Samsung 2012 Game 1

Moves 1 to 10  

Upper right: 4-4 Point Low Approach Low Extension. SL says that is common if White has a stone in the lower right. This is not true here.

Moves 11 to 20  

Bottom left: is a simple variation of the large avalanche joseki. At I have the impression White has command of the game. Black's bottom doesn't seem to have the potential to develop into something grand.

Moves 21 to 30  

Upper left: is a variant of a well known joseki. deviates from the usual pattern. Let's see what would happen if White followed it.

Move 28 - variation  

If Lee had played move 28 at here, then the usual pattern would flatten out Wite's position overall and the expansion of had become dame. Black could next continue with reinforcing at a or play actively at b and the flow of the game would be reversed.

Moves 31 to 40  

threatens a ladder and threatens to kill the white stones. Thanks to the white strength below, Black must connect at and White lives with . It may look painful for White to live this small, but Black is cut into two weak groups. This is of course the proper way to play in one's own sphere of influence.

Moves 41 to 50  

is a forcing move, before living at . See kikashi before living. Next is on the run and continues the attack while already keenly looking at an invasion of the bottom. Next is a perfect application of make territory while attacking. further splits the black groups. My feeling is definitely that White has full control over this game.

Moves 51 to 60  

At Lee defies the common sense that even a moron connects against a peep, because a would work next. This is the result of Lee's taking time to play in response to . Since White now loses control over the centre, perhaps was too greedy.

Moves 61 to 70  

When Black cuts at here, it is White who has two weak groups to take care of. Black too has two groups but all are running towards the right side, where Black has more control. It looks like the flow of the game has been reversed.

Moves 71 to 80  

is an instructive/awkward move. I would play instead. allows to undermine White's corner with , but ...

Moves 81 to 90  

lives in ko. Lee judgment seems to be he can leave this ko and use his sente to work on his weakest group while running havoc on Black's territory at the bottom.

Moves 91 to 100  

The temperature rises with more eyeless groups forming at the bottom.

Moves 101 to 110  

Finally, cuts through one of many ikken tobi and an exchange takes place: White connects his weak groups, while Black makes a super strong tortoise shell and controls the corner.

Moves 111 to 120  

But Black has a maneuver to live inside and with threatens to kill White's side group. White is unimpressed and cuts off Black's group with .

Moves 121 to 130 (5 at 2)  

In an amazing cascade of events makes miai of connecting at the first line with or live at .

Moves 131 to 140  

Still, Black has a ko at and the ko is so big that White captures through at the first opportunity, leading to a major exchange, because ...

Moves 141 to 150  

... while kills the right side, kills the bottom left. then finishes off the bottom right. When the dust settles, Black has one weak group left, and White will now approach the remaining corner with one eye on that weak group. For me, the game is even, which means White has benefited from the furikawari as he was under bigger pressure before.

Next, the cut at is completely counterintuitive to me. I assume it gives more leverage later but I wonder if Black cannot resist.

Moves 151 to 160  

Now this I would have played at :

Variation at 157  

Probably this is too good for White

Moves 161 to 170  

But in the game, this looks awful for Black's centre group.

Moves 171 to 180  

is as close to thickness as you can get. It obviously aims at a. Gu Li resists with and makes shape for his central group. I can't help but feeling that Black has overplayed at the top.

Moves 181 to 190  

Isn't too timid here? What would happen if is at ?

Variation at 187  

Can't Black fight back here? Is the top really that weak?