Life In 19x19

Posted: **Sat Nov 17, 2012 3:18 pm**

The early rays of the Sun made the shallow glitter. A calm breeze from the ocean warmed the air. The day was perfect for an honorable death.

The challenger--a young but fearless warrior--was the first one to set foot on the island. He was anxious but prepared for what was to come. The other warrior--a renowned and much-beloved veteran of many battles--arrived on the island shortly thereafter. He was clam by contrast.

There was no animosity, no disagreement between the fighters. Under different circumstances, they would gladly fight shoulder to shoulder against a common foe. However, it was time for them to test their deadly mastery of the long blade against each other and determine who the better swordsman was.

With swords, it is the footwork, the strategy, and the finesse that make the difference in a duel. While a sudden and violent end to combat can occur at any time, it is the accumulation of small wounds that often determines the result.

Thus, with the breeze giving them courage and with the sunlight igniting fire in their eyes, the warriors drew their swords. Two boats sailed to the island, but only one was destined to sail back.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bcm1 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

[Rules: Japanese, 6.5 komi, open book and databases; also, I've agreed not to ask Lee Sedol for help during the game.]

Posted: **Sat Nov 17, 2012 3:20 pm**

Posted: **Sun Nov 18, 2012 1:05 am**

The Intrepid, thanks.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$B $$ ----------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . 2 . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ -----------------------------------------[/go]

Posted: **Sun Nov 18, 2012 1:26 am**

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$B $$ ----------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ -----------------------------------------[/go]

Posted: **Sun Nov 18, 2012 2:21 am**

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$B $$ ----------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . 4 . . . . . , . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ -----------------------------------------[/go]

Posted: **Sun Nov 18, 2012 5:35 am**

I've edited the story line in the first post. The comments regarding preparation, strategy, and the moves already made are still to come.

Here's to an epic game, EdLee. Good luck and have fun!

Posted: **Sun Nov 18, 2012 5:47 am**

Thanks, you too.

Posted: **Sun Nov 18, 2012 7:44 am**

Preparation:

The opponent:

EdLee played 5 games on this website. These games tell an interesting story:

#103 EdLee vs. topazg: After an opening that seems all right for both sides, topazg played a bit carelessly with his group on the left. The group fell under attack in the early middlegame, and EdLee was able to gain a substantial advantage. However, in the late middlegame topzag successfully invaded EdLee's territory, making the game close again. Then, just as the game entered the endgame stage, topazg resigned for him for no apparent reason in a position that was perhaps only slightly disadvantageous for him. :scratch:

#126: EdLee vs. Loons: After another reasonable opening, EdLee made several questionable moves in the early middlegame. With this, Loons got a big advantage. However, EdLee was able to find a good opportunity to substantially reduce Loons' moyo in the center, making the game close. Then, as the endgame commenced, in a playable and possibly even slightly advantageous position, EdLee resigned out of the blue. :scratch:

#166: EdLee vs. Celebrir: The opening stage brought EdLee the advantage. Then, Celebrir made a clumsy invasion on the right, and his invading group fell under attack. Then, with plenty of play left in the position, Celebrir just vanished, never to be seen again. :scratch:

#169: blindgod vs. EdLee: After playing surprisingly well in the opening, blindgod--a 16kyu at the time--got into some trouble in the fighting on top. Then, in a position that still seems perfectly playable, blindgod simply resigned, citing personal reasons. :scratch:

#165: LexC vs. EdLee (currently in progress) (not for LexC until his game against EdLee finishes):

My prediction for how this game will proceed from here: the players will make a few more moves but then--for no reason whatsoever--EdLee will resign in accordance with the trend. :scratch:

(Just kidding ... or am I? :?:

)

My assessment based on the above games is that EdLee is a formidable, well-rounded player who does not have any glaring weaknesses. Given the limited sample size, I could not establish any strong reads on EdLee's play. He is capable of making mistakes during any stage of the game but he can be expected to maintain a high level of play throughout the match. Defeating him will be difficult for sure.

Strategy:

First of all, if I end up in a disadvantageous position, I will fight on to the bitter end. As long as there is a chance for me to continue the resistance, I will use it. If I end up resigning, there will be no head-scratching as to the reason why.

Next, as implied in the introduction to the game where I talk about finesse and so on, my intended strategy for this game is to start out in a relatively peaceful mode. If an opportunity presents itself to initiate a favorable fight, I will take it. However, by and large, I will seek to avoid unnecessary complications. In line with this, I will favor territory over influence, safe and settled positions over running battles, and so on.

Naturally, the 3-3 stone is the most "peaceful" move one can start the game with. I actually like this move--at least in principle. In practice, I have not had much experience with it. Moreover, there is not much literature about the move. Cho Chikun wrote a book on it, but I don't have it. I'll try to apply my general opening knowledge to handle the stone as appropriate.

As for the fuseki I intend to play, I wish to try out playing one of the marked points next:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bc $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . a b . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . c d . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ -----------------------------------------[/go]

This treatment of the position might be a bit slow. Approaching one of White's stones next is likely better. A brief glance at the pro-games database seems to confirm this view since I could not find any professional games where Black (or White) would play either a, b, c, or d right away. (However, I should note that I currently have access only to the sharewere version of MasterGo, so my database might be vastly incomplete.) However, I have some ideas in the position. I'll write about these ideas as the game progresses.

Before I choose my next move, I need to first refresh my memory regarding the various josekis after the following:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bc $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 6 e . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . a b . . . . f , . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . c d . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ -----------------------------------------[/go]

Obviously, I don't want :b5:

to be too close to the wall I expect to get on the right. At the same time, I don't want the stone to be too far away, either, else White might have an easy invasion in the area. By the way, I do expect EdLee to approach my 3-4 stone at :w1:

rather than at "e" (in which case I would consider responding at "f"). That is so because EdLee stated in one of his comments elsewhere that he likes and has had success with :w1:

.

A related question is whether I should place :b5:

on the 3rd or the 4th line. Placing it on the 3rd line would mean that all of my initial stones are low, which could hinder my efforts to develop a large moyo on the bottom. Moreover, a stone on the 3rd line lends itself to all sort of reducing moves such as the following

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bc $$ | . . . . . . . . . g . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . f , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . X . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ -----------------------------------------[/go]

On the other hand, a stone on the fourth line would allow EdLee a greater chance at a successful invasion underneath the stone. Therefore, I think I have a difficult and very important decision to make right now.

Posted: **Sun Nov 18, 2012 7:54 pm**

The Intrepid wrote:Preparation:
[hide]The opponent:

EdLee played 5 games on this website. These games tell an interesting story:

#103 EdLee vs. topazg: After an opening that seems all right for both sides, topazg played a bit carelessly with his group on the left. The group fell under attack in the early middlegame, and EdLee was able to gain a substantial advantage. However, in the late middlegame topzag successfully invaded EdLee's territory, making the game close again. Then, just as the game entered the endgame stage, topazg resigned for him for no apparent reason in a position that was perhaps only slightly disadvantageous for him.

#126: EdLee vs. Loons: After another reasonable opening, EdLee made several questionable moves in the early middlegame. With this, Loons got a big advantage. However, EdLee was able to find a good opportunity to substantially reduce Loons' moyo in the center, making the game close. Then, as the endgame commenced, in a playable and possibly even slightly advantageous position, EdLee resigned out of the blue.

#166: EdLee vs. Celebrir: The opening stage brought EdLee the advantage. Then, Celebrir made a clumsy invasion on the right, and his invading group fell under attack. Then, with plenty of play left in the position, Celebrir just vanished, never to be seen again.

#169: blindgod vs. EdLee: After playing surprisingly well in the opening, blindgod--a 16kyu at the time--got into some trouble in the fighting on top. Then, in a position that still seems perfectly playable, blindgod simply resigned, citing personal reasons.

#165: LexC vs. EdLee (currently in progress) (not for LexC until his game against EdLee finishes):
Following a very promising opening for LexC, LexC failed to put to use the massive influence in the center he was able to acquire. As a result, the game became close as the endgame commenced. In the endgame, EdLee (so far) played better moves, putting himself in the lead by at least 10+ points, as far as I can tell.
My prediction for how this game will proceed from here: the players will make a few more moves but then--for no reason whatsoever--EdLee will resign in accordance with the trend. (Just kidding ... or am I? )

My assessment based on the above games is that EdLee is a formidable, well-rounded player who does not have any glaring weaknesses. Given the limited sample size, I could not establish any strong reads on EdLee's play. He is capable of making mistakes during any stage of the game but he can be expected to maintain a high level of play throughout the match. Defeating him will be difficult for sure.

Strategy:

First of all, if I end up in a disadvantageous position, I will fight on to the bitter end. As long as there is a chance for me to continue the resistance, I will use it. If I end up resigning, there will be no head-scratching as to the reason why.

Next, as implied in the introduction to the game where I talk about finesse and so on, my intended strategy for this game is to start out in a relatively peaceful mode. If an opportunity presents itself to initiate a favorable fight, I will take it. However, by and large, I will seek to avoid unnecessary complications. In line with this, I will favor territory over influence, safe and settled positions over running battles, and so on.

Naturally, the 3-3 stone is the most "peaceful" move one can start the game with. I actually like this move--at least in principle. In practice, I have not had much experience with it. Moreover, there is not much literature about the move. Cho Chikun wrote a book on it, but I don't have it. I'll try to apply my general opening knowledge to handle the stone as appropriate.

As for the fuseki I intend to play, I wish to try out playing one of the marked points next:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bc $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . a b . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . c d . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ -----------------------------------------[/go]

This treatment of the position might be a bit slow. Approaching one of White's stones next is likely better. A brief glance at the pro-games database seems to confirm this view since I could not find any professional games where Black (or White) would play either a, b, c, or d right away. (However, I should note that I currently have access only to the sharewere version of MasterGo, so my database might be vastly incomplete.) However, I have some ideas in the position. I'll write about these ideas as the game progresses.

Before I choose my next move, I need to first refresh my memory regarding the various josekis after the following:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bc $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 6 e . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . a b . . . . f , . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . c d . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ -----------------------------------------[/go]

Obviously, I don't want :b5:

to be too close to the wall I expect to get on the right. At the same time, I don't want the stone to be too far away, either, else White might have an easy invasion in the area. By the way, I do expect EdLee to approach my 3-4 stone at :w1:

rather than at "e" (in which case I would consider responding at "f"). That is so because EdLee stated in one of his comments elsewhere that he likes and has had success with :w1:

.

A related question is whether I should place :b5:

on the 3rd or the 4th line. Placing it on the 3rd line would mean that all of my initial stones are low, which could hinder my efforts to develop a large moyo on the bottom. Moreover, a stone on the 3rd line lends itself to all sort of reducing moves such as the following

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bc $$ | . . . . . . . . . g . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . f , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . X . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ -----------------------------------------[/go]

On the other hand, a stone on the fourth line would allow EdLee a greater chance at a successful invasion underneath the stone. Therefore, I think I have a difficult and very important decision to make right now.

Not for players.

Posted: **Sun Nov 18, 2012 8:26 pm**

Posted: **Sun Nov 18, 2012 8:29 pm**

cdybeijing wrote:Not for players.
Is he really considering playing another third line stone on the bottom?

Posted: **Sun Nov 18, 2012 8:31 pm**

Posted: **Sun Nov 18, 2012 11:29 pm**

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$B $$ ----------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . 5 . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ -----------------------------------------[/go]

After getting access to a larger pro-game database and after familiarizing myself with relevant pro games, I got to say: the Black-3-3-plus-3-4 combo is potent stuff! Even Iyama Yuuta successfully deployed it in at least one of his games!

Following :w4:

, some professionals have played :b5:

as an approach move toward one of the two White's 4-4 stones. However, the vast majority of professional games continued with Black forming a shimari and with White subsequently breaking up Black's moyo:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bc $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . 6 . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ -----------------------------------------[/go]

However, as I already explained earlier, I want to try a fuseki where I am the one who plays in between Black's stones.

As far as where to play, I mentioned I was thinking about the following four points:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bc $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . a b . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . c d . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ -----------------------------------------[/go]

From what I could gather with regard to how professionals treat this kind of a position, it is possible to play on either the 3rd line or the 4th line. I decided to play on the 3rd line in accordance with my strategy for this game to preferentially choose territory over influence.

As far as whether to play "c" or "d," I am mightily conflicted about this choice. Point "c" is certainly the greedier alternative as can be seen in many variations such as the following:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Wc $$ | . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 . 5 . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 3 . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1 . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . 4 , . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . B . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ -----------------------------------------[/go]

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bcm8 $$ | . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 4 . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 O . O . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . 7 2 X O . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 X O . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . X , . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . B d . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ -----------------------------------------[/go]

Clearly,

stakes claim to larger territory than a Black stone at "d" would.

However, there is a significant problem with "c" as compared to "d." In particular, there is the following weak point which White could later try to utilize:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Wc $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . X d 1 . . e . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ -----------------------------------------[/go]

Here White threatens to make a two-space extension to "e." Notice that if the Black stone where at "d," White would not have the possibility to threaten the two-space extension:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Wc $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . c X . 1 . e . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ -----------------------------------------[/go]

Now, "e" is just a one-space extension, so White would be difficult to handle.

If Black defends against "e", White may next play one of the following points, potentially wrecking havoc in the lower left area:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Wc $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . i j , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . X . . . g h X . 1 . 2 . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . f . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ -----------------------------------------[/go]

That said, Black has a 3-3 stone in the bottom left corner (which means that the stone can take a lot of abuse without dying), so maybe there is no need for Black to be overly concerned with the possibility of White carrying out such an invasion. Let's see if EdLee reaches a different conclusion.

Finally, I should note that if EdLee approaches my 3-4 stone from the left rather than from the top, I'll be happy to make a shimari (unless I find a good way to attack the offending White stone).

Posted: **Sun Nov 18, 2012 11:33 pm**

Posted: **Sun Nov 18, 2012 11:36 pm**

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$B $$ ----------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . X . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ -----------------------------------------[/go]

Pretty sure this is still within The Intrepid's pre-game preparation.

And I'm 99.9% sure this is the first time ever I've played this board.
Maybe he prepared the Magic Sword with :bc:

?

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$B $$ ----------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . X . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ -----------------------------------------[/go]

Life In 19x19

#185 EdLee vs. The Intrepid: The Swords

#185 EdLee vs. The Intrepid: The Swords

Re: #185 EdLee vs. The Intrepid: The Swords

Re: #185 EdLee vs. The Intrepid: The Swords

Re: #185 EdLee vs. The Intrepid: The Swords

Re: #185 EdLee vs. The Intrepid: The Swords

Re: #185 EdLee vs. The Intrepid: The Swords

Re: #185 EdLee vs. The Intrepid: The Swords

Re: #185 EdLee vs. The Intrepid: The Swords

Re: #185 EdLee vs. The Intrepid: The Swords