Life In 19x19

I can't emphasize enough that if you are going to record your games using pen and paper, it's much much easier to use a traditional kifu, ideally a full sized sheet (Letter/A4). You don't have to worry about coordinates at all, just shape, and the shape on the record should match that on the board as you go.

Sensei's has good info regarding this, including links to printable sheets: http://senseis.xmp.net/?GameRecord

That said, it takes experience doing it to keep recording a game from distracting you, and once you get to a certain level, you may find it easier to remember the game and recording afterwards, as while going over it, than to do it during the game. I certainly find that in our local tournaments (45 min + 5m/20stones canadian overtime) the time controls can be a bit tight to do both, but I always record by hand at the US Open (1h30m + 5x30s byo-yomi).

I forgot to mention that they did in fact have game recording sheets at the Congress, and after the first game I actually took a sheet of recording paper with the intention of using it, but by the time I started the second match I wrote an X and forgot all about recording!

Hello. It's been a while since the last post, and simply put, this journal has been relatively quit due to the fact that nearly all of my games are played online-- and the PC brokedown, during the very period in which I started to focus more on studying, meaning only games had been played in January and February, apart from giving four teaching games .

There is the feeling that my positional judgement has improved, so hopefully there'll be less blind fighting a little calmer, less "time to get to 10d" nonsense and filling the sgf with expert (not) analysis (shame ) or whining about how X loss was a throw-away, more substance .

(Exerimenting on OGS with a Tablet for the first time)

Some comments:


I notice that you seem to look at the point at which white lost as fairly late in the game, but I think, apart from the iffy result at the top right, that the real problems came in the lower left when white overplayed a few times and black took advantage by cutting white apart. Running with the central group was also not good, as even when it lived, it solidified the entire left side for black, and it was hard to see where white was supposed to get the points to win after that.

You could consider the more advanced technique of using the central stones as bait, to force black to capture them relatively small later on while you build strong positions on the outside. The other thing is that with a 4 stone game, if the handicap is right, you shouldn't catch up until the endgame. Trying to catch up too fast leads to issues.

Thank you very much, skydr! After reading your notes, it becomes strikingly clear that white's whole approach towards the game and positional perception was flawed.

ps: On move 141, if white plays at B11 first, as far as I can tell, it seems that C8 and the kosumi at C14 become miai (pardon me if I've missed something, as I'm prone to blindspots ).

I think, following the suggestion for 141, black gets out of trouble by playing an extension to B9?

skydyr wrote:I think, following the suggestion for 141, black gets out of trouble by playing an extension to B9?

Oh, the note was ambiguous, sorry-- what I meant to say was the black then has to cover two weakness. If black extends to B9, I think that after white plays at C14, black has no choice but to sacrifice four stones (in gote! Thanks to the C3 stone), becuase it doesn't seem black can resist...

Elom wrote:

skydyr wrote:I think, following the suggestion for 141, black gets out of trouble by playing an extension to B9?

Oh, the note was ambiguous, sorry-- what I meant to say was the black then has to cover two weakness. If black extends to B9, I think that after white plays at C14, black has no choice but to sacrifice four stones (in gote! Thanks to the C3 stone), becuase it doesn't seem black can resist...

I thought black should be able to manage, but it's complicated so I'm not confident of that assessment.

Elom wrote:On move 141, if white plays at B11 first, as far as I can tell, it seems that C8 and the kosumi at C14 become miai).

How would you answer ?

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$W
$$ ----------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . X O . . . .
$$ | . . O . X O . . . .
$$ | . . X X . . . . . O
$$ | . . . . . O . . . .
$$ | . . 3 . X X . O . .
$$ | . 4 . O O X X O . .
$$ | . . X X X O O X X O
$$ | . 1 . . X X O O X O
$$ | . . O O X O . O O X
$$ | . 2 X X O O O O O O
$$ | . . . O X O X X X O
$$ | . . . . X X X O . O
$$ | . . . X O O X O . O
$$ | . . . X . X O X X X
$$ | . . . X . X O O O X
$$ | . . . X O O . . . O
$$ | . . . . . . . . . O
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ ----------------------[/go]

skydyr wrote:

Elom wrote:

skydyr wrote:I think, following the suggestion for 141, black gets out of trouble by playing an extension to B9?

Oh, the note was ambiguous, sorry-- what I meant to say was the black then has to cover two weakness. If black extends to B9, I think that after white plays at C14, black has no choice but to sacrifice four stones (in gote! Thanks to the C3 stone), becuase it doesn't seem black can resist...

I thought black should be able to manage, but it's complicated so I'm not confident of that assessment.

Yes, the position has turned out to be quite interesting

Sennahoj wrote:

Elom wrote:On move 141, if white plays at B11 first, as far as I can tell, it seems that C8 and the kosumi at C14 become miai).

How would you answer ?

$$W
$$ ----------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . X O . . . .
$$ | . . O . X O . . . .
$$ | . . X X . . . . . O
$$ | . . . . . O . . . .
$$ | . . 3 . X X . O . .
$$ | . 4 . O O X X O . .
$$ | . . X X X O O X X O
$$ | . 1 . . X X O O X O
$$ | . . O O X O . O O X
$$ | . 2 X X O O O O O O
$$ | . . . O X O X X X O
$$ | . . . . X X X O . O
$$ | . . . X O O X O . O
$$ | . . . X . X O X X X
$$ | . . . X . X O O O X
$$ | . . . X O O . . . O
$$ | . . . . . . . . . O
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ ----------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$W
$$ ----------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . X O . . . .
$$ | . . O . X O . . . .
$$ | . . X X . . . . . O
$$ | . . . . . O . . . .
$$ | . . 3 . X X . O . .
$$ | . 4 . O O X X O . .
$$ | . . X X X O O X X O
$$ | . 1 . . X X O O X O
$$ | . . O O X O . O O X
$$ | . 2 X X O O O O O O
$$ | . . . O X O X X X O
$$ | . . . . X X X O . O
$$ | . . . X O O X O . O
$$ | . . . X . X O X X X
$$ | . . . X . X O O O X
$$ | . . . X O O . . . O
$$ | . . . . . . . . . O
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ ----------------------[/go]

Thanks for your suggestion, Sennahoj!

Hmm, it seems that if white plays above...


I'm most likely missing something fundamental though#

Elom wrote:

$$W Seems to lead to black's disaster...
$$ ----------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . X O . . . .
$$ | . . O . X O . . . .
$$ | . . X X . . . . . O
$$ | . . . . . O . . . .
$$ | . 1 O 2 X X . O . .
$$ | . X 3 O O X X O . .
$$ | 5 4 X X X O O X X O
$$ | . O . . X X O O X O
$$ | . . O O X O . O O X
$$ | . X X X O O O O O O
$$ | . . . O X O X X X O
$$ | . . . . X X X O . O
$$ | . . . X O O X O . O
$$ | . . . X . X O X X X
$$ | . . . X . X O O O X
$$ | . . . X O O . . . O
$$ | . . . . . . . . . O
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ ----------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$W Seems to lead to black's disaster...
$$ ----------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . X O . . . .
$$ | . . O . X O . . . .
$$ | . . X X . . . . . O
$$ | . . . . . O . . . .
$$ | . 1 O 2 X X . O . .
$$ | . X 3 O O X X O . .
$$ | 5 4 X X X O O X X O
$$ | . O . . X X O O X O
$$ | . . O O X O . O O X
$$ | . X X X O O O O O O
$$ | . . . O X O X X X O
$$ | . . . . X X X O . O
$$ | . . . X O O X O . O
$$ | . . . X . X O X X X
$$ | . . . X . X O O O X
$$ | . . . X O O . . . O
$$ | . . . . . . . . . O
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ ----------------------[/go]

Is here necessary, helpful, neutral, poor, or actively harmful?

Elom wrote:

$$W Seems to lead to black's disaster...
$$ ----------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . X O . . . .
$$ | . . O . X O . . . .
$$ | . . X X . . . . . O
$$ | . . . . . O . . . .
$$ | . 1 O 2 X X . O . .
$$ | . X 3 O O X X O . .
$$ | 5 4 X X X O O X X O
$$ | . O . . X X O O X O
$$ | . . O O X O . O O X
$$ | . X X X O O O O O O
$$ | . . . O X O X X X O
$$ | . . . . X X X O . O
$$ | . . . X O O X O . O
$$ | . . . X . X O X X X
$$ | . . . X . X O O O X
$$ | . . . X O O . . . O
$$ | . . . . . . . . . O
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ ----------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$W Seems to lead to black's disaster...
$$ ----------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . X O . . . .
$$ | . . O . X O . . . .
$$ | . . X X . . . . . O
$$ | . . . . . O . . . .
$$ | . 1 O 2 X X . O . .
$$ | . X 3 O O X X O . .
$$ | 5 4 X X X O O X X O
$$ | . O . . X X O O X O
$$ | . . O O X O . O O X
$$ | . X X X O O O O O O
$$ | . . . O X O X X X O
$$ | . . . . X X X O . O
$$ | . . . X O O X O . O
$$ | . . . X . X O X X X
$$ | . . . X . X O O O X
$$ | . . . X O O . . . O
$$ | . . . . . . . . . O
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ ----------------------[/go]

And if black continues?

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$B
$$ ----------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . X O . . . .
$$ | . . O . X O . . . .
$$ | . . X X . . . . . O
$$ | . . . . . O . . . .
$$ | . O O X X X . O . .
$$ | 1 X O O O X X O . .
$$ | O X X X X O O X X O
$$ | . O . . X X O O X O
$$ | . . O O X O . O O X
$$ | . X X X O O O O O O
$$ | . . . O X O X X X O
$$ | . . . . X X X O . O
$$ | . . . X O O X O . O
$$ | . . . X . X O X X X
$$ | . . . X . X O O O X
$$ | . . . X O O . . . O
$$ | . . . . . . . . . O
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ ----------------------[/go]

skydyr wrote:

Elom wrote:

$$W Seems to lead to black's disaster...
$$ ----------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . X O . . . .
$$ | . . O . X O . . . .
$$ | . . X X . . . . . O
$$ | . . . . . O . . . .
$$ | . 1 O 2 X X . O . .
$$ | . X 3 O O X X O . .
$$ | 5 4 X X X O O X X O
$$ | . O . . X X O O X O
$$ | . . O O X O . O O X
$$ | . X X X O O O O O O
$$ | . . . O X O X X X O
$$ | . . . . X X X O . O
$$ | . . . X O O X O . O
$$ | . . . X . X O X X X
$$ | . . . X . X O O O X
$$ | . . . X O O . . . O
$$ | . . . . . . . . . O
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ ----------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$W Seems to lead to black's disaster...
$$ ----------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . X O . . . .
$$ | . . O . X O . . . .
$$ | . . X X . . . . . O
$$ | . . . . . O . . . .
$$ | . 1 O 2 X X . O . .
$$ | . X 3 O O X X O . .
$$ | 5 4 X X X O O X X O
$$ | . O . . X X O O X O
$$ | . . O O X O . O O X
$$ | . X X X O O O O O O
$$ | . . . O X O X X X O
$$ | . . . . X X X O . O
$$ | . . . X O O X O . O
$$ | . . . X . X O X X X
$$ | . . . X . X O O O X
$$ | . . . X O O . . . O
$$ | . . . . . . . . . O
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ ----------------------[/go]

Is here necessary, helpful, neutral, poor, or actively harmful?

Neutral (if black plays at 4 directly, the double empty triangle move works(!) and it transposes back to this position, if black thinks the four stones need not be sacrificed, I believe), but yes, it would be better form to play at directly

Sennahoj wrote:

Elom wrote:
...

And if black continues?

$$B
$$ ----------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . X O . . . .
$$ | . . O . X O . . . .
$$ | . . X X . . . . . O
$$ | . . . . . O . . . .
$$ | . O O X X X . O . .
$$ | 1 X O O O X X O . .
$$ | O X X X X O O X X O
$$ | . O . . X X O O X O
$$ | . . O O X O . O O X
$$ | . X X X O O O O O O
$$ | . . . O X O X X X O
$$ | . . . . X X X O . O
$$ | . . . X O O X O . O
$$ | . . . X . X O X X X
$$ | . . . X . X O O O X
$$ | . . . X O O . . . O
$$ | . . . . . . . . . O
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ ----------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$B
$$ ----------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . X O . . . .
$$ | . . O . X O . . . .
$$ | . . X X . . . . . O
$$ | . . . . . O . . . .
$$ | . O O X X X . O . .
$$ | 1 X O O O X X O . .
$$ | O X X X X O O X X O
$$ | . O . . X X O O X O
$$ | . . O O X O . O O X
$$ | . X X X O O O O O O
$$ | . . . O X O X X X O
$$ | . . . . X X X O . O
$$ | . . . X O O X O . O
$$ | . . . X . X O X X X
$$ | . . . X . X O O O X
$$ | . . . X O O . . . O
$$ | . . . . . . . . . O
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ ----------------------[/go]

Yes, I overlooked this!

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$B
$$ ----------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . X O . . . .
$$ | . . O . X O . . . .
$$ | 7 5 X X . . . . . O
$$ | 6 4 . . . O . . . .
$$ | 3 O O X X X . O . .
$$ | 1 X O O O X X O . .
$$ | O X X X X O O X X O
$$ | 2 O . . X X O O X O
$$ | . . O O X O . O O X
$$ | . X X X O O O O O O
$$ | . . . O X O X X X O
$$ | . . . . X X X O . O
$$ | . . . X O O X O . O
$$ | . . . X . X O X X X
$$ | . . . X . X O O O X
$$ | . . . X O O . . . O
$$ | . . . . . . . . . O
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ ----------------------[/go]

However, after seeing this move, I'm struggling to find a way to kill white (my feeling is that it's a ko).

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$B
$$ ----------------------
$$ | . . 2 . . 3 . . . .
$$ | . . . . X O . . . .
$$ | . . O . X O . . . .
$$ | . 4 X X . . . . . O
$$ | . 5 6 . . O . . . .
$$ | . O O X X X . O . .
$$ | 1 X O O O X X O . .
$$ | O X X X X O O X X O
$$ | . O . . X X O O X O
$$ | . . O O X O . O O X
$$ | . X X X O O O O O O
$$ | . . . O X O X X X O
$$ | . . . . X X X O . O
$$ | . . . X O O X O . O
$$ | . . . X . X O X X X
$$ | . . . X . X O O O X
$$ | . . . X O O . . . O
$$ | . . . . . . . . . O
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ ----------------------[/go]

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$B
$$ ----------------------
$$ | . . 2 . . 3 . . . .
$$ | 8 5 . . X O . . . .
$$ | . 6 O . X O . . . .
$$ | . 4 X X . . . . . O
$$ | . . . . . O . . . .
$$ | . O O X X X . O . .
$$ | 1 X O O O X X O . .
$$ | O X X X X O O X X O
$$ | 7 O . . X X O O X O
$$ | . . O O X O . O O X
$$ | . X X X O O O O O O
$$ | . . . O X O X X X O
$$ | . . . . X X X O . O
$$ | . . . X O O X O . O
$$ | . . . X . X O X X X
$$ | . . . X . X O O O X
$$ | . . . X O O . . . O
$$ | . . . . . . . . . O
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ ----------------------[/go]

Sorry for the two-day reply (the connection went out)

I guess black can just finish things on this side with , for white to connect under with is endgame

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$W
$$ ----------------------
$$ | . . 1 . 3 . . . . .
$$ | . . . . X O . . . .
$$ | . . O . X O . . . .
$$ | . . X X . . . . . O
$$ | . 2 . . . O . . . .
$$ | . O O X X X . O . .
$$ | X X O O O X X O . .
$$ | O X X X X O O X X O
$$ | . O . . X X O O X O
$$ | . . O O X O . O O X
$$ | . X X X O O O O O O
$$ | . . . O X O X X X O
$$ | . . . . X X X O . O
$$ | . . . X O O X O . O
$$ | . . . X . X O X X X
$$ | . . . X . X O O O X
$$ | . . . X O O . . . O
$$ | . . . . . . . . . O
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ ----------------------[/go]

Sennahoj wrote:I guess black can just finish things on this side with , for white to connect under with is endgame

$$W
$$ ----------------------
$$ | . . 1 . 3 . . . . .
$$ | . . . . X O . . . .
$$ | . . O . X O . . . .
$$ | . . X X . . . . . O
$$ | . 2 . . . O . . . .
$$ | . O O X X X . O . .
$$ | X X O O O X X O . .
$$ | O X X X X O O X X O
$$ | . O . . X X O O X O
$$ | . . O O X O . O O X
$$ | . X X X O O O O O O
$$ | . . . O X O X X X O
$$ | . . . . X X X O . O
$$ | . . . X O O X O . O
$$ | . . . X . X O X X X
$$ | . . . X . X O O O X
$$ | . . . X O O . . . O
$$ | . . . . . . . . . O
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ ----------------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$W
$$ ----------------------
$$ | . . 1 . 3 . . . . .
$$ | . . . . X O . . . .
$$ | . . O . X O . . . .
$$ | . . X X . . . . . O
$$ | . 2 . . . O . . . .
$$ | . O O X X X . O . .
$$ | X X O O O X X O . .
$$ | O X X X X O O X X O
$$ | . O . . X X O O X O
$$ | . . O O X O . O O X
$$ | . X X X O O O O O O
$$ | . . . O X O X X X O
$$ | . . . . X X X O . O
$$ | . . . X O O X O . O
$$ | . . . X . X O X X X
$$ | . . . X . X O O O X
$$ | . . . X O O . . . O
$$ | . . . . . . . . . O
$$ | . . . . . . . . . .
$$ ----------------------[/go]

Sorry for the long delay!

Yes, this seems to be the correct result .
White seems to only accquire around ten points in gote, so it's unlikely it would have changed the course of the game .

After three months of litte over-the-board combat, the somewhat ridiculous (arrogant? ) 4d goal is still being chased, so far through study, although the main problem to cure may be tackling the disorganisation of my stones. While one doesn't want to start making statements about being so much more fearsome after training for a minute or two, I do feel just a little stronger. Best to balance this off with a hayago game (I can flood the sgf, yay!) illustrating just how much work that needs to be done: