And, so begins the first real fight of the game. In my previous post, I gave a (rather optimistic) line that I thought could happen. However, let's see what my opponent comes up with and I'll do some more reading from there.

I need to end up with sente here, there are too many places on the board to play.

So far as predicted.

S14-S13 is a bad exchange, making white stronger.

Hmmm ... this makes me nervous. When things go exactly as you planned it against a much stronger opponent, you have to wonder if something has gone wrong.

Compared with black playing N8, this is a important move. Also prevents R3 3-3 invasion for a while.

Hmmm, That's a good move, but it doesn't need a response right now. I've already made the bottom less interesting, so I need to keep an eye on the center.

That being said, it's time to attack the one weak group he has on the left. This should also help my 3 lonely stones on the left there as well.

I cannot understand his haengma, why not D11 or E10?

Lean on the weak group more. The idea is to get my weak group out towards the center. The other option I considered here was C8, but that felt pretty cramped and gave White's weak group easy access to the center.

I sound confident, sure, but I'm picturing the cringes on the faces of dan players watching this. I've never been good at attacking weak groups, or very good and understanding correct direction of play. I'm going to have to look at this game again after it's done and get some advice, I think ...

Only response

Any other move feels slack or like a waste of aji.

Cut and think.

I need to extend from this cross-cut. None of the atari moves lead anywhere, from my reading. Note that there is no way to set up a working ladder for either of us at the moment. The cut gives me two groups to aim at ... but it also means I need to worry about reading the fights that are coming.

Strengthen the other cutting stone to keep White separated. So far, this is alright.

Ah, now I need to figure out how to work though this mess. Too many candidate moves.

Alright, I've decided on my move. Looking at the board, my cutting stones at G12 and H12 are not currently in much danger. I'll have to come back to them soon and give them a bit of strength, but for now I want to try not to get sealed in. I'm torn about playing like this, though it's currently my best line that I've been able to read out:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Bcm48 Prisoners:
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . X . . . . . X X . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . X O O X . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . X X O O . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X O X X . |
$$ | . . X . . O . . 6 . . . . . . O O O . |
$$ | . . X O . O X X . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . X O 2 4 . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O , . X 1 . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . X . O 3 . . . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . 5 . . . . . . O . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . O . . . . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . X X X . . . . . . . . . O . X . . |
$$ | . . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , O . O . . , . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . O X X X . X . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

My cutting stones are captured, leaving White without enough weakness for me to exploit. I've ruined the center, though so maybe that's enough with all the hard points I've already (theoretically) accumulated. Also, I get forcing moves that threaten to extract my stones. This also leaves me with sente.

Either way, I like this move for starters, and I'll think about whether I want to play the hane after I see his response (which I suspect should be to extend rather than get captured).

Alright, I think I need to do this. Saving my cutting stones leaves my left side group sealed off and in danger of being killed. So, this ensures that my group escapes, though White then gets to reduce the top side. I should get sente out of this, though.