Hi mongus,No; the problem is earlier:
You should've replied to and immediately fixed your shape right there with .

Please see again toothpaste and related pages.

At B could've atari'd at G5, then connect at G6 --
your local shape is bad.

Hi mongus,

Doesn't fix your local shape:
it's still wide and B can jump in.
Could consider Q12.

A shoulder hit (no contact of liberties, yet).
I'd consider C5: cash + attack.

Did you read the hane F7.

Feels like pushing from behind (B could extend out, F5, etc.);
Could consider C4 or C5.

G6 only move.

Please see again toothpaste and related pages.

( Some strange habit...) Connect directly at C4

Mis-click, OK.

P6.

Both B and W were oblivious to the basic (broken) shapes at G6 and P6.
Please see again toothpaste and related pages.

Basically a Pass.

Why ? Another pass. Your one stone here is very small, not important.
Look at the whole board, see the bigger picture.
Don't reply to gote moves like .

Pass. You've passed 3 times in a row here.

Hi EdLee,

Huge amount of thanks for your feedback! I have some questions.



I'm not sure what you mean by this. Do you mean playing at would have been a better move?

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$W
$$ . O 1 .
$$ X X M .
$$ . . . .[/go]

This toothpaste squeezing problem of mine is a very hard habit to get out of. I struggle to appreciate that I am squeezing until it is too late and the toothpaste has spilled out. Is the fundamental problem here that I am focusing too much on trying to surround my opponent and completely ignoring the strength of my own stones - attacking without any consideration for defense?

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$B
$$ | . . . . . . .
$$ | . . X . . . .
$$ | . . O X X . .
$$ | . W . O O . .
$$ | . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . .
$$ +--------------[/go]

I often play moves like this as it helps to protect the cut and it also helps to prevent my opponent from pushing underneath my stones. Why is this a bad habit?



Are these moves essentially useless because I am messing around on the edges whilst my opponent is taking control of the huge area in the centre of the board?


Many thanks.

Hi mongus,

You're welcome.No, I didn't say that.
What I meant is did you consider, and therefore read,
W hane there instead of your extend.
If the hane works for W, of course you want it.
Only when it doesn't work do you "pull back".
So if you never consider the hane (here and in future games),
then you could be missing out.

Hi mongus,

A few things to ponder:

- It can be a difficult problem to fix.
( Probably varies from person to person.
In general, easier for very young children than adults.
I know people who've been playing for over 30, 40 years
and still don't understand these shapes. )

- Probably there are multiple reasons.

- Two aspects to start to 'understand' these shapes:
* Recognition;
* Evaluation.

As you have more of your games reviewed,
hopefully the reviews will help you see (recognize)
these shapes; then, you learn to evaluate when
they are good, neutral, or bad for you. The process takes time.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$B
$$ | . . . . . . .
$$ | . . X . . . .
$$ | . . O X X . .
$$ | . W . O O . .
$$ | . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . .
$$ +--------------[/go]

Hi mongus,

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$B
$$ | . . . . . . .
$$ | . . X . . . .
$$ | . b O X X . .
$$ | . c a O O . .
$$ | . . d . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . .
$$ +--------------[/go]

For this local shape, here are at least four candidate replies:
(a) solid connect;
(b) drop;
(c) 2nd line tiger's mouth;
(d) 3rd line tiger's mouth.

First question for you: when you "often" encounter this local shape,
or similar situations, do you first see all these possible replies,
evaluate the pros and cons for each, then pick what you think the best move ?

Hi mongus,

Here's one property:

Hi mongus,

Property:

Hi mongus,

Property:

I am always wary of the hane as it is easily cuttable.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$W
$$ . . 4 .
$$ . O 2 3
$$ X X 1 .
$$ . . . .[/go]

In this case I started off with one stone vs two Black stones, so I didn't think I was in a strong enough position to be able to afford the cut.

On reflection, maybe I could have played this, which could have been better :

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$W
$$ . . 3 .
$$ . O 2 4
$$ X X 1 5
$$ . . . .[/go]

Hi mongus,

Property:

Hi mongus,

A (standard/common) question for your level (standard/common behavior):
in both of your sample continuations,
why did you atari the cutting stone ?!

Guilty as charged! I have this feeling that a solid connect is a waste of space because it is just working to connect and not doing much to extend influence or create eye space. I see what you are saying about it opening me up to more threats from my opponent. I guess I need to consider at the time whether it is worth it based on the circumstances.

Hi mongus,

Property:

Hi mongus,

As we improve, our understandings can change; sometimes, they even flip flop.

A solid connect is good... when it's good.
A solid connect is bad... when it's bad.
Ditto for other connects.

Hi mongus,

You study the whole board situation again,
and figure out for yourself what - accomplished.

Good point. The answer is just because that is what I instinctively do! I guess somehow I think it is a way of punishing that stone for cutting me. Perhaps this would have been better. I was worried that that lone stone would then be atari'd by , I'm not sure this is that strong a result :

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$W
$$ ? ? ? ? ?
$$ . 5 . . ?
$$ 4 O 2 . ?
$$ X X 1 3 ?
$$ . . . . ?[/go]

Bingo.
( It was a rhetorical question. That's why these levels play it often. )

While we're here, maybe you can confirm my suspicion ( or let me know I guess wrong):
Is it true this is how you feel about the atari (in general):
If you atari an enemy stone (or group), you're 'stronger/punishing' (locally), while your enemy stone/group is 'weaker/suffering' ?

Here's another view:

Yes!

Although I am slowly starting to learn that this is not actually always the case. I think at least by atari'ing a stone it forces the opponent to respond and thus giving me a free move. However, by saving the stone from atari the opponent may actually be strengthening their position, which I don't want. Currently I don't always have the insight as to when an atari may weaken or strengthen..

Bingo, again.

Turns out, this is (yet) another never-ending growth curve in Go.
We're all still learning to figure this out, only at different levels.
Welcome to the club.