Life In 19x19

I went on IGS just now and, in accordance with advice from jts, tried playing a little more slowly. I still have to get over the impulse to click as soon as it's my turn, but I was able to play just a little more slowly, especially since my opponent took several seconds to ponder each move. As always, much obliged in advance for your kind commentary.



As you can see, I went for a low Chinese opening, but did not complete it by playing White 8 @ D15. I played 8 @ J4 to restrict the expansion of the lower right corner shimari.

Which player are you? Ah - from the text at the bottom I guess you're white.

Most of my comments centre around: (a) have consistent plans, and stick to them; (b) learn the difference between which points are big and which are small; (c) avoid tunnel vision (tenuki when an area of the board stops being big).

• Up to move 28 looks okay to me (though personally I would have played 24 at K16). Move 21 was clearly premature - make it look silly. 30 and the following moves are a little vague. In particular:
• Your shape at the top is weak. Be careful of the cutting points you've left now that black's strengthened his stones.
• Can you really afford the crazy shape at 34? If black cuts at M11 and then connects at N13, what's your plan?
• 38 is very small. It's not useful for black to invade there, and it's not big even if he does.
• 44 is a meaningless threat that just serves to strengthen black and gets L9 captured.
• 52 and 54 are very small. As black made a mistake at 55, you got to play 56, which was a good move, but you must follow it up by connecting at Q10, which will significantly weaken R10. 58 feels very small. 60 is a pass.
• 64 is not urgent now that you and black are both more or less locally alive. The moves from 66 to 72 gave black territory (is 66 even sente?).
• It's not quite clear to me what 82 does. If you wanted territory in that area, G9 is bigger.
• 84: If you care about the stone you put down at F11, don't abandon it when it gets attacked! (Though I don't really think the F11 stone came to any use. What was your plan for it, and why did you give it up?)

Both players made lots of bad moves and do not show an understanding of some basic concepts. I would strongly encourage you to just play and watch games for a while. Wait until you are a little stronger before worrying about reviews. It is kind of like asking "how's my driving", when you have not yet learned how to shift gears smoothly.

A few comments.

tekesta wrote:I ...tried playing a little more slowly.

DrStraw wrote:Both players made lots of bad moves and do not show an understanding of some basic concepts...

Unfortunately, this is true.

DrStraw wrote:... just play and watch games for a while. Wait until you are a little stronger before worrying about reviews...

I subscribe to a different school of thought. Play lots of games, and give it your best. If we reviewers see that you are trying to learn - which you apparently are in this one - we'll offer our best advice.

I've got a few errands to take care of, then I'll post something.