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Zen Malkovich #1: Nikolas73 (6k) Fwiffo (4k) Harleqin (2d)
Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 7:10 pm
by fwiffo
As discussed in
the signup thread , we'll be starting a game of Zen Go, Malkovich style.
Players: Nikolas, you're up first. Have fun!
$$Bcm1
Click Here To Show Diagram Code [go]$$Bcm1
Re: Zen Malkovich #1: No
Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 12:59 am
by mdobbins
fwiffo wrote: As discussed in
the signup thread , we'll be starting a game of Zen Go, Malkovich style.
Players: Nikolas, you're up first. Have fun!
$$Bcm1
Click Here To Show Diagram Code [go]$$Bcm1A very Zen first move!
Re: Zen Malkovich #1: Nikolas73 (6k) Fwiffo (4k) Harleqin (2
Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 2:39 pm
by Nikolas73
Ok, have fun everyone.
$$Bcm1
Click Here To Show Diagram Code [go]$$Bcm1I should say again that this is my first Malkovich game (and first time using the diagrams here). Please let me know if I am doing something wrong...
Re: Zen Malkovich #1: Nikolas73 (6k) Fwiffo (4k) Harleqin (2
Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 7:52 pm
by fwiffo
$$Bcm1
Click Here To Show Diagram Code [go]$$Bcm1
Alright, I'm going to try to get 3-4 points facing each-other here. In other words, if black plays in the lower right next, I'll play D3. Or I would, if I was playing white my next turn. I could have played C4 or D3 this turn to force a parallel opening, but black would have the opportunity to choose his second corner in a way that gives him a really good approach to my 3-4. If played C4, he'd play in the lower right, and if I played D3 he would play in the upper left.
Re: Zen Malkovich #1: Nikolas73 (6k) Fwiffo (4k) Harleqin (2
Posted: Sun May 09, 2010 6:42 pm
by Harleqin
$$Bcm1
Click Here To Show Diagram Code [go]$$Bcm1
Move 4
Posted: Sun May 09, 2010 7:19 pm
by Nikolas73
$$Bcm1
Click Here To Show Diagram Code [go]$$Bcm1
Re: Zen Malkovich #1: Nikolas73 (6k) Fwiffo (4k) Harleqin (2
Posted: Sun May 09, 2010 8:03 pm
by fwiffo
$$Bcm1
Click Here To Show Diagram Code [go]$$Bcm1
I think that's what I might have played as white. It gives white a natural and attractive approach to my lower left stone. The simplest way to prevent that nice approach is to simply enclose the corner, which is a very high priority move anyway, following elementary opening theory.
White may choose to enclose the top left, but black can then take an extension in the vicinity of C10 or D10, the favored direction for this shimari.
$$Bcm1
Click Here To Show Diagram Code [go]$$Bcm1I think this is good for black.
is a dual purpose move, making the ideal extension from black's enclosure, and taking away white's extension. Of course, it's the less important extension for white, but it's still a big point. If white takes the time to make his own extension on the top, black makes a double wing formation by extending on the bottom.
I also considered the high enclosure (
at
a ), but I think it gives white some more interesting options. For instance, white might immediately take the left side extension away, and if black approaches in the upper left, it's a nice opportunity to pincer. And then black has to deal with an open skirt in the lower left. Because white occupies the lower right, it is a very attractive soft spot to poke at.
Re: Zen Malkovich #1: Nikolas73 (6k) Fwiffo (4k) Harleqin (2
Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 6:42 am
by Harleqin
$$Bcm1
Click Here To Show Diagram Code [go]$$Bcm1
I think that this is the natural continuation. One can say that, two moves ago, the two possible shimari were miai. The reason that I chose the ogeima shimari is that Black has less of a continuation if he takes the left side in front of his shimari.
There are now two interesting sides, upper and right, because that is where both corners are standing high. The left side is less interesting because of the low and strong
, while the lower side has the low and strong
.
Re: Zen Malkovich #1: Nikolas73 (6k) Fwiffo (4k) Harleqin (2
Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 3:42 pm
by Nikolas73
$$Bcm1
Click Here To Show Diagram Code [go]$$Bcm1
Okay, so I can see a few options/areas to play here as Black:
$$Bcm1
Click Here To Show Diagram Code [go]$$Bcm1A seems to be the wrong side of the board; it can be developed later. B is getting closer, but is too slow and not forceful enough. C can damage the wall White might build in the future, but then White can do the same with D. I think D is b est as it almost forces White to play around E (to prevent a "double wing" formation) and then Black can take C or some other large point. D Also works well with Black's enclosure. Finally, White's enclosure can still be attacked and invaded in the future, and D may help with that.
Re: Zen Malkovich #1: Nikolas73 (6k) Fwiffo (4k) Harleqin (2
Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 4:42 pm
by fwiffo
$$Bcm1
Click Here To Show Diagram Code [go]$$Bcm1
This move is difficult for white. Getting an extension (K16 or K17) from the large enclosure in the upper left is important, particularly considering that this particular enclosure has a fairly loose grip on the corner and can be invaded later. It also has a nice follow-up in the form of an approach to the top right.
Re: Zen Malkovich #1: Nikolas73 (6k) Fwiffo (4k) Harleqin (2
Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 6:42 pm
by Harleqin
$$Bcm1
Click Here To Show Diagram Code [go]$$Bcm1
Re: Zen Malkovich #1: Nikolas73 (6k) Fwiffo (4k) Harleqin (2
Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 8:00 pm
by fwiffo
Move 10
Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 8:04 pm
by Nikolas73
$$Wcm10
Click Here To Show Diagram Code [go]$$Wcm10
As mentioned in my last post I expected Black to play around K17, but this is interesting. I do not want to pincer Black, as that would give Black too many options to attack the bottom and right sides. So I think defending the bottom is most important. How should this be done?
$$Wcm10
Click Here To Show Diagram Code [go]$$Wcm10I considered points A-E.
A would leave a weakness around m3, and is not very secure. C also leaves Black with a lot of options to destroy White's corner and bottom area. B also leaves a weakness at m3, so D looks like the only good move to me. I also thought about E, but this leaves a bigger weakness on the bottom, and is usually only used with a sanrensei (not good with Black's enclosure in the lower left, in other words). Now, with White "D" I would expect Black to play the 3-3 or extend on the right side, after which White can play around the top side and aim at attacking Black's top-right corner.
Re: Zen Malkovich #1: Nikolas73 (6k) Fwiffo (4k) Harleqin (2
Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 10:11 pm
by fwiffo
$$Bcm11
Click Here To Show Diagram Code [go]$$Bcm11
I am not fond of
. It's low, implying a desire for territorial development, but too loose relative to the 4-4 stone. Black can easily take away all the corner territory. I would have played O4 which seems like a better shape to me.
After
white could secure the corner with something like R4 now, but it would be gote. If white plays elsewhere, the corner remains open for later. There are several different ways I could take the corner immediately, but the approach stone would probably be damaged and white gets thick. I'd rather leave it a bit more unsettled.
Re: Zen Malkovich #1: Nikolas73 (6k) Fwiffo (4k) Harleqin (2
Posted: Tue May 11, 2010 3:35 am
by Harleqin
$$Bcm11
Click Here To Show Diagram Code [go]$$Bcm11
I am inclined to say that
was a mistake, because it is too close to the stone on the side while leaving the corner unnecessarily open. The white position on the lower side now has few continuations: further extending on the lower side is not so valuable, because K3 is very strong already;
is low and far, so that it does not help much for an invasion of the right side; so, pretty much the only thing to do here is to close the corner.
Compare this:
$$Wcm10
Click Here To Show Diagram Code [go]$$Wcm10Regarding
: I could have approached the corner directly, but then Black will most likely pincer, with an unclear result for White due to Q10. White could just enter the corner, but Black blocks on the right side, at which point
's lack of help for reducing the right side framework would become obvious. White could jump out and counter-pincer, but then I feel the question why he did not simply extend in the first place. White could also try a double approach, but this is a bit straining again because of Q10.
So, I just extend. If Black plays ogeima from the top right, White can stand up with ikken tobi, because that opens up the black corner and reduces the black framework. If Black plays only kogeima, White can extend back to H16. In either case, White can still invade on the right around S15. Next, I think that Black's lower left framework becomes the interesting part.
is a dual purpose move, making the ideal extension from black's enclosure, and taking away white's extension. Of course, it's the less important extension for white, but it's still a big point. If white takes the time to make his own extension on the top, black makes a double wing formation by extending on the bottom.
at a), but I think it gives white some more interesting options. For instance, white might immediately take the left side extension away, and if black approaches in the upper left, it's a nice opportunity to pincer. And then black has to deal with an open skirt in the lower left. Because white occupies the lower right, it is a very attractive soft spot to poke at.
, while the lower side has the low and strong 
. It's low, implying a desire for territorial development, but too loose relative to the 4-4 stone. Black can easily take away all the corner territory. I would have played O4 which seems like a better shape to me.
white could secure the corner with something like R4 now, but it would be gote. If white plays elsewhere, the corner remains open for later. There are several different ways I could take the corner immediately, but the approach stone would probably be damaged and white gets thick. I'd rather leave it a bit more unsettled.
: I could have approached the corner directly, but then Black will most likely pincer, with an unclear result for White due to Q10. White could just enter the corner, but Black blocks on the right side, at which point