Life In 19x19

I would appreciate comments on the game below. I've added several of my own comments/questions in the sgf, but of course feel free to comment on other moves. Comments (or questions) from both higher and lower ranked players are welcome. Thanks in advance!

As indicated in the sgf, I played white.

I'm probably around your strength or a bit weaker, but here are my thoughts:

At I think white should block in the other direction. White's side is still open, and black's earlier moves point towards him wanting a moyo on the bottom side. I suspect black's jump into the corner is a mistake, and the way to punish is to give away some of the left side to ruin the bottom for black.

By white has a weakish group on the bottom, and black's group is already alive in the corner, so there's nothing to be done to it. In addition, the left still isn't white's territory.

At I think it's aji keshi. It removes cutting aji white had around F2 and is a bit toothpastey, forcing black between the two white positions.

is quite big. I would have loved to get sente to take the reverse checking extension as white. Responding by solidifying the corner isn't small, but it feels passive. I'd be tempted to either come out at O15, treating the two sides as miai to attack, or maybe counterpincer (which may be too aggressive).

At I'm not convinced white needs to worry about the peep. What if white pincers instead of protecting? Where and how does black live? If black lives in the corner small and you get thickness and remove black's potential on the top, I think white comes out ahead.

At you aimed at two things, but got neither of them. I think A directly might be better as a sort of probe with an eye at living underneath or cutting black in some way. It's tough while the L3 group is weak, though, as a splitting attack could be quite problematic.

Regarding the fight, seems aji-keshi. If white just connects, black has to worry about being cut and white linking all his groups up on the next move, and he doesn't get the squeeze for forcing moves. At I think white needs to attack the group as a whole. That one stone doesn't matter, but it gives black forcing moves. What about N8 or M7 instead?

Once the ko forms, the threat isn't a threat because white's group on the bottom is too short of liberties, I think. Because of the squeeze earlier, the ko seems much heavier for white, with that huge group at stake. Even if black lost it, a simple invasion on the left might be enough to win the game.

Edit: In the top left, I'm not sure attaching is the best joseki choice here. What if white just plays the knights move and sets up for left side potential of his own?

- I prefer d12 low, or if high then 1 further.
- c4 wrong direction IMO. Block that side is a locally slack move (it's like you tenuki his slide then give him 3-3 in sente which is nice base-making exchange for him) only appropriate if you really really want sente for something awesome elsewhere or have invested so much in left side territory you can't permit losing it. Neither true here.
- Because c3 is alive h3 is not so amazing (so neither is l3).
- s16 good, o15 maybe a tad slow but soild, m15 (l16?) p17 slack. You let black get both sides.
- o12 at q11 for ko. Your right side reduction was ineffective, lost s14 yose.
- squeeze painful for shape, just connect or maybe n6? You need to kill b here.
- m6 at n7 fighting feeling. You lose tempo with capture. Think of it this way: if n7 and black l7 jump, do you m6? No, you l8.

To me is An overplay. I would like to see white cut at E2 to next cut off. the three centre Stones and Connecting his own. The scrimmage in the corner is not worth that.

Black could have pressed down white there instead of

EDIT: below remark by Ubderdude is correct

A2 typo for e2? Black can f2 to stay connected but in bad shape.

My 2d.

Thanks very much for the insightful comments. In particular:

To pincer around seems immediately obvious, now that it has been pointed out.

The direction in the lower left--looking back, I definitely should have blocked the other side.

There were definitely better ways to handle/avoid the squeeze in the lower right.

Bill's variations are insightful as always. Great ideas on the right side.

Thanks again!

i'm 4d going on 5, reviewd the game hope this helps

http://eidogo.com/#9Ee5g0QO

judicata wrote:I would appreciate comments on the game below.

If you play cross 4-4 points, you need more dynamic plans, for a fighting game. You seem mainly concerned to solidify territory early.