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Move 31 - Game 1
Difficulty: Advanced
Keywords: Problem, Opening
Here is a position to discuss
If this helps you may look at the final position of the game:
Move31game1Final
Let's have a look at the current position and try to determine secure territories, moyos, influence, strong and weak groups.
The territory boundaries are marked with a circle. White has 12 points at the bottom, 7 points on the right (not 100% sure about that), and 13 points at the top. This makes a total of 32 points. Black has 18 points at the bottom and 4 points at the top. That makes a total of 22 points. Adding komi (5.5 for White) black is behind (32+5.5 - 22) = 15.5 points. That means if he can make 15 points on the left side (where he has this large framework, which is not 100% secure territory yet) he is even.
Having a look at the strong & weak groups and room for extension we can identify follwoing groups an areas: The weak groups are marked with circles. Currently I only identify the stones at the right hand side as weak. Note that the fight on this side directly influences how much territory black gets at the top and how much territory white gets at the right. Room for expansion is primarily the area at 'a'. Playing here is very large for both sides. Note that there are follow up plays as well, which threaten territory and moyos of each side. Plays around 'b' are big as well, but not as urgent. Both sides have stones at the 3rd line, so this area is secure for the time being, a play there being a gote play for whoever plays there.
Finally, the double sente play at 'c'. Which again threatens territories of both sides.
So where does this leave us? As it is black's turn to play he could sacrifice his weak stones at the right (giving white an extra 15 points) expanding his corner territory in the process (maybe by 8 points). White would gain about 8 points in the process, but Black keeps sente. The black should immediatly play in the area around 'a' expanding his moyo (and turning part of it into secure territory), while denying white the possibility to expand her bottom territory. The question is of course: what's more urgent? Defending the weak stones, or expanding along the border of two moyos? --Arno, 1d Moved Bill's interesting idea to WaveFrontAnalysis --Arno Bill: I was curious about the results, which were something of a surprise. ;-) However, it did bolster my belief that the right side is urgent. Where to play is another question! ;-) Difficult.
DaveSigaty: I also think the right side is urgent. B would like to cut off the two top stones but can not do so immediately. After 2 W connects whether B continues at 3 or 5. B can connect to the marked stone but his top right corner is exposed and his initial play at 1 has been wasted.
How about this 1? Strategically the goal is to block W's connection, aiming to cut through at 2. At the same time, it threatens to connect underneath to the marked stone. I think that W pretty much has to answer around 2 so B gets to play 3. How should W respond?
Bill: I also thought about pushing through with B 1 (next).
If W 2 connects, then B 3, I think. :-) Capturing W 2, as above, is premature. As Dave points out, it weakens the marked Black stone and B 1.
After B 1, possibility is that White will lean on Black's corner group.
But Black still comes out OK, it seems.
This is plainly bad for White. So, backing up:
W 2 escapes at the expense of the marked stone. After B 3 maybe White needs to protect with W 4.
B 1 is interesting. :-) But now, as White, I think I would shift to the shoulder blow of W 2, hoping that in the subsequent fight on the right I can make B 1 inefficient. W 2 and 4 work with the marked White stones.
This is a copy of the living page "Move 31 - Game 1" at Sensei's Library. (C) the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0. |