Masterpiece of attack and defense
Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 8:30 pm
by Bill Spight
Here is a cool game in which Black carries on a sustained, very skillful attack over the whole board, dictating the pace of the game. Despite that, the game is considered a masterpiece for White. Even so, Black won the game. By one point. But Black took two stones. A handicap that everyone considered to be too big, because Black was underrated.
I have added several comments, but I do not pretend to understand play at this level. The comments are on the level of sports commentary.
Enjoy!
I have added several comments, but I do not pretend to understand play at this level. The comments are on the level of sports commentary.
Enjoy!
(;CA[ISO8859-1]SZ[19]GM[1]AP[GOWrite:2.2.21]ST[2]FF[4]RE[B+1]AB[dp][pd]GC[Genjo's lifetime masterpiece. Another source has date Bunsei 3 XI. We follow O-Shiro Go.]PB[Inoue Ansetsu]C[***Inoue Ansetsu later took the name, Inoue Gennan Inseki as head of the Inseki house. Though nominally 5 dan at the time of this game, he was recognized as having 7 dan strength, and everybody expected a short game with a courteous resignation. But Genjo not only raised the level of his game, he made it seem easy.]PC[Edo Castle]FG[259:]PW[Honinbo Genjo]BR[5d]WR[8d]PM[0]US[GoGoD95]HA[2]EV[Castle game]GN[ ]DT[1820-01-02 (Bunsei 2 XI 17)]
;W[cd]
;B[qp]
;W[oq]
;B[ec]
;W[gc]
;B[mq]
;W[nc]
;B[op]
;W[pp]
;B[po]
;W[pq]
;B[np]
;W[qq]
;B[ro]
;W[rp]
;B[qo]
;W[fq]C[*** Note that Genjo does not approach from the wider side. Why make the game easy for Black?]
;B[nd]
;W[md]
;B[ne]
;W[ob]C[*** Looking to invade the right side,White does not want to strengthen Black too much.]
;B[pb]
;W[pc]
;B[qc]
;W[oc]
;B[qb]
;W[me]
;B[mf]
;W[qi]
;B[qe]
;W[pf]
;B[od]
;W[kc]
;B[qk]C[*** Black chooses to attack the two stones instead of the single stone. After all, this is where Black is strong, and allowing White to make easy life here would kill Black's influence. But there is more to it than that, as we shall see.]
;W[oi]
;B[kd]C[*** Black attacks this group, as well. Did you see this move? I didn't.]
;W[ld]
;B[jc]
;W[kb]
;B[ke]
;W[lf]
;B[mg]C[*** Ah! A splitting attack.]
;W[fd]C[*** White is very busy. Black threatens to run with the single stone, as well. Black's play is masterful.]
;B[pj]C[*** Make heavy.]
;W[pi]
;B[rg]C[*** Take away the base.]
;W[oj]C[*** Big.]
;B[hc]C[*** Hmmm. What is Black up to?]
;W[gb]
;B[mj]C[*** Topping the tree.]
;W[pk]
;B[ql]C[*** Who cares about a single stone?]
;W[nk]
;B[de]C[*** Black does not want this stone to die a dog's death. Black is dictating the pace of play. How deeply has he seen?]
;W[dd]
;B[mb]C[*** Switching the attack back to this group.]
;W[mc]
;B[ol]C[*** Vital point.]
;W[mk]
;B[lj]
;W[lk]
;B[kk]C[*** Black keeps up the pressure.]
;W[kl]
;B[jl]C[*** More pressure.]
;W[km]
;B[mm]C[*** The eye stealing tesuji.]
;W[mn]C[*** Not so fast, buster!]
;B[nm]
;W[lm]
;B[jk]C[*** Big.]
;W[in]C[*** Also big.]
;B[lb]C[*** Where is White's second eye?]
;W[jb]
;B[ed]C[*** Can't Black figure out where to play? {hehe}]
;W[ee]
;B[fe]
;W[ef]
;B[gd]
;W[fc]
;B[ib]C[*** All part of the plan.]
;W[jd]
;B[je]C[*** And what a plan!]
;W[id]
;B[hd]C[*** Thank you.]
;W[ie]
;B[if]
;W[he]
;B[ge]C[*** Thanks again.]
;W[hf]
;B[hg]
;W[jf]
;B[gf]C[*** Please.]
;W[ig]C[*** If you insist.]
;B[ic]C[*** I do.]
;W[if]C[*** As you wish.]
;B[eb]C[*** I'll take these ripe bananas, thank you.]
;W[gg]C[*** I like this one.]
;B[lc]C[*** Well, I like these.]
;W[kf]C[*** Not so fast.]
;B[hh]C[*** Same to you.]
;W[fg]C[*** Big.]
;B[ja]C[*** The time has come, the Walrus said.]
;W[le]
;B[ka]
;W[kd]
;B[fb]C[*** Thank you very much. People may have asked, where is Black going to make territory from his thickness? Would you have guessed the top left side and corner? And the fight is not yet over.]
;W[di]
(
;B[ii]C[*** This play has been criticized. See variation.]
;W[ki]C[*** White skilfully makes another eye.]
;B[kj]
;W[ji]
;B[mh]C[*** With sente.]
;W[qg]
;B[og]
;W[dn]
;B[rq]
;W[rr]
;B[sp]
;W[sr]
;B[gp]C[*** Still a good attacking play.]
;W[eo]
;B[hm]C[*** This is good, too.]
;W[rh]
;B[rf]
;W[rj]
;B[cf]
;W[ce]
;B[dq]
;W[co]
;B[fp]
;W[bq]
;B[ok]
;W[nj]
;B[ko]C[*** The eye stealing tesuji again.]
;W[pg]
;B[df]
;W[dg]
;B[oh]
;W[ph]
;B[rk]
;W[si]C[*** Small life.]
;B[bf]
;W[cg]
;B[do]
;W[cm]
;B[bc]
;W[be]
;B[en]
;W[hp]
;B[hq]
;W[gq]
;B[ho]
;W[ip]
;B[nr]
;W[or]
;B[dm]
;W[cn]
;B[hr]
;W[em]
;B[fn]
;W[cr]
;B[fm]
;W[el]
;B[dr]
;W[iq]
;B[kp]
;W[lr]
;B[kr]
;W[kq]
;B[jr]
;W[gk]
;B[hk]
;W[ir]C[*** Watch the fireworks here.]
;B[ps]
;W[os]
;B[qr]
;W[pr]
;B[eq]
;W[lq]
;B[lp]
;W[gr]
;B[ls]
;W[fs]
;B[er]
;W[hs]
;B[fr]C[*** No, you may not.]
;W[hn]
;B[go]
;W[gl]
;B[io]
;W[jq]
;B[nq]
;W[js]C[*** Let's make a deal.]
;B[ns]C[***OK. End of comments.]
;W[db]
;B[dc]
;W[cc]
;B[cb]
;W[bb]
;B[da]
;W[ac]
;B[ba]
;W[ab]
;B[la]
;W[gj]
;B[fl]
;W[fk]
;B[gi]
;W[ih]
;B[hj]
;W[fi]
;B[kh]
;W[kg]
;B[jm]
;W[qj]
;B[ln]
;W[kn]
;B[jn]
;W[lo]
;B[mo]
;W[sk]
;B[ln]
;W[pl]
;B[pm]
;W[pj]
;B[rm]
;W[lo]
;B[ek]
;W[dl]
;B[ln]
;W[ha]
;B[ia]
;W[lo]
;B[br]
;W[bs]
;B[ln]
;W[ll]
;B[of]
;W[lo]
;B[jj]
;W[lh]
;B[li]
;W[jh]
;B[ln]
;W[gh]
;B[hi]
;W[lo]
;B[ms]
;W[ks]
;B[ln]
;W[pa]
;B[qa]
;W[lo]
;B[eh]
;W[eg]
;B[ln]
;W[nl]
;B[om]
;W[lo]
;B[cq]
;W[ar]
;B[ln]
;W[sl]
;B[nn]
;W[ni]
;B[na]
;W[oa]
;B[nb]
;W[nh]
;B[ng]
;W[sm]
;B[sn]
;W[hl]
;B[il]
;W[gm]
;B[gn]
;W[fj]
;B[cp]
;W[bp]
;B[ds]
;W[cs]
;B[jp]
;W[sg]
;B[pe]
;W[qf]
;B[se]
;W[lg]
)
(
;B[gp]C[*** This play attacks both the single stone and the right side group. Call it a leaning attack or splitting attack.]
)
)
;W[cd]
;B[qp]
;W[oq]
;B[ec]
;W[gc]
;B[mq]
;W[nc]
;B[op]
;W[pp]
;B[po]
;W[pq]
;B[np]
;W[qq]
;B[ro]
;W[rp]
;B[qo]
;W[fq]C[*** Note that Genjo does not approach from the wider side. Why make the game easy for Black?]
;B[nd]
;W[md]
;B[ne]
;W[ob]C[*** Looking to invade the right side,White does not want to strengthen Black too much.]
;B[pb]
;W[pc]
;B[qc]
;W[oc]
;B[qb]
;W[me]
;B[mf]
;W[qi]
;B[qe]
;W[pf]
;B[od]
;W[kc]
;B[qk]C[*** Black chooses to attack the two stones instead of the single stone. After all, this is where Black is strong, and allowing White to make easy life here would kill Black's influence. But there is more to it than that, as we shall see.]
;W[oi]
;B[kd]C[*** Black attacks this group, as well. Did you see this move? I didn't.]
;W[ld]
;B[jc]
;W[kb]
;B[ke]
;W[lf]
;B[mg]C[*** Ah! A splitting attack.]
;W[fd]C[*** White is very busy. Black threatens to run with the single stone, as well. Black's play is masterful.]
;B[pj]C[*** Make heavy.]
;W[pi]
;B[rg]C[*** Take away the base.]
;W[oj]C[*** Big.]
;B[hc]C[*** Hmmm. What is Black up to?]
;W[gb]
;B[mj]C[*** Topping the tree.]
;W[pk]
;B[ql]C[*** Who cares about a single stone?]
;W[nk]
;B[de]C[*** Black does not want this stone to die a dog's death. Black is dictating the pace of play. How deeply has he seen?]
;W[dd]
;B[mb]C[*** Switching the attack back to this group.]
;W[mc]
;B[ol]C[*** Vital point.]
;W[mk]
;B[lj]
;W[lk]
;B[kk]C[*** Black keeps up the pressure.]
;W[kl]
;B[jl]C[*** More pressure.]
;W[km]
;B[mm]C[*** The eye stealing tesuji.]
;W[mn]C[*** Not so fast, buster!]
;B[nm]
;W[lm]
;B[jk]C[*** Big.]
;W[in]C[*** Also big.]
;B[lb]C[*** Where is White's second eye?]
;W[jb]
;B[ed]C[*** Can't Black figure out where to play? {hehe}]
;W[ee]
;B[fe]
;W[ef]
;B[gd]
;W[fc]
;B[ib]C[*** All part of the plan.]
;W[jd]
;B[je]C[*** And what a plan!]
;W[id]
;B[hd]C[*** Thank you.]
;W[ie]
;B[if]
;W[he]
;B[ge]C[*** Thanks again.]
;W[hf]
;B[hg]
;W[jf]
;B[gf]C[*** Please.]
;W[ig]C[*** If you insist.]
;B[ic]C[*** I do.]
;W[if]C[*** As you wish.]
;B[eb]C[*** I'll take these ripe bananas, thank you.]
;W[gg]C[*** I like this one.]
;B[lc]C[*** Well, I like these.]
;W[kf]C[*** Not so fast.]
;B[hh]C[*** Same to you.]
;W[fg]C[*** Big.]
;B[ja]C[*** The time has come, the Walrus said.]
;W[le]
;B[ka]
;W[kd]
;B[fb]C[*** Thank you very much. People may have asked, where is Black going to make territory from his thickness? Would you have guessed the top left side and corner? And the fight is not yet over.]
;W[di]
(
;B[ii]C[*** This play has been criticized. See variation.]
;W[ki]C[*** White skilfully makes another eye.]
;B[kj]
;W[ji]
;B[mh]C[*** With sente.]
;W[qg]
;B[og]
;W[dn]
;B[rq]
;W[rr]
;B[sp]
;W[sr]
;B[gp]C[*** Still a good attacking play.]
;W[eo]
;B[hm]C[*** This is good, too.]
;W[rh]
;B[rf]
;W[rj]
;B[cf]
;W[ce]
;B[dq]
;W[co]
;B[fp]
;W[bq]
;B[ok]
;W[nj]
;B[ko]C[*** The eye stealing tesuji again.]
;W[pg]
;B[df]
;W[dg]
;B[oh]
;W[ph]
;B[rk]
;W[si]C[*** Small life.]
;B[bf]
;W[cg]
;B[do]
;W[cm]
;B[bc]
;W[be]
;B[en]
;W[hp]
;B[hq]
;W[gq]
;B[ho]
;W[ip]
;B[nr]
;W[or]
;B[dm]
;W[cn]
;B[hr]
;W[em]
;B[fn]
;W[cr]
;B[fm]
;W[el]
;B[dr]
;W[iq]
;B[kp]
;W[lr]
;B[kr]
;W[kq]
;B[jr]
;W[gk]
;B[hk]
;W[ir]C[*** Watch the fireworks here.]
;B[ps]
;W[os]
;B[qr]
;W[pr]
;B[eq]
;W[lq]
;B[lp]
;W[gr]
;B[ls]
;W[fs]
;B[er]
;W[hs]
;B[fr]C[*** No, you may not.]
;W[hn]
;B[go]
;W[gl]
;B[io]
;W[jq]
;B[nq]
;W[js]C[*** Let's make a deal.]
;B[ns]C[***OK. End of comments.]
;W[db]
;B[dc]
;W[cc]
;B[cb]
;W[bb]
;B[da]
;W[ac]
;B[ba]
;W[ab]
;B[la]
;W[gj]
;B[fl]
;W[fk]
;B[gi]
;W[ih]
;B[hj]
;W[fi]
;B[kh]
;W[kg]
;B[jm]
;W[qj]
;B[ln]
;W[kn]
;B[jn]
;W[lo]
;B[mo]
;W[sk]
;B[ln]
;W[pl]
;B[pm]
;W[pj]
;B[rm]
;W[lo]
;B[ek]
;W[dl]
;B[ln]
;W[ha]
;B[ia]
;W[lo]
;B[br]
;W[bs]
;B[ln]
;W[ll]
;B[of]
;W[lo]
;B[jj]
;W[lh]
;B[li]
;W[jh]
;B[ln]
;W[gh]
;B[hi]
;W[lo]
;B[ms]
;W[ks]
;B[ln]
;W[pa]
;B[qa]
;W[lo]
;B[eh]
;W[eg]
;B[ln]
;W[nl]
;B[om]
;W[lo]
;B[cq]
;W[ar]
;B[ln]
;W[sl]
;B[nn]
;W[ni]
;B[na]
;W[oa]
;B[nb]
;W[nh]
;B[ng]
;W[sm]
;B[sn]
;W[hl]
;B[il]
;W[gm]
;B[gn]
;W[fj]
;B[cp]
;W[bp]
;B[ds]
;W[cs]
;B[jp]
;W[sg]
;B[pe]
;W[qf]
;B[se]
;W[lg]
)
(
;B[gp]C[*** This play attacks both the single stone and the right side group. Call it a leaning attack or splitting attack.]
)
)
