Life In 19x19

I want some territory.

Points for him, points for me. Also, R3 is still open for a 3-3 invasion later.

It's a very big point, but as White is likely to approach from the top side and Black already has a wall on the lower side, I'd be much more inclined to play E5 and give White a bit of long term grief in that corner. Increasing Black's strength in that area should also increase options from White approaching the top left.

I can't let him have both corners in right left.

My feeling was the other kosumi (or keima (a)) was bigger than :

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$B
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topazg wrote:I'd be much more inclined to play E5

Yes, I also thought E5 was bigger than :

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Bc
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$$ | . . X X X . . . . . . . . . O . X . . |
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If I play towards the corner, lovelove gets to play the beginnings of a moyo on the bottom side. Let's not give him that chance.

I'd probably take the corner

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wcm11 Prisoners:
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$$ | . . X X X . . . . . . . . . O . X . . |
$$ | . . 6 O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , O . . . . , . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . 4 X 5 . . . . c . . e . . . . . |
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And take sente for "a" or "b" if White plays to the bottom side. If he doesn't, "c" seems pretty annoying, and "d" is a nice enough followup if White defends on the lower right side ("e" being pretty severe if he doesn't) - Either way, it seems to keep the flow of the game in Black's hands. I don't think White can omit the hane, because this is pretty broken shape:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wcm11 Prisoners:
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$$ | . . X X X . . . . . . . . . O . X . . |
$$ | . . 5 O x O . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . x O x . . . , . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . 4 X 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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This move forces black to play D2 hane or extension somewhere from F3. So I can have sente.

Must extend from my group.

preventing G5 attachment

Gotta just play simple. No need to get fancy.

Locally the only haengma, but he'll have chance to play either top or left side

I could also have played C11, but the top is a wider area to play in. I'll have to watch my row of three stones on the 6th line. Hopefully I can use them effectively.

On a side note, R3 is still open. Eventually, I think I want to play there.

For beginners
So far the main problem with Marcus's play is that he has played two moves that don't affect any of White's groups. In reverse, it will soon be White who is pressuring Black -- with moves such as B and C. Black should try to play moves such as A, keeping the initiative and limiting White's options in the area where two groups can be pressured. Once White gets to expand to B and pressure Black, then he has seized the initiative and been allowed a wider game. And this is almost always a bad sign in a handicap game.

In handicap games it's very important to try and play moves that narrow the opponent's options and widen yours. In such a large handicap, simply playing moves that indirectly threaten an attack (or followup) is good enough. A direct attacking, such as D, is for when you are behind.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wcm11 Prisoners:
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$$ | . . . c . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . |
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$$ | . . . . . . O . . . . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . X X X . . . . . . . . . O . X . . |
$$ | . . . O . O . . . . . . . . d . . . . |
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$$ | . . . O X X X . X . b . . . . . . . . |
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Or earlier, a move such as cutting White no slack for trying to play a fast opening:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Bcm12 Prisoners:
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$$ | . . X X X . . . . . . . . . O . X . . |
$$ | . . . O 1 O . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . O . . . |
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Basically, try to keep playing moves that affect the opponent's groups. The pressure will help you keep the initiative and give you more free moves in the long-run. Before long you'll have a won game.

Time to invade!