#205: The Intrepid vs. topazg: The Pistols

[topazg]

$$Wcm60 Prisoners:
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X . X O X O . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . X . O X . O X X . . . O X X . . |
$$ | . . . X O . . . O . . . . O X X X . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . O . . . . O X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . . . . . . . . 1 O 2 . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . O . . X . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . O O O O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | O X X X O X . . . , . . . O . , . . . |
$$ | . O X O X . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . X . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wcm60 Prisoners:
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X . X O X O . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . X . O X . O X X . . . O X X . . |
$$ | . . . X O . . . O . . . . O X X X . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . O . . . . O X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . . . . . . . . 1 O 2 . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . O . . X . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . O O O O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | O X X X O X . . . , . . . O . , . . . |
$$ | . O X O X . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . X . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Connecting first before working more with the lower right corner.

[The Intrepid]

Oh, wow, that was topazg's plan ... and here I thought he wanted to fight! I'll probably jump next, as shown below, but I'll think about it first.

$$Wc
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X . X O X O . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . X . O X . O X X . . . O X X . . |
$$ | . . . X O . . . O . . . . O X X X . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . O . . . . O X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . . . . . . . . O O X . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . O . . X . . . 1 . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B . . . |
$$ | . O O O O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | O X X X O X . . . , . . . O . , . . . |
$$ | . O X O X . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . X . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X . X O X O . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . X . O X . O X X . . . O X X . . |
$$ | . . . X O . . . O . . . . O X X X . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . O . . . . O X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . . . . . . . . O O X . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . O . . X . . . 1 . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B . . . |
$$ | . O O O O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | O X X X O X . . . , . . . O . , . . . |
$$ | . O X O X . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . X . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

It'll be interesting to find out how exactly topazg plans to defend here. The marked Black stone is in big trouble.

[The Intrepid]

I believe I might be able to do the following:

$$Wc
$$ -----------------------
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ X . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ X O X O . . . O X . . |
$$ O X X . . . O X X . . |
$$ O . . . . O X X X . . |
$$ . O . . . . O X 4 . . |
$$ . . . . . . O O X 3 . |
$$ . . . . . . 5 2 1 . . |
$$ . . . . . . . 6 . . . |
$$ . , . . . . . X X . . |
$$ . . . . . . 7 . O . . |
$$ . X . . . . . O . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . X . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . , . . . O . , . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ----------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc
$$ -----------------------
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ X . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ X O X O . . . O X . . |
$$ O X X . . . O X X . . |
$$ O . . . . O X X X . . |
$$ . O . . . . O X 4 . . |
$$ . . . . . . O O X 3 . |
$$ . . . . . . 5 2 1 . . |
$$ . . . . . . . 6 . . . |
$$ . , . . . . . X X . . |
$$ . . . . . . 7 . O . . |
$$ . X . . . . . O . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . X . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . , . . . O . , . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ----------------------[/go]

Next, if Black jumps from his lone stone, White has this variation:

$$Bcm8
$$ -----------------------
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ X . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ X O X O . . . O X . . |
$$ O X X . . . O X X . . |
$$ O . . . . O X X X . . |
$$ . O . . . . O X X . . |
$$ . . . . . . O O X O . |
$$ . . . . . . O X O . . |
$$ . . . . . . . X . 2 . |
$$ . , . . . . 6 X X 3 5 |
$$ . . . . . . O . O 4 . |
$$ . X . . . . . O . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . 1 . X . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . , . . . O . , . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ----------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Bcm8
$$ -----------------------
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ X . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ X O X O . . . O X . . |
$$ O X X . . . O X X . . |
$$ O . . . . O X X X . . |
$$ . O . . . . O X X . . |
$$ . . . . . . O O X O . |
$$ . . . . . . O X O . . |
$$ . . . . . . . X . 2 . |
$$ . , . . . . 6 X X 3 5 |
$$ . . . . . . O . O 4 . |
$$ . X . . . . . O . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . 1 . X . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . , . . . O . , . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ----------------------[/go]

$$Bcm14
$$ -----------------------
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ X . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ X O X O . . . O X . . |
$$ O X X . . . O X X . . |
$$ O . . . . O X X X . . |
$$ . O . . . . O X X 3 . |
$$ . . . . . . O O X O 5 |
$$ . . . . . . O X O 2 . |
$$ . . . . . . 4 X 1 O 7 |
$$ . , . . . . O X X X X |
$$ . . . . . . O 6 O O 8 |
$$ . X . . . . . O . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . X . X . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . , . . . O . , . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ----------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Bcm14
$$ -----------------------
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ X . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ X O X O . . . O X . . |
$$ O X X . . . O X X . . |
$$ O . . . . O X X X . . |
$$ . O . . . . O X X 3 . |
$$ . . . . . . O O X O 5 |
$$ . . . . . . O X O 2 . |
$$ . . . . . . 4 X 1 O 7 |
$$ . , . . . . O X X X X |
$$ . . . . . . O 6 O O 8 |
$$ . X . . . . . O . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . X . X . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . , . . . O . , . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ----------------------[/go]

$$Bcm22
$$ -----------------------
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ X . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ X O X O . . . O X . . |
$$ O X X . . . O X X . . |
$$ O . . . . O X X X . . |
$$ . O . . . . W X X X . |
$$ . . . . . . W O X C X |
$$ . . . . . . W X C C 1 |
$$ . . . . . . W X X C X |
$$ . , . . . . W X X X X |
$$ . . . . . . W W W W W |
$$ . X . . . . . W . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . X . X . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . , . . . O . , . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ----------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Bcm22
$$ -----------------------
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ X . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ X O X O . . . O X . . |
$$ O X X . . . O X X . . |
$$ O . . . . O X X X . . |
$$ . O . . . . W X X X . |
$$ . . . . . . W O X C X |
$$ . . . . . . W X C C 1 |
$$ . . . . . . W X X C X |
$$ . , . . . . W X X X X |
$$ . . . . . . W W W W W |
$$ . X . . . . . W . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . X . X . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . , . . . O . , . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ----------------------[/go]

Needless to say, this would be a fantastic result for White. However, if Black were to prevent this variation, White could capture the lone Black stone. The following move should work, although there could be other (greedier) ones, as well. This would be a loss of around 20-25 points for Black (although Black did get around 7 points on the right side). Thus, Black would likely fall further behind.

$$Bcm8
$$ -----------------------
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ X . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ X O X O . . . O X . . |
$$ O X X . . . O X X . . |
$$ O . . . . O X X X . . |
$$ . O . . . . O X X . . |
$$ . . . . . . O O X O . |
$$ . . . . . . O X O . . |
$$ . . . . . 1 . X . . . |
$$ . , . . . . . X X . . |
$$ . . . . . . O . O . . |
$$ . X . . . . . O . . . |
$$ . . . . . . 2 . . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . X . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . , . . . O . , . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ----------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Bcm8
$$ -----------------------
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ X . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ X O X O . . . O X . . |
$$ O X X . . . O X X . . |
$$ O . . . . O X X X . . |
$$ . O . . . . O X X . . |
$$ . . . . . . O O X O . |
$$ . . . . . . O X O . . |
$$ . . . . . 1 . X . . . |
$$ . , . . . . . X X . . |
$$ . . . . . . O . O . . |
$$ . X . . . . . O . . . |
$$ . . . . . . 2 . . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . X . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . , . . . O . , . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ----------------------[/go]

That said, I have a feeling topazg's whole plan is to sacrifice this one stone in exchange for profit on the top-right. Thus, I'll need to think some more. Maybe I can come up with something cleverer.

Edit:

In retrospect, why not try to capture the Black stone right away any be done with it?

$$Wc
$$ -----------------------
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ X . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ X O X O . . . O X . . |
$$ O X X . . . O X X . . |
$$ O . . . . O X X X . . |
$$ . O . . . . O X . . . |
$$ . . . . . . O O X . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . , . . . . . X X . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ . X . . . . . O . . . |
$$ . . . . . . 1 . . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . X . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . , . . . O . , . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ----------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc
$$ -----------------------
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ X . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ X O X O . . . O X . . |
$$ O X X . . . O X X . . |
$$ O . . . . O X X X . . |
$$ . O . . . . O X . . . |
$$ . . . . . . O O X . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . , . . . . . X X . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ . X . . . . . O . . . |
$$ . . . . . . 1 . . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . X . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . , . . . O . , . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ----------------------[/go]

Edit 2:

Actually, looks like I was miscalculating:

$$Bcm8
$$ -----------------------
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ X . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ X O X O . . . O X . . |
$$ O X X . . . O X X . . |
$$ O . . . . O X X X . . |
$$ . O . . . 9 O X X . . |
$$ . . . . . . O O X O . |
$$ . . . . . 7 O X O . . |
$$ . . . . 8 6 5 X . 2 . |
$$ . , . . . 3 4 X X . . |
$$ . . . . . . O . O . . |
$$ . X . . . . . O . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . 1 . X . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . , . . . O . , . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ----------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Bcm8
$$ -----------------------
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ X . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ X O X O . . . O X . . |
$$ O X X . . . O X X . . |
$$ O . . . . O X X X . . |
$$ . O . . . 9 O X X . . |
$$ . . . . . . O O X O . |
$$ . . . . . 7 O X O . . |
$$ . . . . 8 6 5 X . 2 . |
$$ . , . . . 3 4 X X . . |
$$ . . . . . . O . O . . |
$$ . X . . . . . O . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . 1 . X . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . , . . . O . , . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ----------------------[/go]

[The Intrepid]

$$Wcm62 Prisoners:
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X . X O X O . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . X . O X . O X X . . . O X X . . |
$$ | . . . X O . . . O . . . . O X X X . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . O . . . . O X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . . . . . . . . O O X . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . O . . X . . . 1 . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . O O O O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | O X X X O X . . . , . . . O . , . . . |
$$ | . O X O X . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . X . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wcm62 Prisoners:
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X . X O X O . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . X . O X . O X X . . . O X X . . |
$$ | . . . X O . . . O . . . . O X X X . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . O . . . . O X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . . . . . . . . O O X . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . O . . X . . . 1 . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . O O O O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | O X X X O X . . . , . . . O . , . . . |
$$ | . O X O X . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . X . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

In retrospect, maybe I should have played at O13 instead of P13. Now, the cut at O14 might remain a problem for a long time.

As for the aji of R12 which I was looking at in my previous post, I can't make anything work there, yet. Also, I was incorrect in thinking that I could kill the Black stone in the bottom-right via a shoulder attachment. I cannot see how to kill Black after the following variation:

$$Wc
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . X X . . |
$$ . . . . . . O . . |
$$ . . . . . O . . . |
$$ . . . . 1 . . . . |
$$ . . . . . X . . . |
$$ . . . 3 2 . . . . |
$$ . . . O . , . . . |
$$ . . . . . 4 O . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . X X . . |
$$ . . . . . . O . . |
$$ . . . . . O . . . |
$$ . . . . 1 . . . . |
$$ . . . . . X . . . |
$$ . . . 3 2 . . . . |
$$ . . . O . , . . . |
$$ . . . . . 4 O . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ------------------[/go]

Given this, it's better to encourage Black to jump instead, gaining White points along the side.

$$Wc
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . X X . . |
$$ . . . . . . O . . |
$$ . . . 1 . O . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . 2 . X . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . 3 . O . , . . . |
$$ . . . . . . O . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . X X . . |
$$ . . . . . . O . . |
$$ . . . 1 . O . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . 2 . X . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . 3 . O . , . . . |
$$ . . . . . . O . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ------------------[/go]

[topazg]

$$Wcm62 Prisoners:
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X . X O X O . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . X . O X . O X X . . . O X X . . |
$$ | . . . X O . . . O . . . . O X X X . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . O . . . . O X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . . . . . . . . O O X . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . O . . X . . . 1 . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . O O O O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | O X X X O X . . . , . . . O . , 2 . . |
$$ | . O X O X . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . X . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wcm62 Prisoners:
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X . X O X O . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . X . O X . O X X . . . O X X . . |
$$ | . . . X O . . . O . . . . O X X X . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . O . . . . O X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . . . . . . . . O O X . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . O . . X . . . 1 . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . O O O O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | O X X X O X . . . , . . . O . , 2 . . |
$$ | . O X O X . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . X . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Contact plays strengthen both sides - he's made enough moves around here that I'm more than happy playing this way.

[The Intrepid]

topazg intends to exchange and for and before he jumps.

$$Bc
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . X X . . |
$$ . . . . . . O . . |
$$ . . . O . O . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . 5 . X . . . |
$$ . . . . . . 3 . . |
$$ . . . O . 2 1 . . |
$$ . . . . . . O 4 . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Bc
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . X X . . |
$$ . . . . . . O . . |
$$ . . . O . O . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . 5 . X . . . |
$$ . . . . . . 3 . . |
$$ . . . O . 2 1 . . |
$$ . . . . . . O 4 . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ------------------[/go]

The idea behind this is to give some strength and eye-space to the Black weak group while preventing White from potentially linking up via a sequence such as below.

$$Bc
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . X X . . |
$$ . . . . . . O . . |
$$ . . . O . O . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . 1 . X 2 4 . |
$$ . . . . . 5 3 . . |
$$ . . . O . . . 6 . |
$$ . . . . . . O . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Bc
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . X X . . |
$$ . . . . . . O . . |
$$ . . . O . O . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . 1 . X 2 4 . |
$$ . . . . . 5 3 . . |
$$ . . . O . . . 6 . |
$$ . . . . . . O . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ------------------[/go]

The drawback of Black's plan is, of course, that it solidifies White's corner (secure territory + few aji).

I am unlikely to deviate from the sequence I indicated above, but I'll double-check if there aren't any cleverer tries for White.

[topazg]

As I've been quite poor at keeping my thoughts posted due to limited time at the moment, I've put some of the random spare time I've had in the last couple of days writing my thoughts up a bit.

Any thoughts, questions or comments you want me to see are welcome

(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]AP[CGoban:3]ST[2]
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]KM[6.50]
PW[Intrepid]PB[Topazg]
;B[pf]C[I had a feeling the Intrepid would be banking on my playing a 4-4 based on his effort to research other games, so I thought I'd throw a curve ball. Besides, I find 6-4 points fun.]
;W[gm]
;B[jm]C[Having got such a wacky looking move 2, I thought I'd match the wacky for no other reason than to not lose a psychological battle early on. If he wants to throw me out of my comfort zone then fine, but with the effort he puts into his games, he has a plan with White 2, and I'm sure this response wasn't part of his plan.]
;W[fd]
(;B[eq]C[I debated where to play here. I really wanted this corner to prevent G7 becoming too valuable, but should it have been low? I think not, I prefer the other 3-5 at C5 to be honest - I find it harder to see White's best approach at that point.]
;W[do]
;B[cp]
;W[co]
;B[bp]
;W[qq]C[I was happy for White to leave the position on the left, which I consider a mistake. That side, the last corner can't be small.]
;B[df]C[Trying to find a logical way of handling this side, I'll be happy either taking the corner with 4-4 or alternatively conceding it to reduce that left hand side.]
(;W[dh]
;B[dd]
(;W[ee]C[A thank you move.]
;B[de]
;W[fg]
(;B[kd]C[I think this is poor timing. It's big, but the left hand side looks urgent.]
;W[cg]C[Annoying, and big.]
;B[fc]
(;W[bo]C[Very surprising. White must seal in.]
;B[gc]C[An extremely satisfying result.]
;W[dq]
;B[dp]
;W[ep]
(;B[fp]C[Played to keep aji in the local area.]
;W[eo]
(;B[er]C[A complete blunder. Should be D2.]
(;W[bq]C[Lucky. I originally read this leading to a squeeze, but the move order is wrong - I think C2 is more painful (see var)]
;B[pn]C[I wanted to play here first, that's all.]
(;W[np]C[Having gotten a defensive response, I'll treat Q6 as a sort of kikashi and fix that corner. Besides, wD2 is so close to sente because of the F3 cut that the tenuki was a mistake in the first place I think.]
;B[cq]
;W[ap]
;B[cr]
;W[od]C[I wondered when he'd look towards this corner.]
;B[pd]
;W[pc]
;B[qc]C[Tesuji.]
;W[id]C[Bad shape point. White helps Black a bit here. Seems strange to tenuki from the top right too, but I _will_ respond to this.]
;B[gd]
;W[pe]
;B[qd]
;W[of]
;B[qe]
;W[pg]C[This move feels so wrong, allowing Black to capture here is so large.]
;B[oe]
;W[ne]
(;B[pe]C[I contemplated a ko, but chickened out because of the atari on Q14. As it happens, I wonder if I should have cut and connected (see var)]
;W[jf]
;B[ic]
;W[jc]
;B[jd]
;W[ie]
;B[ib]C[And this is why J16 is a typically poor point. Black connects very happily.]
;W[lc]
;B[kc]
;W[pl]C[Nice idea, seems strong to me. The game is hard to call. Black's ahead on territory, but White's center potential is definitely better. White does however have a lot of weak cuts to fix, so I'm reasonably confident by this point if I can handle this corner well.]
;B[qj]
;W[qk]C[Thank you move.]
;B[pj]
;W[og]
;B[qg]C[Connecting seems huge.]
;W[nl]
;B[qp]C[Aiming for sabaki (see conts).]
(;W[pq]C[Because of this response, I nearly played at Q3 myself, but I think this is fine for Black as the S3 hane is still there.]
;B[qm]
;W[rk]
;B[rq]
;W[rr]
;B[nn]C[At least one, if not one and a half eyes. Painful to be running though.])
(;W[pp]C[The most logical response.]
;B[rq]
(;W[pq]
(;B[rp]C[Black seems almost alive this way.]
;W[rr]
;B[qm]
;W[rk]
;B[sr]
;W[rs]
;B[rn]C[Black seems unconditionally alive to me now.])
(;B[ro]
;W[qo]
;B[rp]
;W[qn]
;B[rn]
;W[qm]
;B[qr]
;W[pr]
;B[rs]C[Another possibility for life. Haven't worked out which is better / worse - I like the fact this doesn't encourage White to descend to S9, but White's a lot thicker, so I'll probably take the other route.]))
(;W[rp]
;B[qo]
;W[rr]
;B[pq]
;W[qr]
;B[op]
;W[oq]
;B[po]
;W[pr]
;B[nq]
;W[pp]
;B[om]
(;W[ol]
;B[pq]
;W[or]
;B[mq])
(;W[oo]
;B[ol]
;W[ok]
;B[pk]))
(;W[qo]
;B[rp]
(;W[pq]
;B[po])
(;W[po]
;B[pq]
;W[oq]
;B[pr]
;W[or]
;B[qr])))
(;W[rp]C[Feels like a mistake for White.]
;B[pq]))
(;B[og]
;W[pe]
;B[qf]C[If White connects, he's still pretty heavy, and the right side starts to look good.]
;W[oe]
;B[ph]
;W[ng]
;B[oh]C[Black seems very satisfied about the game right now.]))
(;W[dr]
;B[oq]
;W[fq]
;B[qo]C[Big enough? Probably, hard to call. Still haven't really worked out if Q6 was bad or not.]))
(;W[cr]
;B[cq]
;W[ap]
;B[bq]
;W[br]
;B[dr]
;W[aq]
;B[dq]C[Now Black is in a lot of trouble ...]
;W[gq]
;B[fq]
;W[hp]))
(;B[dr]
;W[fq]
;B[er]
(;W[gp])
(;W[gq]C[F4 now has a lot of aji.])))
(;B[dr]
;W[fq]
;B[er]
;W[fp]C[White is very thick.]))
(;W[gc]
;B[ec]
;W[hd]C[Now Black still needs to create eyespace and L16 is easy to attack.]))
(;B[ch]
;W[ci]
;B[cg]
;W[bi]
;B[fc]
;W[gc]
;B[ec]
;W[gb]
;B[ld]C[Black should at least endeavour to make some exchanges first rather than get sealed in. This early tenuki feels like Black's first clear mistake.]))
(;W[dc]
;B[cc]
;W[ec]
;B[cb]
;W[jc]C[This seemed more natural, but White feels behind either way now.]))
(;W[dd]
;B[cd]
;W[cc]
;B[ce]
;W[bc]
;B[ci]C[Here I'm happy keeping C5, D5 and G7 in a poor position and disrupting the board, although White has a nice enough corner that this feels better than the game line to me for White.]))
(;B[co]
;W[cm]
;B[dq]C[This position feels happier for Black now. White seems unco-ordinated.]))

[The Intrepid]

$$Wcm64 Prisoners:
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X . X O X O . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . X . O X . O X X . . . O X X . . |
$$ | . . . X O . . . O . . . . O X X X . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . O . . . . O X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . . . . . . . . O O X . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . O . . X . . . O . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . O O O O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | O X X X O X . . . , . . . O . , X . . |
$$ | . O X O X . . . . . . . . . . 1 O . . |
$$ | . . X . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wcm64 Prisoners:
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X . X O X O . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . X . O X . O X X . . . O X X . . |
$$ | . . . X O . . . O . . . . O X X X . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . O . . . . O X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . . . . . . . . O O X . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . O . . X . . . O . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . O O O O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | O X X X O X . . . , . . . O . , X . . |
$$ | . O X O X . . . . . . . . . . 1 O . . |
$$ | . . X . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

If I haned, I was worried that I'd give Black too many cuts, cross-cuts, and whatnot. This could let Black live too easily. The solid extension, by contrast, reduces Black's options and leaves Black with only one eye on the side, forcing a running battle. The following is a possible sequence:

$$Bc
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . X X . . |
$$ . . . . . . O . . |
$$ . . . O . O . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . 5 . X . . . |
$$ . . . . . . 3 . . |
$$ . 6 . O . 2 X . . |
$$ . . . . . O O 1 . |
$$ . . . . . . . 4 . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Bc
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . X X . . |
$$ . . . . . . O . . |
$$ . . . O . O . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . 5 . X . . . |
$$ . . . . . . 3 . . |
$$ . 6 . O . 2 X . . |
$$ . . . . . O O 1 . |
$$ . . . . . . . 4 . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ------------------[/go]

[topazg]

$$Wcm64 Prisoners:
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X . X O X O . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . X . O X . O X X . . . O X X . . |
$$ | . . . X O . . . O . . . . O X X X . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . O . . . . O X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . . . . . . . . O O X . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . O . . X . . . O . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . O O O O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | O X X X O X . . . , . . . O . , X . . |
$$ | . O X O X . . . . . . . . . . 1 O 2 . |
$$ | . . X . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wcm64 Prisoners:
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X . X O X O . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . X . O X . O X X . . . O X X . . |
$$ | . . . X O . . . O . . . . O X X X . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . O . . . . O X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . . . . . . . . O O X . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . O . . X . . . O . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . O O O O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | O X X X O X . . . , . . . O . , X . . |
$$ | . O X O X . . . . . . . . . . 1 O 2 . |
$$ | . . X . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

[The Intrepid]

$$Wcm66 Prisoners:
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X . X O X O . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . X . O X . O X X . . . O X X . . |
$$ | . . . X O . . . O . . . . O X X X . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . O . . . . O X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . . . . . . . . O O X . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . O . . X . . . O . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . O O O O . . . . . . . . . . . 2 . . |
$$ | O X X X O X . . . , . . . O . 1 X . . |
$$ | . O X O X . . . . . . . . . . O O X . |
$$ | . . X . X . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wcm66 Prisoners:
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X . X O X O . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . X . O X . O X X . . . O X X . . |
$$ | . . . X O . . . O . . . . O X X X . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . O . . . . O X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . . . . . . . . O O X . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . O . . X . . . O . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . O O O O . . . . . . . . . . . 2 . . |
$$ | O X X X O X . . . , . . . O . 1 X . . |
$$ | . O X O X . . . . . . . . . . O O X . |
$$ | . . X . X . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

The order of moves is important.
For instance, if hane first, Black could choose this variation, essentially guaranteeing life to the Black group.

$$Wc
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . X X . . |
$$ . . . . . . O . . |
$$ . . . O . O . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . X . . . |
$$ . . . . . 4 . 2 . |
$$ . . . O . 3 X . . |
$$ . . . . . O O X . |
$$ . . . . . . . 1 . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . X X . . |
$$ . . . . . . O . . |
$$ . . . O . O . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . X . . . |
$$ . . . . . 4 . 2 . |
$$ . . . O . 3 X . . |
$$ . . . . . O O X . |
$$ . . . . . . . 1 . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ------------------[/go]

[topazg]

$$Wcm66 Prisoners:
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X . X O X O . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . X . O X . O X X . . . O X X . . |
$$ | . . . X O . . . O . . . . O X X X . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . O . . . . O X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . . . . . . . . O O X . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . O . . X . . . O . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . O O O O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | O X X X O X . . . , . . . O . 1 X 2 . |
$$ | . O X O X . . . . . . . . . . O O X . |
$$ | . . X . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wcm66 Prisoners:
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X . X O X O . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . X . O X . O X X . . . O X X . . |
$$ | . . . X O . . . O . . . . O X X X . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . O . . . . O X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . . . . . . . . O O X . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . O . . X . . . O . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . O O O O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | O X X X O X . . . , . . . O . 1 X 2 . |
$$ | . O X O X . . . . . . . . . . O O X . |
$$ | . . X . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

That looks like a White mistake to me... life is now guaranteed locally, which is handy!

$$Wcm66 Prisoners:
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X . X O X O . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . X . O X . O X X . . . O X X . . |
$$ | . . . X O . . . O . . . . O X X X . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . O . . . . O X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . . . . . . . . O O X . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O 7 . |
$$ | . . . . . . O . . X . . . O . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X a 8 . |
$$ | . O O O O . . . . . . . . . . . . . b |
$$ | O X X X O X . . . , . c . O . 1 X 2 . |
$$ | . O X O X . . . . . . c . . . O O X . |
$$ | . . X . X . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 4 |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 . |
$$ ---------------------------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wcm66 Prisoners:
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X . X O X O . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . X . O X . O X X . . . O X X . . |
$$ | . . . X O . . . O . . . . O X X X . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . O . . . . O X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . . . . . . . . O O X . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O 7 . |
$$ | . . . . . . O . . X . . . O . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X a 8 . |
$$ | . O O O O . . . . . . . . . . . . . b |
$$ | O X X X O X . . . , . c . O . 1 X 2 . |
$$ | . O X O X . . . . . . c . . . O O X . |
$$ | . . X . X . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 4 |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

I don't see it as possible for White to prevent Black getting an eye at "a" and another at "b", which means I'll probably think about playing around "c"

[The Intrepid]

Change of plans. There probably isn't much substantive difference between the moves, hopefully, but I better check.

[The Intrepid]

$$Wcm68 Prisoners:
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X . X O X O . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . X . O X . O X X . . . O X X . . |
$$ | . . . X O . . . O . . . . O X X X . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . O . . . . O X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . . . . . . . . O O X . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . O . . X . . . O . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . O O O O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | O X X X O X . . . , . . . O . O X X . |
$$ | . O X O X . . . . . . . . . . O O X . |
$$ | . . X . X . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wcm68 Prisoners:
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X . X O X O . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . X . O X . O X X . . . O X X . . |
$$ | . . . X O . . . O . . . . O X X X . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . O . . . . O X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . . . . . . . . O O X . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . O . . X . . . O . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . O O O O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | O X X X O X . . . , . . . O . O X X . |
$$ | . O X O X . . . . . . . . . . O O X . |
$$ | . . X . X . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

I guess topazg could try to live here--but only at the cost of harming the two Black stones above. The price for life might be too steep. Naturally, he might simply jump, leaving the aji in the position for when he truly needs it.

[topazg]

$$Wcm68 Prisoners:
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X . X O X O . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . X . O X . O X X . . . O X X . . |
$$ | . . . X O . . . O . . . . O X X X . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . O . . . . O X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . . . . . . . . O O X . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . O . . X . . . O . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . O O O O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | O X X X O X . . . , . . . O . O X X . |
$$ | . O X O X . . . . . . . . . . O O X . |
$$ | . . X . X . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wcm68 Prisoners:
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . X X . X O X O . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . X . O X . O X X . . . O X X . . |
$$ | . . . X O . . . O . . . . O X X X . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . O . . . . O X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . O . . . . . . . . O O X . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . O . . X . . . O . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . O O O O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | O X X X O X . . . , . . . O . O X X . |
$$ | . O X O X . . . . . . . . . . O O X . |
$$ | . . X . X . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

[The Intrepid]

Black threatens to connect, as the cutting stone at has nowhere to run and, thus, would get captured in short order (and, besides, Black would already be alive on both sides even if were to survive).

$$Bc
$$ -------------------
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ X O . . . O X . . |
$$ X . . . O X X . . |
$$ . . . O X X X . . |
$$ . . . . O X . . . |
$$ . . . . O O X . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . X X 6 . |
$$ . . . . . 4 O 1 . |
$$ . . . O . O 3 2 7 |
$$ . . . . . . X 5 . |
$$ . . . . . X . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . O . O X X . |
$$ . . . . . O O X . |
$$ . . . . . . . O . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Bc
$$ -------------------
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ X O . . . O X . . |
$$ X . . . O X X . . |
$$ . . . O X X X . . |
$$ . . . . O X . . . |
$$ . . . . O O X . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . . . X X 6 . |
$$ . . . . . 4 O 1 . |
$$ . . . O . O 3 2 7 |
$$ . . . . . . X 5 . |
$$ . . . . . X . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . O . O X X . |
$$ . . . . . O O X . |
$$ . . . . . . . O . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ------------------[/go]

However, I think I can simply extend downward. This move not only prevents the connection, but also threatens to cut off Black's two stones from the stones above them.

$$Wc tenuki
$$ -------------------
$$ . . . . . . . . 2 |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ X O . . . O X . . |
$$ X . . . O X X . . |
$$ . . . O X X X . . |
$$ . . . . O X 6 . . |
$$ . . . . O O X 5 . |
$$ . . . . . 4 3 . . |
$$ . . . . . . . 7 . |
$$ . . . . . X X . . |
$$ . . . . . . O 1 . |
$$ . . . O . O . . . |
$$ . . . . . . X . . |
$$ . . . . . X . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . O . O X X . |
$$ . . . . . O O X . |
$$ . . . . . . . O . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc tenuki
$$ -------------------
$$ . . . . . . . . 2 |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ X O . . . O X . . |
$$ X . . . O X X . . |
$$ . . . O X X X . . |
$$ . . . . O X 6 . . |
$$ . . . . O O X 5 . |
$$ . . . . . 4 3 . . |
$$ . . . . . . . 7 . |
$$ . . . . . X X . . |
$$ . . . . . . O 1 . |
$$ . . . O . O . . . |
$$ . . . . . . X . . |
$$ . . . . . X . . . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ . . . O . O X X . |
$$ . . . . . O O X . |
$$ . . . . . . . O . |
$$ . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ------------------[/go]

To be honest, I am a bit surprised that topazg has, so far, refused so strongly and sternly to jump and fight. I surmise that he worries about giving me too much territory along the bottom, but living small (like he seems intent on doing)--and at the expense of the other stones on the right side--might turn out to be a significantly worse choice. Well, we'll see.