Life In 19x19

Hi all,

I am working towards a goal of 16k -> 9k within 60 days. See my study journal here: http://lifein19x19.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=5797

This was the game that brought me from 16k to 15k (I played vs a 13k, and changed the handicap to 2 instead of 3). I know to be 9k I need to be thinking about the game differently, so I'm wondering if someone can go through this game and help me see the game at a 9k level instead of a 15k level.

I know I made some major mistakes, especially move 164. But I'm hoping with a review I can see some bigger moves that I can make to start seeing the game at a higher level. Here is the game. Thanks!

Drewch,

Good game.

Some comments:

Move 38: Excellent. Cut white apart.
Move 40: Nooooo!!!! Keep cutting!
Move 41: Waaaah! White gives you another chance.
Move 42: Great. (But this should have been move 40).

Move 66-72: Good. Chase white, build a wall in the center, use it to surround and attack the right side group. Sounds like a plan to me.

Move 117: You can cut white first at E16 and see what white does. It threatens D14, so white has to defend against that, and white isn't alive yet after that.

Move 122-123: With this exchange, white got a useful stone, gaining liberties, connecting, and letting him later jump in as far as S18 to excavate your corner. Meanwhile, your stone at Q17 gains you almost nothing. You can take it off the board entirely, and it's basically the same. Avoid exchanges that help your opponent.

Move 180: Try to avoid moves like this. Check before you cut whether it works or not.

And some questions:

What would have been a better choice for move 122 in that area?

Does move 156 work if white responds properly? And did you check during the game before playing it?

What's a better move for 201?

On move 204, you can kill white's left side group. How?

What do move 50, 166, 167, 176, 184, 189, 200, 227, 232 all have in common?

Cheers!

lightvector wrote:Good game.

Thanks

lightvector wrote: Some comments:

Move 38: Excellent. Cut white apart.
Move 40: Nooooo!!!! Keep cutting!
Move 41: Waaaah! White gives you another chance.
Move 42: Great. (But this should have been move 40).

Yup thanks for pointing that out, just played out a whole bunch of situations for this, boy I'm glad white gave me a second chance

lightvector wrote: Move 66-72: Good. Chase white, build a wall in the center, use it to surround and attack the right side group. Sounds like a plan to me.

Thanks, I did a bunch of playouts of this as well, that definitely was my plan at the time, however, looking back at it, if I play k12 as move 66, I may be able to kill entire thing (even the right side). Not sure, what do you think?

lightvector wrote: Move 117: You can cut white first at E16 and see what white does. It threatens D14, so white has to defend against that, and white isn't alive yet after that.

Ah I like that!

lightvector wrote: Move 122-123: With this exchange, white got a useful stone, gaining liberties, connecting, and letting him later jump in as far as S18 to excavate your corner. Meanwhile, your stone at Q17 gains you almost nothing. You can take it off the board entirely, and it's basically the same. Avoid exchanges that help your opponent.

Empty triangle too, gross

lightvector wrote: Move 180: Try to avoid moves like this. Check before you cut whether it works or not.

Yeah definitely, I felt silly after this

lightvector wrote: And some questions:

What would have been a better choice for move 122 in that area?

I think the proper thing to do is definitely play move 120 at Q17, instead of R17. But after R17, I think my best move is R18?

lightvector wrote: Does move 156 work if white responds properly? And did you check during the game before playing it?

J11 then J12 works for him. I did not check that during the game, It just looked like a spot that I could stop him from connecting it. I need to start reading out in more situations I think.

lightvector wrote: What's a better move for 201?

For white? I'm not sure, maybe something like A2 or T12 to maximize his space?

lightvector wrote: On move 204, you can kill white's left side group. How?

C5 then A6 works for all things white can try, dang!

lightvector wrote: What do move 50, 166, 167, 176, 184, 189, 200, 227, 232 all have in common?

Hm they are all useless and worth 0 points when there were bigger points on the board. Never thought about my moves like that. Definitely need to start being more aware of that. Many thanks!

lightvector wrote: Cheers!

Thanks again so much! Appreciate it a lot, it really helps!!

EdLee wrote:Drewch,

Drewch wrote:...help me see the game at...
...seeing the game at a higher level...

It's all in the basics (fundamentals): basic shapes, basic L&D, basic tesujis, basic contact fights, basic cap races, basic directions, basic josekis, etc.

Thanks Ed!