Opening thoughts

[HermanHiddema]

I already did two of these in another thread, and people liked them, so I thought I'd do another one:

Here's an opening from a recent game, with comments showing what I was thinking about on every one of my moves.



These are not professional level thoughts of course, but I hope some people find these thoughts at my level instructive nonetheless

[John Fairbairn]

Good stuff, Herman. I'd be interested in your views on the following.

1. You say a Korean 7-dan criticised Black 7. Since 122 pros, including the very best, out of 141 played this in the GoGoD database, I wonder what this says about Korean 7-dans

2. You were happy to give up the lower right corner for a wall of thickness*. Playing in a way that makes you comfortable counts for a lot, of course, but such walls are normally made for attack, yet Black has no nearby weaknesses so there was nothing for you to attack. If Black had not impetuously invaded at 47 you wouldn't have had any attack. Seems to me that if he played a lightly erasing nozomi at K8 (threatening also to link on a big scale at M9), you would have had to end up surrounding your own thickness. In that case, taking the rather large corner seems to work out well for Black.

* I'm not even convinced this is genuine thickness. Black has a couple of peeps and a loosely surrounded aji-ful stone, and White has no eye shape yet. Plus, if you'd had J3 in place first, I don't think you would have played M3.

[hiyayang]

Thanks Herman for sharing your thoughts. Regarding the lower-right corner, I am with John here. Some questions for you:

If we apply tewari to the lower-right corner and assume the white Q3 stone is at 4-4 when black approaches it, it looks like white would play the one-space pincer to force the black into the corner. I wonder whether the one-space pincer is a good response in this situation, given that white already invested 2 more stones on the right side. I would probably just extend from Q3 to secure a good chunk of territory. Black cannot claim the lower side with another move anyway. If we should play a pincer move, would a 2-space pincer be better here? If black then plays the same sequence as in the game, white gets to extend one space further to the left. If white intends to create a moyo facing the left, would a high pincer be better? White M3 and J3 (and R6) stones look low for a good moyo. Or maybe white should kick black O3 stone before playing a pincer? Next a jump or 2-space extension becomes miai.

[serapis]

Interesting opening, thought I'd share a few thoughts.

[Harleqin]

$$Bc
$$ --------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . p . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . X . X . . . . . .
$$ | . . X , p . . . . , . .
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . O 2 1 . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . p . . . . . , . .
$$ | . . O . O . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . p . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . p . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . p . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . X , . . . . . , . .

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

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

What is the problem with that peep? I mean, there are always peeps, but everyone and his dog can connect against a peep, no? Why would this peep make White uncomfortable?

[Bill Spight]

A few thoughts.

[CarlJung]

I already did two of these in another thread, and people liked them, so I thought I'd do another one:

This is great on so many levels. First, us mere kyu players get insight on the reasoning from stronger players in a very accessible format. For some reason I find this more accessible than the Malcovich games. Secondly, we get to see high level discussion, something that is mostly non existant for those playing only online at home. Thirdly, Herman gets feedback an suggestions too. Everybody wins.

I hope to see more of this in the future, from other players too.

[serapis]

What is the problem with that peep? I mean, there are always peeps, but everyone and his dog can connect against a peep, no? Why would this peep make White uncomfortable?

If you are referring to my post, i was pointing out the sheer amount of aji (options) left against that position. The peep is simply one among many.

[HermanHiddema]

Thanks all for the comments! I am extremely busy right now, as I am moving on monday, so I will leave my answers on comments regarding specific moves for next week. I will then also post another game with facing 3-4, where I played again and felt that it was sufficiently punished byt my (6 dan) opponent to make me rethink my assumptions on it

In reply to John's first question, I think that serapis' suggestion that the criticism is a personal dislike may be spot on. It is entirely possible that I interpreted an "I don't like this move" as a "This move is no good". It would certainly be in line with her style of play to dislike this move, she generally prefers agressive, influence based moves, and will often comment moves as being "just points" and thus not very important.