A way to improve reading skills 2.0

Gomoto · #1

My opening game is strong. But I need to improve the middle game and the yose.

To improve my reading I need to consider intuition, depth, speed and accuracy.

In this thread I will collect whole board problems (blunders) from actual games.

Problem 1:
White to play.

White has a big lead in this position, but the next moves can be decisive. There are several possible lines. As always most lines lead to defeat. I managed to choose one of these :lol:

.

If you like to post your line, I will rate your success afterwards :tmbdown:

. (The best solution will also be posted later.)

Have fun

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$W White to play $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X . . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . X O O O . O X . X X X X . . . | $$ | . X . O O X X . . , X . O X O X . . . | $$ | . O O . . . . . O . X . . O O O O . . | $$ | . . . O X . X . . O O O . . O X O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . X . X O . . X . X O . . | $$ | . . . O X . O . . X . . . . . X O . . | $$ | . . O . X . X X . . . . . . . O X O . | $$ | . . . O O X O . . , . . . . . , X . . | $$ | . . X . . X . O . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X X X O O . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . O O X . B . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X X . . . . . . O . . X X . . O . . | $$ | . O O O . . . . X O . X . X X X O . . | $$ | . . . . . O . . . O . . X . X O . O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O X O O O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Solution 1:

We will consider a,b and c:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$W $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X . . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . X O O O . O X . X X X X . . . | $$ | . X . O O X X . . , X . O X O X . . . | $$ | . O O . . . . . O . X . . O O O O . . | $$ | . . . O X . X . . O O O . . O X O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . X . X O . . X . X O . . | $$ | . . . O X . O . . X . . . . . X O . . | $$ | . . O . X . X X . . . . . . . O X O . | $$ | . . . O O X O . . , . . . . . , X . . | $$ | . . X . . X . O . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . c . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X X X O O . a . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . O O X b B . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X X . . . . . . O . . X X . . O . . | $$ | . O O O . . . . X O . X . X X X O . . | $$ | . . . . . O . . . O . . X . X O . O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O X O O O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

a is a strong line, first variation:
(In the real game I stopped my assessment here and dismissed the line for white. Did not visualize the continuation.)

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$W $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X . . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . X O O O . O X . X X X X . . . | $$ | . X . O O X X . . , X . O X O X . . . | $$ | . O O . . . . . O . X . . O O O O . . | $$ | . . . O X . X . . O O O . . O X O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . X . X O . . X . X O . . | $$ | . . . O X . O . . X . . . . . X O . . | $$ | . . O . X . X X . . . . . . . O X O . | $$ | . . . O O X O . . , . . . . . , X . . | $$ | . . X . . X . O . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . 3 7 . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X X X O O 2 1 6 0 . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . O O X . B 4 5 9 . . . . . . . | $$ | . X X . . . . . . O 8 . X X . . O . . | $$ | . O O O . . . . X O . X . X X X O . . | $$ | . . . . . O . . . O . . X . X O . O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O X O O O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$B $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X . . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . X O O O . O X . X X X X . . . | $$ | . X . O O X X . . , X . O X O X . . . | $$ | . O O . . . . . O . X . . O O O O . . | $$ | . . . O X . X . . O O O . . O X O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . X . X O . . X . X O . . | $$ | . . . O X . O . . X . . . . . X O . . | $$ | . . O . X . X X . . . . . . . O X O . | $$ | . . . O O X O . . , . . . . . , X . . | $$ | . . X . . X . O . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . O O . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X X X O O X O X 5 7 . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . O O X 0 B X O O 6 9 . . . . . | $$ | . X X . . . 3 8 1 O X . X X . . O . . | $$ | . O O O . . 4 . X O . X . X X X O . . | $$ | . . . . . O . . 2 O . . X . X O . O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O X O O O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

perhaps black tries to make some troubles, but white is still ahead:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$B $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X . . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . X O O O . O X . X X X X . . . | $$ | . X 8 O O X X 7 . , X . O X O X . . . | $$ | . O O . 6 . . . O . X . . O O O O . . | $$ | . . . O X . X . . O O O . . O X O . . | $$ | . 5 3 4 . . . X . X O . . X . X O . . | $$ | . . . O X . O . . X . . . . . X O . . | $$ | . 2 O . X . X X . . . . . . . O X O . | $$ | . 1 . O O X O . . , . . . . . , X . . | $$ | . . X . . X . O . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . O O . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X X X O O X O X 5 7 . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . O O X 0 B X O O 6 9 . . . . . | $$ | . X X . . . 3 8 1 O X . X X . . O . . | $$ | . O O O . . 4 . X O . X . X X X O . . | $$ | . . . . . O . . 2 O . . X . X O . O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O X O O O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

There is nothing for black in this line (I did not read this in the game, I was afraid as white ...)

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$W $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X . . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . X O O O . O X . X X X X . . . | $$ | . X . O O X X . . , X . O X O X . . . | $$ | . O O . . . . . O . X . . O O O O . . | $$ | . . . O X . X . . O O O . . O X O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . X . X O . . X . X O . . | $$ | . . . O X . O . . X . . . . . X O . . | $$ | . . O . X . X X . . . . . . . O X O . | $$ | . . . O O X O . . , . . . . . , X . . | $$ | . . X . . X . O . . . . . 0 . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . O O . . . 6 9 . . . . | $$ | . . . X X X O O X O X X 2 5 7 8 . . . | $$ | . . . . O O X . B X O O 1 3 4 . . . . | $$ | . X X . . . . . X O X . X X . . O . . | $$ | . O O O . . . . X O . X . X X X O . . | $$ | . . . . . O . . O O . . X . X O . O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O X O O O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Let us consider move b: (simplification strategy)

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$B $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X . . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . X O O O . O X . X X X X . 6 . | $$ | . X . O O X X . . , X . O X O X . . . | $$ | . O O . . . . . O . X . . O O O O . . | $$ | . . . O X . X . . O O O . . O X O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . X . X O . . X . X O . . | $$ | . . . O X . O . . X . . . 5 . X O . . | $$ | . . O . X . X X . . . . . . . O X O . | $$ | . . . O O X O . . , . . . . . , X . . | $$ | . . X . . X . O . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X X X O O . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . O O X W X 3 . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X X . . . . . 1 O . . X X . . O . . | $$ | . O O O . . . 4 X O . X . X X X O . . | $$ | . . . . . O . . 2 O . . X . X O . O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O X O O O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

What about the cut? Is there something to fear? No.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$B $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X . . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . X O O O . O X . X X X X . O . | $$ | . X . O O X X . . , X . O X O X . . . | $$ | . O O . . . . . O . X 3 2 O O O O . . | $$ | . . . O X . X . . O O O 1 5 O X O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . X . X O . 4 X . X O . . | $$ | . . . O X . O . . X . . 6 X . X O . . | $$ | . . O . X . X X . . . . 8 7 . O X O . | $$ | . . . O O X O . . , . . 0 9 . , X . . | $$ | . . X . . X . O . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X X X O O . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . O O X W X X . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X X . . . . . X O . . X X . . O . . | $$ | . O O O . . . O X O . X . X X X O . . | $$ | . . . . . O . . O O . . X . X O . O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O X O O O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Finally some variations for move c:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$B Good for white $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X . . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . X O O O . O X . X X X X . . . | $$ | . X . O O X X . . , X . O X O X . . . | $$ | . O O . . . . . O . X . . O O O O . . | $$ | . . . O X . X . . O O O . . O X O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . X . X O . . X . X O . . | $$ | . . . O X . O . . X . . . . . X O . . | $$ | . . O . X . X X . . . . . . . O X O . | $$ | . . . O O X O . . , . . . . . , X . . | $$ | . . X . . X . O . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . W . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X X X O O . 6 5 . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . O O X . X 3 4 8 . . . . . . . | $$ | . X X . . . 1 . 9 O 7 . X X . . O . . | $$ | . O O O . . 2 . X O . X . X X X O . . | $$ | . . . . . O . . 0 O . . X . X O . O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O X O O O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

And now my blunder at move 4 in the game, move 4 should have been at d. White's lead is gone.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$B $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X . . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . X O O O . O X . X X X X . . . | $$ | . X . O O X X . . , X . O X O X . . . | $$ | . O O . . . . . O . X . . O O O O . . | $$ | . . . O X . X . . O O O . . O X O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . X . X O . . X . X O . . | $$ | . . . O X . O . . X . . . . . X O . . | $$ | . . O . X . X X . . . . . . . O X O . | $$ | . . . O O X O . . , . . . . . , X . . | $$ | . . X . . X . O . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . W . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X X X O O . . 4 . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . O O X . X 1 2 . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X X . 5 . 3 . . O . . X X . . O . . | $$ | . O O O . . d . X O . X . X X X O . . | $$ | . . . . . O . . . O . . X . X O . O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O X O O O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Conclusion:

Moves a, b and c are all viable moves.

When I first reviewed the game, I thought I made a blunder by choosing move c over a.
But the real blunder was move 4 in the last diagram.

After a second look I realize now not the depth and speed of my reading were the main problem. My reading was just not accurate. I have to change my personality :shock:

. I am still a sloppy reader ;-)

EdLee · #2

Considering...

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$W var 1 $$ ----------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X . . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . X O O O . O X . X X X X . . . | $$ | . X . O O X X . . , X . O X O X . . . | $$ | . O O . . . . . O . X . . O O O O . . | $$ | . . . O X . X . . O O O . . O X O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . X . X O . . X . X O . . | $$ | . . . O X . O . . X . . . . . X O . . | $$ | . . O . X . X X . . . . . . . O X O . | $$ | . . . O O X O . . , . . . . . , X . . | $$ | . . X . . X . O . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X X X O O . 1 . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . O O X . X . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X X . . . . . . O . . X X . . O . . | $$ | . O O O . . . . X O . X . X X X O . . | $$ | . . . . . O . . . O . . X . X O . O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O X O O O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$W $$ ----------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X . . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . X O O O . O X . X X X X . . . | $$ | . X . O O X X . . , X . O X O X . . . | $$ | . O O . . . . . O . X . . O O O O . . | $$ | . . . O X . X . . O O O . . O X O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . X . X O . . X . X O . . | $$ | . . . O X . O . . X . . . . . X O . . | $$ | . . O . X . X X . . . . . . . O X O . | $$ | . . . O O X O . . , . . . . . , X . . | $$ | . . X . . X . O . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . 3 7 . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X X X O O 2 1 6 0 . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . O O X . X 4 5 9 . . . . . . . | $$ | . X X . . . . . . O 8 . X X . . O . . | $$ | . O O O . . . . X O . X . X X X O . . | $$ | . . . . . O . . . O . . X . X O . O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O X O O O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Wm11 $$ ---------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X . . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . X O O O . O X . X X X X . . . | $$ | . X . O O X X . . , X . O X O X . . . | $$ | . O O . . . . . O . X . . O O O O . . | $$ | . . . O X . X . . O O O . . O X O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . X . X O . . X . X O . . | $$ | . . . O X . O . . X . . . . . X O . . | $$ | . . O . X . X X . . . . . . . O X O . | $$ | . . . O O X O . . , . . . . . , X . . | $$ | . . X . . X . O . . . . . . 0 X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . O O . . . 6 9 . . . . | $$ | . . . X X X O O X O X X 2 5 7 8 . . . | $$ | . . . . O O X . X X O O 1 3 4 . . . . | $$ | . X X . . . . . . O X . X X . . O . . | $$ | . O O O . . . . X O . X . X X X O . . | $$ | . . . . . O . . . O . . X . X O . O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O X O O O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Wm21 $$ ---------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X . . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . X O O O . O X . X X X X . . . | $$ | . X . O O X X . . , X . O X O X . . . | $$ | . O O . . . . . O . X . . O O O O . . | $$ | . . . O X . X . . O O O . . O X O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . X . X O . . X . X O . . | $$ | . . . O X . O . . X . . . . . X O . . | $$ | . . O . X . X X . . . . . . . O X O . | $$ | . . . O O X O . . , . . . . . , X . . | $$ | . . X . . X . O . . . . . 2 X X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . O O . 3 1 X O . . . . | $$ | . . . X X X O O X O X X X O O X . . . | $$ | . . . . O O X . X X O O O O X . . . . | $$ | . X X . . . . . 4 O X . X X . . O . . | $$ | . O O O . . . . X O . X . X X X O . . | $$ | . . . . . O . . 5 O . . X . X O . O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O X O O O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Two other local candidates:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$W var 2 $$ ----------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X . . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . X O O O . O X . X X X X . . . | $$ | . X . O O X X . . , X . O X O X . . . | $$ | . O O . . . . . O . X . . O O O O . . | $$ | . . . O X . X . . O O O . . O X O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . X . X O . . X . X O . . | $$ | . . . O X . O . . X . . . . . X O . . | $$ | . . O . X . X X . . . . . . . O X O . | $$ | . . . O O X O . . , . . . . . , X . . | $$ | . . X . . X . O . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X X X O O . . 1 . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . O O X . X . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X X . . . . . . O . . X X . . O . . | $$ | . O O O . . . . X O . X . X X X O . . | $$ | . . . . . O . . . O . . X . X O . O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O X O O O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$W var 3 $$ ----------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X . . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . X O O O . O X . X X X X . . . | $$ | . X . O O X X . . , X . O X O X . . . | $$ | . O O . . . . . O . X . . O O O O . . | $$ | . . . O X . X . . O O O . . O X O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . X . X O . . X . X O . . | $$ | . . . O X . O . . X . . . . . X O . . | $$ | . . O . X . X X . . . . . . . O X O . | $$ | . . . O O X O . . , . . . . . , X . . | $$ | . . X . . X . O . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . 1 . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X X X O O . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . O O X . X . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X X . . . . . . O . . X X . . O . . | $$ | . O O O . . . . X O . X . X X X O . . | $$ | . . . . . O . . . O . . X . X O . O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O X O O O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

BlindGroup · #3

Fedya · #4

Knotwilg · #5

Gomoto · #6

Thanks for your lines!

EdLee :tmbup:

(thanks for the detailed moves)
BlindGroup :tmbup:

Fedya

Knotwilg

(thanks for your thoughts)

(I added my own variations to the first post.)

Gomoto · #7

Problem 2

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$B White to play $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . O . . . . . . . . . X O . . . | $$ | . . O . O X X . . . . . . X O O . . . | $$ | . . O X X O O X X X . . . X X O . . . | $$ | . O X X . X O O O O X X . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O X X . O . . . O . . . O . O . . | $$ | . O . O X . O X . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . O X . O O . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . O X . X X X . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , O X . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X . X . . . . . , . O O . . O . X . | $$ | . . . . . X . . . . X X X O O . O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Solution:

EdLee · #8

Kirby · #9

White has two problems:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$B $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . O . . . . . . . . . X O . . . | $$ | . . O . O X X . . . . . . X O O . . . | $$ | . . O X X O O X X X . . . X X O . . . | $$ | . O X X . X O O O O X X . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O X X . O . . . O . . . O . O . . | $$ | . O . O X . O X . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . O X . O O . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . O X . X X X . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , O X . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . C . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C C . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X . X . . . . . , . O O . . O . X . | $$ | . . . . . X . C C C X X X O O . O 3 . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . X 1 2 . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

White's not totally alive, so black can expect a lot of territory in the marked areas.

But a bigger problem seems to be white's group in the center:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$B White to play $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . O . . . . . . . . . X O . . . | $$ | . . O . O X X . . . . . . X O O . . . | $$ | . . O X X O O X X X . . . X X O . . . | $$ | . O X X . X O O O O X X . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O X X . O . . . O . . . O . O . . | $$ | . O . O X . O X . W . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . O X . O O . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . O X . X X X . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , O X . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X . X . . . . . , . O O . . O . X . | $$ | . . . . . X . . . . X X X O O . O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

I feel like playing something like the move above.

Either way, white feels a little busy. I think I prefer black here.

No counting or anything - just a feeling.

Gomoto · **#10**

Kirby, you identified the correct area to play, but your move suggestion is exactly my blunder

Kirby · **#11**

Gomoto wrote:

Kirby, you identified the correct area to play, but your move suggestion is exactly my blunder

Did he play here next?

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$B White to play $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . O . . . . . . . . . X O . . . | $$ | . . O . O X X . . . . . . X O O . . . | $$ | . . O X X O O X X X . . . X X O . . . | $$ | . O X X . X O O O O X X . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O X X . O . . . O . . . O . O . . | $$ | . O . O X . O X . O . B . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . O X . O O . . a . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . O X . X X X . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , O X . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X . X . . . . . , . O O . . O . X . | $$ | . . . . . X . . . . X X X O O . O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

White can play at 'a', but I agree that that sucks.

I have to admit that I didn't read much, and I'm rusty these days, so the move may not be good.

Another option is to just push forward:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$B White to play $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . O . . . . . . . . . X O . . . | $$ | . . O . O X X . . . . . . X O O . . . | $$ | . . O X X O O X X X . . . X X O . . . | $$ | . O X X . X O O O O X X . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O X X . O . . . O W . . O . O . . | $$ | . O . O X . O X . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . O X . O O . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . O X . X X X . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , O X . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X . X . . . . . , . O O . . O . X . | $$ | . . . . . X . . . . X X X O O . O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

That being said, it's annoying that black can hurt the shape:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$B White to play $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . O . . . . . . . . . X O . . . | $$ | . . O . O X X . . . . . . X O O . . . | $$ | . . O X X O O X X X . . . X X O . . . | $$ | . O X X . X O O O O X X . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O X X . O . . . O O . . O . O . . | $$ | . O . O X . O X . B . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . O X . O O . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . O X . X X X . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , O X . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X . X . . . . . , . O O . . O . X . | $$ | . . . . . X . . . . X X X O O . O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

I guess I need to brush up a little bit.

Gomoto · **#12**

Problem 3

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$W White to move (Where is the biggie?) $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . O O X . . O O X . X . X O . . | $$ | . . O O X O X . . O X . . O X . O . . | $$ | . O O X . X O . . O X . O X . X O . . | $$ | . X O X X . O . O X O . . X . . . O . | $$ | . X X X . . . . O X X . X X . . O O X | $$ | . . . . X . . . O O X . O X . O O X . | $$ | . . . O X . O O X X . . O . X O X . X | $$ | . . X O O . . . . . . . . O O X . X . | $$ | . . X , O . O O X , . . . . X , X . . | $$ | . . . X O . . . X . X . X . . X X . . | $$ | . . . X O . . . . O . . . . . X O X . | $$ | . X X O X X . . . . . . . . . . O O . | $$ | . X O O . . . X . . . . . . . . O . . | $$ | . X O . O X . X O O O . . O . . . . . | $$ | . O O O . O O X O X X O O . . O . . . | $$ | . . . O O X X X X O X X X X X O . . . | $$ | . . . . O X . . . . . . . . X O . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Solution:

Fedya · **#13**

Gomoto · **#14**

Problem 4:
Black to play, rate the four moves:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$B $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . X . . . . . . . X . . O . . | $$ | . c . X . . . . . d . . . . . X . O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O b . . . . . . . . . . . X O O . | $$ | . . . . a . . . . . . . . . . X X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . O . . . . . | $$ | . O O . . . . . . . . . . . . O O . . | $$ | . X O O . O . . X , . . . . X X O . . | $$ | . X X . . . . . X O . . . X . . X X . | $$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

BlindGroup · **#15**

Here's my take:

My first instinct was to go with C because this secured territory and would force a white response probably to E14:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bc $$ +---------------------------------------+ $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . X . . . . . . . X . . O . . | $$ | . 1 . X . . . . . , . . . . . X . O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . 2 . . . . . . . . . . X O O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . O . . . . . | $$ | . O O . . . . . . . . . . . . O O . . | $$ | . X O O . O . . X , . . . . X X O . . | $$ | . X X . . . . . X O . . . X . . X X . | $$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ +---------------------------------------+[/go]

However, E14 is a very valuable move for white. Given that white only had secure territory in the upper right, the left is extremely important. As it stands, white's territory on the left is not completely secure, but it's close. E14 does several things for white -- it would weaken the upper left by making the 3-3 invasion more effective, it would expand the white moyo, it would help strengthen white's grip on the left-side territory, and it would limit black's potential for a framework on the top (white would be playing at the intersection of two moyos). Since C and D allow E14, but lack the same significance. So, they seem like poor trades.

A and B would both limit the value of E14. So, which is better? B will develop black's moyo and limit whites, but in the process, white is going to strengthen along the C and D files. A, however, avoids the contact and thus does not directly strengthens white. Plus, A more effectively expands black's potential moyo at the cost of white's.

So, I'd go with A.

EdLee · **#16**

Fedya · **#17**

Bill Spight · **#18**

How about this play?

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$B $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . X . . . . . . . X . . O . . | $$ | . . . X . . . . . , . . . . . X . O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . 1 . . . . . . . . . X O O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . O . . . . . | $$ | . O O . . . . . . . . . . . . O O . . | $$ | . X O O . O . . X , . . . . X X O . . | $$ | . X X . . . . . X O . . . X . . X X . | $$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Gomoto · **#19**

Answer:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$B $$ ---------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $$ | . . . . . X . . . . . . . X $$ | . c . X . . . . . d . . . . $$ | . e f . . . . . . . . . . . $$ | . . O b . . . . . . . . . . $$ | . . . . a . . . . . . . . . $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . .[/go]

c is the most often played move in my pro database (in this local position). (13x) (Congrats Blindgroup :tmbup:

)
d is played 8x
e is played 8x
f is played 4x
b is played 3x
my "blunder" a is played 0x

Zen 7 is suggesting that a,b,c and d have about the same value (whole board) (Zen also likes Q18).

I think c is most often played because it takes profit at once, it has good follow up moves and it avoids further complications down the line. Similar b and d strengthen the black position in the upper left. Move a is not a bad move but a bit loose compared to the other moves, probably there are more ways for white to mess around later. (For example in the game:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$W $$ ---------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $$ | . . . . . X 3 . . . . . . X $$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $$ | . . O . 2 . . . . . . . . . $$ | . . . 1 X . . . . . . . . . $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . .[/go]

Bill`s move is also around the same value as a, b, c and d.

Ed Lee, your move is also possible, I think a good answer for white would be:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$B $$ ----------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . X . . . . . . . X . . O . . | $$ | . . . X . . 2 . . . . . . . . X . O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . X O O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , 1 . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . O . . . . . | $$ | . O O . . . . . . . . . . . . O O . . | $$ | . X O O . O . . X , . . . . X X O . . | $$ | . X X . . . . . X O . . . X . . X X . | $$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ----------------------------------------[/go]

EdLee · **#20**

A way to improve reading skills 2.0

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