Life In 19x19

Hi all,

I made a few silly mistakes in this game, but white made a lot of crazy decisions that I couldn't deal with. I'd be grateful if someone could look through it for me! (I took black. There's no need to look past move 92.) Thanks!



[Also posted here, but I doubt anyone is reading my rambly thread.]

Thanks, Ed!

I have one follow-up question, if you don't mind. In my variation at move 23, you suggest that I ladder the white stone directly, but then white gets to come out (settling and making third line territory) with C6 and C7, and I'm not locally alive - which feels like a pretty bad result given that I started with three approaches on the corner. I played C6 to threaten the corner first - if white doesn't respond and comes out at 'a' instead, the corner's dead, the 'a' group is weak, and my groups connect. If white saves the corner (I haven't read out how/whether this is possible...), I ladder 'a', and white's corner makes no points and I have thickness pointing towards the left-hand side. Am I missing something?

Hi Billy and Ed!

I agree with Billy concerning the variation from move 21. Letting white get c6 in sente + c7 would be too good for white. After black c6 white has to respond somehow in the corner and black can capture the cutting stone with a much better position.

One more thing: black 13 tenuki is fine, white cannot cut with 14. If he does, black captures the cutting stone and his two stones are fine with simple extending. Ed probably overlooked this, I know he can do better.

Thanks, golem7!

billywoods, golem7, thanks -- bad brain. Will double check later. (Edited SGF.)

Some ideas and thoughts =)

Very helpful. Thank you!

I just noticed that you had some variations, which I completely missed.

On move #47: It's always good to think about some alternative moves, very good attitude! Here I'd say there is not much off a difference because White can run, as well, or make a Seki in your variation (starting with White A14, when I'm not mistaken).

On move #55: Your variation is good, it has a better (endgame-)follow-up I think, but lacks pressure again. Now, I think about something like C7 or even B8 to rob White from eye-potential but I did not read any deep. Always look for a potential follow-up or aim for your moves (make Miai situations etc.), then you will be fine ; )