Go Congress round 1

Joaz Banbeck · #1

I won this, but felt terribly unsure of where to play around moves 66-76. Comments about those moves, or any others would be appreciated. I was white.

Chew Terr · #2

I'm intrigued by your double 4-5 opening. Is this something you often do as white? Can you explain a little about the purpose/plan/et cetera behind it? Obviously it worked well enough, I just never know what to do with a 4-5. I suppose it worked well with the approach in the top left, supporting the D10 stone better.

I really admire move 26. I saw it, sat back, and thought 'Ah ha!', seeing it pull all of your stones together neatly.

I was surprised to see 18 at Q9. I'm so used to thinking of shoulder hits as reduction moves that I would have been nervous to use one to push low and take influence. I know it's the same as similar shoulder hits from corner joseki that I do use, but those seem to benefit from having friendly stones nearby.

Pity you never got to invade the top right, not that you needed to.

Thanks for posting the game. Enjoy Congress!

unkx80 · #3

W66 looks like a good move to me. It indirectly fixes the weakness of the knight's move while preventing black from making a base at the bottom.

W68 also looks okay to me. If you want to go more on the offensive, I suggest W68 at K6. This alternative fixes the weakness of the knight's move while solidifying the left side.

The result up to W76 is actually very good for white. Black bumps around everywhere in his attempt to live, but white gets solid territory and also strengthens the left side a bit.

rubin427 · #4

This is an interesting game, thanks for posting Joaz.

(Obviously, I am not about to offer advice on a Dan game.)

Alakazam · #5

Black's Tengen should just be P11 or turn, where you played. Even if white closes off the Moyo somehow, Black can live inside because bottom is wide and thin. Lack of board judgement there, too scared by the Moyo.

Normally with a white extension on the left, invading the lower left 4-5 corner may be better on the 3-3 point. That way, if white closes from the right, black crawls along the left and erases/takes territory, making the side star point inefficient for white. If white responds to the 3-3 with a move on the right side, it will be awkward.

F12 is totally random, and up to white J12, it is game over, white wins for sure if no big mistakes are made.
K13 seems better at L12, trying to seal off the huge Moyo.

N13 at L10 seems simple and clean.

M7 is heavy, refuses to sacrifice anything.

66 and 68 are both very nice moves, look like best moves. Perhaps before 68, you can continue attacking. After 68, Black should have lived.

Good win. In order to defeat white's Moyo strategy in this kind of game, one needs to play calmly, and with good positional judgement. Without that, one will be inclined to play Tengen and then shiver in fear. There wasn't even any reason for it.
Perhaps finesse at Sabaki/Shinogi would be one more requirement, if one is afraid of dying with a late invasion.

Clossius · #6

I think this was a well played game by white. as to respond to your question, I think move 66 I would of prefered l-4 as to make the eye space smaller and into a box 4 shape.

Alakazam · #7

But if you don't think you can kill, L4 leaves too much bad Aji, must be careful.

Go Congress round 1

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