Kirby's Study Journal

[ez4u]

...

Admit it, you just want an excuse to get back to your old ways of not playing gote.

OK, I admit it. But maybe more than that, I'm more and more confused by this game.

If you're not confused, you're not trying. That's the joy of it all!

[Kirby]

So, still confused by yoyoma's cryptic zen message, I decided to continue with my plan to try to balance studying a bit more with playing. I spent a good amount of time studying joseki. There were several variations that I analyzed, but here are a couple of items that I thought were interesting:

$$Wcm1
$$ | . . . X . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . X 2 1 . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X X O X . . , . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . O O X O . X . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O C O C O . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wcm1
$$ | . . . X . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . X 2 1 . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X X O X . . , . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . O O X O . X . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O C O C O . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

The peep at and connection at , above, complete the joseki. Since this joseki seemed good for making black thick, with influence, I wondered why black might not try to expand this further by not connecting at the peep immediately:

$$Wcm1
$$ | . . . X . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . C C C . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . X 2 . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . X . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X X O X . . , . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . O O X O . X . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O C O C O . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wcm1
$$ | . . . X . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . C C C . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . X 2 . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . X . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X X O X . . , . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . O O X O . X . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O C O C O . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

This seemed better for the marked area... The conclusion that I came to, which I don't know is correct, is that white can strengthen himself if he chooses later in the game:

$$Wcm3
$$ | . . . X . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . X X 3 . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . X 2 O 1 . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X X O X . . , . C C C . O . . . |
$$ | . . O O X O . X . . . . C . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O C O C O . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wcm3
$$ | . . . X . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . X X 3 . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . X 2 O 1 . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X X O X . . , . C C C . O . . . |
$$ | . . O O X O . X . . . . C . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O C O C O . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Depending on the marked area, maybe this could be more beneficial for white than having just a single stone from the peep. What do you think? This is the best I could come up with.

The other position I thought was interesting was this:

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

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

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

The marked white stone above, is said to be an even result between black and white.

I feel more inclined to play like this:

$$Wcm1
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . X . O . O O . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . X X X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . 3 . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wcm1
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . X . O . O O . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . X X X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . 3 . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

However in this position, apparently, white is a little worse, and black's position is more "dynamic". I tried to think of the reason for this.

My guess is that if we switch the order of moves, and black plays anyway:

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

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

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

Maybe it feels better for white to play on the left:

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

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

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

Perhaps this means that the exchange of approaching the corner benefits black more...?

Also, I wondered about the reason I like the approach of the corner:
1.) I'm used to it - it's a habit.
2.) It doesn't let black get in a move there:

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

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

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

However, maybe #2 doesn't matter that much, since I could still potentially invade the bottom right...

What do you think?

[ez4u]

My first impression from the 30 min. graph is that you run into difficulty around move 125. That suggests to me that you have not planned adequately. Remember that often the answer to the question, "What do I do in this position?" is "Don't get into that position." May I suggest, following Jowa's advice, that you take time around move 100 to assess the position and plan your play?

This sounds reasonable. From the graph, I don't see a strong indicator to select move 100 (rather than another number before 125), but doing this would likely help with the position around move 125 And if Jowa has already given this advice, perhaps it's a good idea, considering the data seems to support it.

I don't know that you are playing too quickly. If you go into byo-yomi around move 146, then you have made around 73 moves in 30 min., or around 25 sec. per move. That does not seem too quick to me. (Or am I drawing the wrong conclusion from the graph? )

I believe you are reading the graph correctly

How about setting aside 5 min. for assessment and planning at around move 100? And while we are at it, 5 min. for move 50 and 5 min. for move 30? (Following Jowa's advice. ) I know that that comes to half your main time, but isn't main time for taking longer than 30 sec. on single moves?

I like this idea.

BTW, what kinds of positions cause you to take the most time? That may suggest what to study.

To be honest, I sometimes feel sick of my attitude. I'm not exactly sure how to classify what I view to be a "difficult situation", but I get into a difficult situation, and often feel, "Why did I let myself get into this position?"...

But more than this, what I'm really sick of is when I find myself playing so nonchalantly. I know that a position could have further thought, but I feel, "Well, I've been in a situation like this before. I can play this way. It'll probably be OK. Maybe there's a way to stop what I'm playing here, but my opponent probably won't find it."

The poisonous aspect of this attitude is... that it's sometimes correct. Sometimes my opponent doesn't respond in the most severe way, and I get away with it. As a result, I get an attitude that feels like, "There's a significant chance that if I don't exert much effort at all, I'll be in fine shape. I could exert a lot more effort to figure out the *right* solution, but there's a low probability that this will make a difference."

I hate this attitude. But I have it often.

I certainly share the 'nonchalance' problem. And I think if I graphed my time use it would show some similar patterns to yours. I interpret it as I spend too much time thinking about my problems (once they arise) and not enough time thinking about my opportunities (while they are still available). The trouble with thinking about opportunities is that they are not standing there waving flags at us (unlike problems where that sinking feeling in the pit of the stomach and the "Oh, Ohhh!" that inadvertently slips out signals that the you-know-what is about to hit the fan).

Opportunities may be found in clever ways to save some stones under attack but they may also be found in clever ways to sacrifice those same stones and make profit elsewhere. But when the clock is ticking how do we partition our time so that we spend part of it analyzing plan A and another part of it on plan B, which just happens to be the complete opposite of A? And do it again next move, and again the move after that, and... Personally I am trying to consciously restructure my thinking during a game to do this more. That involves having a clearer overall assessment of the game held firmly in mind and updated more often to guide me in looking for opportunities, "OK, if my main opportunity to make more territory will be over there and this move won't really help, what else I can do other than play this normal-looking move...?" There is still a long way to go though.

[billywoods]

$$Wcm3
$$ | . . . X . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . X X 3 . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . X 2 O 1 . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X X O X . . , . C C C . O . . . |
$$ | . . O O X O . X . . . . C . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O C O C O . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wcm3
$$ | . . . X . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . X X 3 . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . X 2 O 1 . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X X O X . . , . C C C . O . . . |
$$ | . . O O X O . X . . . . C . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O C O C O . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

My guess: white here is sente, and you don't gain all that much from the extra black stone.

[yoyoma]

The peep at and connection at , above, complete the joseki. Since this joseki seemed good for making black thick, with influence, I wondered why black might not try to expand this further by not connecting at the peep immediately:

$$Wcm1
$$ | . . . X . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . C C C . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . X 2 . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . a X b 1 . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X X O X . . , . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . O O X O . X . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O C O C O . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wcm1
$$ | . . . X . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . C C C . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . X 2 . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . a X b 1 . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X X O X . . , . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . O O X O . X . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O C O C O . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

What does black do if white cuts at A? Or maybe B, threatening A next or to go out next?

[Kirby]

...
Opportunities may be found in clever ways to save some stones under attack but they may also be found in clever ways to sacrifice those same stones and make profit elsewhere. But when the clock is ticking how do we partition our time so that we spend part of it analyzing plan A and another part of it on plan B, which just happens to be the complete opposite of A? And do it again next move, and again the move after that, and... Personally I am trying to consciously restructure my thinking during a game to do this more. That involves having a clearer overall assessment of the game held firmly in mind and updated more often to guide me in looking for opportunities, "OK, if my main opportunity to make more territory will be over there and this move won't really help, what else I can do other than play this normal-looking move...?" There is still a long way to go though.

Thinking in terms of opportunities certainly seems more optimistic. I would say I probably mostly do this when I am playing someone weaker. If I have a handicap I'm playing against, I have to think of opportunities to make up for being behind.

OTOH, when I play against someone stronger, my attitude is more of the type, "Please don't hurt me too much..."

[Kirby]

The peep at and connection at , above, complete the joseki. Since this joseki seemed good for making black thick, with influence, I wondered why black might not try to expand this further by not connecting at the peep immediately:

$$Wcm1
$$ | . . . X . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . C C C . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . X 2 . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . a X b 1 . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X X O X . . , . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . O O X O . X . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O C O C O . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wcm1
$$ | . . . X . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . C C C . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . X 2 . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . a X b 1 . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X X O X . . , . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . O O X O . X . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O C O C O . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

What does black do if white cuts at A? Or maybe B, threatening A next or to go out next?

Excellent point! This totally eluded me. I bet this is a big reason that it is better to simply defend the peep.

[ez4u]

The peep at and connection at , above, complete the joseki. Since this joseki seemed good for making black thick, with influence, I wondered why black might not try to expand this further by not connecting at the peep immediately:

$$Wcm1
$$ | . . . X . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . C C C . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . X 2 . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . a X b 1 . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X X O X . . , . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . O O X O . X . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O C O C O . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wcm1
$$ | . . . X . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . C C C . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . X 2 . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . a X b 1 . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X X O X . . , . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . O O X O . X . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O C O C O . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

What does black do if white cuts at A? Or maybe B, threatening A next or to go out next?

Excellent point! This totally eluded me. I bet this is a big reason that it is better to simply defend the peep.

Right now White has the standard invasion at "c", which takes advantage of the cutting point at "a". If White cuts at "a", Black is happy to capture the cutting stone and eliminate the aji on the left side. Meanwhile if White is able to cut at "b", Black can easily invade the bottom using the aji of the marked stones.

$$Wcm1
$$ | . . . X . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . c . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . X 2 . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . a X b 1 . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X X O B . . , . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . O O X O . B . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wcm1
$$ | . . . X . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . c . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . X 2 . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . a X b 1 . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X X O B . . , . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . O O X O . B . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

In GoGoD we see the following. Roughly half the time Black pushes at "a" below (10 of 21 cases) and White plays elsewhere (9 of 10 cases), leaving the situation for later. The rest of the time Black plays the atari at "b" (8 of 11) before connecting at "c". There are 3 cases of simply connecting at "c", after which "b" may no longer be a forcing play.

$$Bc Continuations
$$
$$| . . . . . . . . . . .
$$| . . . . . . . . . . .
$$| . . . . . . . . . . .
$$| . . . . . . X a . . .
$$| . . . . . X c O . . .
$$| . . X X X O X . . , .
$$| . . O O X O b X . . .
$$| . . O . O . O . . . .
$$| . . . O . O . . . . .
$$+ - - - - - - - - - - -

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Bc Continuations
$$
$$| . . . . . . . . . . .
$$| . . . . . . . . . . .
$$| . . . . . . . . . . .
$$| . . . . . . X a . . .
$$| . . . . . X c O . . .
$$| . . X X X O X . . , .
$$| . . O O X O b X . . .
$$| . . O . O . O . . . .
$$| . . . O . O . . . . .
$$+ - - - - - - - - - - -[/go]

Below is the one case where White pulls back. In this case sets up a ladder on the left starting with "a" and Black chooses to respond on the left. As a result White is able to cut in sente. This is a good example of leaving the original peep for use later.

$$Wc Yamada Kimio - Tei Meiko; 20th Ryusei; 2011-05-02
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O . O . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . X . O X O O . . |
$$ | . . . O . O . . . , . . X O X X X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . 7 O 9 X . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . X X 0 . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . a X . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . 2 1 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . 6 3 4 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . . . O . . . . O . . O . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc Yamada Kimio - Tei Meiko; 20th Ryusei; 2011-05-02
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O . O . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . X . O X O O . . |
$$ | . . . O . O . . . , . . X O X X X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . 7 O 9 X . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . X X 0 . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . a X . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . 2 1 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . 6 3 4 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . . . O . . . . O . . O . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

[Kirby]

...
Right now White has the standard invasion at "c", which takes advantage of the cutting point at "a". If White cuts at "a", Black is happy to capture the cutting stone and eliminate the aji on the left side. Meanwhile if White is able to cut at "b", Black can easily invade the bottom using the aji of the marked stones.

$$Wcm1
$$ | . . . X . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . c . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . X 2 . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . a X b 1 . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X X O B . . , . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . O O X O . B . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wcm1
$$ | . . . X . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . c . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . X 2 . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . a X b 1 . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X X O B . . , . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . O O X O . B . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Thanks for the stats, ez4u. Indeed, 'c' is one of the invasions that I studied a bit. From yoyoma's comment, I figured that a cut like 'a' wouldn't be played immediately in response to , but it would be aji that could be exploited later.

That being said, I think I messed up the position. Before the tiger connection, I meant to atari white. This is the position I meant to diagram:

$$Wcm1
$$ | . . . X . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . X . 5 . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X X O B . . , . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . O O X O 2 B . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . O 3 O . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wcm1
$$ | . . . X . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . X . 5 . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X X X O B . . , . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . O O X O 2 B . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . O . O 3 O . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . O . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

In GoGoD we see the following. Roughly half the time Black pushes at "a" below (10 of 21 cases) and White plays elsewhere (9 of 10 cases), leaving the situation for later. The rest of the time Black plays the atari at "b" (8 of 11) before connecting at "c". There are 3 cases of simply connecting at "c", after which "b" may no longer be a forcing play.

Fascinating. I wonder if the push at 'a' is still common after the atari exchange, as I meant to diagram originally. If so, it's reassuring to know that some pros thought that way!

[Kirby]

I decided to play a game today, as I've been studying for the past couple of days. I had a couple of drinks, but I won by a bit.

Here's the game:

(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]ST[2]
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]KM[6.50]TM[1500]OT[5x30 byo-yomi]
PW[opponent]PB[me]WR[1k]BR[1k]DT[2013-06-29]C[I played black this game.]RE[B+18.50]
;B[pd]BL[1452.267]
;W[dp]WL[1495.854]
;B[qp]BL[1449.369]
;W[dd]WL[1492.751]
;B[fq]BL[1447.468]
;W[ip]WL[1487.882]C[Hmm. I kind of remember this from a long time ago, but I don't remember this joseki. How should I play? Jump two out? I don't know what's good.

OK, then I'll tenuki. P3 will be good for the corner. Let's play that.]
;B[oq]BL[1388.413]
;W[dr]WL[1475.624]C[Interesting. I kind of like C6 here. If he kicks at C5, I can play C3.]
;B[cn]BL[1376.128]
;W[dn]WL[1471.755]C[Okay, I'll play C3.]
;B[cq]BL[1369.784]
;W[dq]WL[1468.171]C[Hmm. I could play C4 or so, bu he can play C7 and get some potential both in F3 area and also around C10 area...

I'll play D7. He may get the corner, but I can get some standing on the left side.]
;B[dm]BL[1349.993]
;W[co]WL[1461.714]
;B[en]BL[1347.424]
;W[do]WL[1460.57]
;B[bm]BL[1342.982]C[Yes, sudo-threaten to connect with C3.]
;W[bn]WL[1454.37]
;B[cm]BL[1340.722]
;W[em]WL[1452.438]C[Hmm. Could atari E8, basically giving up E6. Or I could help C7 immediately with like C11 or so - but he can still have his way with E6.

I kind of want to keep E6.

C7 is pretty safe since I can take B6, so I can afford F6. It'll be a fight, but I can work with it.]
;B[fn]BL[1315.564]
;W[fm]WL[1444.135]C[C6 is still pretty strong, so I'll keep helping F6, which is not so strong...]
;B[gm]BL[1311.899]
;W[gl]WL[1441.359]
;B[hn]BL[1306.627]
;W[hm]WL[1435.674]
;B[gn]BL[1305.017]
;W[fk]WL[1434.018]C[Hmm. Could J7... But takes away potential to H8 and hurt G8 somehow... First I'll defend along D7, then see what he does.

**Post-game thinking: Maybe J7 is better. I dunno...**]
;B[dk]BL[1301.86]
;W[bo]WL[1423.013]C[OK, D7 is relatively safe, 'cause E7 isn't too strong, and I already played D9.

I'll play J7 now.]
;B[im]BL[1274.407]
;W[hl]WL[1419.073]C[OK, protecting J7 is not urgent, 'cause I can J5 and hurt the J4 stone. I'll help D9.]
;B[dh]BL[1268.292]
;W[in]WL[1415.682]
;B[io]BL[1266.187]
;W[jn]WL[1414.346]
;B[jo]BL[1264.589]
;W[ho]WL[1409.486]C[Woah, uh oh. Hmm. Can he do this?

*Read for a little bit**

Ok, I guess I have to make capturing race with H4... I don't know if I win or not, but at least I can force him to capture me if I lose.]
;B[hp]BL[1193.169]
;W[go]WL[1405.36]
;B[fo]BL[1191.321]
;W[gp]WL[1403.478]
;B[gq]BL[1188.144]
;W[hq]WL[1400.92]
;B[fp]BL[1186.856]
;W[hp]WL[1399.743]
;B[jp]BL[1185.801]
(;W[hr]WL[1386.502]C[(*He has misclick*)

Hmm. I could play K2, but then he can F2, I G2, he G1, I E2, he F1, I E1, he H1, then I have to protect E3, and he plays D1, I have three liberties to take, he only two, I lose.

I guess I have to take a liberty... But he can K3. Dunno if it works. At least I can surround him. If he captures me, too bad, but I get some compensation.]
;B[ir]BL[947.565]
;W[gr]WL[1349.256]
;B[fr]BL[943.057]
;W[jq]WL[1325.108]
;B[kq]BL[897.413]
;W[kp]WL[1314.716]C[Hmm. Seems like mistake by him. Because, I can play L5, then if he tries to make use of it, I have ladder on K6.]
;B[ko]BL[892.539]
;W[kr]WL[1293.572]
;B[lp]BL[889.682]C[OK, ladder working, now.]
;W[jr]WL[1292.519]C[Hmm. J1 or G1 to try to kill is too far out there. He can run out with M3 or M2...

I think I can M2. If he prevents ladder at K6, I play J1 and try to kill him.]
;B[lr]BL[825.736]
;W[fs]WL[1289.111]C[**Read a little bit**

Ok, I think I can afford E1. If he ever tries to screw up ladder, I kill him.]
;B[es]BL[738.772]
;W[gs]WL[1285.961]C[OK, I can J1. If he screws up ladder or J3, I E2 and he's basically dead.]
;B[is]BL[709.08]
;W[er]WL[1278.458]
;B[iq]BL[702.748]C[OK, stones in sente. Yay.]
;W[ds]WL[1276.305]
;B[jm]BL[700.727]C[Now, I get out.

Not a bad result for black, but too bad it's gote.]
;W[fh]WL[1255.564]C[Hmm. Board-wide, I like Q10... But if he plays C14 I don't like it. I'll play there first, then come back to Q10.

]
;B[cf]BL[655.52]
;W[di]WL[1240.448]C[Hmm. Aji keshi?]
;B[ci]BL[650.364]
;W[ch]WL[1237.595]C[Seems hard for him to do, 'cause E11 hurts F12 F9 connection.]
;B[dj]BL[643.145]
;W[dg]WL[1235.845]
;B[ei]BL[641.253]
;W[cg]WL[1234.272]
;B[fi]BL[638.922]C[Fine by me!]
;W[gi]WL[1231.974]
;B[gh]BL[637.168]C[**me thinking: Maybe G10 is better?**]
;W[hi]WL[1230.176]
;B[fg]BL[634.784]
;W[df]WL[1227.43]C[Hmm. F17 feels nice... But Q10 seems more consistent.]
;B[pj]BL[630.413]
;W[nk]WL[1168.09]C[Dang. This sucks. Oh well, I'll take the stones. At least I can potentially take H11. Although, H12 is sente for him...]
;B[kn]BL[573.254]
;W[pk]WL[1165.223]C[OK, endure...]
;B[qk]BL[568.23]
;W[ql]WL[1157.216]C[I feel ahead this game... I will play solidly.]
;B[qj]BL[559.828]
;W[pl]WL[1154.528]
;B[oj]BL[557.174]
;W[ml]WL[1153.283]
;B[nm]BL[552.818]
;W[nl]WL[1148.479]C[OK. I want to split him. But he an H12 sente. First H12, then split?

**Post-game thinking: Maybe N11 is also OK.**]
;B[hh]BL[547.718]
;W[ii]WL[1145.489]
;B[kj]BL[538.396]
;W[mi]WL[1141.602]C[Hmm, just keep 'em split.]
;B[kh]BL[527.55]
;W[ih]WL[1137.778]
;B[mg]BL[521.255]
;W[nh]WL[1134.527]
;B[pg]BL[516.893]C[Always tough to balance between multiple groups... Maybe I won't kill him, but let's profit from this dual-attack!

Light-saber attack!]
;W[ng]WL[1131.76]
;B[mf]BL[515.228]
;W[nf]WL[1129.759]
;B[ne]BL[511.884]
;W[oe]WL[1126.681]
;B[me]BL[510.062]C[**Post-game thinking: Too mild? Maybe P16 was better.**]
;W[pf]WL[1124.558]
;B[qf]BL[509.024]
;W[od]WL[1122.029]
;B[pe]BL[506.64]
;W[of]WL[1120.139]
;B[pc]BL[505.205]C[OK, who cares if he lives? I'll just make points. I feel ahead.]
;W[oc]WL[1112.024]C[Hmm. Want to kill J12... Maybe F17, make some stones there, then go for kill.]
;B[fc]BL[502.12]
;W[ig]WL[1102.927]C[No problem. Just keep the pressure on. He's sweating, I'm not!]
;B[hf]BL[500.487]
;W[if]WL[1100.081]
;B[he]BL[498.259]
;W[ie]WL[1097.684]
;B[hd]BL[493.886]
;W[kd]WL[1085.481]
;B[mc]BL[480.823]C[This game feels easy today.]
;W[lc]WL[1080.877]
;B[lb]BL[477.311]
;W[kb]WL[1078.53]
;B[ld]BL[475.666]
;W[kc]WL[1076.08]C[OK, He can't connect with N18, and I can threaten cut with L15...]
;B[ke]BL[473.339]
;W[je]WL[1071.797]
;B[id]BL[458.343]
;W[jd]WL[1069.655]
;B[nb]BL[456.342]C[Yahoo! Now, he P18 and I Q18.]
;W[ob]WL[1067.559]
;B[pb]BL[454.339]
;W[pa]WL[1058.097]C[Hmm, could defend, but let's take away eyespace first!]
;B[nj]BL[441.675]
;W[mj]WL[1046.383]
;B[lk]BL[440.165]
;W[mk]WL[1045.053]
;B[qa]BL[437.496]
;W[oa]WL[1042.472]
;B[rb]BL[435.535]
;W[qg]WL[851.815]C[Hmm. Should be OK even if he has R15 in sente. I'll just Q12. Whatcha gonna do, buddy?]
;B[ph]BL[425.292]
;W[nc]WL[771.889]C[OK, he can connect with M19, N18, N16, O16, O19. I'll protect.]
;B[la]BL[405.635]
;W[mb]WL[752.823]
;B[ma]BL[403.93]
;W[lh]WL[748.902]
;B[kg]BL[396.298]
;W[ki]WL[743.965]C[Crap. I forgot about this. Oh no! I lost a lot of stones!

Oh well. I hate this. Oh no.

I think it's still OK, though. He has hardly any points. Maybe I can threaten to disconnect H8. I'll try to make the best of it. I think I'm still winning.]
;B[ji]BL[383.306]
;W[li]WL[742.589]
;B[jh]BL[374.572]
;W[jj]WL[741.086]
;B[ij]BL[356.081]
;W[jk]WL[738.698]
;B[ik]BL[353.681]
;W[kk]WL[737.597]
;B[gj]BL[344.035]
;W[kf]WL[731.45]
;B[lg]BL[338.329]
;W[le]WL[727.093]
;B[md]BL[336.543]
;W[jg]WL[721.15]
;B[lf]BL[333.441]
;W[ke]WL[718.78]C[OK, I'm basically dead...]
;B[ka]BL[308.646]
;W[ib]WL[702.871]
;B[ja]BL[299.582]
;W[ia]WL[700.836]
;B[jb]BL[297.086]
;W[ic]WL[699.795]C[OK, H17 is sente...

With that in mind, let's take C17.]
;B[cc]BL[209.319]
;W[dc]WL[687.136]
;B[db]BL[206.074]
;W[eb]WL[673.875]
;B[bb]BL[198.897]
;W[da]WL[671.988]C[If I'm lucky, I'll kill C13!]
;B[cb]BL[197.317]
;W[ec]WL[665.616]C[First, take my sente... Then I'll come back to help corner.]
;B[hc]BL[195.724]
;W[jc]WL[659.712]
;B[bf]BL[181.325]
;W[ce]WL[636.116]
;B[be]BL[178.91]
;W[gb]WL[612.844]
;B[hb]BL[176.403]
;W[ha]WL[610.685]
;B[fb]BL[171.878]
;W[fa]WL[608.969]
;B[gc]BL[170.747]
;W[ga]WL[607.539]C[Ah well. I think I'm still ahead!]
;B[ee]BL[167.373]
;W[de]WL[605.336]C[OK, now capture G8~!]
;B[hj]BL[144.756]
;W[kl]WL[558.647]
;B[jl]BL[125.91]
;W[lm]WL[547.81]
;B[ca]BL[118.954]
;W[ea]WL[544.997]
;B[rn]BL[112.768]C[I'm winning! Weee!]
;W[mo]WL[523.535]
;B[mn]BL[95.431]
;W[ln]WL[519.667]
;B[no]BL[93.358]
;W[lo]WL[504.828]
;B[mp]BL[91.412]
;W[on]WL[502.847]
;B[nn]BL[80.438]
;W[qn]WL[497.532]
;B[qo]BL[73.021]
;W[rm]WL[495.083]
;B[pn]BL[71.575]
;W[qm]WL[492.482]
;B[om]BL[68.903]
;W[ro]WL[489.431]
;B[rp]BL[67.496]
;W[sn]WL[488.645]
;B[sp]BL[64.869]
;W[rk]WL[485.447]
;B[rj]BL[63.295]
;W[sj]WL[483.452]
;B[si]BL[62.17]
;W[sk]WL[482.462]
;B[sl]BL[60.63]
;W[rl]WL[480.338]
;B[rh]BL[58.939]
;W[bi]WL[456.913]C[The rest of the game is basically yose. I win by 18.5.]
;B[bj]BL[56.968]
;W[aj]WL[435.277]
;B[ak]BL[50.336]
;W[bg]WL[432.82]
;B[bd]BL[44.22]
;W[ai]WL[415.159]
;B[bk]BL[42.511]
;W[oi]WL[401.034]
;B[ag]BL[37.416]
;W[bh]WL[393.312]
;B[pi]BL[30.919]
;W[ni]WL[384.425]
;B[ef]BL[24.73]
;W[fd]WL[371.1]
;B[ed]BL[20.323]
;W[eg]WL[368.656]
;B[ff]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[eh]WL[363.813]
;B[ge]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[di]WL[360.635]
;B[ej]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[cj]WL[350.639]
;B[an]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[ao]WL[348.602]
;B[am]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[hg]WL[344.812]
;B[gg]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[pm]WL[335.024]
;B[oo]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[so]WL[333.371]
;B[km]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[ll]WL[328.529]
;B[ck]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[ci]WL[326.268]
;B[af]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[fj]WL[310.397]
;B[il]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[el]WL[309.18]
;B[ek]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[og]WL[282.469]
;B[rf]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[ok]WL[276.768]
;B[]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[oh]WL[275.027]
;B[]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[es]WL[268.42]
;B[ks]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[eo]WL[265.618]
;B[js]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[ep]WL[260.532]
;B[in]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[br]WL[228.451]
;B[]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[]WL[228.45]TW[ja][ka][la][ma][na][jb][lb][mb][nb][mc][ld][md][nd][me][ne][jf][lf][mf][kg][lg][mg][dh][jh][kh][mh][ji][kj][lj][lk][sl][sm][rn][ap][bp][cp][aq][bq][cq][ar][cr][as][bs][cs]TB[aa][ba][ra][sa][ab][qb][sb][ac][bc][qc][rc][sc][ad][fd][gd][qd][rd][sd][ae][fe][qe][re][se][gf][sf][qg][rg][sg][qh][sh][qi][ri][fj][fk][gk][hk][al][bl][cl][dl][el][fl][gl][hl][em][fm][hm][jn][on][po][kp][np][op][pp][jq][lq][mq][nq][pq][qq][rq][sq][jr][kr][mr][nr][or][pr][qr][rr][sr][ls][ms][ns][os][ps][qs][rs][ss])
(;W[gr]WL[1370.435]
;B[hr]BL[1181.26]))

I felt pretty good about this game. I think my study made me confident.

I lost a large group, which was disappointing. But I think I was able to play OK.

I don't have any particular diagrams that I was curious about this time (maybe because of the drinks!), but comments are welcome!

[Shinkenjoe]

Cant he just monkey jump at move with E1 ?

[Kirby]

Cant he just monkey jump at move with E1 ?

I believe so, yes. So perhaps I should have played L5 at 47. If he defended the ladder, maybe H2 would work out for me next.

In either case, before this, I didn't expect to get cut, so it was kind of my fault with that.

[Kirby]

Today I studied a little bit of one of the Speed Baduk books.

I saw a diagram:

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

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

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

The commentary suggests that the marked white group has 4 liberties. To me, while a ko is involved, it appears that there are only 3 liberties.

Do we count an extra liberty because of the ko? I don't really get it.

[Kirby]

Today I studied a little bit of one of the Speed Baduk books.

I saw a diagram:

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

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

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

The commentary suggests that the marked white group has 4 liberties. To me, while a ko is involved, it appears that there are only 3 liberties.

Do we count an extra liberty because of the ko? I don't really get it.

I think I might get it, but it's just my guess. Maybe this if 4 liberties, since white can play as follows:

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

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

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

Now, black requires more moves to capture the stones:

$$Bc
$$ | . O O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | 2 . . O . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | X X X O . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | O O O X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . O 3 C C 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

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

$$Bcm5
$$ | . O O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | O 2 . O . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | X X X O . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | O O O X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . O 3 W 1 X . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Bcm5
$$ | . O O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | O 2 . O . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | X X X O . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | O O O X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . O 3 W 1 X . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Is this why it's 4 liberties?

[frankie99]

Today I studied a little bit of one of the Speed Baduk books.

I saw a diagram:

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

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

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

The commentary suggests that the marked white group has 4 liberties. To me, while a ko is involved, it appears that there are only 3 liberties.

Do we count an extra liberty because of the ko? I don't really get it.

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

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

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

I don't think exchanging the marked white stone for the marked black stone, counts as an increase in liberty.

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

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

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

(edit: added diagram for clarity)

May be they counted in the following way:
a1, c1 are liberties; liberty count = 2.
Black playing e1 is one liberty; liberty count = 3.
Black capturing the white stone at d1 is one liberty; liberty count = 4.
^makes no sense to me. ><

I totally agree with you that it should be three, since white can be captured in three moves.