Hi all,
I`m posting a game that I played yesterday because although I was outplayed, I`m not really sure how I could have played better. Also, this is to provide examples (for instances, moves 75, 83, 115) of the chess-style symbolic notation that I talked about elsewhere (in General Go Chat).

On move 116 the SGF reader doesn`t display the kanji I used, but it works locally and on KGS. Sorry about that.




I`d be very glad of any help, thanks a lot

_________________
Learn the "tea-stealing" tesuji! Cho Chikun demonstrates here:

I have just one question for my own understanding - on move 27 I would rather block the upper side (at R13) instead the lower side, since you have already spent some moves 21-25 for fixing the left side of the upper right corner, while its lower side is still open. Would movde 27 on R13 be an option or is this too territory-oriented?

It`s a good question. The reason I didn`t play there was because I`d have ended up with a lot of stones in the upper right surrounding relatively little territory. On the other hand, maybe 27 should have been more aggressive, i.e., closer, to put some real pressure on that White stone. He settled too easily on the right and got good endgame, too.

_________________
Learn the "tea-stealing" tesuji! Cho Chikun demonstrates here:

I like 27@R6, because it is a double threat: you can harass the white stone with R13 next or use your shimari to approach the lower left corner.

After he defended the right side, I think it is way too small to play your 29@r15. I'm sure your opponent was very happy to get 30@K4, which eliminates the power of your shimari. It was your privilege to use it after your opponent defended the right side.

edit:
on second thought: 27@R7 looks even better to me as it exerts more strength towards the lone white stone.

_________________
If something sank it might be a treasure. And 2kyu advice is not necessarily Dan repertoire..

I'm also around 1-kyu, so these are just a few ideas : )
Overall I think you already fell behind in the opening and after the sequence in the bottom left, Black has a very hard game. What I noticed the most is that quite a few of your moves don't go all the way. You defend the top right corner but you did not do it in a way which would also attack White at the same time - despite your strength in the top left! Then afterwards you played - in my opinion - from the wrong direction (but again with no real pressure on White) inviting White to approach your previously defended corner, which you defended again, but in Gote.
White beat you to all the big points in the opening.
Later you played a couple of moves which only grabbed territory and again did not put any pressure on White.

My advice would be to search for moves, which have better follow-ups.

_________________
My "guide" to become stronger in Go

Hey Tami! I hope this clears up some of the confusion ^_^

I do not see any glaring mistakes, just a few slack moves, which gradually let your opponent pull ahead. A few comments on the opening:

is too conservative. There is no reason not to pincer W tightly here, to apply maximum pressure. Both N17 and J17 would be good. I think I actually prefer J17, even though it appears to be an extension from the stronger side, because it makes a definite base for your large group. A simple continuation like J17-O17, P17-O16, Q14 would be fine for B.

is fine but not necessary. The right side is so open that B does not have a strong attack here, so a conservative pincer is fine, and the game sequence was good. It is hard to choose between R6 and R7 and R12 now, so B could also leave this side alone for a while and switch to the lower left corner to see how things develop.

is a fine wedge. Normally W needs to check two ladders before playing C5. Since both ladders favor B in this game, this is really an overplay for W. But the end result was good for W, so B got outplayed here.

is normally just an extension to F5, leaving options to play on either side, depending on how W responds. is too nice to W, giving up the corner for a side block which is worth very little (given the W stone at C14). B really must play B2 to live in the corner. If W saves four stones with B8, B has a really severe hane at F4 or simply a direct cut at D3 to live. With all outside ladders favoring B, W has no severe counter-attack that I see. The sequence to gave W too large a corner, for a substantial lead in the game.

started a promising attack, which might have given B a chance to get back into the game. Unfortunately, the next few moves were more defensive than offensive. B must hane at B19 to keep up the pressure. W cannot get two eyes in the corner, so B can provoke a fight. The stray B stones at H15 and K14 might prove valuable if B forces W to run. in the game is good shape but too slow. Note that if W peeps at this point, B has a tesuji worth knowing to protect the cut while keeping sente.

Thank you, Otaku Viking, Mitsun, Sodesune and others for giving your time and thoughts. I learned a lot from your comments and variations.

_________________
Learn the "tea-stealing" tesuji! Cho Chikun demonstrates here: