The One-Eyed Fool (game review #4)

[Ian Butler]

A fourth game in this series, a fourth loss. I'm starting to regret my opening words in this series.

I'd rather lose all my games for the next two weeks and improve a stone, than win them all and not get stronger.

Well, not really, though. I really believe this is helping me a lot. Even though I might not feel the effect of my reviews immediately, I think it's one of the strongest ways to improve and what I'm doing here is quite valuable.

So yesterday's game (reviewed today) was against a 13 kyu. So again stronger than me. I lost by 12.5 points, but I was actually ahead for quite a while in the game.
My losing moves were so typical of me that I don't know whether to cry, laugh or be mad.
I decided to do neither.

But moves like that have got to stop!


Anyway, the game is below. After it was finished, I was quite happy with my game. Reviewing it, I was confirmed in my beliefs, but I couldn't remember nor believe my losing sequence. Really suddenly my level drops 5-6 stones. If I can avoid plays like that, I'm bound to become a stable and decent 15kyu for now, I think.



*Series Update
I'm not sure if I'll make 10 game reviews in those 16 days, I underestimated how much time it takes to play and make the review. But I decided that I might prolong the series even after my vacation on a slower pace. Because these game reviews are really helpful and I think other people here can also benefit from them.
So I'll definitely go to 10 reviews on my own pace, and I'll see how I continue from there then!

[Knotwilg]

If I can avoid plays like that, I'm bound to become a stable and decent 15kyu for now, I think.

You can really aim much higher. If you play up to the level of your analysis, you'll be about 6k already.

Once again, I didn't play A because the ladder didn't work. Leela wants me to play it, though, but I've heard AI has ladder problems.

DOn't underestimate AI. There's more than ladders. Take a look again at that move and try to see what happens if White cuts.

Cheers

[Knotwilg]

Other than the technical issue at 57, there are 3 places where you neglected to cut White, which was the right thing to do given your being behind on territory and ahead on influence. In fact, you did well in harrassing his groups, but then somehow at the very end you let them off the hook, as if you are afraid to kill anything.

Those places are: 51 (as suggested by Leela), 93 (as suggested by Leela), 161 (as suggested by yours truly).

[Bill Spight]

Top of the head remarks:

S-09

F-16

Ditto.

G-15

Leela is right. One way of attacking is to play solid first, then play more thinly. Both of Black groups on the left are strong. Not to worry about one cutting point.

Greedy by White. His earlier invasions were greedy, too.

M-17 (A) looks to attack the White group in the top left, and, by extension, the White group on the left side. Letting White take the corner means that Black can attack the weak White group on the right side, as well.

The jump to Q-18 is better locally. It prevents a White eye.

White has turned the tables and is attacking Black, thanks to and

Fine. The peep at P-12 is also possible.

N-05 (A) keeps floating and vulnerable.

Main focus: Attack!

Secondary focus: Solid first, thin later.

[Ian Butler]

You can really aim much higher. If you play up to the level of your analysis, you'll be about 6k already.

If I can achieve this within the year, I'll be very happy!
Happy that you see that potential in me, though. Thanks!

DOn't underestimate AI. There's more than ladders. Take a look again at that move and try to see what happens if White cuts.

Oh, white can't really afford it, because his group is quite weak.

In fact, you did well in harrassing his groups, but then somehow at the very end you let them off the hook, as if you are afraid to kill anything.

Yeah. This is something I intend changing very, very soon. I play too passively and it's gotta stop

Main focus: Attack!

Secondary focus: Solid first, thin later.

Okay, I had heard the "proverb" before, but I understand it better now. If you play a slow move, you can play a fast move later. Or if you play fast, you gotta come back and play a slow move at some point. Sort of a rhythm. Is that what you mean?


Thanks both for your insights once again. I feel that playing these games + reviewing them with Leela + additional insights from you guys is really helpful. I see the go board quite differently already than a few weeks ago.

[Bill Spight]

Main focus: Attack!

Secondary focus: Solid first, thin later.

Okay, I had heard the "proverb" before, but I understand it better now. If you play a slow move, you can play a fast move later. Or if you play fast, you gotta come back and play a slow move at some point. Sort of a rhythm. Is that what you mean?

Well, if all you do is to play solidly, you will fall behind. But here I am talking about attacking. In this game you missed opportunities to attack by playing solidly where you were already strong and/or solid. In the case of the top right corner, the main idea of letting White greedily take the corner should be to attack White's weak groups. In this case White had three weak groups (mainly because of earlier greedy play), so a coordinated attack should lead to a win.

See viewtopic.php?p=188583#p188583 and the following notes.