NOTE: (fixed) The file uploaded multiple scenarios where I was messing around... sorry. Please refer to the longest sequence of the game (00+ moves)

Hello everyone! First time uploading a game on this site. If you could provide comments for both black and white, it would be greatly appreciated. I'm black.

I've only recently started the game so no doubt, I made some meaningless moves... I'm interested in knowing about the technicalities as well as the overall direction of the game.

Update: Looks like I messed up on move 30, should have extended back instead of going for the corner... it was not big enough and would have given me enough points to win

Hi ne,

192 What do you think of this move ?

181 Can you find a better local move ?

193 What's the meaning of this move ?
Can you find a better move ?

Hmm.. maybe E9 first, and then F7 throw in could have been good - my opponent would have probably probably have connected but I would have sente

Honestly, I played that because I couldn't find a better move. It was just an atari on the stone... maybe my opponent wouldn't have noticed? lol

You don't mean E9, do you ?

This is bad thinking, bad habit.
Assume your opponent will make a best move,
at least as good as your best replies, and possibly better.

Thinking or hoping your opponent will make worse moves than yours is a certain way to not improve.

( In this case, it doesn't matter, but you wasted one ko threat,
and you reduced two of your own liberties. )

Can you find a better move for 193 ?

You seem like you have good instincts, especially in the opening.

This move, and the same peep on the bottom accomplish very little.

:b129: Answering white's descent is worth just one point. Most moves you might want to make would be bigger: A3 or M1 for instance.

_________________
Occupy Babel!

Thanks. I wanted to build a wall on those peeps, but it makes sense why my opponent didn't want to respond (I was confused when he didn't. Like you said, they were only one point each, and he probably knew that.

Also good point about B129... I need to start counting the value of my moves better. I'm really all about not leaving no weak bases so I probably got overly paranoid. I've had too many experiences of leading by good 15 points before losing a small group of stones and losing.

Based on this game I suspect that you have done a lot of studying on the opening, which was played at much higher than DDK level. That is good! But once the middle game starts I see a lot of weak moves, but that is to be expected. I will not make specific comments on this game as others are doing so, but what I would encourage you to do is to concentrated your studies on the middle game.

For every game you play study it afterwards. Alone if necessary but with the opponent if possible, and try to find a better move for every move you played in the middle game. For some moves that will not be possible, but it is important that you know why. For most moves, especially when you have sente, it will be possible. Understanding the ramifications of middle game moves will help considerably with your choice of opening moves.

Your play is good for your level but, obviously, if you want to improve you need to eliminate some of those middle game mistakes. Keep on working at it and I think you will reach high kyu quicker than most people do. Dan level is a different matter: that requires a different approach to study and a total shift in the way you look at the game.

_________________
Still officially AGA 5d but I play so irregularly these days that I am probably only 3d or 4d over the board (but hopefully still 5d in terms of knowledge, theory and the ability to contribute).

A gentlemanly game. As though White and Black were two boxers in different rings. If you are going to make shodan you should become a dangerous opponent.

Some comments.

_________________
The Adkins Principle:
At some point, doesn't thinking have to go on?
— Winona Adkins

Visualize whirled peas.

Everything with love. Stay safe.