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First Game Listed... Am I too slow/playing too safe?
Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 6:18 pm
by hettingerjm
This way a game I played today, and I was relatively happy with my performance, but I think I made several moves that are just too small, but not sure where. The only reason I won was a monkey jump at the end the opponent did not know how to respond to. I am trying to learn how to expand securely, but I believe I am playing too safe. I was white by the way.
Any thoughts or quick suggestions? My main study recently has been tsumego (mainly tesuji since I focused on l&d so long.) and just playing on KGS. Thanks for any tips!
http://files.gokgs.com/games/2012/3/15/Megajohn-kroger.sgf
Re: First Game Listed... Am I too slow/playing too safe?
Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 6:48 pm
by xDragon
6. this joseki is only good when playing as b in handicap game or if you have a stone around k16. otherwise if it plays out as normal (e17 f16 d14 k16) its too good for b
20. think b18 is fine
176. that move is pointless. if you have to play locally then e13 is far better
190-207. thank your opponent for letting you win the game
220. r8 instead, worth more
Re: First Game Listed... Am I too slow/playing too safe?
Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 8:21 pm
by Joaz Banbeck
Overall, you played a remarkably error-free game for a 12K.

You made none of the mistakes that usually plague DDKs. Where you have room for improvement is in the area of efficiency. Many of your moves are just a bit too safe, and and a bit too conservative.
Try playing more aggressively.
Move 6: See
viewtopic.php?p=36322#p363228: Yes! If he should take it, and does not, then your best move is to take it yourself.
12: See 6
16: B16 locks him in – and eventually kills him.
32: What does this stone do?
Re: First Game Listed... Am I too slow/playing too safe?
Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 9:09 pm
by hettingerjm
xDragon wrote:6. this joseki is only good when playing as b in handicap game or if you have a stone around k16. otherwise if it plays out as normal (e17 f16 d14 k16) its too good for b
I definitely did not know this... Thanks
xDragon wrote:220. r8 instead, worth more
<--- I should have seen this in my review but I didn't... :-/
That helped a lot, and I can see in your suggested moves I definitely am playing closer moves in trying to play it safe, but they are not as secure as your suggestions, even though the spacing is further.
I need to play a little more aggressively,and just stop being scared of losing stones.
Thx all.
Re: First Game Listed... Am I too slow/playing too safe?
Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 9:18 pm
by Joaz Banbeck
hettingerjm wrote:...
That helped a lot,.
If you liked that, maybe you might like the page where it is referrenced:
viewtopic.php?f=11&t=667PS: Welcome to the forum.
Re: First Game Listed... Am I too slow/playing too safe?
Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 9:31 pm
by hettingerjm
And there goes the rest of my night to study...

Thank you
Re: First Game Listed... Am I too slow/playing too safe?
Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 5:09 am
by Sumatakyo
I think you need to take a broader look in the opening and see if your stones are alive or not.
Once they are alive, play somewhere else because it is usually much bigger (by either taking a big point or attacking an opponent's group that is not alive yet).
For example the fight in the upper left lasted too long for my taste, I would have tenuki'ed earlier.
Very nice play, just a little on the safe side at times. A little more reading and you could have taught black a few lessons.
