Comment[White: Larry Watanabe, watanabe@cs.uiuc.edu
Black: Jonathan Buss, jfbuss@maytag.waterloo.edu
Komi: 5 1/2
Played on rec.games.go from May 15 to September 13, 1990.]
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Black[pd]
Comment[\(1\) \(Jon\) The 4-4 point \(star point, hoshi\) is one of the standard places to start in a corner. It emphasizes play over the whole board, rather than the corner territory itself.]
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Comment[\(2\) \(Larry\) Taking the diagonally opposite corner prevents black from using a diagonal fuseki (black stones in diagonally opposite corners). Similarly, the choice of hoshi means that there is no asymmetry. However, it is not bad to have a diagonal fuseki, or to make the position asymmetrical.]
White[dp]
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Comment[\(3\) \(J\) the 3-4 point \(komoku\) is again a standard play, striving for a balance between corner territory and outside influence.]
Black[pq]
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Comment[\(4\) \(L\) J's move also sets up the possiblity of a Chinese Fuseki \(if he plays next on Q9 or R9\). Although D17 is symmetrical, white usually doesn't counter with a white Chinese fuseki.]
White[dc]
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Comment[\(5\) \(J\) He's reading my mind, as I expected. By not making a corner enclosure \(shimari\), at say R5, black is allowing an attack on the corner \(kakari\) by white -- normally at Q5. Black's strategy will be to counterattack the white invasion, making territory in the process. Black 5 also develops from the 4-4 stone.
Viable alternatives would be to play a shimari at R5 or Q5, or a kakari at F3, C15 or D15.]
Black[qk]
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Comment[\(6\) \(L\) K9 is a nice extension from white's hoshi point, and also serves to reduce the influence of black's Chinese style fuseki. It also frustrate's black's strategy \(see above\). \[We'll see about that! :-\) J.\]]
White[jp]
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Comment[\(7\) \(J\) Although answering White 6 or playing in the middle of the upper side would be very valuable moves, the most important seems to be the least-developed corner. Black chooses the "high" kakari rather than the "low" move at C15, because the game as a whole is oriented toward the center.]
Black[de]
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Comment[\(8\) \(L\) The pincer is a nice move because it extends from white's formation in the bottom left corner, and also attacks black. However, because everything is pretty wide open, a non-pincer move would probably be just as good. Since white has pincered, it turns out that black's choice of a high kakari was a good one, since a pincer is less severe against a high kakari than a low kakari.]
White[di]
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Comment[\(9\) \(J\) An attachment \(i.e., a play adjacent to an opponent's stone\) is a standard way to strengthen a stone that is under attack. If Black can become strong in this area, he will improve his chances on the right side as well as limit White's chances on the lower left.]
Black[ec]
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Comment[\(10\) \(L\) I haven't read this out, but one wants to fight back against this attachment. However, the fighting should be easier for black because of white's wide pincer.]
White[ed]
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Comment[\(11\) \(J\) The only move. If White is allowed to connect here, Black's position will be in shreds. \(Black could sacrifice the stone at E17, but that sacrifice will be more effective later, if it is made at all.\) ]
Black[dd]
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Comment[\(12\) \(L\) White wants to extend to C17, but then E16 would be caught in a ladder. F17 breaks the ladder.]
White[fc]
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Comment[\(13\) \(J\) Continuing the fight...]
Black[eb]
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Comment[\(14\) \(L\) White can now extend to C17, the 3-3 point. This is the key point for life in the corner, so it makes the group much harder to capture. This is important, as White intends to sacrifice these stones.]
White[cc]
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Comment[\(15\) \(J\) Black strengthens his weaker stones. In situations like this, beginners often make the mistake of giving an atari, which strengthens only the opponent. If Black plays E15, White is happy to connect at F16, all but capturing the two black stones above. \(Black could consider this a sacrifice, but he gets very little compensation for his loss.\) If BF16, then WE15 takes a vital Black liberty on the left. The following play is complicated, but I found no way for Black to save his stones.
\(White 12 at F17 looks like the same kind of beginner mistake, but it is actually White's best play in that position. The corner stones are much weakened by BE18, but they are strong enough to be effectively sacrificed. If "beginner mistakes" were always bad, the game of go would be much less interesting.\)]
Black[fb]
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Comment[\(16\) Starting a fight against the stones on the left by pushing against them.]
White[ee]
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Comment[\(17\) Again defending the weaker stones.]
Black[bd]
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Comment[\(18\) Extending white's liberties, keeping it hard to capture.]
White[bc]
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Comment[\(19\) The empty triangle may look bad, but Black must reduce White's liberties.]
Black[cd]
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Comment[\(20-E14\) White cannot capture the black stones, but he strengthens his own stones to get thickness on the outside.]
White[ef]
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Comment[\(21-D18\) Completes the capture of the corner.]
Black[db]
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Comment[\(22-G17\) Completes white's outside influence. White can play at G18 or D14 in sente, but not both. White will wait to see which way to play. On the other hand, if black pushes at G18, or D14, then white is happy to build more influence on the outside. So this corner is more or less settled for now. Black has profit, and white has influence.]
White[gc]
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Comment[\(23-N17\) In the upper left, Black has captured 12 points, while White has gained outside influence \(thickness\). \(The 12 points may increase before the end of the game, but now the increase is too small to worry about.\) Because the initial moves were all aimed at large-scale play, White's thickness will have a considerable effect, and I judge White to be ahead. If I had it to do over, I would play either move 7 or 9 at K16.
The future play will be a contest to determine the exact value of White's thickness. The value of thickness is largely determined by the presence or absence of weak, attackable groups. If Black plays too close to the upper left, say at K16, White will start a vigourous attack \(N16 is a possible move\), and will be able to take a lot of territory while Black is busy defending. On the other hand, If Black ignores the upper side and plays at Q5 or some such point, White will play around O16 and Black will have no choice but to invade White's framework \(moyo\) -- producing a weak group.
\[One reader suggested a play on the fourth line at N16, rather than N17. That is at least as good. J.\]]
Black[mc]
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Comment[\(24-N4\) Threatens to play at Q5, enclosing black's corner. If black answers in the corner, then white can consider it a forcing move. However, it does give black a lot of territory. On the other hand, black's aim was not to enclose the corner, and if white does not play here, then black may play at M4, enclosing the corner on a large scale \(or inviting white to invade and be attacked.\)]
White[mp]
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Comment[\(25-G5\) Because White's moyo is larger than Black's, Black will lose in a simple territory-surrounding contest. The proper point of reduction or invasion is a difficult problem, and I have no confidence that my play is correct. The aim of G5 is to limit White's territory while building some Black thickness. But White may counterattack, and a major fight will result.]
Black[go]
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Comment[\(26-E5\) Answering underneath would be too submissive, so white responds at E5. Playing at D6 would not put enough pressure on black.]
White[eo]
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Comment[\(27-G7\) Black runs for safety. The center area is more important than anything Black can do on the lower side.]
Black[gm]
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Comment[\(28-E8\) White attacks black while taking territory. Playing at E7 is also possible. E8 is thinner but faster. If white does not play around here, black can make eyespace while reducing the left side.]
White[el]
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Comment[\(29-G9\) "A one-point jump is never wrong." Go sure is an easy game, isn't it? ;-\)]
Black[gk]
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Comment[\(30-H8\) A forcing move to make black heavy.]
White[hl]
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Comment[\(31-G8\) I considered various moves to resist White's forcing move, such as F7, F8, F9, E7, E9, etc., but they strengthen White more then Black. The simple connection leaves White's weaknesses intact. ]
Black[gl]
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Comment[\(32-H6\) Another forcing move.]
White[hn]
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Comment[\(33-G6\) Again, Black lets himself be pushed around, awaiting his chance to counterattack.]
Black[gn]
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Comment[\(34-E9\) Protects against the attachment at E7 or E9 \(probably followed by a white hane underneath, then a black cross-cut\).]
White[ek]
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Comment[\(35-J8\) The clamp \(hasami-tsuke\) is a remarkably effective way to strengthen one's stones. Sometimes it becomes a sacrifice to make eye shape, but in this position, White cannot even disconnect the stone.
I was tempted to ignore the center and play on the right side. However, my 5 stones in the center would then come under severe attack. The strength White gained in the attack would permit him to effectively destroy any area I had built up on the right. Black strength in the center does more to affect the right side than any single move along the side itself. It also limits White's upper side.]
Black[il]
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Comment[\(36-D14\) White seals off the left side in sente, to get the maximum amount of territory.]
White[df]
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Comment[\(37-B18\) Black cannot escape the blockade. Black can reduce white's territory a little by playing moves such as C14, but he will still end up in gote, and white will still have sente moves on the upper side. Further, white will become stronger on the lower side. It is difficult to decide whether reducing white's territory a bit more is worth these disadvantages.]
Black[bb]
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Comment[\(38-B15\) Finishes sealing off the upper side.]
White[be]
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Comment[\(39-A17\) Black must continue to play submissively -- further evidence of the effectiveness of White's sacrifice of 3 stones.]
Black[ac]
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Comment[\(40-K8\) Sacrificing the forcing stones. I considered playing in the lower right corner, but the problem is that black may be able to form a large moyo in the upper right. Similarly, playing in the upper right allows black to make territory along the right while attacking. It seems preferable to continue attacking the black stones to build up some thickness. Black cannot take all the territory on the right with one move anyway.]
White[jl]
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Comment[\(41-J9\) I would have preferred to fight back with K7 or K9, but I couldn't find a good variation.]
Black[ik]
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Comment[\(42-R14\) Time to do something about black's right side. Other possibilities are Q-5, and the cap at P-9. ]
White[qf]
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Comment[\(43-R16\) Prevents White from getting a base in the corner. Either R15 or S15 would be a stronger attack, but leave more weaknesses in the corner.]
Black[qd]
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Comment[\(44-R11\) Makes some eyespace for white.]
White[qi]
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Comment[\(45-Q5\) Enclosing the corner does not definitely surround the side, but while White has unsettled stones above as well as to the left, he will find it dangerous to invade. If White were allowed to play here, the Black stones would be the ones under attack.]
Black[po]
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Comment[\(46-P11\) White reinforces his weakest group. Although the group cannot be killed, if black attacks it he will have the initiative.]
White[oi]
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Comment[\(47-N2\) Undercutting the eye space of White's group. I cannot get much direct territory by attacking in this area, but I hope to solidify the lower right side and, if things go well, build strength for an attack on the upper White group. Then I can build territory on the upper side and center.]
Black[mr]
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Comment[\(48-R7\) White needs to start a fight. This will make things more confused, and hopefully in the confusion, the issue will be thrown in doubt.]
White[qm]
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Comment[\(49-Q8\) Simultaneously running for safety and attacking White. A play at P9 would allow White to connect with S9.]
Black[pl]
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Comment[\(50-R4\) The vital point of this shape.]
White[qp]
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Comment[\(51-Q4\) If BR5, WQ4, BP4, WR3, White will live in the corner. Since White will live no matter what, Black tries to become as strong as possible on the outside, by eliminating any cutting points.]
Black[pp]
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Comment[\(52-R3\) Going into the corner to make shape. Unfortunately, black has responded calmly to white's invasion, building thickness. White's overall thinness is becoming apparent, and I think black has a clear lead now. \[That's nice to hear, but I don't think the situation so clear. J.B.\]]
White[qq]
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Comment[\(53-R5\) To seal White into the corner.]
Black[qo]
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Comment[\(54 to 62\) White expands his territory and eye space to the maximum, while Black keeps him sealed in.]
White[ro]
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Black[rn]
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White[rp]
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Black[qn]
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White[pr]
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Black[or]
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White[rr]
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Black[ps]
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White[qr]
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Comment[\(63-J3\) Now that Black is strong on the right, White will find it difficult here. I probably won't be able to capture the White stones, but I expect to surround some territory on the lower side and a larger portion on the upper side and center as a by-product of this attack.]
Black[iq]
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Comment[\(64-K6\) Connecting his stones, trying to make some eye shape.
Although many feel that the invasion of the right corner was bad, actually the situation for white was unfavorable before this. When black played at N2, he was essentially starting the large endgame. I did not think I could win the yose, so I decided to try something different.]
White[jn]
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Comment[\(65-K9\) The key point in the center. It builds black thickness, while keeping White surrounded and separated.]
Black[jk]
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Comment[\(66-H4\) Black's last move and a play around here are a little like miai.]
White[hp]
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Comment[\(67-C3\) A probe to test White's reaction.]
Black[cq]
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Comment[\(68-C4\) White should block on the other side, keeping black's stones separated. However, then the territories would not be close enough for white to win.]
White[cp]
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Comment[\(69-K3\) Saving the stone removes a potential eye for White, while taking some territory.]
Black[jq]
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Comment[\(70-H3\) Harrassing the 2 Black stones, while threatening to connect to the left side.]
White[hq]
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Comment[\(71-J4\) Aiming to cut off part of the White group.]
Black[ip]
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Comment[\(72-H5\) Saving some of the stones.]
White[ho]
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Comment[\(73-L4\) Cuts off the stone at N4.]
Black[kp]
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Comment[\(74-K5\) Connects the stone in atari.]
White[jo]
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Comment[\(75-M4\) Black must not be too greedy, because of the cutting point at
L3. As just one example, if BM5, WM6, BN6, WL3, Black must give up
something. On the other hand, connecting at L3 will become redundant
if Black later surrounds territory. \[On second thought, see move 77.\]]
Black[lp]
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Comment[\(76-M6\) A reducing move.]
White[ln]
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Comment[\(77-N5\) Black has too many cutting points to counterattack. I now wish I had played 75 at L3, in which case I would now cut off White's connection to the left rather than defending myself. My original reasoning was that Black M4 is the diagram is better placed than a stone at L3 would be. But if L3 prevents White M6, that is better yet.]
Black[mo]
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Comment[\(78-D3\) Takes the corner and firms up white's connection.]
White[dq]
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Comment[\(79-P14\) Following the exchange on the lower side, Black is about 15-20 points behind in territory, including the komi. I hope to make up the difference while keeping White busy defending his weak group.]
Black[of]
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Comment[\(80-N11\) I don't think Black is behind. In any case, White must defend his group. Jumping out applies a little pressure to the black group, but leaves behind the potential for black to make some profit on the right.]
White[mi]
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Comment[\(81-Q12\) I gave serious consideration to L11, to strengthen my center group while encircling White. But White would then defend at Q13 or some such point, and be safe. His overall thickness \(strength\) should then give him the win. Hence I go for some profit on the right, and will worry about the center later. \(If White had played at Q13 instead of N11, I would have been satisfied to play at N11 myself, and try for some center or upper-side territory.\)
We are both playing somewhat riskily here, based on our estimations of the prospects. Regardless of one's evaluation of the chances, the position is a critical one, and the outcome is quite unclear.]
Black[ph]
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Comment[\(82-Q11\) Without the stone at Q8, white would normally resist by playing at R12. However, in this case black would play at Q11, then white Q10, then black P12, making miai of cutting at R10 or P10. Without the black stone at Q8, white could connect at R10 and then capture a cutting stone at P10.
White might also consider resisting at R10, but the black stones Around R9 are too solid for this to have much effect on black.
Another option is to just attack the black group, but that would leave behind the aji of the cut, so white would have a hard time trying to make enough profit to compensate for the cut.]
White[pi]
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Comment[\(83-S12\) If Black cuts with R12, white S12, black S13, white S11, black R13, he gets very bad shape. After S12, black still gets some profit while white's group remains unsettled.]
Black[rh]
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Comment[\(84-R12\) To connect up his stones.]
White[qh]
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Comment[\(85-S13\) Continuing to undercut White's eye space.]
Black[rg]
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Comment[\(86-N6\) A forcing move. This also helps white's group indirectly; however, black may ignore the forcing move. Connecting at R13 is a big move, but may be gote.]
White[mn]
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Comment[\(87-O10\) If Black answers N6, White gets something for nothing. This way, White gets more, but at the cost of a move.]
Black[nj]
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Comment[\(88-N10\) We're both resisting each other's forcing moves and leaving things hanging.]
White[mj]
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Comment[\(89-N9\) If black cuts with O11, WO12, BN12, then White will give up his 5 stones on the right and build thickness in the center. Then the game would depend on whether Black could save his center stones. I don't think it's a good bet. N9 aims to keep the entire White group surrounded and weak, so that Black's center group is relatively stronger.]
Black[mk]
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Comment[\(90-M9\) Since white has resisted the peep, he must hane here to be consistent.]
White[lk]
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Comment[\(91-M8\) Blocking White's connection.]
Black[ll]
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Comment[\(92-L8\) Blocking Black, in turn.]
White[kl]
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Comment[\(93-L9\) Black must cut.]
Black[kk]
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Comment[\(94-M10\) White must connect.]
White[lj]
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Comment[\(95-O8\) Now both sides have a group floating without eyes. But it's White's move, so he has the advantage in the fight.]
Black[nl]
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Comment[\(96-L12\) White must attack before connecting \(around O11\) If white connects first, then his whole group will come under attack. If white attacks black first instead, then he may have time to connect later, and the pressure will be on black instead of vice versa.
If black can find time to cut and still live, white will lose.]
White[kh]
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Comment[\(97-K12\) An attachment usually strengthens both sides. In the current position, Black's center group is weaker than White's, because White's position on the upper left is stronger than Black's on the upper right. Hence mutual strengthening can be expected to favor Black.]
Black[jh]
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Comment[\(98-K13\) White has to hane, even though this strengthens black.]
White[jg]
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Comment[\(99-L13\) If Black simply allows himself to be pushed to the left \(i.e., plays at J12 or J13\), White will surround him and make enough territory to win even if Black makes two eyes. The cut creates a more-or-less even fight.]
Black[kg]
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Comment[\(100-M12\) A usual move in a cutting fight -- extend the cutting stone. Even if white didn't extend, the stone cannot be cut off, but this would give black too many options.]
White[lh]
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Comment[\(101-L14\) Also strengthening a cutting stone. This helps Black's center group indirectly, by threatening White's group and also the stone at K13. If both big groups live, then L14 will be an important territorial point. And I don't think White can kill my group....]
Black[kf]
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Comment[\(102-K11\) Whatever happens, white must give atari here and try to push through. Letting black connect here would make things too easy.]
White[ji]
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Black[ih]
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Comment[\(104-J11\) Keeping black separated.]
White[ii]
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Comment[\(105-H11\) My position will be cut no matter what I do, so I attempt to prevent White from connecting to the left.]
Black[hi]
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Comment[\(106-H12\) Continuing to cut.]
White[hh]
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Comment[\(107-J13\) Preserving the cutting stones.]
Black[ig]
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Comment[\(108-H10\) Cutting....]
White[hj]
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Comment[\(109-G11\) Resisting....]
Black[gi]
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Comment[\(110-G10\) Cutting....]
White[gj]
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Comment[\(111-L11\) The only move to prevent White from connecting his main group. I'm not sure if it works; I have read only far enough to be confident that no other move is better that resigning. \(F10 has perhaps the most interesting refutation.\) If I lose the fight, move 101-L14 was perhaps the fatal mistake -- J12 would have been much safer.]
Black[ki]
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Comment[\(112-F11\) Captures the stones at H11 and G11 in a ladder. Jonathan's comment about F10 probably refers to the fact that a stone at F10 does not break the ladder, because white can squeeze, giving up F11, and keep on laddering.]
White[fi]
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Comment[\(113-L10\) Now both sides have a group that is without eyes. One of them will die.]
Black[kj]
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Comment[\(114-O9\) White cannot play at H9 yet, because of not enough liberties. This connection increases his liberties.]
White[ni]
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Comment[\(115-H9\) Likewise, Black increases his liberties.]
Black[hk]
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Comment[\(116-G12\) Threatens to pull out K13.
Black resigns. If Black K14, then White R13 puts White one liberty ahead.
Incidentally, as an overall comment on the game, black was ahead for almost the entire game. Jonathan made a slip near the end (he commented that the move might be the losing move) which indeed it was. White was lucky to win the game.
Another comment is that the joseki in the top left corner is not really a joseki, because of the distance of white's pincer. I think Jonathan could have counterattacked and ended up with a favorable result for black.]
