Kirby's Study Journal

[xed_over]

So my company gives out these cards - they're called "ORCA" cards. Basically, they let you ride public transportation for free.

they're not free -- your company is paying for them. and if you forget to "tap-off" the train or light-rail, then your company is charged for the full ride, rather than your actual destination.

but its definitely a benefit you should take advantage of.

[Kirby]

they're not free -- your company is paying for them. and if you forget to "tap-off" the train or light-rail, then your company is charged for the full ride, rather than your actual destination.

Yes, if it was not clear from the context of what I wrote, the cards permit me to ride public transportation free of charge to me.

[Kirby]

What happened before the game:

Yesterday I didn't play a game online. I went to the Seattle Go Center to play. I've gone only a couple of times before, and usually I drive. These days I've been taking the bus (with my ORCA card), so I decided to try out going by bus. Unfortunately, I had to stay kind of late at work, and traffic was busy, so it took almost an hour to get there.

I got to the center, and almost everyone was playing games. I saw a gentleman watching another two playing, and asked him if he played, since he seemed like the only person watching a game and not playing. I didn't know him, but I guess he was a stronger player. When I told him my rank, he suggested a 4-stone handicap, with me being black.

We played the following approximate game:

(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]ST[2]
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]HA[4]KM[0.00]
PW[club player]PB[me]AB[dd][pd][dp][pp]C[I played this game at the club. I was black, taking 4 stones. I don't remember the game precisely, so some moves might be mixed up.

I also don't remember the endgame. In the end, I won by one point.]
;W[cn]
;B[fq]
;W[bp]C[Hmm. He's stronger than me, but I'll try to start fighting immediately.]
;B[cm]
;W[dm]
;B[cl]
;W[dn]C[This is a joseki... But I forgot how it goes. D8 is nice to play locally, but it seems his hane at E8 will only make F3 weaker.

To avoid this, I'll simply make a base with C11.]
;B[ci]
;W[cq]C[If I d3, he'll attack. Just stretch out.]
;B[iq]
;W[qn]C[O4 is not bad. However, with a handi game, I feel he'll later invade at M3, and maybe even get 3-3.

To avoid this, I'll do Q8. He'll jump out, I get my O4, then he does S4, I do R3, nice and easy.]
;B[pl]
;W[on]
;B[np]
;W[pi]C[Hmm. He doesn't play that way. I could R5 or something. Seems kind of like aji keshi.

I don't know how to respond here... So I'll tenuki.

K16.]
;B[jd]
;W[lp]C[I want to split him around N5... But he can do funny business with P3. I want to deter that. So I'll kick at N3, he M3, then N5.

He might cut at N4, but then I O5. Sure, he can capture N3, but I split him.]
;B[mq]
;W[lq]
;B[mo]
;W[kn]C[Hmm, can't try to cut. That wouldn't be great... Keep him split.]
;B[nm]C[Seems aggressive, but maybe if he tries to force himself out, I get to fix my shape.]
;W[rp]C[Hmm. R3 doesn't do much for territory since he has P3 business... But I want to keep eyespace on R6 low.]
;B[qq]
;W[rl]C[Hmm. He chose not to break out. I guess I'll fix my shape manually...

Gote.]
;B[ml]
;W[er]C[Hmm, he wants to attack these stones. I will jump out instead.]
;B[io]
;W[jp]C[Hmm. K3 or something? No, that's silly. Just connect.]
;B[ip]
;W[lm]C[Hmm. Threatens to cut me... I guess I can M6. Then if he ataris at M5, I'm connected for free by fixing.

If he ataris with N6, miai to cut through at L5 and connect at O6.]
;B[ln]
;W[km]C[Oh yeah, he doesn't have to atari. :-p

I guess I should fix the connection, then... Painful and bad shape, but oh well.]
;B[mm]C[In retrospect, N6 may have been a better way to connect.]
;W[im]C[OK, more pressure on these stones. Contact play to get eyespace... Can he cut if I attach? I might be OK since I can try to threaten L6.]
;B[fr]
;W[eq]
;B[hm]
;W[hl]
;B[in]
;W[il]
;B[gm]C[OK, try to get eyespace!]
;W[ii]C[(**I think he played something like this - I don't quite remember.**)]
;B[gl]
;W[go]C[Hmm. I can capture can't I? Just F5, then he f6 i g6 he f4 i e5. if he e4, i cut at g4, and if he g4, i cut at e4, and he has only 3 liberties.

(**Post-game thinking: Of course, I forgot about the liberties of F3.**)]
;B[fo]
;W[fn]
;B[gn]
;W[fp]
;B[eo]
;W[gp]C[Woops. Ah well, at least I can E6. He F7, I e7, he f8, i f9 he e8, i d8 he e9, i e10 and it's a ladder.]
;B[en]
;W[dl]C[Hmm. I don't want to play that game... I guess I need eyespace.]
;B[gq]
;W[ep]
;B[hr]
;W[jq]
;B[jr]
;W[mr]C[Hmm. I O2, then he can N4. If I save the stone, he can cut at O5. I can't quite capture him. I wish I had a stone at N6.
It's slow, but I'll play there. Then I can threaten to cut at L5 or K7.]
;B[mn]
;W[oq]C[Deal with this...]
;B[op]
;W[kr]
;B[rq]
;W[qp]
;B[or]C[Hmm, I guess he gave me this stone.]
;W[nr]
;B[nq]
;W[fm]
;B[js]
;W[kj]C[OK, now threaten both.]
;B[jn]
;W[ko]C[I guess K7 is not much of a threat.]
;B[jm]
;W[jl]
;B[mj]
;W[lk]C[Well, I will protect with P10 instead.]
;B[oj]
;W[qk]
;B[gk]
;W[qf]C[He's already strong on right. I'll kick.]
;B[qe]
;W[pf]C[Now try to grab territory.]
;B[nc]
;W[fc]C[Ditto.]
;B[ec]
;W[fd]
;B[df]
;W[ff]C[Attack.]
;B[fh]
;W[jb]
;B[ge]
;W[fe]
;B[hb]
;W[eb]
;B[db]
;W[hc]C[Take away his eyespace!]
;B[gb]
;W[fb]
;B[gc]
;W[gd]
;B[ic]
;W[hd]
;B[ib])

After the game, he suggested that I study joseki.

What happened after the game:

I met L19's very own Dusk Eagle, and also a PhD student at UW named Dan. We had a nice chat, and then I tried to follow my handwritten instructions on how to take the bus home.

I had some issues getting to the bus stop I wanted to use for transferring, and I was 5 minutes late to the bus for my transfer. I waited for an hour to get on the last bus. Finally I was aboard, but the bus ran out of batteries, and we had to wait for another bus.

It was after 1am when I got home, and I went to bed around 2:30. I had an appointment at the dentist at 8am, and then went to work. So, I was pretty tired the whole day today.

Nonetheless, I had a great time, and plan on going again by bus next Tuesday if things work out.

[Kirby]

Which brings us to today...

(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]ST[2]
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]KM[6.50]TM[60]OT[3x10 byo-yomi]
PW[other_person]PB[me]WR[1k]BR[1k]DT[2013-06-20]C[I played black.]RE[W+30.50]
;B[pd]BL[55.316]
;W[dq]WL[56.564]
;B[dd]BL[47.71]
;W[qp]WL[53.948]
;B[do]BL[44.253]
;W[cm]WL[51.065]C[Hmm. I don't know what move to play. I guess I'll tenuki and play P4.]
;B[op]BL[37.198]
;W[oq]WL[46.801]
;B[nq]BL[30.103]
;W[pq]WL[45.882]C[Hmm. Now it might work out if I had stones around E3. So I'll play C3. If he cuts at C4, I can do D4, and will probably get E3.

(**Post-game thinking: I had limited thought about the joseki. There are several choices when I play C3, and I only considered one of them.**)]
;B[cq]BL[13.493]
;W[cr]WL[42.015]
;B[cp]BL[10.548]
;W[er]WL[40.712]C[OK, D5 stone is not that weak, so I'll ocntinue bottom right.

I could play O4... But N4 might be OK, because J3 wouldn't be bad, with a followup maybe at F3.]
;B[mp]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[qn]WL[35.994]
;B[iq]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[fp]WL[30.804]C[OK, D5 getting weaker. I'll attach to get some help, but then play J5 to help bottom.]
;B[fo]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[go]WL[27.501]
;B[fn]BL[10]OB[2]C[OK, when he does H4, I play J5. He can J5, though, so it's not idea. I must've made a mistake.]
;W[dn]WL[16.311]C[Hmm, he ignored, I 'll cut.
(**Post-game thinking: Maybe E4 is better. It's not huge to help J3, although desirable. It's urgent to help F6, though.**)]
;B[gp]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[hp]WL[9.109]
;B[gq]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[fq]WL[7.102]
;B[hq]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[eo]WL[4.668]C[OK, he cut me. Not much time to think, but not the end of the world. I can see if I can get anything from it.]
;B[en]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[ep]WL[2.938]C[Hmm, no time to think. Just a couple of seconds. OK, Q5 is probably a move he'll respond to, so I'll do that to buy time.]
;B[po]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[qo]WL[10]OW[3]C[Hmm, hard to sac D5.. Any way I can live? I guess I'll try.

(**Post-game thinking: Maybe I should still sac them.**)]
;B[cn]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[dm]WL[10]OW[3]
;B[bn]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[dp]WL[10]OW[3]
;B[bm]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[bl]WL[10]OW[3]C[Hmm, maybe get some srot of cut at C8, then try to live..?]
;B[br]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[bs]WL[10]OW[3]
;B[ar]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[co]WL[10]OW[3]C[Hmm, not quite enough eyespace: B5 A7 A4, B3 is sente for capturing two stones...
Still, no time, so I'll defend.]
;B[bo]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[bq]WL[10]OW[3]C[Hmm, so a few more seconds of thinking, and maybe I can play D5, and exploit C8 cut somehow via ko? Get something from ko threat? I dunno.

Gotta play!]
;B[do]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[aq]WL[10]OW[3]C[Woah, he captured those. Ah well, another ko threat.]
;B[cl]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[bk]WL[10]OW[3]C[OK.. Sucks to lose bottom left corner, but maybe make him walk along 2nd line. I have potential in bottom, so maybe I can use that and left side to make up for this..?]
;B[dl]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[co]WL[10]OW[3]
;B[bp]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[as]WL[10]OW[3]
;B[do]BL[10]OB[2]C[(**Post-game thinking: Maybe it's better to just E7, he fills, then I play C10.

It's a little bad shape around E8 cut, but at least I get some central power... ]
;W[em]WL[10]OW[3]
;B[cj]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[fm]WL[10]OW[3]
;B[gn]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[bj]WL[10]OW[3]
;B[ci]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[bi]WL[10]OW[3]
;B[ch]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[bh]WL[10]OW[3]C[Can I capture? I dunno, let's try.]
;B[bg]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[ap]WL[10]OW[3]C[Hmm, not so many liberties for me... Get central power..?]
;B[ah]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[ao]WL[10]OW[3]
;B[gm]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[fl]WL[10]OW[3]
;B[hk]BL[10]OB[2]C[OK. Bad to lose bottom left, but keep going for central power, maybe can turn this around!]
;W[fk]WL[10]OW[3]
;B[hi]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[kp]WL[10]OW[3]C[OK, probably can kill this.]
;B[lq]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[kq]WL[10]OW[3]
;B[mn]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[kn]WL[10]OW[3]
;B[lm]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[km]WL[10]OW[3]
;B[kl]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[jl]WL[10]OW[3]
;B[jk]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[kk]WL[10]OW[3]
;B[ll]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[ik]WL[10]OW[3]
;B[jj]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[hl]WL[10]OW[3]C[Ah, he wants J10, J8, G8, G9, H10 H5...

I guess I take what I can get with K8.]
;B[jm]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[im]WL[10]OW[3]C[Hmm, tricky. Ok, I'll just take these stones at L6.]
;B[jn]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[in]WL[10]OW[3]C[Wait a sec. What if he does H5, again? Oh no... Better start ko again.]
;B[il]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[jo]WL[10]OW[3]C[Hmm, this works, cause I can either capture H5, or cut at one of his two cutting points.]
;B[jl]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[gl]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[ho]BL[10]OB[2]C[(**Post-game thinking: I think J5 was better.**)]
;W[io]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[hm]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[ip]WL[10]OW[2]C[Hmm.. K2? K3? I guess K3 takes away eyespace.]
;B[jq]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[kr]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[jr]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[gr]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[hr]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[is]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[gs]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[fr]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[js]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[hs]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[ir]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[hs]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[lr]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[ks]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[jp]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[ko]WL[10]OW[2]C[Woops, not enough liberties.. Hurts a bit, but at least I have central power...

I've made two big strikes. 3 strikes and I'm out. I say I have about 20% chance of winning here.

Let's go for it.]
;B[pj]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[jd]WL[10]OW[2]C[OK.

Switch to super-duper aggressive mode. I've got to benefit from central power fast in order to make up for those two dead groups.]
;B[hd]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[md]WL[10]OW[2]C[Yeah, he probably lives, but give me points, points, points!]
;B[of]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[jf]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[ke]BL[10]OB[2]C[mercd [1k\]: sorry lag
]
;W[kd]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[le]BL[10]OB[2]C[(**Post-game thinking: Probably a bad move.**)]
;W[je]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[ld]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[lc]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[lg]BL[10]OB[2]C[OK, now we're seeing some points... But can I get enough to compensate for the two groups?]
;W[nc]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[pb]BL[10]OB[2]C[More points. Gotta keep it up.]
;W[hf]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[gf]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[he]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[ge]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[hc]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[gc]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[id]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[gd]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[hb]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[dc]BL[10]OB[2]C[More points. Keep it coming in!]
;W[me]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[mf]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[kg]WL[10]OW[2]C[Hmm, saving M15 is so gote, and for what? I think R8 is bigger.]
;B[ql]BL[10]OB[2]C[OK, I've got lots of points... Maybe I have a 50% chance, now.]
;W[oh]WL[10]OW[2]C[OK, this is it. I've got to kill this stone. If I kill it, I think I win.

Otherwise, I guess I lose.]
;B[qg]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[lh]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[mh]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[mi]WL[10]OW[2]C[Oh no you don't. I'll take it all.]
;B[kh]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[li]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[mg]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[oe]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[pe]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[pl]WL[10]OW[2]C[Play solidly...]
;B[pk]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[ol]WL[10]OW[2]C[OK, that's too much, dude. You've already got two of my groups. I've gotta cut you off.]
;B[qm]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[pn]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[pm]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[on]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[om]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[nn]WL[10]OW[2]C[Ok, just O7. Wait a sec. He can cut at N5. Then I have two cutting points at M4 and M6. I've gotta protect it.

(**Post-game thinking: I was wrong, of course. He has a shortage of liberties from earlier. If I block him off, I have a lot more points. *See variation* **)]
(;B[mo]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[nm]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[nl]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[ml]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[nk]BL[10]OB[2]
;W[mm]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[ln]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[mk]WL[10]OW[2]C[So he connects here, and wins by around 30 points.

That's the game.]
;B[nj]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[mj]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[ni]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[hg]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[gg]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[hh]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[gh]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[fi]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[eh]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[gi]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[ij]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[gb]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[fb]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[fa]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[eb]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[ob]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[oc]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[od]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[pc]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[nf]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[og]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[nb]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[ne]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[nd]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[ng]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[pa]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[qa]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[oa]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[rb]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[rm]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[rl]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[rn]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[lf]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[jh]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[ki]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[kj]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[ji]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[ih]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[lk]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[lj]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[nr]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[or]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[ls]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[hn]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[ej]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[gj]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[hj]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[fh]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[fg]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[ei]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[dh]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[sl]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[sk]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[sm]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[rk]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[ai]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[ag]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[am]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[al]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[an]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[ck]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[ek]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[dj]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[ea]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[da]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[ga]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[os]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[ps]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[ns]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[oo]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[np]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[pp]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[qr]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[pr]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[rq]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[rp]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[jg]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[kf]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[ne]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[db]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[cb]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[nf]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[gk]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[fj]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[ne]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[ca]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[ba]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[nf]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[ak]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[co]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[ne]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[qb]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[qc]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[nf]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[lp]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[go]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[ne]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[ra]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[sa]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[nf]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[ne]WL[10]OW[2]
;B[]BL[10]OB[1]
;W[]WL[10]OW[2]TW[ha][ia][ja][ka][la][ma][na][ib][jb][kb][lb][mb][ic][jc][kc][mc][ie][if][ig][jg][aj][ak][al][bm][gm][hm][bn][cn][en][fn][gn][sn][bo][do][fo][ho][po][ro][so][bp][cp][gp][jp][sp][cq][eq][gq][hq][iq][jq][qq][rq][sq][ar][br][dr][hr][ir][jr][qr][rr][sr][cs][ds][es][fs][gs][is][js][qs][rs][ss]TB[aa][ca][ra][ab][bb][db][qb][sb][ac][bc][cc][ec][fc][rc][sc][ad][bd][cd][ed][fd][qd][rd][sd][ae][be][ce][de][ee][fe][qe][re][se][af][bf][cf][df][ef][ff][pf][qf][rf][sf][cg][dg][eg][pg][rg][sg][nh][oh][ph][qh][rh][sh][oi][pi][qi][ri][si][oj][qj][rj][sj][ik][ok][qk][ol][pl][mq][mr][ms])
(;B[nm]
;W[mo]
;B[lo]
;W[no]
;B[ln]
;W[lp]
;B[ls]))

[Shaddy]

18 hurts me.

[Kirby]

18 hurts me.

I wish I was skilled enough to understand your meaning.

[Shaddy]

Sorry, it's the game against Dusk Eagle

[Kirby]

Sorry, it's the game against Dusk Eagle

The game I played at the club was not against Dusk Eagle. Presumably, the player is around 6d. In any case, move 18 may be bad - it seems kind of like aji keshi. But to be honest, I got the idea from a pro game I saw. I don't have the exact game, but here is example of what I saw in a pro game:

http://eidogo.com/#11Rd4s:0,33

Admittedly, this position is slightly different, as I have an additional stone in the area. However, the shape seemed similar, and I still wanted to split him. I'd be happy to hear about why the pro position is good, and why it is not good in this case.

Here are some other examples of the shape I was thinking of:
http://eidogo.com/#search:sw:6x5:.4x.4x.o.4xo.12

[Kirby]

The only example I can see of something more similar to the pattern I have is here with this game between Sakai Takeshi 9p and Yokata Shigeaki 7p on move 19:

(;GM[1]FF[4]SZ[19]CA[UTF-8]
PW[Sakai Takeshi]
PB[Yokota Shigeaki]
WR[9p]
BR[7p]
HA[0]
RU[Japanese]
KM[5.5]
RE[B+]
EV[Tengen, 18th]
DT[1992-03-05]
RO[Round 1]
;B[qd];W[dd];B[eq];W[pp];B[fc];W[df];B[kd];W[cp];B[ch];W[hp];B[fe];W[eg];B[cm];W[ep];B[dj];W[dq];B[gg];W[cg];B[dh];W[dc];B[qn];W[bg];B[pf];W[pk];B[on];W[np];B[mn];W[mk];B[ok];W[pj];B[ol];W[ph];B[mj];W[nh];B[nf];W[lh];B[lj];W[lo];B[ql];W[jh];B[lf];W[hh];B[hg];W[ig];B[gh];W[if];B[hi];W[id];B[he];W[ie];B[kc];W[ij];B[ki];W[kh];B[ii];W[ji];B[jj];W[jk];B[kj];W[ik];B[ib];W[gd];B[fd];W[gf];B[ff];W[gi];B[hj];W[fi];B[eh];W[nj];B[kl];W[ll];B[oj];W[ni];B[kk];W[hk];B[ih];W[lm];B[hm];W[gj];B[hh];W[im];B[jl];W[il];B[in];W[jm];B[km];W[ln];B[jn];W[gl];B[kn];W[gn];B[ip];W[hq];B[iq];W[kq];B[hr];W[ho];B[kr];W[lr];B[lq];W[mq];B[gq];W[gr])

While it's true that I played this shape because it seemed similar to what I saw a pro play, I don't know *why* any of these are good or bad.

So to anyone that knows out there... Please discuss

[mitsun]

18 hurts me.

I wish I was skilled enough to understand your meaning.

This may sound a little schizophrenic, but ...

$$ Good or bad for B?
$$ | . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . .
$$ | . . O 2 . . .
$$ | . . 1 . . . .
$$ | . . . X . . .
$$ | . . . . . . .

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$ Good or bad for B?
$$ | . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . .
$$ | . . O 2 . . .
$$ | . . 1 . . . .
$$ | . . . X . . .
$$ | . . . . . . .[/go]

In this position, the exchange 1-2 might be good or bad, depending on the situation above. It could be good if it makes W over-concentrated, or if B can prevent W from making a base above and gets to launch a useful attack.

$$ Bad for B?
$$ | . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . .
$$ | . . 2 O . . .
$$ | . . 1 . . . .
$$ | . . . X . . .
$$ | . . . . . . .

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$ Bad for B?
$$ | . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . .
$$ | . . 2 O . . .
$$ | . . 1 . . . .
$$ | . . . X . . .
$$ | . . . . . . .[/go]

But in this position, the exchange 1-2 just feels submissive and bad, at least early in the game. It may look like an attacking move, if B has strength above (as in your game), but it generally helps W more than B.

[Kirby]

...
This may sound a little schizophrenic, but ...

$$ Good or bad for B?
$$ | . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . .
$$ | . . O 2 . . .
$$ | . . 1 . . . .
$$ | . . . X . . .
$$ | . . . . . . .

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$ Good or bad for B?
$$ | . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . .
$$ | . . O 2 . . .
$$ | . . 1 . . . .
$$ | . . . X . . .
$$ | . . . . . . .[/go]

In this position, the exchange 1-2 might be good or bad, depending on the situation above. It could be good if it makes W over-concentrated, or if B can prevent W from making a base above and gets to launch a useful attack.

$$ Bad for B?
$$ | . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . .
$$ | . . 2 O . . .
$$ | . . 1 . . . .
$$ | . . . X . . .
$$ | . . . . . . .

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$ Bad for B?
$$ | . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . .
$$ | . . 2 O . . .
$$ | . . 1 . . . .
$$ | . . . X . . .
$$ | . . . . . . .[/go]

But in this position, the exchange 1-2 just feels submissive and bad, at least early in the game. It may look like an attacking move, if B has strength above (as in your game), but it generally helps W more than B.

Thank you for the comments, but could you elaborate a little more on this position, including as is shown in the pro games I linked? The only thing I feel I've learned is that the exchange is bad in my game, but there's not really an explanation of why.

For example, yeah I get that kicking can make white over-concentrated and heavy, as in this popular example:

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

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

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

This makes sense to me. Yes, white gets over-concentrated, and we can work to attack him. The move on the bottom star point helps with that attack. I've heard this a lot, and sure, it makes sense.

But now that I've had the chance, I've located the precise game I was thinking of when I made this move. It's a game between Lee Changho and Komatsu Hideki from 1988. Here is the board position:

$$c
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . X O X . O . . |
$$ | . . X , . O . . . , . . O X . X O . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . c 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O a 3 . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . b 2 X . . . O . . O . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$c
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . X O X . O . . |
$$ | . . X , . O . . . , . . O X . X O . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . c 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O a 3 . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . b 2 X . . . O . . O . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

So sure, we could argue that here is to make black over-concentrated to attack. But when I first saw this pro game, I didn't think that white could really attack black very much.

Why?

Because after black plays 'a', there are two cutting points at 'b' and at 'c'. So when I was reviewing this pro game, I thought to myself, "Why would he play and if he can't attack black?"

The answer I came up with was that white wanted to get out into the center and not be sealed in. The two cutting points at 'b' and 'c' were bait so that white could strengthen himself.

Sure enough, as the game proceeded:

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

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

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

So what has white accomplished here? He has very little attack on black, on either side. All that it really seems to have done is to get him out into the center.

So, in my feeble mind, I imagined that this was the point of such a move.

So let's compare this to the board position I was in:

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

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

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

In my mind's eye, I imagined that the same thing can happen here as what happened in the pro game I saw:

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

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

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

Of course, white doesn't have to play that way, but it seemed like the same concept. There are two weak points at 'a' and 'b', and I want to get into the center:

$$c
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . X . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O O . . . . . . . . . . O . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . X b . . . . . |
$$ | . O . X . . . . . , . O a X . X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . B . . B . . O X . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

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

How is this different than the pro game I posted? I suppose one difference could be that the marked stones are weaker now.

Let's suppose the board position was slightly different:

$$c
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . X . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . O O O . . . . . . . . . . O . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . |
$$ | . O . X . . . . . , . O . X . X . . . |
$$ | . . X . . X . . X . . O X . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$c
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . X . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . O O O . . . . . . . . . . O . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . |
$$ | . O . X . . . . . , . O . X . X . . . |
$$ | . . X . . X . . X . . O X . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Would it be OK to play the sequence now?

I understand that what you're saying in that the kick has potential to help white. But what I really don't get is the reason it was OK in the pro's game, and how it really differs from my situation. What was the rationale in the pro game? It certainly didn't seem like an attacking strategy there.

Again, my previous idea was that the pro's intention was to get out into the center, while preventing funny business in the corner. I thought I had a similar play here.

But...?

[Kirby]

Well, aside from the talk about move 18 in my other game, here's a game I just played today. I lost by a few points.

(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]ST[2]
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]KM[0.50]TM[1500]OT[5x30 byo-yomi]
PW[me]PB[adversary]WR[1k]BR[2k]DT[2013-06-21]C[I played white this game.]RE[B+3.50]
;B[pd]BL[1495.248]
;W[dp]WL[1495.887]
;B[qp]BL[1491.705]
;W[dd]WL[1491.081]
;B[cj]BL[1489.342]C[Hmm. I could play C6 or C7 first to induce him to play around C13 or so, then go for P4... But that seems to hurt D16.]
;W[op]WL[1484.177]
;B[oq]BL[1485.287]
;W[nq]WL[1482.983]
;B[pq]BL[1484.079]C[Again... could play C6 or c7 maybe.. Ah well, I'll connect at O4, then play K4 later.]
;W[np]WL[1448.718]
;B[qn]BL[1481.503]
;W[jp]WL[1427.26]
;B[fq]BL[1474.321]C[Ok, let's kick and attack :-p]
;W[eq]WL[1422.072]
;B[iq]BL[1472.437]C[Hmm. Seems bad for black, but I'll just answer.]
;W[jq]WL[1417.534]
;B[fp]BL[1470.623]
;W[dn]WL[1409.835]
;B[co]BL[1464.69]C[Hmm, doesn't help his group?]
;W[do]WL[1408.172]
;B[cn]BL[1462.967]C[OK, attack now.]
;W[fn]WL[1401.517]C[Post-game thinking: Maybe this isn't the best move to attack. Maybe D7 or something to threaten C6 stones, then attack from other side, maybe like H6 or something.]
;B[ho]BL[1460.461]C[F6 seemed like a weak way to attack.]
;W[hm]WL[1377.215]C[Ah well, let's just chase him and get some central influence.]
;B[in]BL[1457.434]
;W[jl]WL[1374.567]
;B[im]BL[1453.536]
;W[il]WL[1372.918]
;B[kn]BL[1451.928]
;W[ll]WL[1363.203]
;B[mn]BL[1447.345]
;W[on]WL[1354.133]
;B[nm]BL[1444.703]
;W[qm]WL[1347.116]
;B[om]BL[1440.072]C[Directly S6? Nah, O3 might get weak.]
;W[pn]WL[1342.241]
;B[rn]BL[1430.994]
;W[pm]WL[1339.479]
;B[nk]BL[1428.235]C[Chase and get territory!]
;W[pk]WL[1336.518]C[Post-game thinking: Q9 may not be the best. At least Q10 here might be better, but maybe this is even the wrong direction... Maybe return to C6 stones?]
;B[hl]BL[1422.843]
;W[hn]WL[1332.63]
;B[io]BL[1420.426]
;W[ki]WL[1326.75]C[Center power!]
;B[gl]BL[1417.344]
;W[fm]WL[1323.713]
;B[fl]BL[1411.454]C[Hmm, don't have a ton of central power, but maybe I can attack C6 and come back against F8.]
;W[cm]WL[1320.01]
;B[bm]BL[1409.044]
;W[bl]WL[1318.531]
;B[cl]BL[1406.916]
;W[dm]WL[1317.042]
;B[bk]BL[1404.121]
;W[bn]WL[1315.335]C[Post-game thinking: Maybe D8 is better. Get out into the middle and let him have C5.]
;B[al]BL[1402.489]
;W[bo]WL[1313.844]
;B[dl]BL[1396.499]C[Hmm. C3 would be annoying. Ah, E2, then.]
;W[er]WL[1309.346]
;B[lp]BL[1377.503]C[Shouldn't be a problem saving K3...]
;W[ir]WL[1304.076]
;B[hq]BL[1375.557]
;W[lq]WL[1301.928]
;B[hr]BL[1371.905]
;W[kr]WL[1282.951]
;B[pj]BL[1361.985]C[Hmm. Wants to play that way? Can't get territory on the right much, so let's cut him.]
;W[ok]WL[1276.436]
;B[oj]BL[1358.65]
;W[nj]WL[1274.415]
;B[mk]BL[1353.4]
;W[ni]WL[1272.073]
;B[qk]BL[1343.381]
;W[ql]WL[1267.964]
;B[ol]BL[1338.704]
;W[pl]WL[1266.576]
;B[rk]BL[1335.008]C[Can I kill him??]
;W[ml]WL[1260.48]
;B[nl]BL[1323.834]
;W[lj]WL[1242.072]
;B[km]BL[1319.024]
;W[kl]WL[1231.134]C[Post-game thinking: Maybe I don't even need to answer it...? L8 might have been slack.]
;B[is]BL[1317.322]
;W[jr]WL[1229.558]
;B[mp]BL[1315.498]
;W[nr]WL[1207.921]
;B[fr]BL[1307.198]
;W[ip]WL[1205.122]
;B[hp]BL[1303.372]
;W[ko]WL[1200.296]
;B[lo]BL[1296.676]
;W[jm]WL[1195.808]
;B[kp]BL[1285.548]
;W[jo]WL[1193.182]
;B[jn]BL[1283.228]
;W[lm]WL[1191.384]
;B[ln]BL[1280.45]C[OK, I can take away his eyes, but he can take mine, too...]
;W[nn]WL[1189.613]
;B[mm]BL[1277.3]
;W[or]WL[1126.705]
;B[pr]BL[1272.999]
;W[ls]WL[1121.853]
;B[mq]BL[1266.522]
;W[mr]WL[1120.29]
;B[kq]BL[1263.605]
;W[js]WL[1106.443]
;B[lr]BL[1260.652]
;W[hs]WL[1104.876]C[Yo ho ho, it's ko! I have some threats, though.]
;B[gs]BL[1254.844]
;W[lq]WL[1101.244]
;B[mj]BL[1216.332]
;W[mi]WL[1094.023]
;B[lr]BL[1214.786]
;W[qj]WL[1083.51]C[Post-game thinking: I don't actually have that good of threats, I think. He can ignore this and fill at M3. If I take Q10, he can play J1 and it's a ko that's very relaxing for him to get 9 stones...

OTOH, maybe 9 stones is small. I dunno.]
;B[qi]BL[1206.874]
;W[lq]WL[1078.607]
;B[gm]BL[1176.929]
;W[gn]WL[1062.135]
;B[lr]BL[1175.216]
;W[rj]WL[1023.1]
;B[ri]BL[1160.097]
;W[lq]WL[1021.098]
;B[lk]BL[1125.818]
;W[kk]WL[1011.552]
;B[lr]BL[1124.418]
;W[pi]WL[1005.766]
;B[sj]BL[1115.892]
;W[lq]WL[1003.704]
;B[li]BL[1069.8]
;W[kj]WL[943.865]
;B[lr]BL[1066.414]
;W[qj]WL[941.698]
;B[rj]BL[1060.835]
;W[lq]WL[939.84]
;B[go]BL[1015.763]C[Hmm. Well. I could do G3, he takes ko, and I play P11. If he answers, then I take ko back... But I don't know if he'll answer, because he could play M2, even if I take P10, then he can do another ko at J1...

If I simply fill, we both live, I can take M12 and have some more central power... Maybe it's about even. I think I can win.]
;W[lr]WL[848.767]
;B[gq]BL[1011.403]
;W[lh]WL[843.688]
;B[oi]BL[1007.29]
;W[nd]WL[829.057]
;B[lc]BL[1001.671]
;W[qc]WL[826.08]C[Post-game thinking: I don't know if 3-3 is best strategy. Maybe it contradicts influence idea.. Though, I don't have a ton of influence anyway.

I really don't know what's best.]
;B[qd]BL[992.752]
;W[pc]WL[823.767]
;B[oc]BL[991.593]
;W[od]WL[814.717]
;B[nc]BL[987.995]
;W[rd]WL[813.485]
;B[re]BL[986.905]
;W[rc]WL[811.15]
;B[qf]BL[984.91]
;W[ob]WL[800.528]
;B[nb]BL[983.1]
;W[pa]WL[799.608]
;B[md]BL[978.323]C[Hmm, could jump out... Those stones seem small. I would like to get more territory to keep things balanced...

I could play C14, but then he approaches at F17, and gets more territory on top. I could play F17, but he could approach at C14 and get more territory on side.

I guess I could try to attack at K17... But his shape is strong and hard to attack. I guess I will do it anyway, because later I could threaten to bring out O16, maybe.]
;W[jc]WL[763.945]
;B[na]BL[972.224]
;W[ra]WL[758.773]
;B[ne]BL[970.05]
;W[gc]WL[752.088]C[OK, I feel I got more points in last exchange... Maybe.]
;B[cc]BL[967.687]
;W[cd]WL[749.708]
;B[dc]BL[965.482]
;W[ec]WL[748.848]C[I guess I have to make points in H13 area... Is that possible?]
;B[eb]BL[963.894]
;W[fb]WL[747.908]
;B[ed]BL[962.92]
;W[fc]WL[746.373]
;B[bd]BL[960.646]
;W[be]WL[744.664]
;B[bc]BL[959.385]
;W[cf]WL[730.174]
;B[da]BL[957.227]
;W[ee]WL[724.671]
;B[dg]BL[927.241]
;W[fg]WL[668.069]C[H13 area territory...]
;B[hg]BL[923.275]
;W[gh]WL[663.668]
;B[kf]BL[916.163]
;W[jf]WL[659.041]C[Let's keep the territory in here.]
;B[jg]BL[913.918]
;W[kg]WL[656.996]
;B[je]BL[910.779]
;W[if]WL[655.418]
;B[ie]BL[909.328]C[Woops, he can do that. I forgot about that. I guess a lot of territory goes away. Dang it.. It might be harder to win now.]
;W[hf]WL[649.911]
;B[he]BL[907.278]
;W[gf]WL[645.492]
;B[lg]BL[900.393]
;W[kh]WL[643.009]
;B[ke]BL[888.732]
;W[ch]WL[633.194]
;B[dh]BL[885.313]
;W[di]WL[631.543]
;B[ci]BL[884.098]
;W[bh]WL[598.778]
;B[ei]BL[877.758]
;W[hk]WL[589.346]
;B[gj]BL[870.142]
;W[hj]WL[584.31]
;B[gi]BL[866.866]
;W[hi]WL[578.568]
;B[de]BL[865.496]
;W[ce]WL[575.244]
;B[df]BL[861.338]
;W[ge]WL[560.536]
;B[mg]BL[855.59]C[Hmm. Looks like he has more points than me right now. I wonder if I can catch up.

I'm rusty at yose, because my games aren't usually that close... I guess I have to try to keep sente.]
;W[gk]WL[557.496]
;B[fk]BL[853.142]
;W[ej]WL[535.019]C[Post-game thinking: Bad move. What am I doing?]
;B[dj]BL[844.457]
;W[oh]WL[496.597]
;B[ph]BL[839.685]
;W[nh]WL[483.373]
;B[oa]BL[812.411]
;W[pb]WL[480.712]
;B[ic]BL[798.687]
;W[ib]WL[476.69]
;B[hc]BL[795.051]
;W[hb]WL[474.315]
;B[cg]BL[787.132]
;W[bg]WL[469.59]C[The rest of the game is basically yose, with me trying to catch up.

I end up losing by 3.5 points.]
;B[ae]BL[785.455]
;W[bf]WL[466.874]
;B[bi]BL[779.796]
;W[af]WL[462.637]
;B[ad]BL[770.296]
;W[kb]WL[455.101]
;B[lb]BL[766.984]
;W[of]WL[452.331]
;B[oe]BL[764.77]
;W[nf]WL[450.116]
;B[mf]BL[762.976]
;W[ps]WL[442.842]
;B[qs]BL[755.422]
;W[os]WL[436.324]
;B[qr]BL[752.63]
;W[rm]WL[431.508]
;B[es]BL[746.838]
;W[cr]WL[426.329]
;B[cs]BL[742.664]
;W[bs]WL[424.971]
;B[ds]BL[741.534]
;W[dr]WL[423.662]
;B[fs]BL[740.594]
;W[br]WL[421.905]
;B[po]BL[715.773]
;W[sn]WL[416.77]
;B[ro]BL[712.818]
;W[pg]WL[401.734]
;B[qg]BL[709.717]
;W[pp]WL[313.375]
;B[rq]BL[688.506]
;W[fa]WL[247.38]
;B[ba]BL[682.356]
;W[ea]WL[239.206]
;B[db]BL[678.906]
;W[kd]WL[207.982]
;B[jd]BL[667.129]
;W[kc]WL[205.826]
;B[hd]BL[660.433]
;W[ld]WL[191.238]
;B[le]BL[658.375]
;W[la]WL[185.092]
;B[ma]BL[652.281]
;W[ka]WL[183.366]
;B[fh]BL[648.102]
;W[eg]WL[177.369]
;B[ah]BL[642.497]
;W[fd]WL[171.688]
;B[ef]BL[609.45]
;W[eh]WL[152.002]
;B[fi]BL[600.512]
;W[ff]WL[148.708]
;B[di]BL[598.236]
;W[an]WL[120.771]
;B[mh]BL[576.62]
;W[am]WL[105.668]
;B[bl]BL[573.93]
;W[el]WL[78.526]
;B[ek]BL[569.254]
;W[em]WL[76.475]
;B[pf]BL[559.497]
;W[og]WL[70.016]
;B[so]BL[527.956]
;W[sm]WL[67.541]
;B[eo]BL[519.172]
;W[se]WL[58.959]
;B[sf]BL[515.673]
;W[sd]WL[56.911]
;B[ep]BL[491.687]
;W[oo]WL[31.078]
;B[qo]BL[489.143]
;W[is]WL[27.259]
;B[fo]BL[456.121]
;W[ed]WL[10.543]
;B[ng]BL[450.309]
;W[li]WL[5.77]
;B[en]BL[431.305]
;W[cp]WL[3.116]
;B[gd]BL[414.109]
;W[]WL[30]OW[5]
;B[ai]BL[411.781]
;W[hh]WL[30]OW[5]
;B[]BL[411.781]
;W[]WL[30]OW[5]TW[ga][ha][ia][ja][qa][sa][gb][jb][qb][rb][sb][sc][fe][gg][hg][ig][jg][ih][jh][ii][ji][ij][jj][ik][jk][cn][ao][co][ap][bp][aq][bq][cq][dq][ar][as][ks][ms][ns]TB[aa][ca][ab][bb][cb][mb][ac][mc][id][nd][od][me][pe][qe][lf][rf][rg][sg][qh][rh][sh][pi][si][aj][bj][ej][fj][qj][ak][ck][dk][gp][rp][sp][qq][sq][gr][rr][sr][rs][ss])

[mitsun]

This is an interesting study question. I certainly do not have all the answers, but here are a few thoughts.

$$c Lee Changho and Komatsu Hideki
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . X O X . O . . |
$$ | . . X , . O . . . , . . O X . X O . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . 3 . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . 2 X . . . O . . O . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$c Lee Changho and Komatsu Hideki
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . X O X . O . . |
$$ | . . X , . O . . . , . . O X . X O . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . 3 . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . 2 X . . . O . . O . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Let's assume W decides to play to split B. What are the pros/cons of the preliminary 2-3 exchange? I admit that I would probably not think to play this way, but it is an interesting option.

Pro: The two B stones are heavier than a single stone, so any attack is severe. The stable W group at K3 makes this attractive.
Pro: B can no longer slide to D2 to settle the right side group
Con: The two B stones are stronger than a single stone, and W leaves lots of cutting points which B might exploit.
Pro & Con: The invasion at C3 is still wide open. Without the 2-3 exchange, a direct C3 invasion would probably be the expected continuation. Maybe W wanted to make this invasion less attractive for B, by making the right side larger?

Now let's look at your game:

$$c Kirby
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . X . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O O . . . . . . . . . . O . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 . . . . . . |
$$ | . O . X . . . . . , . O . X . X . . . |
$$ | . . O . . X . . X . . 2 1 . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

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

Again let's assume that B decides to play to split W (a fine plan). What are the pros/cons of the preliminary 1-2 exchange?

Pro: W becomes heavier, presenting a larger target for attack. But I guess W would not really contemplate sacrificing the single stone, so maybe it is heavy enough already.
Con: W becomes stronger, and B leaves multiple cutting points.
Pro & Con: the weakness at P3 remains. Perhaps it even becomes more of a problem once W has a stone at M3.

Suppose B omits the 1-2 exchange, what can W do locally? With a high stone at M4 rather than a low stone at M3, the slide to O2 does not exist. W can peep at P3 immediately, but if B simply blocks at P4, W cannot connect to the M4 stone. So I guess I do not see much benefit to B from this exchange.

Now suppose W had a stone at M3 initially, rather than a stone at M4. In that case, I think the kick would be more reasonable (even though the ending position is the same), since it does prevent the W slide to O2.

Anyway, I think I will stop here, before I get myself even more confused. Thanks for presenting an interesting position to consider

[Kirby]

This is an interesting study question. I certainly do not have all the answers, but here are a few thoughts...

First of all, excellent post. It was very interesting to compare the pros/cons of each scenario.

Pro & Con: The invasion at C3 is still wide open. Without the 2-3 exchange, a direct C3 invasion would probably be the expected continuation. Maybe W wanted to make this invasion less attractive for B, by making the right side larger?

The idea of making the invasion less attractive kind of captures my feeling in playing the kick as well. I thought that it would be useful against P3, but...

(If B omits the 1-2 exchange...)
W can peep at P3 immediately, but if B simply blocks at P4, W cannot connect to the M4 stone.

This is an excellent point! Based on the shape, I did not read that the kick did not help in preventing the P3 peep - it was just my intuition. This goes along very well with your other point that the pro game's kick prevents the slide at O2, whereas I am not really preventing much at all with the kick.

I'm still confused about this position, too, but at least now I feel like the pro's game had value in the kick in ways that my game did not.

Now suppose W had a stone at M3 initially, rather than a stone at M4. In that case, I think the kick would be more reasonable (even though the ending position is the same), since it does prevent the W slide to O2.

Hmm, the plot thickens... I think this is why I get so confused with tewari!

[Kirby]

Alas, I have lost once again today. This time by 4.5 points. This is rather unusual, because in my experience, I usually lose by more or win by more. This is the second game in a row where it was a difference of less than 5 points.

I wonder if this is reason for me to give value to endgame. I feel I get worse as the game progresses. I'm not an expert in the opening, but at least I've seen several openings. As I get further into the game, I have less and less experience, since many of my games don't make it to the endgame. So again, it's very interesting to lose by a small amount like this.

In this game, I don't know exactly where I went wrong. Maybe it was a lot of little things. Maybe invading the bottom left was bad. Maybe not aggressively attacking his group was bad. In any case, the result was a 4.5 point loss. Alas, it is a sad start of the weekend.

(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]ST[2]
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]KM[6.50]TM[600]OT[5x20 byo-yomi]
PW[me]PB[adversary]WR[1k]BR[1k]DT[2013-06-22]C[I played white this game.
]RE[B+4.50]
;B[pp]BL[599.083]
;W[dd]WL[595.522]
;B[cp]BL[595.314]
;W[pd]WL[593.541]
;B[iq]BL[594.399]C[Ahh... I don't know much about this opening, so maybe just R6 is OK...]
;W[qn]WL[586.419]
;B[np]BL[591.814]C[I watched something recently talking about trying to select joseki that takes sente in the opening. How can I take sente? 3-3? I guess that doesn't guarantee sente..

Maybe I should just stake out on D10 to reduce his opening. I don't like this opening. D10.]
;W[dj]WL[549.026]C[**Post-game thinking: I think 3-3 was probably better. Or Q10. I shouldn't just ignore R6. I'm playing white, so I can't expect to get sente immediately...

Plus, didn't ez4u say awhile ago that I overvalue sente... I guess some things are hard to change.
**

]
;B[dl]BL[584.2]C[Hmm. I guess I'll switch back to R6.

(**Post-game thinking: I'm too inconsistent.**)]
;W[rp]WL[521.152]
;B[qq]BL[578.056]C[R9 would be just normal territory, but let's try for influence to counter him. I'm scared of this opening.]
;W[pl]WL[518.487]
;B[dh]BL[575.425]C[Hmm. I don't know how to do much with this stone. I guess I C14 to get that for free, and ignore him.]
;W[cf]WL[512.499]
;B[df]BL[571.261]C[C12 or something doesn't work well because he C15, I d15, he C13, and cuts me off well. Let's simply C13. If he blocks C12, I can cut him off.]
;W[cg]WL[498.616]
;B[ch]BL[568.088]
;W[dg]WL[497.156]
;B[eh]BL[566.467]C[Hmm, scary bottom. I'm so scared of this opening.

Maybe I can live small down there. I guess I'll try to do that.]
;W[eq]WL[488.338]
;B[dq]BL[562.227]C[He's trying to make me heavy... That won't do. I guess I have to get stones in the area and see if I can do something with them.]
;W[dr]WL[481.621]
;B[cr]BL[559.095]
;W[dp]WL[478.554]
;B[cq]BL[557.641]
;W[do]WL[475.238]
;B[cn]BL[554.292]
;W[dn]WL[473.027]
;B[cm]BL[552.277]
;W[hp]WL[469.905]C[OK, try not to be too heavy...

(**Post-game thinking: I think I"m just helping him here. Maybe a reduction would have been better than trying to live here.**)]
;B[hq]BL[550.158]
;W[gq]WL[467.996]
;B[gp]BL[546.714]C[Can't I get this stone?]
;W[go]WL[462.354]
;B[fp]BL[544.722]
;W[fo]WL[441.309]
;B[fq]BL[541.948]C[Woops, no. I guess I separate with F2, atari E4, then run.]
;W[fr]WL[422.907]
;B[gr]BL[540.071]
;W[ep]WL[421.481]
;B[gq]BL[538.873]
;W[co]WL[417.645]
;B[bo]BL[536.417]
;W[cs]WL[416.163]
;B[bs]BL[532.77]
;W[ds]WL[414.741]
;B[bq]BL[529.863]
;W[io]WL[412.466]
;B[fs]BL[527.464]
;W[er]WL[410.088]
;B[ip]BL[525.458]
;W[ho]WL[408.3]
;B[jo]BL[523.493]
;W[jn]WL[406.506]C[(**Post-game thinking: I think I'm still helping him. Probably a reduction would have been better. Compare a reduction with what I give him in his attack against me. He gets more this way, I feel...**)]
;B[kn]BL[521.74]
;W[jm]WL[392.481]
;B[ko]BL[517.804]
;W[km]WL[389.336]C[Whew. I guess I feel comfortable. He got territory, but I get center power.

Center power, go!]
;B[fm]BL[513.191]C[Who cares about that move? He's not threatening to cut me or anything. Let's tenuki.]
;W[rq]WL[384.464]C[(**Post-game thinking: I think this is small. He already has much more solid territory than me.

A more consistent strategy might be something like K16. However, E12 even hurts my center strategy a little bit.. Still, I think I should do something along those lines rather than go for small-beans in the corner.

**)]
;B[qc]BL[509.621]C[OK, block on R16, and work with right side. At least I can get moyo.]
;W[qd]WL[377.657]
;B[pc]BL[507.552]
;W[oc]WL[376.034]
;B[ob]BL[505.69]
;W[nc]WL[370.893]
;B[nb]BL[503.78]
;W[mc]WL[369.172]
;B[rd]BL[502.132]
;W[re]WL[368.264]
;B[rc]BL[501.056]
;W[qf]WL[366.643]C[Not bad. Now he's diving in. I can feel it.]
;B[hm]BL[499.146]C[Hmm, he didn't dive in. I guess I just protect, and see what he does next.]
;W[im]WL[363.968]
;B[hn]BL[493.012]
;W[hl]WL[360.529]
;B[fn]BL[486.136]
;W[in]WL[357.447]
;B[gl]BL[483.449]C[Double atari might work.. But then he can get H9, I J8, he F9 I g10, he F10, and I get gote-ish result.

I could J9, but he H9, then I J8 he H10...


I guess I just extend at H9.

]
;W[hk]WL[352.156]
;B[gk]BL[481.186]
;W[hj]WL[351.243]
;B[gj]BL[478.292]
;W[hi]WL[348.199]C[Moyo! OK. Game is getting interesting!]
;B[nm]BL[473.727]C[Hmm. Normally I contact play at O8. But my moyo is very big. Maybe I can simply O9 and let him reduce.]
;W[oq]WL[343.094]
;B[nq]BL[471.184]
;W[nk]WL[327.072]
;B[mk]BL[466.076]C[Normally I try to cut at N8... But maybe simply N10. Let my moyo be big.]
;W[mj]WL[322.058]
;B[lk]BL[463.156]
;W[nl]WL[319.882]
;B[mm]BL[461.378]
;W[ml]WL[317.173]
;B[ll]BL[457.724]
;W[lm]WL[315.731]C[Now kill!]
;B[lj]BL[456.438]
;W[li]WL[313.184]
;B[mi]BL[453.448]
;W[nj]WL[311.834]
;B[ki]BL[452.641]
;W[lh]WL[310.929]
;B[jj]BL[451.322]C[Hmm, I can't quite capture him with L12 that I can read... So maybe I should protect J8 first.]
;W[jk]WL[304.278]
;B[kh]BL[448.739]C[H11 is still in danger. I should protect it.]
;W[hg]WL[301.793]
;B[lg]BL[443.751]C[Aww, it's a pity... My moyo was so big... ]
;W[mh]WL[300.255]
;B[mg]BL[441.721]
;W[nh]WL[299.243]
;B[ih]BL[438.46]
;W[hh]WL[296.602]C[Maybe I can still kill him.]
;B[jf]BL[436.878]C[I'll push at M6 to reduce his territory first...

]
;W[ln]WL[282.458]
;B[mo]BL[431.434]
;W[lo]WL[257.21]
;B[lp]BL[427.796]
;W[kp]WL[255.694]
;B[jp]BL[425.563]
;W[kq]WL[254.598]
;B[jr]BL[412.082]
;W[lq]WL[245.575]
;B[mp]BL[409.953]
;W[mr]WL[230.557]
;B[nr]BL[408.371]
;W[kr]WL[229.251]
;B[ks]BL[403.629]C[Hmm, not really working. Oh well... How is this game going? I could attack his group more...

Hmm. Hard to kill him that I can see. He reduced my moyo on the left, but what is there is pretty much territory. He has territory on the bottom. That leaves the top center and left. I should attack his group while profiting up there. K16 is a more direct attack, but it doesn't really get territory on the top. How about K17?


(**Post-game thinking: K17 doesn't get much territory either. Maybe something like J15 would work. That works OK with D16. He still has 3-3, but if I can get sente somehow, maybe I can protect 3-3 and get more points up there...**)]
;W[jc]WL[181.62]
;B[ng]BL[395.924]C[A pity, but not too much of a reduction.]
;W[og]WL[177.906]
;B[oh]BL[393.277]
;W[ni]WL[176.774]
;B[of]BL[391.681]
;W[pg]WL[175.581]
;B[kd]BL[388.346]
;W[kc]WL[173.01]
;B[id]BL[384.738]C[Hmm, getting more and more dangerous against H13. I've got to protect.]
;W[eg]WL[152.208]
;B[fh]BL[381.877]
;W[fg]WL[149.778]
;B[gf]BL[379.626]
;W[gg]WL[147.287]
;B[dc]BL[376.435]C[I don't think I can really kill him... So I should let him be on outside. I'll take corner territory.]
;W[cc]WL[143.503]
;B[ec]BL[373.706]
;W[cb]WL[142.414]
;B[ic]BL[370.001]
;W[gd]WL[137.101]
;B[gc]BL[364.739]
;W[fd]WL[132.394]
;B[fc]BL[362.27]
;W[jd]WL[130.625]
;B[ie]BL[360.577]C[Can I reduce his eye somehow?]
;W[hb]WL[101.985]C[(**Post-game thinking: Why don't I try... I dunno, reading in a situation like this...??**)]
;B[ib]BL[357.084]
;W[jb]WL[100.752]
;B[ja]BL[351.806]
;W[ka]WL[98.127]
;B[ia]BL[350.301]
;W[ig]WL[94.705]
;B[jg]BL[347.634]
;W[je]WL[79.975]
;B[if]BL[343.179]
;W[ke]WL[63.116]
;B[ne]BL[329.996]
;W[kf]WL[58.997]
;B[kg]BL[327.124]
;W[od]WL[52.108]
;B[db]BL[322.445]
;W[bh]WL[29.289]
;B[bi]BL[319.071]
;W[bg]WL[27.581]
;B[cj]BL[318.138]
;W[qr]WL[15.892]
;B[pr]BL[305.051]
;W[pq]WL[10.23]
;B[qp]BL[302.88]
;W[or]WL[8.728]
;B[op]BL[300.893]
;W[ps]WL[7.253]
;B[ns]BL[300.054]
;W[os]WL[1.36]
;B[ca]BL[296.56]
;W[ba]WL[20]OW[5]
;B[da]BL[294.958]
;W[bc]WL[20]OW[5]
;B[ed]BL[292.943]C[Hmm. Of course he can get something here. I should play D15, then, and give him the stones. Oh well.

Wait, no. I can still E15. It doesn't work of course, to save everything.. But then if he does D15 I C16, he F15, I E14, he can capture, but it's gote for him. I can get sente back.]
;W[ee]WL[20]OW[5]
;B[de]BL[284.502]C[Wait. After C16, he does E14, I F15, then G14 is in a setup for him to connect atF14. He then has 3 liberties, whereas I have two. So it's OK. I just D14, he takes C16, I B16. I save the two stones this way. It's as good as the other path I read... But why didn't I read that earlier?]
;W[ef]WL[20]OW[4]
;B[cd]BL[280.453]
;W[bd]WL[20]OW[4]
;B[ge]BL[278.11]
;W[fe]WL[20]OW[4]
;B[pm]BL[270.318]
;W[om]WL[20]OW[4]
;B[on]BL[268.121]
;W[ol]WL[20]OW[4]
;B[pn]BL[265.915]
;W[qm]WL[20]OW[4]
;B[qo]BL[264.1]
;W[ro]WL[20]OW[4]
;B[ms]BL[252.605]
;W[mn]WL[20]OW[4]
;B[nn]BL[250.061]C[The rest of the game is basically endgame. I lose by 4.5 points.

Another loss by just a little. How unusual for me.]
;W[gn]WL[20]OW[3]
;B[gm]BL[246.969]
;W[gi]WL[20]OW[3]
;B[fi]BL[193.993]
;W[ii]WL[20]OW[3]
;B[mb]BL[171.217]
;W[lb]WL[20]OW[3]
;B[ld]BL[167.343]
;W[md]WL[20]OW[3]
;B[le]BL[164.669]
;W[me]WL[20]OW[3]
;B[lf]BL[162.546]
;W[lc]WL[20]OW[3]
;B[en]BL[150.407]
;W[eo]WL[20]OW[3]
;B[dm]BL[148.261]
;W[kl]WL[20]OW[3]
;B[kj]BL[145.031]
;W[ce]WL[20]OW[3]
;B[dd]BL[135.063]
;W[hf]WL[20]OW[3]
;B[he]BL[131.104]
;W[hc]WL[20]OW[3]
;B[hd]BL[129.471]
;W[ls]WL[20]OW[3]
;B[js]BL[121.433]
;W[oo]WL[20]OW[3]
;B[mq]BL[117.864]
;W[ma]WL[20]OW[3]
;B[oa]BL[110.248]
;W[sd]WL[20]OW[3]
;B[ra]BL[104.451]
;W[ai]WL[20]OW[3]
;B[aj]BL[101.829]
;W[ah]WL[20]OW[3]
;B[sc]BL[99.435]
;W[se]WL[20]OW[3]
;B[ij]BL[89.866]
;W[ik]WL[20]OW[3]
;B[jh]BL[70.631]
;W[pf]WL[20]OW[3]
;B[oe]BL[65.984]
;W[pe]WL[20]OW[3]
;B[gb]BL[60.317]
;W[gh]WL[20]OW[3]
;B[nf]BL[49.494]
;W[ci]WL[20]OW[3]
;B[di]BL[45.561]
;W[ak]WL[20]OW[3]
;B[bj]BL[42.713]
;W[ck]WL[20]OW[3]
;B[ej]BL[34.558]
;W[dk]WL[20]OW[3]
;B[bk]BL[25.478]
;W[es]WL[20]OW[3]
;B[gs]BL[22.652]
;W[kk]WL[20]OW[3]
;B[pb]BL[8.197]
;W[ji]WL[20]OW[3]
;B[ha]BL[1.621]
;W[]WL[20]OW[3]
;B[na]BL[20]OB[5]
;W[la]WL[20]OW[3]
;B[]BL[20]OB[5]
;W[]WL[20]OW[3]TW[aa][ab][bb][kb][ac][ad][ae][be][qe][af][bf][rf][sf][ag][qg][rg][sg][oh][ph][qh][rh][sh][mi][oi][pi][qi][ri][si][oj][pj][qj][rj][sj][ok][pk][qk][rk][sk][il][jl][ql][rl][sl][rm][sm][rn][sn][so][sp][sq][pr][rr][sr][qs][rs][ss]TB[ea][fa][ga][pa][qa][sa][eb][fb][hb][qb][rb][sb][hc][ci][ei][dj][fj][ak][ck][dk][ek][fk][al][bl][cl][el][fl][am][bm][em][an][bn][ao][no][oo][po][ap][bp][kp][aq][jq][kq][lq][ar][br][hr][ir][kr][lr][mr][as][hs][is][ls])