Life In 19x19

DGS game recently finished and gone over by both players. We'd love additional comments and suggestions.

Thanks!

Bruce "Objects in the center are smaller than they appear" Young

40: I think one move above either the actual move or the suggested variation may be better. R12 threatens to slide into the corner, getting a base and attacking at the same time; R9 threatens to extend to R12 (in a sequence like R9 R7 P4 P3 O4 N3 R12).

69: This looks relatively slow to me. Are f5 or n4 not better? As it stands, W may get to reduce in both directions (with a sequence like N4 M3 F5).

148: 147 looks like overplay. A2 should work. I believe it turns into a very nasty ko for black unless black connects immediately and lets you take the stone.

should be at O15, that seals white in.

For , personally I would just settle with p5 o3 r9

should be P5

should cut with Q4 Q5 P5 O4 P6

should be N3

Personally, I would play at R10 to disconnect

should be J13

should be at M15

I'd play at h4

Thanks for the pointers, all!!

Bruce "Setter" Young

Hi BaghwanB,

This is a very belated comment on move 135. Before we get to it, here is a health warning:
I am only 3 or 4 stones stronger than you, which means I am well qualified to give advice that
you can understand but not at all qualified to give advice which is correct.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$c Lower half of the board after White 134
$$ | . . O O X . . . . . . . . X O . O . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . O . O . . |
$$ | . . . O X . . X . . . . O O O O X O . |
$$ | . . . O X . . . . . . X X X . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . O O . . . . . O X . O O . . |
$$ | . . . O O O X X . X . b X O O O X O . |
$$ | . O O . O X O . . X . . a X X X X O . |
$$ | . X O X X X . . . . . . . . . . X O . |
$$ | . X X . . . . . . . . . . . c X O @ . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

White has just played the marked stone, and you answered at a.

In a game with short time limits, I would probably also play at a, but given more time to
think, a Black play at b looks better. You have to read out that White cannot get anywhere
later by playing at a or c or nearby points, and that all combinations of such moves also
fail for White; and it is this reading which takes time.

The advantage of a play at b is that it is a bit stronger towards the outside, and should
yield a few extra points at the end of the game. The disadvantage is that you have to be more
careful with your reading when White eventually tries to encroach on this area.