K, I'm going for this then. I don't want to extend again and allow white to build up the lower center

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wcm11 Komi: -15; Prisoners:
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . O . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . O . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

White is still sort of thin, but I'd just prefer to prevent this kind of situation. Therefore I want to split white, and I like this cap because it sort of creates a miai

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wcm11 Komi: -15; Prisoners:
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . O . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . O . b . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Or at least sort of. I assume white will play a next, and it will be up to me to either block off the corner or jump in that extension. I'm currently leaning towards the corner.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wcm11 Komi: -15; Prisoners:
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . |
$$ | . . . b . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . O . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . O . a . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

And I am then happy getting either a or b.

I think this is an interesting play... for White.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Bc
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . c 1 a . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . b . . . O . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . O . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

If I were playing IRL, I think I would almost instinctively attach at "a", split the bottom and the left side, and see what happens to my stones on the left. However, here I have more time to think. So, what to think about?

First, seems like a half measure to me. I was expecting "b" as the most natural play if Black continues here. is less violent and is also less well connected to the stone on D4. White could consider the attachment at "c", trying to directly exploit Black's knight shape. However, that initiates a local fight where my left side stones might get cut off and be crowded up against some suddenly strong Black stones. So that idea seems to offer more risk than reward.

What about below? This shape where the marked stone and pincer a Black stone between them is one that I look for in my games. If Black continues to the right, the thin bottleneck remains as a source of weakness. However, I expect that this is likely to trigger a reaction against the F3 stone, perhaps the attachment at "a". Is that what I want? I have the feeling that I thought about only because I like the shape rather than because the game situation demands it. If is a half-way play, can I just ignore it?

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Bc
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X O . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . O . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . W . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

If I tenuki, where should I play? We are back to the question of the left side versus the top side. Say that I play on the left at . Black might play to undermine the left side with something like "a", but in itself a second-line play like that is submissive enough that I would probably ignore it again and invade the top. More likely, Black will enclose the top in some way, for example . OK, now what? I am aiming for something like , but do I think that I can force with something like first? Also with this Black threatens to play in at "b". Would it be better to smack Black in the face with "c" or hold back to "d"?

Finally there is the question, if I used to invade the top at "e" and let Black attack on the left, am I able to use the thinness of to escape with my left-side stones smoothly? Anyway, that's why I am still thinking...

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Bc
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . e . . . . 6 . . . |
$$ | . . X , . . . . . 3 . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . c . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X O . . |
$$ | . . 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 . . |
$$ | . . d . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . |
$$ | . . b . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , 4 . . |
$$ | . a . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . O . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . O . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Finally I went with . I seriously considered below. I thought that something like the variation up to would be reasonable except that the upper left corner has all the aji squeezed out of it. Finally though, I was concerned about what might happen if Black switched to 5 in the diagram and just kept pushing along on top of White's stones. Black builds a deep valley at the top and if White stops being pushed along and Black hanes on the left, the two White stones on the left might also be isolated. above is intended as a "Goldilocks" play - not too close and not too far, just right! It leaves a natural invasion point at C11. If Black invades immediately, I am considering whether to jump straight out and use the running fight to erase the top or to attach on top of the invader and build a wall facing the center. We will see if this actually comes to pass. Meanwhile I have not forced Black to reinforce the upper left corner shimari. If I end up invading the top, hopefully the ability to attach to the E17 stone or to threaten an invasion of the corner will be of assistance to my stones.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . 4 X , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . 1 2 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . 3 5 . . . . . . . . . . . X O . . |
$$ | . . . . . 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . O . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . O . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

If he plays under, i'll hane towards the bottom, and after the cut extend

After all the thinking yesterday, I never really considered . I was only thinking about C11. Attaching underneath at C11 leaves White with more problems than Black; the resulting stones seem awkward for White. So I think jumping out is natural here.

Basically I decided not to jump and let white fix the defect with his next turn if he wants, while I just play a big point. This is what I saw:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wcm11 Komi: -15; Prisoners:
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X O . . |
$$ | . . O . 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . |
$$ | . . 9 X . 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . 0 , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . O . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . O . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wcm11 Komi: -15; Prisoners:
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X O . . |
$$ | . . O 7 O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . 6 4 5 . . . . . . . . . . . X . . |
$$ | . . O X 3 X . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X 1 . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . 2 O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . O . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . O . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

I feel like it's too early for this kind of an invasion, in which case perhaps I should have taken the point I just took without playing that splitting move first. However, if he doesn't somehow fix his group now I'll jump out next turn. If he does, who knows? I do feel like that stone has so much aji, I'm glad that I played it. Perhaps a comparison can be made to this sequence?

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wcm1 Komi: -15; Prisoners:
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . 6 . X . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 . 3 . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , 1 . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Perhaps?!

Right now we are both maneuvering and avoiding the usual contact plays. Perhaps stretching our minds a little? Well done Jedo! His last play represents a typical dilemma. The top is too wide to control with a single stone. Black tries for a happy median but is left with clear invasion points both left and right of , and the upper right corner is still open. Right now my main candidate is J14, capping his fourth-line stone. If he reacts on the side, I would most likely follow with a play in the upper right (Q17?). One troubling thought is that I remember Fujisawa Shuko capping a fourth-line stone, probably in one of his old Kisei matches. So again, do I like J14 for all the wrong reasons? Do I imagine good things from the play that are not really there? By the way, I am currently reading Why We Make Mistakes: How We Look Without Seeing, Forget Things in Seconds, and Are All Pretty Sure We Are Way Above Average by Joseph Hallinan. It is NOT reassuring!

I will go with the capping play as mentioned in my previous post. It is a stretch from my left-side stones, but Black's position at the top is thin as well. If the relationship of White high and Black low(er) holds through the next exchange, then this and any additional stones will add to the effectiveness of any plays that try to expand my bottom right position.

Ok, fine! This jump might be a little dangerous since the white stones are so light, but my two stones are very light two, and I will resist any attempt to make them heavy! Responding to the cap seemed too passive, even though i make a lot of points.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wcm11 Komi: -15; Prisoners:
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . . . . X , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . 0 . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . 9 . . . . . . X O . . |
$$ | . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . O . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . O . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wcm11 Komi: -15; Prisoners:
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . . . . X , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . O . . . . . . X O . . |
$$ | . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . 1 . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . O . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . O . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

This is probably a reasonable result, but for some reason i'm not thrilled with it, especially because i was thinking of this at some point:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wcm11 Komi: -15; Prisoners:
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . . . . X , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . O . . . . . . X O . . |
$$ | . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . 1 . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . 6 . 9 . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . 8 3 X 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X 4 5 . . . O . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . O . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Now of course that loose shimari is loose and there is wiggle room... but

So what now? I'm def. not comitted to these two stones, I almost think of it as a probe to see how MHO responds. Main responses i'm thinking of:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wcm11 Komi: -15; Prisoners:
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . . . . X , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . O . . . . . . X O . . |
$$ | . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . |
$$ | . . b X . 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . O . a . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . O . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . O . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

I lightly read out some variations but lets see what happends

Black wants to make something of his invasion. This is good and natural. I'm thinking that G13 stares at the two black stones while G14 threatens the upper side. What do you think, which is better? (Don't tell me of course!)

One thing about jumping is that it makes it easier for White to attach at C11. In the subsequent fighting Black may lose the F11 stone. That would be a clear loss for Black and gain for White. So jumping to F11 is a commitment by Black to an escalation in the fighting.

Both have mentioned C11, but I do not see how it could be a good move
for White anymore. Contrary to ez4u, I think that F11 more or less disabled it.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . . . . X , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . O . . . . . . X O . . |
$$ | . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . a 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . |
$$ | . . 1 X . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . 2 3 . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . b O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . O . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . O . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

'a' and 'b' are miai, no?

On the other hand, White might want to sacrifice one group to settle the other:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . . . . X , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . O . . . . . . X O . . |
$$ | . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . 4 2 X . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . |
$$ | . . O X . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . 3 2 O . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . 1 O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . O . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . O . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

or:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . . . . X , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . O . . . . . . X O . . |
$$ | . . O 7 O . c . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . 1 X 4 5 . . . . . . . . . . X . . |
$$ | . . O X 3 X 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O 6 . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . 2 O . 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . O . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . O . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

It seems bold to me, but perhaps it is worthwhile later.

I did not recover enough to work on this Sunday and yesterday I spent on other things, so this was a bit slow coming. It seems to me that if I jump out around G13 with the idea of connecting to my capping stone before coming to grips, Black can simply jump out along side me and it becomes difficult to formulate a reasonable approach to harassing those stones the further that they extend. I considered this and that alternative for putting pressure on the Black stones immediately instead. But in the end, I decided to just hit Black on the head and see what happens. This is not entirely "Hope Go" ( ) but may be close. Nevertheless, the play at H11 has a reasonable relationship with my framework on the bottom right and in the purely local sense, White outnumbers Black.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wcm21 Komi: -15; Prisoners:
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . . . . X , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . O . . . . . . X O . . |
$$ | . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . |
$$ | . . . X . X . O . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . 4 2 3 , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . O . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . O . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wcm21 Komi: -15; Prisoners:
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . . . . X , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . O . . . . . . X O . . |
$$ | . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . |
$$ | . . . X . X 4 O . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . 3 2 . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . O . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . O . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Well, I did not expect this. I knew he was going for influence, but I didn't know he was going for THIS much influence. This is some cosmic-style action we've got going here. This move was my first instinct, and looking deeper only seemed to support my initial feelings. The basic idea is to build up strength against his two lower stones by attaching to this one, as well as pushing into the middle. If he cuts:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wcm21 Komi: -15; Prisoners:
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . . . . X , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . O . . . . . . X O . . |
$$ | . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . 7 . . . . . . . . X . . |
$$ | . . . X . X 4 1 . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . 9 , . . 3 2 6 , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . 8 O . . 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . O . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . O . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wcm21 Komi: -15; Prisoners:
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . . . . X , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . O . . . . . . X O . . |
$$ | . . O . O . 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . O . . . . . . . . X . . |
$$ | . . . X . X X O . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . 4 O 0 . . O X X , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . 2 X O . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . 3 1 . . 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . O . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . O . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

My vaguest of plans. Hard to predict though!

If he hanes:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wcm21 Komi: -15; Prisoners:
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . . . . X , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . O . . . . . . X O . . |
$$ | . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . |
$$ | . . . X . X . O . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . 4 2 3 , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . O . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . O . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

And to me it seems like his thin shape has a lot of issues.

Forgot my comment. I wouldn't want you gentle readers to think that ol' E. Z. Malkovich played without any thought at all... Anyway I think this cut is more natural than the hane on the other side. I would not want to present Black with too large a framework on the left. Rather I want to have him solve the issue of his three stones through some form of give and take (e.g. I give him life and I take lots of territory ) and besides, the ladders favor White.

Not the way I thought he would extend, but this way seems fine for me. I extended because I think strengthening that outside cutting stone is very important, and any sacrifice variation I looked at did not look good for black (white got too much influence)

So now

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wcm21 Komi: -15; Prisoners: ,
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . . . . X , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . O . . . . . . X O . . |
$$ | . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . |
$$ | . . . X 8 X X O O . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , 7 9 O X . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . a O . . . 6 . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . O . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . O . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

If he just connects like this, then I play a.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wcm21 Komi: -15; Prisoners: ,
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . . . . X , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . 0 . O . . . . . . X O . . |
$$ | . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . |
$$ | . . . X 8 X X O O . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . 9 , 7 . O X . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . 6 . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . O . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . O . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

This was another option. But who knows what he'll do.

I am afraid that Jedo's last is a more effective play than I had thought (maybe thoughtlessly believed is the correct expression - Hope Go indeed!). I just assumed that the peep at "a" would give me enough resources to play out with below. However, with the marked stone waiting, Black can just reply to with and keep on moving before finally playing hane at . This looks like a disaster for White. Obviously I would like to use my current play to jump ahead of the Black center stones next. Let's see where we go from here, but White definitely has problems at the moment.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wc
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . . . . X , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . O . . . . . . X O . . |
$$ | . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . |
$$ | . . . X . X X O O . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , a . O X . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . 1 X . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . 3 2 . 0 . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . 5 4 . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . 6 7 8 . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . B . 9 . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . O . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . O . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

After realizing e10 and/or g9 were deficient, how quickly and also precisely how did you arrive at F10? (If that makes sense).

(Maybe include what F10 threatens concerning F11 or something.)

Thanks in advance.

The basic problem is that I can not push from behind, yet Black is ahead of my after H9. I would like to jump ahead. One idea I considered was to jump ahead directly to G8. I anticipate that if Black plays G9, I peep at E10. However, he can force his way through and my G8 stone may be of no use. Can I sound him out first? That is the purpose of F10. If he follows me down from the center (e.g. G9), I have not potentially wasted time playing G8. Does that translate to an advantage on the left? Well... maybe(!) If he answers on the left, I can jump out. However, if he answers on the left at E10, he takes one of my liberties. Am I better off from exchanging F10 for E10? Again... maybe! It comes down to the fact that I do not think I can give up the cutting stone without a fight. The alternative of F9 seems to put no pressure on Black at all.

Since Black played F5, I have underrated my opponent in my mind. Actually since then, his plays have been better than mine. Now White pays the price. Let's see if complacency has cost White the game.

Well, another move I didn't expect. Is he planning to sacrifice the two 4th line stones in hope of capturing my two cutting stones in the middle? It's hard to imagine any scenario where white gives these up. The thing is, I seem to have an attack against his two stones at the top as well, and unless he gives these cutting stones up I feel like I'll get sente to attack them.

The crudest sequence ever:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wcm21 Komi: -15; Prisoners: ,
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . . . . X , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . O . . . . . . X O . . |
$$ | . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . |
$$ | . . . X . X X O O . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , 8 7 O X . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . O . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . O . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wcm21 Komi: -15; Prisoners: ,
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . . . . X , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . O . . . . . . X O . . |
$$ | . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . |
$$ | . . . X . X X O O . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , X O O X . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . 1 X . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . 0 O . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . O . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . O . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Does white have a way to sabaki here? These push seems hard to swallow:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wcm21 Komi: -15; Prisoners: ,
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . . . . X , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . O . . . . . . X O . . |
$$ | . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . |
$$ | . . . X . X X O O . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , 8 7 O X . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . O . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . O . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Wcm21 Komi: -15; Prisoners: ,
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X , . . . . X , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . O . . . . . . X O . . |
$$ | . . O . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . |
$$ | . . 3 X 8 X X O O . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . 4 5 X O O X . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . b O 7 6 1 X . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . 0 O . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X O . 2 . a . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . X . . . . . O . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . O . . . . . . . . . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Once again, I'll just have to wait and see.

As mentioned previously...