Life In 19x19

It looks like my biggest problem with this game might have been the opening. Once black cut the board in two, im not sure how to counteract his progression from there. Afterwards it seems like i got smooshed into a corner with one group dead (which is pretty much game over ) and another safe group. Could it have been a middle game reading problem also? Thanks in advance guys

Hi,

If you don't want to be cut, and you want to split B, then the tengen E5 is an option.

You may also enjoy larger boards: 11x11, 13x13, 15x15, 17x17, etc.

A browser based free bot: Cosumi

I'd say the biggest mistake was the tenuki at which allowed your left group to be killed. If you had kept that alive there's a good chance you would have won on territory. You would have also had the potential cut at D5 that could have been quite devastating for Black.

EdLee wrote:Hi,

If you don't want to be cut, and you want to split B, then the tengen E5 is an option.

You may also enjoy larger boards: 11x11, 13x13, 15x15, 17x17, etc.

A browser based free bot: Cosumi

Thank you for the link; i will check it out, but in all honesty, I HATE playing against bots. Anywho, E5 definitely was good a critical point. During the game i was afraid of playing my stones too close together, but will try this out to cut and help establish territory in one area, then expand on the other side afterward the next time i play.

mongus wrote:I'd say the biggest mistake was the tenuki at which allowed your left group to be killed. If you had kept that alive there's a good chance you would have won on territory. You would have also had the potential cut at D5 that could have been quite devastating for Black.

That D5 cut would have been a major game changer for sure.

i was afraid of playing my stones too close together

Yes, too close is bad, but so is too far apart.
We struggle to find the right balance.

I would try getting rid of moves such as and . With those moves you are "peeping into a keima" but not cutting afterwards. In this game, not cutting is correct, because it doesn't work properly (if you cut at d5 in move b could e.g. reply on f5 and then capture at d6; also a cut at e7 in move does not work, b would simply capture at d7).

The point is that - if you cannot cut after moves like , - then these moves are pointless. Even worse, they

• do not improve the structure of your lower right stones
• take away own liberties
• take away living options for the upper left stone, because b automagically gets a strong wall

Thus, if you get rid of that habit that would already improve your rank by a couple of stones (imho).

schawipp wrote:I would try getting rid of moves such as and . With those moves you are "peeping into a keima" but not cutting afterwards. In this game, not cutting is correct, because it doesn't work properly (if you cut at d5 in move b could e.g. reply on f5 and then capture at d6; also a cut at e7 in move does not work, b would simply capture at d7).

The point is that - if you cannot cut after moves like , - then these moves are pointless. Even worse, they

• do not improve the structure of your lower right stones
• take away own liberties
• take away living options for the upper left stone, because b automagically gets a strong wall

Thus, if you get rid of that habit that would already improve your rank by a couple of stones (imho).

This is some very sound and solid advice. Thank you