Yes, to show how much a difference move 54 makes. Moves that would have been good for white without it become clearly bad with it.



I think that he will run. Perhaps he will get one eye on the left first. ( But it is aji keshi ) Regardless, eye or not, he will run.

I think that F9 is the only move for white. Indeed, I think that the game would be resignable if he did not have it. Any other jump gets hacked off.

If I chase too vigourously, it gets away. The diagram below is not an exact sequence, for I haven't read all of the cuts and counter-cuts. It shows the flow that I expect over the next 5 or 10 moves.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc
$$ -------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . X . O . X . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . O . . . , . . . X . X . X . |
$$ | . . . . . . 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O O . . 2 4 . , . . . . O , O . . |
$$ | . . X O . 1 3 . . . . . . . a . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . 7 . 8 . . B O . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O O a . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . 5 . . . . . . X . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X 6 X X X X O . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . O . . O . O . X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O O . O X X . b O X . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . X O . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ----------------------------------------[/go]

I am currently torn between the idea of extracting K17, and going for territory up top - as expressed with one #8, and the competing idea of playing the other #8 and activating O8 to go after the weaknesses at points 'a' - believing that there is only room for one eye around 'b'.

My current guess is that I will go with the former strategy. It tends to connect two groups that he would probably like to attack.
It does not forgo opportunities for the second strategy. So the seond strategy may just be delayed a few moves.

BTW, I am not at all committed the responding to F9 with the kiema as shown above. The ogiema may hold promise too:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc
$$ -------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . X . O . X . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . O . . . , . . . X . X . X . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O O . . . 2 . , . . . . O , O . . |
$$ | . . X O . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . . . . . . X O . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O O . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X . X X X X O . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . O . . O . O . X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O O . O X X . . O X . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . X O . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ----------------------------------------[/go]

Interesting move by black. It's quite a good move, but it does have some slightly complicated features.


My move is nearly forced. I could contemplate a couple of alternatives:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc alt 1
$$ -------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . X . O . X . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . O . . . , . . . X . X . X . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O O 2 1 . . . , . . . . O , O . . |
$$ | . . X O 3 4 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X 5 . . . . . . . . X O . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O O . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X . X X X X O . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . O . . O . O . X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O O . O X X . . O X . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . X O . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ----------------------------------------[/go]

The other one point jump above may be playable, but it seems a bit wasteful. I don't get enough compensation for the lost stone.

The next alternative:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc alt 2
$$ -------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . X . O . X . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . O . . 1 , . . . X . X . X . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O O . . . . . , . . . . O , O . . |
$$ | . . X O . 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . . . . . . X O . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O O . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X . X X X X O . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . O . . O . O . X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O O . O X X . . O X . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . X O . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ----------------------------------------[/go]

This also seems too wasteful - the three stones are quite big.

The third alternative

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc alt 3
$$ -------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . X . O . X . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . O . . . , . . . X . X . X . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O O 3 5 . . . , . . . . O , O . . |
$$ | . . X O 2 4 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X 1 . . . . . . . . X O . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O O . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X . X X X X O . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . O . . O . O . X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O O . O X X . . O X . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . X O . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ----------------------------------------[/go]

The hane at 1 is a bit of a vital point for attacking black's huge lower group. However, if I play it immediately the cut gives black a lot of territory and thickness. I need a good attack on black's upper group to justify this, and I don't think it's severe enough.


So the move in the game is nearly forced. Next black can contemplate a few ideas:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc black approach 1
$$ -------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . X . O . X . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . O . . 2 7 . . . X . X . X . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O O . . . . . , . . . . O , O . . |
$$ | . . X O . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X 3 . . . . . . . . X O . X . . |
$$ | . . . . 4 5 . . . . . . O O . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . 6 . . . . . . . . . X . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X . X X X X O . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . O . . O . O . X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O O . O X X . . O X . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . X O . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ----------------------------------------[/go]

If black tenukis, I can patch up my group and then expand the fight. Black could conceivably tenuki 3 above:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc black double tenuki
$$ -------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . X . O . X . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . O . . 2 4 . . . X . X . X . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O O . . . . . , . . . . O , O . . |
$$ | . . X O . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X 5 . . . . . . . . X O . X . . |
$$ | . . . 8 . . . . . . . . O O . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . 7 9 . d . . . . . . X . X . . |
$$ | . . W . . X X a X X X X O . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X 0 . . b O . . O . O . X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O O c O X X . . O X . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . X O . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ----------------------------------------[/go]

Something like this may follow. 7 threatens a cut and an invasion. 8-10 (or something similar) protect both; but then I can take profit in sente with the marked stone - black's whole group may become weak. I have my eye on a possible cut at a for later (which doesn't work yet). If black exchanges b-c to protect this, peeping a d gives him quite bad shape. So, overall, I'm not doing too badly here.

So it may be more likely that black continues the attack e.g.:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc black approach 3
$$ -------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . X . O . X . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . O . . . , . . . X . X . X . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O O . 2 . . . , . . . . O , O . . |
$$ | . . X O . 1 . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X 3 . . . . . . . . X O . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O O . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . 5 . . . . . . . . . X . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X . X X X X O . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . O . . O . O . X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O O . O X X . . O X . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . X O . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ----------------------------------------[/go]

Black 2 above is concievable. But forcing white 3 is a little painful, and it seems unlikely the white group is in trouble.

So maybe black will just press:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc black approach 3
$$ -------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . X . O . X . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . O . . 8 , . . . X . X . X . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O O . . 2 4 6 , . . . . O , O . . |
$$ | . . X O . 1 3 5 . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X 9 . . . . 7 . . . X O . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O O . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X . X X X X O . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . O . . O . O . X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O O . O X X . . O X . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . X O . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ----------------------------------------[/go]

This sequence is likely. Pusching so much from behind is a bit painful for me, but it makes my group secure and I have some aji. Now I would expect black to somewhere at the top. I will patch my group at the top with 9.

It is very dangerous for Black to tenuki 9. If he does, his whole group could struggle. So next this is likely:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Bc black approach 3 continued
$$ -------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . X . O . X . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . O . . X 4 . . . X . X . X . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . 7 6 . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . 5 8 . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O O . . X X X , . . . . O , O . . |
$$ | . . X O . O O O . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X O . . . . O . . . X O . X . . |
$$ | . W . . 1 2 . . . . . . O O . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . b 3 . . . . . . . . X . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X a X X X X O . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . O . . O . O . X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O O . O X X . . O X . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . X O . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ----------------------------------------[/go]

Black 3 has the advantage of preventing the cut at a become exciting. However, white gains an endgame move at the marked stone (after an initial atari.) SO then I will move out with my single stone. (So maybe black should just play at b. I haven't given a digram for this. Black would potentially be around 5 points better of than in the estimate below.)

I am behind here. However, I'm not too far behind. Rough estimate:
Black:
15 points lower right
20 points upper right
10 points lower left (assuming I get a in at an appriopriate point, and the final diagram follows).
10 points upper left:
Total: 55 points:

White:
15 points lower right
10 points upper left
15 points lower left
10 points eight hand side.
Total: 50 points.

Some elements of this count are optimistic - I have taken upper range estimates for white and lower for black. However, it does serve to demonstrate that Joaz will need to be quite sharp in the late middlegame and early endgame to maintain his lead.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc endgame
$$ -------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . X . O . X . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . O . . X O . . . X . X . X . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . X O . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . X O . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . 9 . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O O . . X X X , . . . . O , O . . |
$$ | . 5 X O . O O O . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | 7 6 X X O . . . . O . . . X O . X . . |
$$ | . 3 4 1 X O . . . . . . O O . . . . . |
$$ | . . 8 . 2 X . . . . . . . . X . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X . X X X X O . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . O . . O . O . X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O O . O X X . . O X . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . X O . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ----------------------------------------[/go]

Again, I'm posting quickly so that my opponent can look at it before it is nighttime in Britain. Comments will follow later today.

As planned.

I can't let him hane, and I can't hane, so the extension is forced.

Presumably, this is next:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc
$$ -------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . X . O . X . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . O . . . , . . . X . X . X . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O O . . X X . , . . . . O , O . . |
$$ | . . X O . O O . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X 1 . . . . . . . . X O . X . . |
$$ | . . . . 2 3 . . . . . . O O . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . 4 . . . . . . . . . X . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X . X X X X O . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . O . . O . O . X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O O . O X X . . O X . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . X O . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ----------------------------------------[/go]

seems submissive, but it is solid territory.

As planned in the earlier diagram.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc
$$ -------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . X . O . X . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . O . . . , . . . X . X . X . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O O . . X X . , . . . . O , O . . |
$$ | . . X O . O O . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X 1 . . . 2 . . . . X O . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O O . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X . X X X X O . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . O . . O . O . X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O O . O X X . . O X . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . X O . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ----------------------------------------[/go]

Joaz's seems submissive too, this 2 could put white in rather a spot of bother, hence white's push.

His 9th rank wall faces my 5th rank wall. I suspect that the area in between will become mostly dame. But my growing 10th rank wall faces the biggest open area of the board. This can't be bad for me.

He can push the cart as far as far as he wishes. I'll be an accomodating passenger. As mentioned before, one of my goals is to neutralize the influence of his right side group.

Again, as planned.

My expectation is next:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc
$$ -----------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . X . O . X . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . O . . 2 , . . . X . X . X . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O O . . X X X , . . . . O , O . . |
$$ | . . X O . O O O . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X a . . . . 1 . . . X O . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O O . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X . X X X X O . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . O . . O . O . X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O O . O X X . . O X . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . X O . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ --------------------------------[/go]

My original intention was to play at a next. This is quite thick and relaxed. However, it may be aji keshi. For example:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc
$$ -----------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . X . O . X . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . O . . 2 b . . . X . X . X . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . . X 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O O . 3 X X X , . . . . O , O . . |
$$ | . . X O . O O O . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X a . . . . 1 . . . X O . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . 6 . . . . . . O O . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . 5 . . . . . . . . . X . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X . X X X X O . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . O . . O . O . X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O O . O X X . . O X . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . X O . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ --------------------------------[/go]

There is some possibility that more energitv play may become possible. The move shown seems to be a mistake at the moment, since 6 swallow it up. However, note that I have a lot of possible cuts everywhere near my dead stone, some of which can be become active quite easily. So if I can strengthen my centre group a bit, it may become possible. So I think paying at a in the earlier diagram is aji keshi, and I will probably move out at b immeidately.


OR another idea:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc
$$ -----------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . X . O . X . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . O . . 2 b . . . X . X . X . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . . X 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O O . 3 X X X , . . . . O , O . . |
$$ | . . X O . O O O . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . . 1 . . . X O . X . . |
$$ | . . . c 7 5 . . . . . . O O . . . . . |
$$ | . . . 8 6 . . . . . . . . . X . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X 9 X X X X O . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . a O . . O . O . X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O O b O X X . . O X . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . X O . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ --------------------------------[/go]

If the a -b excahnge does not happen, I may be able to engineer a cut. 8 at c prevents this, so again this is distant aji rather than a pressing aim.

The contest right now is who can tenuki to the top side first without leaving bad aji at the center/bottom.

I could play there now. But I want to get one nice shape move in at G7. It feels like the vital point. It does four things:

1) It threatens to cut him off - and possibly kill - at 'a'. I believe that makes it sente.
2) It spoils any eye shape of the three circled stones, forcing him to live by eventually connecting, thus ensuring that any play of mine around 'b' is a serious sente move.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc
$$ -----------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . X . O . X . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . O . . . , . . . X . X . X . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O O . . X X X , . . . . O , O . . |
$$ | . . X O . W W W a . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . . O b b . X O . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . B . . . . . O O . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X . X X X X O . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . O . . O . O . X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O O . O X X . . O X . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . X O . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ --------------------------------[/go]

3) It partially patches the weakness at H5. Currently if he pushes through with , I block with , he protects with , then I would have two weak spots at 'c' and 'd' with only one move to cover both. Now 'c' is covered in advance, and in sente.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc
$$ -----------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . X . O . X . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . O . . . , . . . X . X . X . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O O . . X X X , . . . . O , O . . |
$$ | . . X O . O O O . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . . O . . . X O . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . B . 4 . . . O O . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . c 2 d . . . . . X . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X 1 X X X X O . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . 3 O . . O . O . X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O O . O X X . . O X . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . X O . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ --------------------------------[/go]

4) If he tries pushing into my left side territory with and , it assists in defence by turning into atari:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc
$$ -----------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . X . O . X . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . O . . . , . . . X . X . X . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O O . . X X X , . . . . O , O . . |
$$ | . . X O . O O O . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X 1 . . . . O . . . X O . X . . |
$$ | . . . . 2 3 B . . . . . O O . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . 4 . . . . . . . . X . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X . X X X X O . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . O . . O . O . X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O O . O X X . . O X . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . X O . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ --------------------------------[/go]

Next, I'll probably play up top. ( Although I must admit that the residual kyu player in the back of my brain is whispering: "You could get more territory with B12!". This is countered by the bloodthirsty reptilian core muttering "Kill him! Attack with M8!" )

I'm playing with fire here. White would like to make a move in sente that protects the cut, so that he can tenuki first. It is almost possible. For example:

White peeps, tenukis, and allows the cut:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc
$$ -----------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . X . O . X . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . O . 3 . , . . . X . X . X . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O O . . X X X , . . . . O , O . . |
$$ | . . X O . O O O 4 . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . 8 6 5 O . . . X O . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . X 7 . . . . O O . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . 9 1 . . . . . . X . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X 2 X X X X O . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . O . . O . O . X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O O . O X X . . O X . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . X O . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ --------------------------------[/go]

White prevents the cutting stones from connecting southward, but black cuts off white:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Bc
$$ -----------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . X . O . X . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . O . O . , . . . X . X . X . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O O . . X X X , . . . . O , O . . |
$$ | . . X O . O O O X . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . X X O O . . . X O . X . . |
$$ | . . . . 3 1 X O 5 . . . O O . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . 4 2 O O . . . . . . X . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X X X X X X O . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . O . . O . O . X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O O . O X X . . O X . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . X O . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ --------------------------------[/go]

White tries to escape, but black is one point ahead:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc
$$ -----------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . X . O . X . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . O . . . , . . . X . X . X . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O O . . X X X , . . . . O , O . . |
$$ | . . X O . O O O X 9 . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . X X O O 8 . . X O . X . . |
$$ | . . . . X X X O X 2 4 7 O O . . . . . |
$$ | . . . 0 O O O O 1 3 5 6 . . X . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X X X X X X O . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . O . . O . O . X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O O . O X X . . O X . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . X O . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ --------------------------------[/go]

That is just one example. I've looked at it a lot, and I can't find any line that works for white.

There is also this cute tesuji to deal with the aji of the peep at H6:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Bc 3 tenukis
$$ -----------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . X . O . X . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . O . 3 . , . . . X . X . X . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O O . . X X X , . . . . O , O . . |
$$ | . . X O . O O O . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . . O . . . X O . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . X 5 . . . . O O . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . 4 . . . . . . X . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X 6 X X X X O . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . 1 O . . O . O . X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O O 2 O X X . . O X . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . X O . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ --------------------------------[/go]

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Bc
$$ -----------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . X . O . X . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . O . . . , . . . X . X . X . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O O . . X X X , . . . . O , O . . |
$$ | . . X O . O O O . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . . O . . . X O . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . X X 9 . . . O O . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . O 7 . . . . . X . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X O X X X X O . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . 8 X O . . O . O . X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O O O O X X . . O X . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . X O . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ --------------------------------[/go]

Black lets white have the peep, but connects around.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc
$$ -----------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . X . O . X . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . O . . . , . . . X . X . X . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O O . . X X X , . . . . O , O . . |
$$ | . . X O . O O O . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . . O . . . X O . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . 4 X X X . . . O O . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . 2 1 O X . . . . . X . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X O X X X X O . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . O 3 O . . O . O . X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O O O O X X . . O X . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . X O . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ --------------------------------[/go]

I'll keep this in reserve if he comes up with some sente move which spoils the connection in my post above.

I may end up conceding something to him while he gives me the J2/J3/J4 stones

White could try a placement somewhat like this:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wcm61
$$ -----------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . X . O . X . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . O . . . , . . . X . X . X . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O O . . X X X , . . . . O , O . . |
$$ | . . X O . O O O . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . . 1 . . . X O . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . 2 . . . . . O O . . . . . |
$$ | . . . 3 . . . . . . . . . . X . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X . X X X X O . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . O . . O . O . X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O O . O X X . . O X . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . X O . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ --------------------------------[/go]

...which aims for this:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc
$$ -----------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . X . O . X . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . O . . . , . . . X . X . X . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O O . . X X X , . . . . O , O . . |
$$ | . . X O . O O O X 9 . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . X X O O 8 . . X O . X . . |
$$ | . . . . X X X O X 2 4 7 O O . . . . . |
$$ | . . . W O O O O 1 3 5 6 . . X . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X X X X X X O . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . O . . O . O . X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O O . O X X . . O X . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . X O . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ --------------------------------[/go]

...where white is ahead on liberties. But, black has a ladder, in spite of the apparent ladder breaker:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Bc
$$ -----------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . X . O . X . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . O . . . , . . . X . X . X . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . W . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . 7 0 . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . 3 6 8 9 . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O O . . X X X 2 4 5 . . O , O . . |
$$ | . . X O . O O O X O 1 . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . X X O O X . . X O . X . . |
$$ | . . . . X X X O X X X O O O . . . . . |
$$ | . . . W O O O O O O O X . . X . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X X X X X X O . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . O . . O . O . X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O O . O X X . . O X . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . X O . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ --------------------------------[/go]

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Bc
$$ -----------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . X . O . X . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . O . . . , . . . X . X . X . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . 5 8 9 . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . 1 4 6 7 W . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . X O 2 3 . O X . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . X O O X . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O O . . X X X O O X . . O , O . . |
$$ | . . X O . O O O X O X . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . X X O O X . . X O . X . . |
$$ | . . . . X X X O X X X O O O . . . . . |
$$ | . . . W O O O O O O O X . . X . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X X X X X X O . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . O . . O . O . X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O O . O X X . . O X . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . X O . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ --------------------------------[/go]

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Bc
$$ -----------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . X . O . X . . 5 . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . O . . . , . . . X 4 X . X . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 O 2 3 . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . X O X . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . X O O X W . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . X O O X . O X . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . X O O X . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O O . . X X X O O X . . O , O . . |
$$ | . . X O . O O O X O X . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . X X O O X . . X O . X . . |
$$ | . . . . X X X O X X X O O O . . . . . |
$$ | . . . W O O O O O O O X . . X . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X X X X X X O . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . O . . O . O . X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O O . O X X . . O X . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . X O . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ --------------------------------[/go]

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wcm61
$$ -----------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . X . O . X . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . O . . . , . . . X . X . X . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . . X 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O O . 3 X X X , . . . . O , O . . |
$$ | . . X O . O O O . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . . 1 . . . X O . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . 5 2 . . . . . O O . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X . X X X X O . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . O . . O . O . X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O O . O X X . . O X . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . X O . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ --------------------------------[/go]

My opponent likes playing with fire too. This is going to be fun!

Oh dear God, Joaz is not going to not block is he? I would bet on the marked black stones dying before the marked white ones. And d16 could even get into trouble.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Bcm64
$$ -----------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . X . O . X . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . O . . . , . . . X . X . X . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . 7 . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . X . 5 . . 8 . . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . . X 4 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O O . W B B B , . . . . O , O . . |
$$ | . . X O . W W W 1 . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . 3 2 O . . . X O . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . X . . . . . O O . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X . X X X X O . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . O . . O . O . X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O O . O X X . . O X . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . X O . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ --------------------------------[/go]

I almost reflexively blocked. But then I asked myself: what if I let him through?

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Bc
$$ -----------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . X . O . X . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . O . . . , . . . X . X . X . |
$$ | . . . . . . . 5 . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . 4 . 3 . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . 1 . X . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . . X 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O O . O X X X , . . . . O , O . . |
$$ | . . X O . O O O . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . . O . . . X O . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . X . . . . . O O . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X . X X X X O . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . O . . O . O . X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O O . O X X . . O X . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . X O . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ --------------------------------[/go]

If feels really DDKish, but it is hard to see how white gets a win here.

My opponent's last play was rather clever. It is superficially aji keshi, but it reserves a crucial spot for at eye at 'a'.
I don't have time to post all of the relevant diagrams ( hopefully white has done that in one of his hidden posts ) but suffice to say that by playing in the circled spots, white does one of three things:
1) He makes two eyes
2) He slices through at 'b', leaving me two groups to defend.
3) I defend in gote as he escapes, and he gets to tenuki to the top.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wcm61
$$ -----------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . X . O . X . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . O . . . , . . . X . X . X . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . . X 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O O . 3 X X X , . . . . O , O . . |
$$ | . . X O a O O O . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X C . . . . 1 . . . X O . X . . |
$$ | . . . C . C 2 . . . . . O O . . . . . |
$$ | . . C . . . . . . . . . . . X . X . . |
$$ | . . . b . X X . X X X X O . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X b . . . O . . O . O . X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O O . O X X . . O X . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . X O . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ --------------------------------[/go]

So I'm going to play a crude, DDK, territory grabbing move. When the smoke clears, I'm ahead in territory: I have about 20 points on the left, and 20-25 points in each of the right corners, for a total of about 65.
He has about 20 in the upper left ( if he plays there first ), maybe 15 in the lower left, and about 15 on the right for a total of about 50.

Playing B12 not only takes territory, but it takes some of the eye space that he was counting on, thereby renewing threats to kill. Now, if I push through at J9, he dies unless he can connect northward on the F file.

I hope to have dual threats of killing F9 by pushing through around F14, and killing K17 by connecting to H17.

Even if none of this comes to pass, all I have to do is turn much of the center into dame, and I'm ahead going into yose.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wcm61
$$ -----------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . X . O . X . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . O . . . , . . . X . X . X . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . 6 . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . 4 . X . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . . X 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O O . 3 X X X , . . . . O , O . . |
$$ | . . X O . O O O . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . . 1 . . . X O . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . 2 . . . . . O O . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X . X X X X O . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . O . . O . O . X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O O . O X X . . O X . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . X O . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ --------------------------------[/go]

So, I outlined the aji against Black's lower group in my earlier post. None of that aji seemed particularly immediate. So Joaz's choice of 62 was a little surprising - it eliminates aji I can't actually use yet.

My expectation was that 62 would have been played at the top. I think playing at the top was the best move. However, 62 threatened a cut, so was sort of sente, and patched up some aji, whilst taking territory. So if it was a mistake, it was a small mistake.

Then 63 was supposed to be a quick sente bodge on my part. I was reluctant to play it, since it's slight aji keshi.

For example,

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc Emergency!
$$ -----------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . X . O . X . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . O . . . , . . . X . X . X . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . 5 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . 1 X 4 . . . . . . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . 3 X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O O . . X X X , . . . . O , O . . |
$$ | . . X O . O O O . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . . O . . . X O . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . X . . . . . O O . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X . X X X X O . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . O . . O . O . X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O O . O X X . . O X . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . X O . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ --------------------------------[/go]

White 63 argubably made my group a little weaker since I lose options like the above. However, if black answered my plan was to play this:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc Plan
$$ -----------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . X . O . X . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . O . . 5 , . . . X . X . X . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . . X 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O O . 1 X X X , . . . . O , O . . |
$$ | . . X O . O O O . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . . O . . . X O . X . . |
$$ | . . . . 4 3 X . . . . . O O . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X . X X X X O . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . O . . O . O . X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O O . O X X . . O X . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . X O . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ --------------------------------[/go]

I planned to probe at 3. The 1-2 exchange may be useful in some lines where black tries to cut, which is why I decided the appriopriate time for 1-2 was now.

If black replies at 4, I've protected the cut in sente so get the big point at the top. So black may consider alternative moves to 4 e.g.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc Plan
$$ -----------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . X . O . X . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . O . . . , . . . X . X . X . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . . X 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O O . 1 X X X , . . . . O , O . . |
$$ | . . X O . O O O . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . 5 O . . . X O . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . 3 X . . . . . O O . . . . . |
$$ | . . b . W . 4 . . . . . . . X . X . . |
$$ | . . . . a X X . X X X X O . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . O . . O . O . X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O O . O X X . . O X . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . X O . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ --------------------------------[/go]

This line keeps the cut active for black, so it's probably prudent to finally connect. Next I have gained moves such as the marked move, which appears to makes miai of a and b. This may casue black some issues, so I may get first move at the top here as well.

Obviously, black didn't actually reply to 63 with the block I expected. The actual move takes a bit of territory, and strengthens black a bit, so it has some good qualities. However, pushing through with 65 is satisfying. Although it deosn't appear to take immediate territory, it indirectly strengthens me whilst weakening black.

I once read that Go is largely a topological game. It's a sentiment I agree with. 64 as played ignored an obvious connection, and so feels unnatural whilst going against the topological aspect of the game.

One upshot of these topological concerns is that my central moyo is potentially getting bigger. I will give a diagram whic demonstraes this.

I have played 67 to give the same choice as outlined above, and hopefully connect my bits in sente.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc Moyo Game
$$ -----------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . X . O . X 4 . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . O . . . , . . 3 X 6 X . X . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . X . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . X . X . . . 8 7 . . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . . X O . 0 9 . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O O . O X X X , W . . . O , O . . |
$$ | . . X O . O O O . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . . O . . . X O . X . . |
$$ | . . . . 2 1 X . . . . . O O . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X . X X X X O . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . O . . O . O . X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O O . O X X . . O X . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . X O . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ --------------------------------[/go]

This shows why puching through black-s shape helps me in the centre. I gain some forcing moves which have value and suddenly as moyo appears. .. (The marked stone is the last move here).

This sequence is clearly a little optimistic for me - black can counter-attack in various ways at various points. But it illistrated my belief that 64 as played was a mistake and lets me catch up a little more. (62, in contrast, wasn't clearly a mistake, and lost a negilible amount).

If black answers 1 at 2 as above, I won't go for the moyo option immiedately. Instead, I will play as shown:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc Moyo Game
$$ -----------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . X . O . X . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . O . . 3 , . . . X . X . X . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . X . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . X . X . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . . X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O O . O X X X , . . . . O , O . . |
$$ | . . X O . O O O . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . . O . . . X O . X . . |
$$ | . . . . 2 1 X . . . . . O O . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X . X X X X O . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X . . . . O . . O . O . X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O O . O X X . . O X . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . X O . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ --------------------------------[/go]

I will capture at the top and await developments. I am behind, but the gap is closing.