A way to improve reading skills 2.0

Gomoto · Post by **Gomoto** » Fri Dec 01, 2017 5:47 am

My opening game is strong. But I need to improve the middle game and the yose.

To improve my reading I need to consider intuition, depth, speed and accuracy.

In this thread I will collect whole board problems (blunders) from actual games.

Problem 1:
White to play.

White has a big lead in this position, but the next moves can be decisive. There are several possible lines. As always most lines lead to defeat. I managed to choose one of these :lol:

.

If you like to post your line, I will rate your success afterwards :tmbdown:

. (The best solution will also be posted later.)

Have fun

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$W White to play $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X . . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . X O O O . O X . X X X X . . . | $$ | . X . O O X X . . , X . O X O X . . . | $$ | . O O . . . . . O . X . . O O O O . . | $$ | . . . O X . X . . O O O . . O X O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . X . X O . . X . X O . . | $$ | . . . O X . O . . X . . . . . X O . . | $$ | . . O . X . X X . . . . . . . O X O . | $$ | . . . O O X O . . , . . . . . , X . . | $$ | . . X . . X . O . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X X X O O . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . O O X . B . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X X . . . . . . O . . X X . . O . . | $$ | . O O O . . . . X O . X . X X X O . . | $$ | . . . . . O . . . O . . X . X O . O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O X O O O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Solution 1:

We will consider a,b and c:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$W $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X . . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . X O O O . O X . X X X X . . . | $$ | . X . O O X X . . , X . O X O X . . . | $$ | . O O . . . . . O . X . . O O O O . . | $$ | . . . O X . X . . O O O . . O X O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . X . X O . . X . X O . . | $$ | . . . O X . O . . X . . . . . X O . . | $$ | . . O . X . X X . . . . . . . O X O . | $$ | . . . O O X O . . , . . . . . , X . . | $$ | . . X . . X . O . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . c . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X X X O O . a . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . O O X b B . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X X . . . . . . O . . X X . . O . . | $$ | . O O O . . . . X O . X . X X X O . . | $$ | . . . . . O . . . O . . X . X O . O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O X O O O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

a is a strong line, first variation:
(In the real game I stopped my assessment here and dismissed the line for white. Did not visualize the continuation.)

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$W $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X . . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . X O O O . O X . X X X X . . . | $$ | . X . O O X X . . , X . O X O X . . . | $$ | . O O . . . . . O . X . . O O O O . . | $$ | . . . O X . X . . O O O . . O X O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . X . X O . . X . X O . . | $$ | . . . O X . O . . X . . . . . X O . . | $$ | . . O . X . X X . . . . . . . O X O . | $$ | . . . O O X O . . , . . . . . , X . . | $$ | . . X . . X . O . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . 3 7 . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X X X O O 2 1 6 0 . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . O O X . B 4 5 9 . . . . . . . | $$ | . X X . . . . . . O 8 . X X . . O . . | $$ | . O O O . . . . X O . X . X X X O . . | $$ | . . . . . O . . . O . . X . X O . O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O X O O O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$B $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X . . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . X O O O . O X . X X X X . . . | $$ | . X . O O X X . . , X . O X O X . . . | $$ | . O O . . . . . O . X . . O O O O . . | $$ | . . . O X . X . . O O O . . O X O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . X . X O . . X . X O . . | $$ | . . . O X . O . . X . . . . . X O . . | $$ | . . O . X . X X . . . . . . . O X O . | $$ | . . . O O X O . . , . . . . . , X . . | $$ | . . X . . X . O . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . O O . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X X X O O X O X 5 7 . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . O O X 0 B X O O 6 9 . . . . . | $$ | . X X . . . 3 8 1 O X . X X . . O . . | $$ | . O O O . . 4 . X O . X . X X X O . . | $$ | . . . . . O . . 2 O . . X . X O . O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O X O O O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

perhaps black tries to make some troubles, but white is still ahead:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$B $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X . . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . X O O O . O X . X X X X . . . | $$ | . X 8 O O X X 7 . , X . O X O X . . . | $$ | . O O . 6 . . . O . X . . O O O O . . | $$ | . . . O X . X . . O O O . . O X O . . | $$ | . 5 3 4 . . . X . X O . . X . X O . . | $$ | . . . O X . O . . X . . . . . X O . . | $$ | . 2 O . X . X X . . . . . . . O X O . | $$ | . 1 . O O X O . . , . . . . . , X . . | $$ | . . X . . X . O . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . O O . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X X X O O X O X 5 7 . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . O O X 0 B X O O 6 9 . . . . . | $$ | . X X . . . 3 8 1 O X . X X . . O . . | $$ | . O O O . . 4 . X O . X . X X X O . . | $$ | . . . . . O . . 2 O . . X . X O . O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O X O O O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

There is nothing for black in this line (I did not read this in the game, I was afraid as white ...)

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$W $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X . . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . X O O O . O X . X X X X . . . | $$ | . X . O O X X . . , X . O X O X . . . | $$ | . O O . . . . . O . X . . O O O O . . | $$ | . . . O X . X . . O O O . . O X O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . X . X O . . X . X O . . | $$ | . . . O X . O . . X . . . . . X O . . | $$ | . . O . X . X X . . . . . . . O X O . | $$ | . . . O O X O . . , . . . . . , X . . | $$ | . . X . . X . O . . . . . 0 . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . O O . . . 6 9 . . . . | $$ | . . . X X X O O X O X X 2 5 7 8 . . . | $$ | . . . . O O X . B X O O 1 3 4 . . . . | $$ | . X X . . . . . X O X . X X . . O . . | $$ | . O O O . . . . X O . X . X X X O . . | $$ | . . . . . O . . O O . . X . X O . O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O X O O O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Let us consider move b: (simplification strategy)

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$B $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X . . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . X O O O . O X . X X X X . 6 . | $$ | . X . O O X X . . , X . O X O X . . . | $$ | . O O . . . . . O . X . . O O O O . . | $$ | . . . O X . X . . O O O . . O X O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . X . X O . . X . X O . . | $$ | . . . O X . O . . X . . . 5 . X O . . | $$ | . . O . X . X X . . . . . . . O X O . | $$ | . . . O O X O . . , . . . . . , X . . | $$ | . . X . . X . O . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X X X O O . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . O O X W X 3 . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X X . . . . . 1 O . . X X . . O . . | $$ | . O O O . . . 4 X O . X . X X X O . . | $$ | . . . . . O . . 2 O . . X . X O . O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O X O O O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

What about the cut? Is there something to fear? No.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$B $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X . . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . X O O O . O X . X X X X . O . | $$ | . X . O O X X . . , X . O X O X . . . | $$ | . O O . . . . . O . X 3 2 O O O O . . | $$ | . . . O X . X . . O O O 1 5 O X O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . X . X O . 4 X . X O . . | $$ | . . . O X . O . . X . . 6 X . X O . . | $$ | . . O . X . X X . . . . 8 7 . O X O . | $$ | . . . O O X O . . , . . 0 9 . , X . . | $$ | . . X . . X . O . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X X X O O . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . O O X W X X . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X X . . . . . X O . . X X . . O . . | $$ | . O O O . . . O X O . X . X X X O . . | $$ | . . . . . O . . O O . . X . X O . O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O X O O O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Finally some variations for move c:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$B Good for white $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X . . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . X O O O . O X . X X X X . . . | $$ | . X . O O X X . . , X . O X O X . . . | $$ | . O O . . . . . O . X . . O O O O . . | $$ | . . . O X . X . . O O O . . O X O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . X . X O . . X . X O . . | $$ | . . . O X . O . . X . . . . . X O . . | $$ | . . O . X . X X . . . . . . . O X O . | $$ | . . . O O X O . . , . . . . . , X . . | $$ | . . X . . X . O . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . W . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X X X O O . 6 5 . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . O O X . X 3 4 8 . . . . . . . | $$ | . X X . . . 1 . 9 O 7 . X X . . O . . | $$ | . O O O . . 2 . X O . X . X X X O . . | $$ | . . . . . O . . 0 O . . X . X O . O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O X O O O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

And now my blunder at move 4 in the game, move 4 should have been at d. White's lead is gone.

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

Conclusion:

Moves a, b and c are all viable moves.

When I first reviewed the game, I thought I made a blunder by choosing move c over a.
But the real blunder was move 4 in the last diagram.

After a second look I realize now not the depth and speed of my reading were the main problem. My reading was just not accurate. I have to change my personality :shock:

. I am still a sloppy reader ;-)

EdLee · Post by **EdLee** » Fri Dec 01, 2017 8:36 am

Considering...

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

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$W $$ ----------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X . . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . X O O O . O X . X X X X . . . | $$ | . X . O O X X . . , X . O X O X . . . | $$ | . O O . . . . . O . X . . O O O O . . | $$ | . . . O X . X . . O O O . . O X O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . X . X O . . X . X O . . | $$ | . . . O X . O . . X . . . . . X O . . | $$ | . . O . X . X X . . . . . . . O X O . | $$ | . . . O O X O . . , . . . . . , X . . | $$ | . . X . . X . O . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . 3 7 . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X X X O O 2 1 6 0 . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . O O X . X 4 5 9 . . . . . . . | $$ | . X X . . . . . . O 8 . X X . . O . . | $$ | . O O O . . . . X O . X . X X X O . . | $$ | . . . . . O . . . O . . X . X O . O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O X O O O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Wm11 $$ ---------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X . . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . X O O O . O X . X X X X . . . | $$ | . X . O O X X . . , X . O X O X . . . | $$ | . O O . . . . . O . X . . O O O O . . | $$ | . . . O X . X . . O O O . . O X O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . X . X O . . X . X O . . | $$ | . . . O X . O . . X . . . . . X O . . | $$ | . . O . X . X X . . . . . . . O X O . | $$ | . . . O O X O . . , . . . . . , X . . | $$ | . . X . . X . O . . . . . . 0 X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . O O . . . 6 9 . . . . | $$ | . . . X X X O O X O X X 2 5 7 8 . . . | $$ | . . . . O O X . X X O O 1 3 4 . . . . | $$ | . X X . . . . . . O X . X X . . O . . | $$ | . O O O . . . . X O . X . X X X O . . | $$ | . . . . . O . . . O . . X . X O . O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O X O O O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Wm21 $$ ---------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X . . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . X O O O . O X . X X X X . . . | $$ | . X . O O X X . . , X . O X O X . . . | $$ | . O O . . . . . O . X . . O O O O . . | $$ | . . . O X . X . . O O O . . O X O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . X . X O . . X . X O . . | $$ | . . . O X . O . . X . . . . . X O . . | $$ | . . O . X . X X . . . . . . . O X O . | $$ | . . . O O X O . . , . . . . . , X . . | $$ | . . X . . X . O . . . . . 2 X X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . O O . 3 1 X O . . . . | $$ | . . . X X X O O X O X X X O O X . . . | $$ | . . . . O O X . X X O O O O X . . . . | $$ | . X X . . . . . 4 O X . X X . . O . . | $$ | . O O O . . . . X O . X . X X X O . . | $$ | . . . . . O . . 5 O . . X . X O . O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O X O O O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Two other local candidates:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$W var 2 $$ ----------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X . . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . X O O O . O X . X X X X . . . | $$ | . X . O O X X . . , X . O X O X . . . | $$ | . O O . . . . . O . X . . O O O O . . | $$ | . . . O X . X . . O O O . . O X O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . X . X O . . X . X O . . | $$ | . . . O X . O . . X . . . . . X O . . | $$ | . . O . X . X X . . . . . . . O X O . | $$ | . . . O O X O . . , . . . . . , X . . | $$ | . . X . . X . O . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X X X O O . . 1 . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . O O X . X . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X X . . . . . . O . . X X . . O . . | $$ | . O O O . . . . X O . X . X X X O . . | $$ | . . . . . O . . . O . . X . X O . O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O X O O O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$W var 3 $$ ----------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X . . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . X O O O . O X . X X X X . . . | $$ | . X . O O X X . . , X . O X O X . . . | $$ | . O O . . . . . O . X . . O O O O . . | $$ | . . . O X . X . . O O O . . O X O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . X . X O . . X . X O . . | $$ | . . . O X . O . . X . . . . . X O . . | $$ | . . O . X . X X . . . . . . . O X O . | $$ | . . . O O X O . . , . . . . . , X . . | $$ | . . X . . X . O . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . 1 . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X X X O O . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . O O X . X . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X X . . . . . . O . . X X . . O . . | $$ | . O O O . . . . X O . X . X X X O . . | $$ | . . . . . O . . . O . . X . X O . O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O X O O O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

BlindGroup · Post by **BlindGroup** » Fri Dec 01, 2017 9:56 am

Fedya · Post by **Fedya** » Fri Dec 01, 2017 1:42 pm

Knotwilg · Post by **Knotwilg** » Fri Dec 01, 2017 5:47 pm

You claim White has a big lead. I want to assess if this is really true.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$W White to play $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X . . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . X O O O . O X . X X X X . . . | $$ | . X . O O X X . a , X . O X O X . a . | $$ | . O O . . . . . O . X . . O O O O . . | $$ | . . . O X . X . . O O O . . O X O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . X . X O . . X . X O . . | $$ | . . . O X . O . . X . . . . . X O . . | $$ | . . O . X . X X . . . . . . b O X O . | $$ | . . . O O X O . . , . . . . . , X . . | $$ | . . X . . X . O . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X X X @ @ . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . O O X . X . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X X . . . . . . W . . X X . . O . . | $$ | . O O O . . . . X W . X . X X X O . . | $$ | . . . . . O . . . W . . X . X O . O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O X O O O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

White: bottom left 15, bottom right 10+, left 6+, right 5+, komi 6 = 42
Black: top left 10, center+left 10, bottom 5 = 25

Indeed White leads on territory.

Black is very thick at the bottom and rock solid top left. Center and top still have some fragility but not much.
White on the other hand has the two marked groups, which have been split and potentially afloat in the centre.

The circled stones are close to the thickest black group and can be sacrificed. I'd say MUST be sacrificed.

At the top there are many questions to ask:
- Black A is huge, taking territory while attacking
- but White B can dislodge black's stones

Sente looks very important.

So here we go:

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

However, 3 looks soft. Is it really sente?

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$W White to play $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X . . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . X O O O . O X . X X X X . . . | $$ | . X . O O X X . . , X . O X O X . 4 . | $$ | . O O . . . . . O . X . . O O O O . . | $$ | . . . O X . X . . O O O . . O X O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . X . X O . . X 7 X O . . | $$ | . . . O X . O . . X . . 9 5 8 X O . . | $$ | . . O . X . X X . . . . . . 6 O X O . | $$ | . . . O O X O . . , . . . . . , X . . | $$ | . . X . . X . O . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X X X O O . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . O O X 1 B . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X X . . . . . 2 O . . X X . . O . . | $$ | . O O O . . 3 . X O . X . X X X O . . | $$ | . . . . . O . . . O . . X . X O . O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O X O O O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

White simplifies. Black gains corner territory but loses strength in the middle.

Gomoto · Post by **Gomoto** » Sat Dec 02, 2017 1:03 pm

Thanks for your lines!

EdLee :tmbup:

(thanks for the detailed moves)
BlindGroup :tmbup:

Fedya

Knotwilg

(thanks for your thoughts)

(I added my own variations to the first post.)

Gomoto · Post by **Gomoto** » Thu Dec 07, 2017 4:35 pm

Problem 2

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$B White to play $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . O . . . . . . . . . X O . . . | $$ | . . O . O X X . . . . . . X O O . . . | $$ | . . O X X O O X X X . . . X X O . . . | $$ | . O X X . X O O O O X X . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O X X . O . . . O . . . O . O . . | $$ | . O . O X . O X . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . O X . O O . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . O X . X X X . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , O X . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X . X . . . . . , . O O . . O . X . | $$ | . . . . . X . . . . X X X O O . O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Solution:

EdLee · Post by **EdLee** » Thu Dec 07, 2017 6:48 pm

Kirby · Post by **Kirby** » Thu Dec 07, 2017 7:41 pm

White has two problems:

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

White's not totally alive, so black can expect a lot of territory in the marked areas.

But a bigger problem seems to be white's group in the center:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$B White to play $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . O . . . . . . . . . X O . . . | $$ | . . O . O X X . . . . . . X O O . . . | $$ | . . O X X O O X X X . . . X X O . . . | $$ | . O X X . X O O O O X X . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O X X . O . . . O . . . O . O . . | $$ | . O . O X . O X . W . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . O X . O O . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . O X . X X X . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , O X . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X . X . . . . . , . O O . . O . X . | $$ | . . . . . X . . . . X X X O O . O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

I feel like playing something like the move above.

Either way, white feels a little busy. I think I prefer black here.

No counting or anything - just a feeling.

Gomoto · Post by **Gomoto** » Thu Dec 07, 2017 8:49 pm

Kirby, you identified the correct area to play, but your move suggestion is exactly my blunder

Kirby · Post by **Kirby** » Thu Dec 07, 2017 9:37 pm

Gomoto wrote:Kirby, you identified the correct area to play, but your move suggestion is exactly my blunder

Did he play here next?

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$B White to play $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . O . . . . . . . . . X O . . . | $$ | . . O . O X X . . . . . . X O O . . . | $$ | . . O X X O O X X X . . . X X O . . . | $$ | . O X X . X O O O O X X . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O X X . O . . . O . . . O . O . . | $$ | . O . O X . O X . O . B . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . O X . O O . . a . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . O X . X X X . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , O X . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X . X . . . . . , . O O . . O . X . | $$ | . . . . . X . . . . X X X O O . O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

White can play at 'a', but I agree that that sucks.

I have to admit that I didn't read much, and I'm rusty these days, so the move may not be good.

Another option is to just push forward:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$B White to play $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . O . . . . . . . . . X O . . . | $$ | . . O . O X X . . . . . . X O O . . . | $$ | . . O X X O O X X X . . . X X O . . . | $$ | . O X X . X O O O O X X . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O X X . O . . . O W . . O . O . . | $$ | . O . O X . O X . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . O X . O O . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . O X . X X X . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , O X . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X . X . . . . . , . O O . . O . X . | $$ | . . . . . X . . . . X X X O O . O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

That being said, it's annoying that black can hurt the shape:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$B White to play $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . O . . . . . . . . . X O . . . | $$ | . . O . O X X . . . . . . X O O . . . | $$ | . . O X X O O X X X . . . X X O . . . | $$ | . O X X . X O O O O X X . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O X X . O . . . O O . . O . O . . | $$ | . O . O X . O X . B . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . O X . O O . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . O X . X X X . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , O X . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X . X . . . . . , . O O . . O . X . | $$ | . . . . . X . . . . X X X O O . O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

I guess I need to brush up a little bit.

Gomoto · Post by **Gomoto** » Wed Dec 20, 2017 11:49 am

Problem 3

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$W White to move (Where is the biggie?) $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . O O X . . O O X . X . X O . . | $$ | . . O O X O X . . O X . . O X . O . . | $$ | . O O X . X O . . O X . O X . X O . . | $$ | . X O X X . O . O X O . . X . . . O . | $$ | . X X X . . . . O X X . X X . . O O X | $$ | . . . . X . . . O O X . O X . O O X . | $$ | . . . O X . O O X X . . O . X O X . X | $$ | . . X O O . . . . . . . . O O X . X . | $$ | . . X , O . O O X , . . . . X , X . . | $$ | . . . X O . . . X . X . X . . X X . . | $$ | . . . X O . . . . O . . . . . X O X . | $$ | . X X O X X . . . . . . . . . . O O . | $$ | . X O O . . . X . . . . . . . . O . . | $$ | . X O . O X . X O O O . . O . . . . . | $$ | . O O O . O O X O X X O O . . O . . . | $$ | . . . O O X X X X O X X X X X O . . . | $$ | . . . . O X . . . . . . . . X O . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Solution:

Fedya · Post by **Fedya** » Wed Dec 20, 2017 1:58 pm

Gomoto · Post by **Gomoto** » Thu Jan 04, 2018 4:24 pm

Problem 4:
Black to play, rate the four moves:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$B $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . X . . . . . . . X . . O . . | $$ | . c . X . . . . . d . . . . . X . O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O b . . . . . . . . . . . X O O . | $$ | . . . . a . . . . . . . . . . X X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . O . . . . . | $$ | . O O . . . . . . . . . . . . O O . . | $$ | . X O O . O . . X , . . . . X X O . . | $$ | . X X . . . . . X O . . . X . . X X . | $$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

BlindGroup · Post by **BlindGroup** » Fri Jan 05, 2018 12:02 pm

Here's my take:

My first instinct was to go with C because this secured territory and would force a white response probably to E14:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bc $$ +---------------------------------------+ $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . X . . . . . . . X . . O . . | $$ | . 1 . X . . . . . , . . . . . X . O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . 2 . . . . . . . . . . X O O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . O . . . . . | $$ | . O O . . . . . . . . . . . . O O . . | $$ | . X O O . O . . X , . . . . X X O . . | $$ | . X X . . . . . X O . . . X . . X X . | $$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ +---------------------------------------+[/go]

However, E14 is a very valuable move for white. Given that white only had secure territory in the upper right, the left is extremely important. As it stands, white's territory on the left is not completely secure, but it's close. E14 does several things for white -- it would weaken the upper left by making the 3-3 invasion more effective, it would expand the white moyo, it would help strengthen white's grip on the left-side territory, and it would limit black's potential for a framework on the top (white would be playing at the intersection of two moyos). Since C and D allow E14, but lack the same significance. So, they seem like poor trades.

A and B would both limit the value of E14. So, which is better? B will develop black's moyo and limit whites, but in the process, white is going to strengthen along the C and D files. A, however, avoids the contact and thus does not directly strengthens white. Plus, A more effectively expands black's potential moyo at the cost of white's.

So, I'd go with A.

Life In 19x19

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