Opening and early midgame - 10k questions

[thequietcenter]

I have commented this game with my questions. Am I posting too frequently here? I let this game slip out of my hands, but nonetheless, I had some serious questions about how to play some of the early confrontations.

[jts]

22 threatens Q14, which blocks B's access to the center. That normally forces B to take Q14 himself. (This is why R15 can be a good move - you get some protection for the corner in sente.) Since B declined, why not follow through with your threat and play 24 at Q14?

[aurik]

Move 10, I think "A" is perfectly reasonable. He owes a move to secure his group which gives you the chance to play on the right side. Essentially, since you already played k17, you get to play the normally-gote joseki sequence and end up with sente.

W32 is too passive IMO. You should look to attack the stone, make it run to build up something in the center which will allow you to invade on the right side.

The "tower peep" W60 has a weakness which your opponent did exploit later. I made a thread about this particular shape: http://www.lifein19x19.com/forum/viewto ... =15&t=3831 I think at this point you still want to keep black separated with something like G12. Anyway, by 74 you need to protect your weakness--typical move would be C8. Note that you are still quite safe in this fight because both B11 and F10 are weak, one of them should die.

W146 was a mistake as you discovered. B's F12 cutting stone cannot escape, so all you need to do at this point is take care of the K6 group and you win in a decisive way. Of course, ignoring H13 (b187) for no apparent reason ended up rescuing F12 for massive B gain.

[Joaz Banbeck]

26: Should be at Q14. You are starting to build territory along the top side. He is starting the same on the right. So any play that can affect both of these area is worth a bunch.

[admin]
No, you are not posting to frequently here. You are not even close to doing so.
[/admin]

[Bill Spight]

Good questions.

[aurik]

Bill, thanks for your comments which I found enlightening (as always). I have a question about your comment on W4. "Approaching this corner is probably better." Can you expound on that a bit?

[Bill Spight]

Bill, thanks for your comments which I found enlightening (as always). I have a question about your comment on W4. "Approaching this corner is probably better." Can you expound on that a bit?

On the right side, either side can approach the other with a good relation to the stone in the adjacent corner. For instance, a mini-Chinese is possible for Black if White does not approach first. Also, the high approach by White hinders the development of a Black framework on the bottom side. True, the approach allows Black to go first in the third corner, so it's close.

However, Kajiwara does not like the relationship between the 3-4 and the adjacent 4-4 on the right side for the 3-4 player. And Go Seigen recommends an immediate two space high approach to an initial 3-4, followed by the 4-4 in the adjacent corner.

None of this proves anything, of course, but the opportunity to make a good move while preventing a good move is there.