here.

And when things start to go wrong in this way, often enough they never get fixed up. Ed is correct to doubt . Not only is it not the best play (defending the top is certainly bigger). But it continues the idea of "entitlement" when it comes to you pushing White around on the left. Doesn't follow, and that issue traces right back. You make some bad shape trying to prove a point, but the plan wasn't sound.

EdLee wrote: Maybe slow. ( Re: .. ) No severe follow-up because you allowed W to make a nice shape by .
You can consider J3 direction.

Yep, your explanation for why fails as an attack makes perfect sense. However, given that, at this point, what is the biggest area to play? The top, right, and bottom all seem very open, but I definitely would've leaned toward approaching the top right or bottom right before J3.

You can consider J3 direction.

The top seemed more open so I thought playing there was bigger than playing on the bottom with two relatively developed corners. Is the bottom bigger because both of our positions are high, therefore a territorial grab is more profitable?

The bottom side was definitely on my mind, but if I played first in the area, I would've chosen K3. Why J3 rather than K3? Is K3 an overplay?

Slow.

I was trying to simultaneously put pressure on white and also strengthen my top/connect my corner to K16. What would've been a better play here? Would it make sense to play H13 to cap white?

Unclear what you're trying to do with this move.
Globally, J3/K3 direction is the final unclaimed big point.
If you want to attack W, you can consider to first peep at D12,
to make W heavy while preventing his connection.

At this point I was worried about my two black stones, and seemed like a good way to simultaneously connect those to the bottom and also to press white's group down and contained.

Almost a pass.
Example: F14, if you want to stop W.

Peep first at F14; then you can stop W.

What's wrong with F15.

G15 seemed safer and more solid, but I think I shouldn't have been in this situation in the first place, as I should've played F14 much earlier (like the two moves you pointed out).

Bad wedge.

White and I actually reviewed this after the game and we came to the conclusion that it should've succeeded if I played F12 instead of B59. However, it would've only really cut off H10 and H12, and since the rest of white is completely alive, the whole play (even if it succeeded) was of dubious value.

Also, thanks skydyr and Charles, those comments were very insightful.

digbybare wrote:Yep, your explanation for why fails as an attack makes perfect sense. However, given that, at this point, what is the biggest area to play? The top, right, and bottom all seem very open, but I definitely would've leaned toward approaching the top right or bottom right before J3.

You can consider J3 direction. W has two corners to approach, you can consider them miai. But your bottom needs one more move.

digbybare wrote:

You can consider J3 direction.

Is the bottom bigger...

Why J3 rather than K3? Is K3 an overplay?

I didn't say the bottom was bigger.
Your move was probably OK, too; you definitely didn't lose the game here.
I also didn't say J3; I said J3 direction.

digbybare wrote:

Slow.

What would've been a better play here?

Not sure, but feels slow.

digbybare wrote:

Unclear what you're trying to do with this move.
Globally, J3/K3 direction is the final unclaimed big point.
If you want to attack W, you can consider to first peep at D12,
to make W heavy while preventing his connection.

At this point I was worried about my two black stones, and seemed like a good way to simultaneously connect those to the bottom and also to press white's group down and contained.

W's 2 stones feel weaker, to me.

Thanks Ed. Your detailed comments were really helpful.