Black is strong in this quarter of the board, but the 3-3 point is a weak spot where White can easily invade and live.jts wrote:Some comments up to 100.
17: general principle: when you're strong, you can test white's commitment to his stones before making basic extensions, pincers and so on. The idea is if he decides to protect, it's harder to sacrifice the group now that he sunk an extra protective move (it's "heavy"). If he decides to sacrifice, you have a big followup immediately. So, two questions: is b strong in this corner? And how can B test w's commitment here?
Topazg noted Black playing at r5 as a variation. I can see that this challenges the White stone, while hindering White’s 2-point extension to the 3-3 invasion point. If White then strengthens his stone by stretching to q6, I need to make sure my q10 stone does not become vulnerable.
Afterjts wrote:23&25: I'm not really concerned to say whether 23 and 25 were good, or bad, or big, or small, or whatever. Worse; I worry that they're inconsistent. 23 says "attacking c8 is the biggest thing on the board." 25 says "protecting e17 is the biggest thing on the board." which is it? You need to have the courage of your convictions in go. Being wrong about the biggest move can be painful, but never standing up for yourself shows a lack of desire to win. When do you finally attack c8?
, White made a series of moves at the top of the board that I felt needed an immediate response in that area, hence the change in my direction of play. looks like being the weak move.That nobi is my knee-jerk reaction to all diagonal-tsukes like that. I should try to think more creatively, although I would doubt I would have been able to link L17 with killing the H17 group.jts wrote:35: you can play L17 first. If w ignores it, you capture his group. After you play it, there's no atari. Good example of a double sente, I think.
Fencing off a corner in sente? (Black is likely to want to protect his now challenged stone)jts wrote:24&34: gnu go doesn't think, ofc, but can you see what general principle white's moves fit in with?
Yes, I always feel that I am in gote, following my opponent round the board.jts wrote:41: general answer; in general exchanging 3rd line territory for 4th line influence is a fair trade on either side. Don't worry when this happens, don't be afraid, don't be mad that white "stole" "your" "territory". It wasn't territory and it wasn't yours, so white didn't steal it. Aim to start complex fightts where the power of your walls will prove itself. In this specific game, I feel like you got bullied around a bit and it's tough that w got good corners, the top, and good access to the center.
The only reason for this move was to protect the k15 cutting point.jts wrote:51: too close! In general the rule is, jump n+1 spaces for your base. Here that might be 5 spaces. Shorter jumps if you're trying to escape, longer if you are confident that the wall can't die.
OK. Like q18, for instance?jts wrote:66: start by reducing in sente. If he ignores any of your reducing moves, look for a way to invade. If he replies to all of them, be satisfied and turn elsewhere.
I didn’t like the idea of giving White a tower peep on the same point, but having played around with some variations, Black seems able to defend everything.jts wrote:93: show me a sequence. What are you afraid will happen if you ignore?