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New Year's Rengo 2002
    Keywords: People

Make your move in the SL New Year's rengo for 2002!

Make your play on main board and circle it (unmarking the previous play). Also, make your play on the numbered board, and leave a brief note identifying yourself and your play. Every 10 moves we have to start a new numbered board.

For how it's done, see Ongoing Game. Enjoy!

[Diagram]
Diag.: New Year's Rengo 2002

[Diagram]
Diag.: New Year's Rengo 2002 (31 - 40)

DaveSigaty: W34 I don't see anything more inventive at the moment. W is thin both on the left and at the top.
JoeSeki: B33. Looks like black needs the start of a base here, even though it's open on the bottom edge. It should be good for one eye in the future (not really sure). While undermining whites stones along the left side. The center still seems open to us for escape if necessary, and if white cuts that off, I think he runs us into the group above us weakening it.

dnerra: W32. I thought about 'a' as an alternative, but ended up choosing the normal move.
DaveSigaty: B31: The standard reply


[Diagram]
Diag.: New Year's Rengo 2002 (21 - 30)

DJ W30 I'm not sure I understand you, HolIgor!... ;-)
Anyway, here's a solid, base-attacking, territory-making hell of a move! (Just boasting.... ;-))) )

HolIgor: To make things moving let me play black here as the Ongoing game 2 approaches to its logical finish. I will be black here. Please, report if anybody wants to help me. As the play tends to stop from time to time let us chose two dummies for the game. One for white and one for black. It would be better if the strength of these players were not very different. The dummies are incouraged to do any move they like if there is no contribution from other players in 48 hours. The moves by dummies can be retracted by any of the players but before the next move by the player of the same color. I can be a dummy for black.

AvatarDJFlux W28: Stymulus, response, stymulus, response...
Life's all here.

JamesA: B27 - let's see how white reacts to this...

Nonny: (exhorting): Calling all players for black back to this game, please!

HolIgor (commenting): In my opinion two most remarkable features of the positon are weakness of the white group at the top and thinness of the black stone on the right side. If black could combine an attack at the top with some thickness at the right then black would be doing alright.

dnerra: Let's have a look at e. One possibility is the sequence:


[Diagram]
Diag.: -------------

And white gets an extension similar to the one you mentioned. If Black does not like that (I wouldn't!), he can instead of B2 play at -- well, I'd say at 3. B4 instead would, I think, lead to the same result as in the diagram after W cross-cuts at 3.

Nonny: Locally, b looks best to me. This game is very low--there are so few stones above the third line thus far. Also, d seems a line too high for white here--g aims at an incursion into black's moyo and there is no black response that doesn't overconcentrate black without strengthening white. White f certainly is possible but to what effect? The thought of starting with the probe at e is quite interesting. Then, f or thereabouts as an extension makes sense later. However, who says that Black will block the corner at h? It seems equally likely that Black will attach at i and after the corner is decided, make a one space jump out to j.

dnerra: W 26. Locally, what is best -- W26, a, b or c? What is bigger, W26 or d? Is e a good probe, or is it aji keshi? Is W f an option? So many questions, I don't know any answer, a good reason just to pick a move :)

Nonny: B25. Compare white here.

IronChefSakai: B23- I couldn't stand it, that move was just nagging me. I didn't want to lose Sente, and it seems like a big play. I think it is good to avoid contact plays this early on.

AvatarDJFlux W22 All Ye White Players! Please forgive me!
I've never been able to resist temptations, and I wanted to see this move on the board...

Of course, It may as well be the wrong kikashi at the wrong time...

DaveSigaty: B21 accepting the corner. I think that W has to settle too many areas to be happy here.


[Diagram]
Diag.: New Year's Rengo 2002 (11 - 20)

HolIgor: The game reached an interesting stage when black should decide if giving white the upper left corner is a good idea. Or if taking that corner with small life is better. It is not clear also if black agrees to tollerate white's move to the left of 'z'. Personally I would give the UL corner to white. But how? A simple jump to the center? Or maybe tsuke one point bellow 10? Or kata at 'y'?

dnerra: W20 -- we are not getting nervous about the lower right group, are we? :-)

JamesA: I don't think 17 should have been played at the bottom. Black and white have stones on the third line here making it hard for either to make much territory. How would 17 have been played as wariuchi one point to the left of 18? Or should 17 have been played in the top left to prevent a white framework here? Also, I can't help but feel that black 11 would be better placed on the fourth line somewhere, or even at 'z'.

MikeNoGo B19: Mokuhazushi looks like a good place to start an invasion of the upper left.

AvatarDJFlux B18: Well well well... I'll follow the proverb: "Big points before urgent ones"! (Oops.. or was it the other way round?!?)
Question: Couldn't W16 have been better a line lower (on the hoshi)?

MikeNoGo : Despite your kind invitation, I decided to play an Oogeima on the star point. I think it's a nice extension for the black group on the bottom and being on the 4th line gives a nice influence towards the center, for what it's worth.

Bill: Well, for one thing, it prevents a White extension at d, aiming at Black's weakness in the corner. :-)

dnerra: W16 -- cordially inviting Black into the upper left corner :-).

JamesA: Black 15 looks essential to me; it makes the black group safe, takes the corner territory, and most importantly weakens the white group above. I think white is starting to get into a difficult position....

Bill: W 14 is perhaps premature, as it eliminates the possibility of the crosscut at c or the nidanbane at 15. However, it may be considered a probe to see Black's response. White was willing to throw her two marked stones away, if need be. In that case, the exchange of W 12 and 14 for B 13 and 15 is no problem. After B 15 Black has weaknesses between his 2 squared stones.

HolIgor: Black has a handful of suitable moves in the lower right corner. The quesition is, however, if white would reply? Just to remind the players that the clock is ticking.

AvatarDJFlux: Hear, hear! Black players, where art thou??!?

AvatarDJFlux W14: At this point is there any other move? By the way, I've read in some joseki books that B3 is slack and not considered joseki: B should have played 3 at 4...

It is also true that B has played both B11 AND the squared stone! ;-)

Bill: Without the extension of B 11, joseki is for Black to answer W 12 with B 14 and connect to the circled stone while sacrificing the left-most squared stone. Doing so after B 11 would make B 11 inefficient. Unkx80's hane at B 13 is correct. :-)

TakeNGive: Having already chosen a sub-optimal move for Black, I won't do it; but my temptation is to put Black 15 at 'a' since it looks like a juicy spot for White to cause trouble. But I don't like being so thoroughly in gote. Is 'b' playable?

JamesA: I think black should play at 'c', if he plays in this area (which I think he probably should...).


[Diagram]
Diag.: New Year's Rengo 2002 (diagram with previous comments)

JamesA: I just wanted to know people's opinion on a question that arose earlier. If black 9 had been played in the top left corner to prevent a shimari, as I understood the dan players to be suggesting, would it be good for white to play around the middle star point at the bottom, threatening to create a development in the bottom right similar to the diagram entitled 'better for white? Or should white play a move in the top left?

(JamesA added a new page - Opening in New Years Rengo - to analyze this question in more depth. --DaveSigaty)


Bill: Your question is hard to answer in general terms. If B 9 is a kakari in the top left corner, whether the 3-3, komoku, or takamoku, White may or may not reply.

As a rule, the extension on a side is not as good as keeping Black separated in the bottom right corner. However, if Black does connect and White makes a wall, that wall would work well with the extension on the side. It's an interesting idea, a good example of whole board thinking?. :-)

OC, you should expect that Black will not make that response. ;-)

[Diagram]
Diag.: White extension

This looks like a typical development.


unkx80 (B13): I made a move, finally. :-)

Bill (W 12): I don't think this is a bad time for this play. :-)

JamesA: Isn't Black 11 too easy on white? Black has already made a stable position on the lower side and I think a strong attack should be made on the two white stones. I think white can force with a and b (in diagram 'A') before playing in the top left to make a second shimari. Won't this be fine for white?. I think black should have played at c, white d, then at e to build a large framework whilst attacking. Thoughts from the dan players?

Bill: If B c - W d is heavy. Better to tenuki. :-)

Besides, White still has f for easy sabaki.

B 9 and 11 both give White some elbow room.

[Diagram]
Diag.: Diagram A

TakeNGive (10k): Black 11; considered 'a' through 'd' before choosing 11, which seems patient. There's still aji in the corner for White, but i think Black can profitably harass the two floating stones. (Maybe better at 'e'?)


[Diagram]
Diag.: Diagram B

Bill: If, mindful of the weakness at a if he plays at 2, Black threatens to connect with B 1, I think that W 2 - B 3 is a nice touch. Black can still connect, but has to do so at b. :-)

Also, White later has the possibility of W c followed by W b, making light shape.


[Diagram]
Diag.: New Year's Rengo 2002 (1 - 10)


HolIgor: A funny situation develops in the lower left corner. It is very much like a known joseki, but white is one move behind the schedule. It is known that at the moment white would like to play 'b'. Will black prevent this possilibility playing there or at any point nearby? Or will black take a big point elsewhere and allow white to return to the joseki pattern? Hoshi point in the middle of the right side is a natural extension from shimari in the top corner and at the same time it supports 7.

Bill: When would White like to play at b? After W 10? Which diagram? Do you mean the shimari in the top left corner? How about W f or g? :-)

AvatarDJFlux, W 10: well, after having read Dave's extensive analysis it looks to me as if White has already a steep uphill game... ;-)

Nevertheless, I have a feeling that she has to add a stone in the LR before doing something like d in the US (the other option I fancied for move 10)

JamesA, B 9: I don't think black should attack the white stone too directly yet, I like steady moves like this. Or is it just a bad move? Any comments?

Bill: It's certainly not a bad move. :-)

But Black has a net of 2 stones in the bottom right. Is Black's position there as good as a shimari? No? Then how about preventing White's shimari in the top left?

Also, because of W 4, B 9 has limited prospects. Maybe another local play is better.

unkx80: Locally, is black 9 at a better?

Bill: The book moves are a and b, right?

JamesA: If black plays 'b' here I was worried that 'c' would become a good play for white later on. If black 'a' can't white play this:

[Diagram]
Diag.: Good for white?

... leaving black a bit too concentrated on the right side? What do people think?


[Diagram]
Diag.: Black momentum

DaveSigaty: I think that B 1 here is too good a point for W to bear. If W does not answer, B attacks the whole group with something like 'a'. If W tries to hane at 'b', B cuts immediately at 2. I think that W has no choice but to submit with 2 after which B moves out quickly with 3. While it is true that B is building from the right side, he is not over-concentrated there.

After 3, B has played two more moves than W in the lower right. If W next makes shimari in the upper left, each side will be two moves ahead in two corners and B will have sente. I think the question is whether W is better off to have played in the lower right and then tenuki'd rather than going directly for a double shimari game. Since W's position is still subject to attack around 'c' I think that W's plan would not work well here. On the other hand, I also doubt that W stands better if she uses another play at the bottom and allows B to play against the upper left first. B will then have the opportunity to choose how to best develop the right side framework.


Bill: B 5 is too good for Black. Better play for White:

[Diagram]
Diag.: Better for white

Now Black can play wariuchi on the bottom side.

Black's marked stone is a bit passive, so I think that B 1 should not be played too early in the game.

(More can be said, here, but I do not want to influence the next few plays. If there are any. ;-))


BillSpight: In the old days, games could take months. Same here. ;-)
W 8: Should White regard the left side as miai and reply in the bottom right? Maybe, but I like this shimari better than the other one. I'll rest content with having prevented a Black double shimari and threaten one of White's own. :-)

DaveSigaty: With 7 I violated the instruction to play one move since I don't think that we have 200 contributors yet! Let's make it a true New Years game.

AvatarDJFlux May I say Happy New Year everybody even if it is Jan 9th?
May I play a move in this rengo even if it is not New Year's Day anymore??
May I play a move that I think related to W's 4???


B 5: because this is what I usually play in this situation, and I want to see how sensei handle it. I'm with the Blacks. Happy SL2 to all! --Stefan


HolIgor (a presenter): There was once a statement on rec.games.go that the side that builds two shimari wins easily. The databases were searched and 4 games were found. In all 4 games the two shimari side lost. So, the urgent question of the moment is whether white would allow black to form a second shimari. Other options for white are to form a shimari of her own or to split the right side.


One mokuhazushi deserves another. W 4. --BillSpight

In consideration of all the Hikaru no Go Junkies out there I continued with the quite traditional B 3 -- DaveSigaty

Whee! I made the first move! --BlueWyvern



This is a copy of the living page "New Year's Rengo 2002" at Sensei's Library.
(C) the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.