Life In 19x19

Hey guys,

this weekend I attended the tournament in Bonn. I won three out of the six rounds, but I'm far from being satisfied with my play. Below you find my game from the third round. I was Black. From move 129 on I thought that I caught up a lot - catching twelve stones in the proceeding game - but I still lost by quite a margin. I often forget to remember the komi during the game, but still I thought that the game would be closer. So if you could point out how I got behind so much especially in the first half, I would be very thankful.

I think a big problem is you let white connect his groups too easily.

White should have had a lot of weak groups that game.

This looks wrong. by pincering black can strengthen H16 and keep D17 group weak.

now it looks like neither white group is in trouble

- you let white connect his weak group to a strong group by trying to escape with your stone.

:w122: :w158: You let white save his stones. You didn't even try to push and cut.

Moves 9 and 11 are low and slow. Move 19 completes the lower left joseki, but combines inefficiently with the upper left group, again making too low a position, with too many stones invested for too little territory.

gave B a golden opportunity for a double-purpose move around L17: extend to make a base for the lone B stone at H16, and pincer and attack the lone W stone at O17. Maybe this even qualifies as a triple-purpose move, because by strengthening the B stone at H16, it prepares a strong attack on the group in the upper left, where W neglected to make a base. took advantage of the same golden opportunity: extend to make a base for the lone W stone at O17, and pincer and attack the lone B stone at H16, while indirectly strengthening the upper left group.

The difference between these two outcomes is huge, vastly greater than the profit from a simple defensive move like R14. If you take away one lesson from the game, this is it. In the opening, do not miss double-purpose moves which both make and steal bases. Strive to create them for yourself, and jump on them if your opponent neglects them.

Move 33 is large but not vital. Actually it is not even that large, since if W jumps all the way in to R17 to take the corner, B can block on the outside and demolish any W territory around M17 in compensation. M4 looks like a truly vital point. W would like to play at the same point, so getting there first is big. Another alternative would be to activate the stone at H16, perhaps by simply jumping out to H14. This group could be attacked but is unlikely to die, and by living it would demolish a large potential W territory. B later did run out and escape with this stone after W capped, but think how much easier the fight would be if B got the first move here.

Thank you both for your hints. Seeing now makes it clear that I failed at a very important time.

What mitsun said.

Just to add a couple of more remarks.

Look at the top left corner after . Black's formation would be fine on the third line, but not the second. Low play has cost Black at least 3 points already. Maybe twice that.

The knight's approach may be better. See following comments.

Neither player has much future on the left side. Maybe the Avalanche is better.

Time to play elsewhere. Like approaching the bottom right corner from the right side.

What mitsun said. It may be best to switch to the right side now.

What mitsun said. Very, very important.

My feeling is to jump into the 3-3. White does not have much of a future on the right side.

Now I would play M-04. The threat of M-04 is one reason I ran out.

As mitsun says, the jump to H-14 is big. It threatens the White group in the top left, as well as to invade or reduce White's incipient framework towards the right.

Oh, dear!

Heavy. Just running is seldom a good idea. This is a difficult position for Black. Maybe the invasion at M-17.

Thank you, Bill. I seldom think about the Avalanche Joseki. Guess I'll look it right up.