Life In 19x19

Hi all,

This is an important game for me, since I have to understand a basic concept about moyo. I am playing Black here, taking two stones against a good player (compared to my level obv) and I won this game almost by luck, mainly because in the final cut after w 117 I had a helping hoshi stone. So the main question is

Is white's opening play legitimate/reasonable? I mean: we all play bad games, but is my opponent's strategy (to let me have a big moyo and then try to random-invade and live) ok?

any comment of course is welcome! Thanks in advance.

Hi Maria,

The short answer is yes.

Slightly longer answer: the game is not decided there.
The important parts: the fundamentals: basic shapes, basic tesujis ( techniques ),
basic contact fights, basic life-and-death, basic capture races ;
reading, reading, reading.

My short answer would be no.

Your opponent did not have the fighting/shinogi power to bring off the chosen strategy. Up to 17 White played almost exclusively on the third or second line, but making very little sure territory in the process. The tenuki to invade the upper left seemed too much since it just let you strengthen your center-facing stones further. Finally the jump to 43 did nothing for White's eye space. You did a nice job attacking after that.

Would someone stronger have gotten away with it? Sure, but don't worry about that!

As Ed said, the game is really decided by many other things along the way. Nevertheless, in the early going you have to make some general decisions about where and how to play. Continue to play moves and strategies you like (to borrow Takemiya's general advice if not his exact words). You will win some and lose some but you will have fun with it until you learn to do something different/better.

44-46 is a beautiful attacking combination
90 is a great move too (White should have played here before)

Well done

thank you!!