Life In 19x19

This is a standard starting move for me as black. I very rarely play elsewhere as my starting move when playing black. In this regard, I guess I'm one dimensional, but I've never seen any reason not to play here!

Hi, I'm Tryphon and this is my first Malkovich game. I reached KGS 9k but last year was kind of busy for me (my first child was born on September, and my wife's pregnancy was difficult) and I almost didn't play a real-time game since last summer. I play now mostly on OGS.

I like :
- influence
- stones working well together
- attacking
- strange openings

I dislike (and I'm very weak at) :
- endgame
- counting (likely my worst weakpoint)
- complicate sequences (to be true, I like that, but the lack of play these days weakened my play mostly on this aspect)
- josekis

I'll try to explain my thinking the most I can, asking questions when they arise, and I hope receiving answers and hints to improve.

I will only describe in my comments moves that I saw before posting, and not playing sequences of tenth of moves that I couldn't figure without a goban.

I won't use joseki dictionnary.



And now, for something completely different, my first move. I hesitate between playing a common or a weird game. That's why I ask MHO to choose for me.

If the unit digit of the number he'll choose is 0-4, I'll play A (my most common answer), 5-6 : I'll play B (offer a diagonal fuseki, I don't like much), 7 : I'll play C (a move I don't like at all, but that'll force me to think territorially), 8 : D and 9 : E (I love particularly this last, usually followed by another 8-8, but generally I play it with B, and it works rarely well with a turn based game)

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Bm1
$$ +--------------------------------------+
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . 1 . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . , . . . . . d . . . . . , . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . e . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . a . . . . . , . . . . . b . . .|
$$ | . . c . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ +--------------------------------------+[/go]

Nothing special to say. I use my right to deny a diagonal opening.

I don't like playing komoku as W2, because B can always take one of the two following points, then make the classical joseki :

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Bm1
$$ +--------------------------------------+
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . 3 . . . . . , . . . . . 1 . . .|
$$ | . . . b . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . X . . . . . , . . . . . , . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . 7 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . 6 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . 8 , . . . . . , . . . . . 4 . . .|
$$ | . . . 2 . . 0 . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ +--------------------------------------+[/go]

I know both positions are equivalent, but I don't like W here.

This, of course, is to help my stones work together. Plus I have an affection for the right side.

What I'd like to get is that :

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wm4
$$ +--------------------------------------+
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . 1 , b . . . . , . . . . . X . . .|
$$ | . . . c . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . 2 . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . . X . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ +--------------------------------------+[/go]

But if I play 4 first, he can come at B and I already said I didn't like that. So 6 first. And if he plays at a, then I play c, I like this move.

As noted, I haven't ever really seen W E17 before. I know it's probably a good move, but I wasn't entirely sure how to respond, so I had to think about it and play it out on a board to see what I could possibly do. I'm anticipating C16 here.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Bm5
$$ +--------------------------------------+
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . a . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . b , . . e . . , . . . . . X . . .|
$$ | . . . 1 c . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . d . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . . X . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ +--------------------------------------+[/go]

He played what I dislike the most

A : usually, I do that, threatening D
B : same idea than A. I don't know which is better, since I know maybe 3 josekis
C : erk
D : I prefer play A before
E : I don't like it, there will be 4th line stones everywhere and it will be a mess

I choose A, but I'm not happy, because I take territory whereas I prefer influence. But I prefer secure some stones to attack his ones.

I suppose he'll play around D now.

Question : what are the pros/cons of B towards A ?

C17 (a) is a low move, and I think its less good than c16 (b). c16 gives black a bit better shape, but your corner is a lot bigger.

comparison:
A:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wm6
$$ +--------------------------------------+
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . 3 1 . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . 2 , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . .|
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . . X . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ +--------------------------------------+[/go]

and b:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wm6
$$ +--------------------------------------+
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . 3 1 , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . .|
$$ | . . 2 X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . . X . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ +--------------------------------------+[/go]

I think the first variation is better when white is strong in the area and doesnt want w to get a good shape. Also, there are more variations with C16

The basic Idea behind the 3-5 point is to prioritize the side instead of the corner. The most common point of invasion is the 34 point with one of the josekis looking like this:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Bm1 Black gets the corner and the side while white gets a wall.
$$ +--------------------------------------+
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . 1 , . . . . . 6 . . . . . O . . .|
$$ | . . 3 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|[/go]

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Bm1 Black gives a inferior local result and is only played when the resulting wall would benefit white too much
$$ +--------------------------------------+
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . 4 2 , . . . . . W . . . . . O . . .|
$$ | . . 3 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|[/go]

In this instance is already on the board so black approaches far and lets white have the corner. Above is the normal joseki in this position and so I would classify blacks play in the game as too timid.

I have no idea what I'm doing here, to be quite honest. E17 is quite alien to me. I figure C16 is a good multipurpose move, though. I'll try it and see where it goes. Although I have a feeling it's going to end up biting me in the rear-end.

hailthorn011 wrote:

$$Wm6
$$ +--------------------------------------+
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . 2 , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . .|
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . . X . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ +--------------------------------------+

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wm6
$$ +--------------------------------------+
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . 2 , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . .|
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . . X . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ +--------------------------------------+[/go]

I have no idea what I'm doing here...

He is making himself heavy, I think. And he is forcing white to take territory.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

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

The above exchange seems ineveitable, and cannot be good for black. A safer way might be to simply tenuki, or to play as below:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Bc
$$ +--------------------------------------+
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . .|
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . . X . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ +--------------------------------------+[/go]

FWIW, black's move might be reasonable if there were no room for white to extend along the top.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Bc If the marked stones exist, then maybe it is reasonable,\nfor then the only possible route for development of the white corner is southward,\nand black is in the way.
$$ +--------------------------------------+
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . 2 O . O . . # . . # . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . 1 , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . .|
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|[/go]