Deliberate Practice

studying · Post by **studying** » Mon Aug 29, 2016 5:08 pm

ez4u wrote:At 19 how about pushing up?

Excellent point (as usual). During the game I remember being afraid of the aji around O18, but looking at it now there wasn't nearly as much there as I thought.

ez4u wrote:At 27 shouldn't Black simply threaten the invasion while widening the bottom? The direct invasion greatly strengthens White for only a few additional points.

Does this really threaten something more severe? If it made R11 work, I could see it being useful, but I'm not sure it changes much there.

ez4u wrote:At 156 White played 1 below and Black answered at 3. However, if Black connects the ko, it does not seem that White can live. Did I miss something?

Wow, I can't believe I missed that. During the game I thought P15 was sente, but now I can't figure out why.

Thank you very much for the comments!

studying · Post by **studying** » Mon Aug 29, 2016 5:10 pm

jeromie wrote:
studying wrote:At the same time I'm getting back into Go, I'm also trying to get back into running after a similar length break, and I'm finding that doing both at the same time has a few very nice benefits.

This summer, I considered trying to arrange a 5k 5k, where my opponent would agree to run 5 kilometers with me before playing a game. I think it would be fun.

I agree! You could even take it a step further and play blindfold go, calling out the moves during the run?

studying · Post by **studying** » Sun Sep 11, 2016 1:28 pm

A few updates because it's been a bit since I've posted here. That's mostly because I've been on vacation and haven't had a chance to play much. I'm back now but still suffering from jet-lag so the few games I tried playing ended up being pretty terrible. I was mostly just playing on instinct as if it were blitz rather than having the discipline to actually think about my moves, so I don't feel there's much value in reviewing those games.

Separately, I'm worried I've fouled up my study plan. I had previously been using my commuting time to do tsumego on my phone. A few weeks ago, without thinking much, I signed up for the DGS Dan Round Robin tournament. I've been enjoying playing there over the past few months, but underestimated how different having 8(+4) games going at once would be. (I had always kept myself to 4 or less until now.) Now I feel like I'm constantly having to re-study the board for one game or another, and that's taking up my previous tsumego time. I'm trying to treat each move as still a tsumego-like reading problem, but it's not quite the same thing. Maybe I'll get lucky and be eliminated in the first round?

Hoping to get back to the serious, live games next weekend.

studying · Post by **studying** » Sun Sep 25, 2016 4:13 pm

Game B-4
Life has continued to interrupt my hoped for plan to play a serious game or two each weekend, but this afternoon I decided to try to sneak a game in. Unfortunately, distractions cropped up about halfway through, and things fell apart a bit. Overall, I was reasonably happy with my play up until that point though, so I guess I can't be too upset.

Here's the game:
https://gokibitz.com/kifu/41X1FBWTZ

Knotwilg · Post by **Knotwilg** » Mon Sep 26, 2016 3:27 am

I looked at the game and can't say anything about it except that I was impressed by the level of play. I'm looking at a high dan game here.

studying · Post by **studying** » Sun Oct 02, 2016 1:12 pm

Game B-5
Things at work have been very hectic, but I finally found time to sit down and play a serious game this afternoon. The result was something I'm pretty pleased with, and I'm starting to allow myself the hope that I really am improving at this point.

In possibly related news, I actually hit my 2016 running goal on a treadmill this week. Still a fair bit of work before I can do it outside, but it's nice to see progress on all fronts.

Here's the reviewed game: https://gokibitz.com/kifu/NJ5dvL5ab

(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]SZ[19]PW[studying]WR[5d]PB[Tygem player]BR[5d]KM[6.5]RE[W+Resign]DT[2016-10-01]C[I finally found time for a serious go game, and I was pretty happy with the result. A pretty classic example of Tygem-style overplays by my opponent, but this time I was able to keep my cool and build slowly to a victory.];B[pd];W[cc];B[pq];W[cp];B[df];W[fd];B[hc]C[This move felt rather greedy, and a bit of an overplay. It ended up setting the tone for the rest of the game.];W[dj];B[qo]C[This felt like the wrong direction to me. The bottom seems more urgent, and I was happy to take E3 next.];W[eq];B[fb];W[ec]C[I didn't want to respond here, but letting my stones get cut seemed too painful.];B[he]C[I did not expect this, and I think it is an overplay. Black's D14 stone will be struggling for a long time now.];W[ff];B[ei];W[ej]C[I was happy to continue building my moyo.];B[fi](;W[ch]C[I briefly considered the variation, but it seemed unnecessarily complicated.];B[dh];W[cg];B[dg];W[gg];B[di]C[This surprised me, as I expected both players to leave D11 until later, but I guess it helps Black fix his shape a bit.];W[ci];B[dd];W[eb];B[dc];W[db];B[cd];W[bc];B[fc](;W[ed]C[I considered the variation, but felt I had a good position already and didn't need to push too much. A complicated fight is clearly what Black wants.];B[fj];W[el];B[gl];W[hi]C[This may have been a small mistake. If I push at F9 first, Black can't fix his shape with F8 as he does next.];B[fl];W[em]C[Still, I'm getting significant profit from this attack.];B[hh]C[I guess I should have seen this coming, given Black's play up until this point.];W[gh];B[gi](;W[ii]C[I spent a lot of time thinking about this move and considering the two variations. Ultimately I decided I wanted to keep the attack going, rather than let Black dominate the center.];B[hg](;W[il]C[I think this was a mistake. I should play H14 first to weaken Black's shape.];B[gf];W[ge];B[hf];W[fg];B[gd];W[fe];B[bd];W[bb];B[ik];W[jk](;B[hk]C[The ladder is good for Black, so I expected the variation, which I think would have made things very hard for me.];W[jj];B[jl];W[im];B[kl](;W[lj]C[I spent considerable time on this move too, debating between M10 and G6. Because G6 left too many cutting points, I opted for this one, but now I wonder if H6 is the right answer?];B[hn];W[in];B[ho];W[io];B[hp]C[I was doing some intense reading of the net to capture L8 here and realized I needed at least one more stone.];W[ip];B[hq];W[lm];B[ll];W[ml];B[kn];W[ln];B[km]C[It was only at this point that I realized the result was seki, rather than a capture. :-(

];W[lo];B[ko];W[kp];B[lp];W[mp];B[jp];W[lq](;B[jq]C[I expected the variation, but the result is about the same.];W[iq];B[ir];W[jo];B[jr];W[lk];B[hm];W[gr];B[hr];W[nk]C[Looking back, I'm pretty proud of playing this move. I feel like until recently, I would have regarded it as too slow, but the important thing to realize is that if Black cuts White, he will have a much easier time gaining points on top to win.];B[qf];W[id];B[hd];W[ob];B[pc];W[pb];B[qb];W[rb];B[qc];W[lc];B[mb];W[nc];B[lb];W[kc]C[I think this was an overplay, but Black missed it.];B[mc];W[md](;B[kb];W[ne];B[ld]C[This felt like an overplay, but I decided I could just win on points if I played conservatively.](;W[le];B[kd];W[ke];B[jc];W[qm];B[nq];W[qh];B[qk]C[An obvious overplay. After playing safely all game, I decided it was finally time to try for the kill.];W[pl];B[pi];W[ph];B[oi];W[oh];B[ni];W[lh];B[nh];W[of];B[ng];W[pf];B[mf];W[me];B[kg];W[lg];B[lf];W[kf];B[ki];W[li];B[qi];W[ri];B[rj];W[rh];B[pk];W[rl];B[nm](;W[ol]C[Was this a mistake? I was under time pressure and the result seemed to leave a lot of aji. Looking at it now though, I can't find a better way.];B[nl];W[mm];B[ok];W[nn](;B[qe];W[rk];B[sj];W[jg]C[Black resigns.])(;B[nj];W[om]))(;W[mm];B[ol];W[om];B[on];W[pm];B[nl](;W[ok];B[nn])(;W[nn];B[ok];W[oo];B[pn]))(;W[nl](;B[ol];W[om];B[ok];W[nn])(;B[om];W[ol];B[mm];W[pn](;B[ql](;W[oo];B[rm];W[rn];B[pm];W[qn])(;W[no]))(;B[no];W[np];B[oo];W[op];B[po];W[pp];B[qp];W[oq];B[jg]))))(;W[kd];B[le];W[ke];B[me];W[nd];B[kf]C[White must juggle two weak groups.]))(;B[nd];W[od];B[ne](;W[oc];B[oe])(;W[oe];B[oc];W[nb];B[pa])(;W[nb];B[kb](;W[jb];B[jc])(;W[oe];B[oc]))))(;B[iq];W[jq];B[jo];W[lk];B[jr];W[kq];B[hm]))(;W[gn];B[lj];W[kh];B[mh];W[kf];B[hn];W[hm];B[gm];W[fn];B[in])(;W[hn];B[lj];W[kh];B[mh];W[kf];B[gn];W[go];B[fn];W[hp]))(;B[jj];W[hk];B[ij];W[hj];B[hl];W[ji];B[kj];W[ki];B[im]))(;W[hf](;B[if]C[If Black plays normally, he ends up with a defect at J15.];W[gf];B[ig];W[il])(;B[ge]C[Black can't resist this way.];W[gf];B[fe];W[ee];B[ef];W[ig])))(;W[ih];B[hg];W[hf];B[ig];W[if];B[jg];W[ge];B[jf];W[ie];B[jd])(;W[hg];B[ih];W[ig];B[jh]))(;W[gd];B[ed];W[hd];B[id];W[gc];B[gb];W[hb];B[ic];W[ga];B[fe];W[fa];B[ge];W[ie]))(;W[dh];B[di];W[ci];B[ch];W[cg];B[bh](;W[dg];B[cj])(;W[bi];B[dg];W[eh](;B[bg];W[fh])(;B[fg];W[bg];B[fh];W[ah];B[eg]))))

studying · Post by **studying** » Sun Oct 02, 2016 1:18 pm

Knotwilg wrote:I looked at the game and can't say anything about it except that I was impressed by the level of play. I'm looking at a high dan game here.

Thanks for the kind words!

studying · Post by **studying** » Mon Oct 10, 2016 1:02 pm

Game B-6
I should know better than to play Go when I'm tired. It's not that I make reading mistakes when I'm tired, but rather that I just don't have the mental discipline to read in the first place. That lack of discipline showed in today's disappointing 2.5 point loss.

To continue the running analogy, I also went for a run this afternoon and ran into a similar problem. It's not that my muscles are any more tired on a day like today, it's that I lack the mental energy to convince myself to keep going.

My hope is that this mental discipline is something that can be improved with practice, but I'm not 100% sure if that's true. In any case, here's the game: https://gokibitz.com/kifu/E1JCGyS0b

(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]SZ[19]PW[Tygem player]WR[5d]PB[studying]BR[5d]KM[6.5]RE[W+2.5]DT[2016-10-10];B[qd];W[dp];B[pq];W[dd];B[oc];W[qj];B[qo];W[jq];B[cf];W[ch];B[cc];W[cd];B[dc];W[ed];B[bd];W[be];B[bc];W[ce];B[fc];W[ge];B[gc];W[dn];B[dq];W[eq];B[er];W[ep];B[dr];W[fr];B[cp];W[co];B[bp];W[nq];B[ql];W[qg];B[jo];W[pr];B[or];W[oq](;B[nr]C[This was a mistake. I played too quickly here and didn't take the time to read out that White can now separate my stones.];W[pp];B[qq];W[qp];B[qr];W[po];B[mq];W[no](;B[qn]C[Another mistake. Black is making himself heavy here.];W[rp];B[ol];W[lp]C[White seals Black in and now the game is hard.];B[rj];W[ri];B[rk];W[mp];B[lq];W[kp];B[pi]C[This is probably not the best way to attack this group, but I was feeling a bit desperate.];W[qi];B[oj];W[og];B[ph];W[pg];B[rf]C[This isn't sente.];W[pk];B[pl];W[ok];B[nk];W[rg];B[ml];W[re];B[rd];W[sf](;B[jd]C[I really wanted to invade the left side, but decided I couldn't risk a second weak group. I also strongly considered N11, but ultimately rejected it because the White group on the side was already alive, and I felt I could sacrifice the Q11 stones for additional thickness that would be useful for reducing the left.];W[nj]C[White happily went along with my plans.];B[mj];W[ni];B[mi];W[nh];B[bo];W[bn];B[di];W[dh];B[fi];W[eh];B[fk];W[br]C[This ko has been there all along, and I wondered when White would play it.];B[bq];W[cr];B[ar];W[bs];B[cq];W[ds];B[es];W[ao];B[cs];W[lk];B[mk];W[ds];B[ap];W[an];B[cs];W[ec];B[eb];W[ds];B[cn]C[This was a painful threat to have to make, as it hurts the D11 stones.];W[cm];B[cs];W[db];B[fb];W[ds];B[op];W[np];B[cs];W[nc]C[I expected White to continue in the upper left, and this seemed a reasonable threat to ignore, but given that White still needs an approach move for the ko, I wonder if that was the wrong decision?];B[as];W[ob];B[pc];W[pb];B[nd];W[mc];B[qb];W[md];B[pa];W[na];B[ne];W[jb];B[kb];W[kc];B[jc];W[lb];B[ib];W[ka];B[fh];W[fg];B[gg];W[gf];B[hg];W[lh];B[mh];W[lg];B[ng];W[oh](;B[le]C[Again, I was too lazy to read. This doesn't work. The correct move is M14.];W[mf];B[me];W[nf];B[mg];W[lf];B[ki];W[li];B[lj];W[kn];B[kl];W[im];B[gm];W[hn];B[jm];W[jn];B[il];W[km];B[jl];W[hm](;B[gl];W[fs]C[At this point, the game becomes a test of my (weak) endgame skills.];B[kr];W[jr];B[gn];W[go];B[cj];W[ad];B[cb];W[jh];B[kh];W[jf];B[jg];W[ig];B[kg];W[kf];B[if];W[fn];B[bi];W[bh];B[qk];W[pj];B[rq];W[mm];B[on];W[oo];B[ll];W[nm];B[ro];W[so];B[sn];W[sp];B[rm];W[ei];B[ej];W[ci];B[bj];W[dj];B[dk];W[ia];B[hb];W[sd]C[I thought hard about playing this ko, but I felt that White had more threats. Plus, White can just decline the ko and keep sente anyway.];B[rc];W[bl];B[di];W[hl];B[hk];W[fm];B[ah];W[ag];B[ai];W[ef]C[This let White clean up a lot of aji. Not sure if there was a better way.];B[js];W[is];B[ks];W[kq];B[lr];W[ir];B[pe];W[ie](;B[ih]C[This was a small mistake. I thought there were problems inside if I played H14.];W[hf];B[ig];W[qf];B[je];W[of];B[ha];W[ja];B[hd]C[I think this is slightly better at J16.];W[he];B[ld];W[lc];B[ac];W[ae];B[fl];W[el];B[dl];W[dm];B[lm];W[ln];B[nn];W[pn];B[om];W[mn];B[fd];W[fe];B[bk];W[ak];B[sc];W[se];B[pm];W[id];B[ic];W[oe];B[od];W[sj];B[sk];W[si];B[sq];W[qe];B[cl];W[dj];B[la];W[ma];B[di];W[oa];B[qa];W[gd];B[dj];W[hc];B[ek];W[em];B[hd];W[pf];B[hc];W[al];B[pd]C[W+2.5])(;B[hf];W[he];B[je](;W[ih];B[gh];W[kj];B[ji];W[jj];B[ii];W[ij];B[hi];W[ik];B[nl])(;W[gh];B[ih];W[gi];B[fj])))(;B[gr];W[fq];B[fs];W[hl];B[hk];W[gl];B[gk];W[el]))(;B[lf](;W[mg];B[nf];W[mf];B[me](;W[kf];B[le])(;W[le];B[kf]))(;W[kf];B[le])))(;B[mi]))(;B[np];W[op];B[mp]C[This is better than the game result. White's shape is a mess, and Black can still play lightly on the side.]))(;B[qr];W[pp];B[qq];W[nr];B[ps];W[jm]C[This is how I expected the game to go.]))

studying · Post by **studying** » Sun Oct 16, 2016 10:59 am

Game B-7
I actually ended up playing three games on Saturday, which is probably more than I should play in a single day if I want to keep the quality up. But, after I lost the first game quickly due to an early reading mistake, I went a bit into tilt-mode and wanted to keep playing. Fortunately, I won the next two games and was able to call it a day. Below is the first of these two games.

A few thoughts for this journal:

I'm still really enjoying the territorial style I've been trying to play with. I find winning games on points to be the most fulfilling, and I've found that by assuming the game will go to counting, I don't feel as obligated to over-reach in the early/middle game.
If I'm going to keep trying to win on points, I should probably do more to further strengthen my endgame. Any recommendations for good dan-level endgame books?
I'm worried I've resorted to just going through the motions and playing games, rather than deliberately practicing to improve. If I'm going to hit my goal of Tygem-6dan this year, I'm going to need to get more serious. I think what threw me off was the large number of DGS games caused by the tournament I mentioned before. Those games are mostly wrapping up now, so I should be able to focus again on other methods of improvement. Picking up on some comments from John Fairbairn, I think I'm going to try to be more diligent about replaying professional games on a regular basis during the week.

Here's the somewhat unimpressive game: https://gokibitz.com/kifu/VyfOjs2RZ

(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]SZ[19]PW[studying]WR[5d]PB[Tygem player]BR[5d]KM[6.5]DT[2016-10-15]RE[W+9.5];B[dp];W[cc];B[pd];W[pq];B[po];W[qo];B[qn];W[qp];B[pn];W[nq];B[qj];W[nc];B[jd];W[qc];B[qd];W[pc];B[od];W[rc];B[nd];W[mc];B[md];W[lc];B[ld];W[re]C[This was probably a greedy mistake. There's no need to give Black added thickness here yet.];B[qf];W[cn];B[cl];W[en]C[I don't really like this joseki, but I felt it gave me a good chance to balance Black's influence with some of my own.];B[fp];W[dk];B[ck];W[dj];B[dl];W[el];B[cj];W[di];B[ch];W[fk]C[You can tell I'm still rusty, because I forgot the normal way to finish the joseki. That said, in researching now, this move has been played at least twice this year in professional play, and it's not bad shape, so I'm not too concerned about it.];B[iq];W[cf];B[dg];W[df]C[This feels a bit toothpaste-y, but I am building some nice territory in the corner.];B[eg];W[hd];B[kc]C[Letting Black have this nice shape point was probably a mistake.];W[hf];B[ef];W[ee];B[fe];W[ed];B[gf];W[fd];B[hg];W[if];B[ig];W[jf]C[I was happy to have Black push me from behind, directly into his area of influence.];B[dm];W[cq]C[With this move, it's clear that the rest of the game will revolve around how White will manage the central stones.];B[dq];W[cp];B[dn](;W[dr]C[I felt I needed this move for life, but in looking closely now, I'm not sure that's the case.];B[er];W[cr];B[em];W[fm];B[gl];W[fl];B[gk];W[gj];B[hj];W[hi];B[ii]C[This was a strong move I did not expect.](;W[hn]C[I'm not sure if this was correct. Maybe I should play the variation?];B[ik];W[jn];B[lq];W[mq]C[This is rather vulgar. M2 is probably better.];B[lp];W[no];B[ln];W[km];B[fj]C[Nice timing by Black.];W[gi];B[fi];W[hl];B[il];W[gm]C[Maybe I should take the K10 peep first?];B[hk];W[hp];B[ip];W[gp];B[io];W[in];B[fn];W[lm];B[mn];W[lk]C[Now the life and death issues become very serious.];B[mm];W[ml];B[nl];W[nk];B[ok];W[ol];B[nm];W[oj];B[pk]C[I think this was a crucial mistake by Black. If he peeps at N10 first, the game becomes very hard for White.];W[mj];B[ni];W[nj];B[kl];W[kk];B[jl];W[ll];B[li];W[mi];B[lh];W[nh];B[ph];W[oh];B[pi];W[oi];B[lj];W[mg];B[lg];W[mf];B[lf];W[pg];B[qg];W[of]C[Fortunately, the White dragon lives. And it doing so, it's eaten up nearly all of Black's central influence. Now it comes down to endgame.];B[pf];W[og];B[ic];W[hc];B[ib];W[hb];B[ha];W[ga];B[ia];W[gb];B[oc];W[ob];B[lb];W[ma];B[gn]C[Ouch.];W[hm];B[ho];W[fr]C[This was a misread that almost cost me the game. Now that Black has played G6, this doesn't work.];B[es];W[bg];B[bh];W[bm];B[mr];W[nr];B[lr];W[rn]C[I wonder if this should be S16.];B[rm];W[ro];B[rd];W[sd];B[rf];W[mb];B[kb];W[sm];B[rl];W[sl];B[sk];W[sn];B[rk];W[jg];B[jh];W[bl];B[co];W[bo];B[do];W[ci];B[cg];W[bf];B[la];W[pb];B[ns];W[or];B[kn];W[jm];B[cm];W[bn];B[mp];W[oo];B[me];W[oe];B[mh]C[This should be O15];W[ne];B[sf];W[se];B[ge];W[id];B[gd];W[gc];B[qe];W[sc];B[jo];W[on];B[om];W[ke];B[kd];W[ds];B[fq];W[fh];B[gh];W[eh];B[fg];W[os];B[op];W[np];B[pp];W[ms];B[ls];W[qr];B[jj];W[kj];B[ki];W[bk];B[bj];W[bi];B[ai];W[ek]C[This was overly cautious.];B[ag];W[af];B[ah];W[ak];B[aj]C[There's no need for Black to connect here.];W[mo];B[lo];W[kg];B[jk];W[ns];B[pj];W[mk];B[je];W[kf];B[le];W[oq];B[hh]C[White wins by 9.5])(;W[hk];B[ij];W[hm];B[hl];W[il];B[ik];W[gm];B[hk];W[jm];B[jl];W[im]))(;W[ik];B[bo];W[co];B[bn];W[bm];B[cm];W[bp];B[bl];W[dr];B[er];W[cr](;B[br];W[bs];B[aq];W[ao];B[am](;W[ds];B[as];W[ar])(;W[bq];B[ar];W[ds]))(;B[ar];W[ao];B[am];W[br];B[aq];W[ap];B[ds];W[cs](;B[as](;W[eq];B[ep];W[fq];B[fr];W[gq];B[gr];W[gp];B[go];W[hp];B[hq];W[do];B[ho];W[eo];B[ip])(;W[do];B[eo];W[eq];B[ep];W[fq];B[fr];W[gq];B[gr];W[gp];B[fo];W[go];B[fn];W[gn];B[em];W[fm];B[en];W[hr]))(;B[fq];W[as];B[bs];W[bq]))))

ez4u · Post by **ez4u** » Sun Oct 16, 2016 5:47 pm

From 78 White makes a series of strange moves IMHO. At 78 I think the diagonal play is normal when we want to continue on the left. Don't give Black any help strengthening the bottom.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Wc $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . X O O O . O O O . | $$ | . . . , O O . O . X . X X X X X X . . | $$ | . . . . O X . . . . . . . . . . . O . | $$ | . . O O X . X O O O . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . X X . . X X . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . O X . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X O . . O X . , . . . . . , X . . | $$ | . . X O . O X . X . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X X O O X . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O X O . . O . O . . . . . X X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X O . . | $$ | . . O X . X . . . , . . 1 . . , O . . | $$ | . . O X . . . . X . . X . O . O . . . | $$ | . . O O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

At 80 surely White should play from the other side. In the game 80 is a neutral point. The likelihood of engineering an attack on Black's right-side stones is essentially zero.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Wc $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . X O O O . O O O . | $$ | . . . , O O . O . X . X X X X X X . . | $$ | . . . . O X . . . . . . . . . . . O . | $$ | . . O O X . X O O O . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . X X . . X X . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . O X . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X O . . O X . , . . . . . , X . . | $$ | . . X O . O X . X . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X X O O X . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O X O . . O . O . 1 . . . X X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X O . . | $$ | . . O X . X . . . , . X . . . , O . . | $$ | . . O X . . . . X . . X O O . O . . . | $$ | . . O O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

The ideas behind 86 and 92 seem like aji keshi. Particularly 86 is wrongly placed. The shape point for White is J8 rather than H8, isn't it? Surely White is better off to just push Black across some neutral points and not decide things in the center and along the bottom until later?

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Wc $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . X O O O . O O O . | $$ | . . . , O O . O . X . X X X X X X . . | $$ | . . . . O X . . . . . . . . . . . O . | $$ | . . O O X . X O O O . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . X X . . X X . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . O . X O O X . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X O . X O X . , . . 5 . . , X . . | $$ | . . X O . O X . X . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X X O O X . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X X O . . . . O 1 3 . . . . . . | $$ | . . O X O . . O . O . X 2 4 . X X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . X O . . | $$ | . . O X . X . . . , . X . . . , O . . | $$ | . . O X . . . . X . . X O O . O . . . | $$ | . . O O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

studying · Post by **studying** » Mon Oct 17, 2016 4:10 pm

ez4u wrote:From 78 White makes a series of strange moves IMHO. At 78 I think the diagonal play is normal when we want to continue on the left. Don't give Black any help strengthening the bottom.

Yes, I'm really not sure what I was thinking here. If I recall, I was focused on trying to make eyes by pressing against the bottom stones, but I think I was just blindly trying to keep Black's two groups separated without realizing they were already alive. Your explanation of where I came up short is far clearer than how I would have explained it. Thank you!

studying · Post by **studying** » Sat Oct 22, 2016 1:38 pm

Game B-8
I played a rather eye-opening game last night. My opponent had recently been demoted from 6-dan, but he was clearly more skilled than me. I was outplayed across the board. It's been awhile since I played a game where I felt so overmatched. Hopefully I can use it as motivation in the coming weeks.

Here's the review: https://gokibitz.com/kifu/NyjBanV1f

(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]SZ[19]PW[studying]WR[5d]PB[Tygem player]BR[5d]KM[6.5]RE[B+Resign]DT[2016-10-21]C[This game was brutal. I got outplayed across the board by a better player, without question.];B[qd];W[dc];B[pq];W[cq];B[nc]C[I always struggle with how to deal with the large enclosure. I think I'm going to have to try it some in my games to see how other players play against it.];W[po];B[qo];W[qn];B[qp];W[pm];B[nq];W[qi];B[qg];W[oi];B[de];W[ce];B[dd];W[cd];B[ec];W[cf];B[db];W[cc];B[fd];W[lc];B[jc];W[le]C[I think I should play Q17 directly here. The M15-O15 exchange helps Black, as we'll see in a minute.];B[ne];W[pc];B[qc];W[nb];B[md](;W[mb]C[I thought hard about whether to play N18 or N17. My thought here was that N18 would prevent Black from playing the double-hane at J18, but I missed Black's better move in reading that out. As a result, I'm now convinced this should be N17.];B[ld];W[kc];B[jd]C[This is the move I missed in my prior reading.];W[kd];B[ke];W[je];B[kf];W[jb];B[ib];W[kb];B[hc];W[eg]C[This move seemed very big, and I had hoped to treat Q17 as just large endgame. I missed that Black can capture it in sente.];B[ob]C[Only at this point did I realize how many sente moves Black has here.](;W[la];B[na];W[ja]C[The top is a pretty terrible result for White. I knew I'd need to find somewhere to catch up.];B[dp];W[cp];B[do];W[er];B[gp];W[cn];B[gr];W[dn];B[fm]C[This is a really impressive move. If White tries to cut it off, Black will just continue to strengthen his moyo.];W[mp]C[I considered a calm moyo battle with E8, but after P6, Black's moyo is much bigger/better.];B[np];W[mo];B[no];W[nn];B[mn];W[ln];B[mm];W[lm];B[on]C[I did not expect this move, and the next several moves required some intense reading. I felt I held my own here at least.];W[nm];B[ml];W[ko];B[om];W[nl];B[ol];W[nk];B[ok];W[qk];B[nj];W[mk];B[ll];W[oj]C[Capturing O10 means Black and White each only have one weak group, and my group seem stronger, so I was happy with this result. Now F6 is starting to look more interesting again.];B[oo];W[kl];B[lk];W[mj];B[kk];W[jl];B[jk];W[li];B[jn](;W[jm]C[I thought hard about various options here, and didn't really like any of them, but this seemed the least-bad.];B[ik];W[hm];B[hl];W[in];B[jo];W[hp];B[kp];W[jp]C[I think this was the right play, but I got too greedy with it.];B[ip](;W[jq]C[I think this was my last critical mistake. The variation seems better.];B[io];W[ho];B[iq];W[hq];B[ir];W[hr];B[kn];W[lo];B[im]C[I completely missed this throw-in. It's incredible effective.];W[jr]C[This just makes things worse.];B[is];W[hn];B[km];W[gl]C[My only hope now is to try to turn the left side into something massive to compensate for my losses so far.];B[gm];W[hk]C[Being able to play this atari ruins the ladder for Black.];B[il];W[gq];B[ei]C[This move was devastating, and shows just how good my opponent was.];W[gj];B[fh];W[ek];B[ci];W[gf]C[This is clearly an overplay, but I don't think I had any choice at this point.];B[hh];W[ij];B[fg];W[ff];B[ef];W[df];B[ee];W[dh];B[di];W[jf];B[hi];W[hj];B[hf];W[he];B[gg];W[ge];B[jg];W[id];B[ic];W[kg];B[lf];W[ig];B[jh](;W[hg]C[The variation doesn't work either.];B[ih];W[if];B[hd]C[White resigns.])(;W[ih];B[if];W[ie];B[ii];W[hg];B[jj]))(;W[io];B[jq];W[kn];B[hq];W[jp];B[jo];W[gm];B[fl];W[gl];B[gk];W[il];B[hk];W[fk]C[White still has to be careful about H6, but this seems like a reasonable compromise.]))(;W[jo];B[in];W[km];B[il];W[hq];B[ip])(;W[in];B[km];W[jo];B[il];W[gn];B[fn];W[hq]))(;W[pb];B[oc];W[oa];B[la];W[qb];B[rb];W[pd];B[qe]C[White dies.]))(;W[mc];B[ld];W[kc](;B[kd];W[jb];B[ib];W[kb];B[ic](;W[oc])(;W[mi](;B[ob];W[oc];B[nd];W[pb];B[mb];W[oa];B[la];W[lb];B[ja];W[ma])(;B[pb];W[ob];B[oc];W[ma])))(;B[jd];W[kd];B[ke];W[jb];B[ib];W[kb];B[hc];W[kf];B[je];W[me];B[nd];W[ob])))

Uberdude · Post by **Uberdude** » Sat Oct 22, 2016 3:43 pm

I can't really criticize p11, but if you want to strive for greater efficiency and learn about the big shimari you could 3-3 attach as a probe and if black hanes then tenuki to make your own shimari, and if he extends to 4-4 then you don't mind slightly slow p11 because you have easier corner aji later. One reason to probe before tenuki is because if black gets those strengthening moves near the shiarmi/extension after his standard invasion there then he can more aggressively try to kill the 3-3 later.

studying · Post by **studying** » Sat Oct 22, 2016 5:29 pm

Uberdude wrote:I can't really criticize p11, but if you want to strive for greater efficiency and learn about the big shimari you could 3-3 attach as a probe and if black hanes then tenuki to make your own shimari, and if he extends to 4-4 then you don't mind slightly slow p11 because you have easier corner aji later. One reason to probe before tenuki is because if black gets those strengthening moves near the shiarmi/extension after his standard invasion there then he can more aggressively try to kill the 3-3 later.

Thanks for the tip! I'll have to give this a try.

studying · Post by **studying** » Sun Oct 30, 2016 8:08 am

Game B-9
I played three games this weekend, and (again) went 2-1. My overall winning percentage also seems to be settling around 66%, but unfortunately I need 75% to move up to 6dan. Also, I seem to continue to struggle playing as White. Both of my wins were as Black, and my loss was as White. Any general suggestions/resources for playing as White would be greatly appreciated. My review of the loss is below, but I think I just played too slowly in the opening.

https://gokibitz.com/kifu/EyyZjx1lM

(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]SZ[19]PW[studying]WR[5d]PB[Tygem player]BR[5d]KM[6.5]RE[B+4.5]DT[2016-10-29];B[pd];W[cc];B[dd];W[cd];B[de];W[eb];B[gd];W[cf];B[eg];W[cg]C[This feels a bit small/slow. I should probably take an open corner now. At the time, I remember thinking they were miai, but that ignores the fact that I'm still giving up sente here.];B[pq];W[dq];B[do];W[co];B[dp];W[cp];B[eq];W[cn];B[dr];W[cq];B[fp];W[kq];B[iq]C[I was a bit surprised at this direction by Black.];W[nq];B[po];W[qf];B[qi];W[qc];B[qd];W[pc];B[od];W[rd];B[re];W[rc];B[qe];W[nc];B[me];W[no]C[I was worried Black would press these stones down and build a large moyo.];B[pm];W[mc];B[mp];W[mq];B[lp];W[kp];B[ln];W[np]C[I'm not sure about this choice. It helps keep Black separated, and gives me a bit more strength to invade the corner later, but it doesn't really help my group settle, and it lets Black make nice shape at L5.];B[mn];W[of];B[qg];W[rf];B[rg];W[pg];B[sf];W[pi];B[pj];W[oi];B[oj];W[mi];B[nj];W[lh];B[ni];W[nh];B[mg];W[mh];B[kr];W[lq];B[jr];W[pr];B[qr];W[qp];B[pp];W[or];B[qq];W[ip];B[in]C[I did not expect this move, but suddenly my group looks like it very much might die.];W[hq];B[hr];W[jq];B[ir];W[hn](;B[ho]C[I had read this line as being ok for me. I was more concerned about the variation.];W[io];B[hp];W[jn];B[im](;W[kn]C[I looked for awhile at the variation, and in retrospect, maybe it's the better choice.];B[kl];W[jl];B[jm];W[km];B[lm];W[ko];B[lk];W[kk];B[ll](;W[lr]C[I briefly considered playing the J8 exchanges first, but decided it was better to leave the aji.];B[il];W[kf]C[Black never really responded to my P14 peep, so I knew I wanted to attack N15, but I'm not sure if this was the best way.];B[ke];W[lf];B[le];W[je];B[jf];W[jd];B[ne];W[jh];B[if];W[he]C[This was probably an overplay, as Black showed. Maybe just playing J17 and letting Black worry about the aji is better?];B[ie];W[hd];B[id](;W[ic];B[hc];W[jc];B[hf]C[I made a few points on the bottom, but now Black has no weak groups.];W[mf];B[ki];W[ji];B[kj];W[kh];B[pf];W[ph];B[nf];W[ng](;B[og]C[I thought Black might just let me live small, but he seemed intent on going for the kill each time.];W[hi];B[gh];W[gi];B[ei];W[gk];B[ek];W[ik];B[jk];W[hk];B[cr]C[Now we begin a very long endgame. Given that the margin was pretty close, I'm curious if I made any major mistakes here.];W[ck];B[cj];W[bj];B[bk];W[bl];B[bi];W[ak];B[ci];W[hb];B[gc];W[gb];B[ec];W[dc];B[fb];W[ef]C[This move felt fancy, but I'm not sure I actually gained anything from it.];B[ff];W[ed];B[fc];W[ee];B[fe];W[dg];B[eh];W[br];B[bs];W[ar];B[db];W[cb];B[ea];W[bh];B[ai];W[hm];B[lc];W[lb];B[kc];W[kb];B[dk];W[dl];B[el];W[dm];B[aj];W[bk];B[ah];W[ag];B[ch];W[bg];B[ga];W[ib];B[ca];W[ba];B[da];W[bb];B[fn];W[qs];B[rs];W[ps];B[rr];W[nn];B[nm];W[on];B[om];W[hh];B[gg];W[mj];B[mk];W[qh]C[Maybe this should be F10?];B[rh];W[oh];B[oc];W[ob];B[sd];W[sc];B[oq];W[nr];B[jj];W[ij];B[fj];W[gj];B[oe];W[pn];B[qn];W[ks]C[Maybe this should be G5?];B[js];W[ls];B[gn];W[hl];B[jl];W[ha];B[fa];W[fi];B[fh];W[dh];B[di];W[en];B[eo];W[fk];B[ej];W[kd];B[ld];W[jg];B[ig];W[ih];B[em];W[dn];B[gm];W[hg];B[ge];W[fl];B[fm];W[og];B[er];W[se];B[fd];W[df];B[sd];W[qj];B[ri];W[se];B[bq];W[bp];B[sd];W[pk];B[ol];W[se];B[nb];W[pb];B[sd];W[gq];B[gr];W[se];B[lg];W[kg];B[sd];W[qo];B[rn];W[se];B[cs];W[sd];B[as];W[aq];B[nd];W[mb]C[B+4.5])(;B[hi];W[og];B[di]))(;W[hc];B[hf];W[ic];B[jc](;W[jb];B[kc];W[kb];B[hh])(;W[gf];B[gg];W[ge];B[hh])(;W[hh];B[gf];W[kd];B[ld];W[kc];B[lc];W[kb];B[lb];W[jb];B[ei])))(;W[il];B[hm];W[hl];B[gm];W[lr]))(;W[jm];B[jo];W[ko];B[jp];W[kn];B[jl];W[kl];B[kk];W[jk];B[il];W[lk];B[kj];W[ll]))(;B[jo];W[jp];B[hm];W[gn];B[gm];W[fn];B[ho]))

Life In 19x19

Deliberate Practice

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