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TeachingGame22
PageType: OngoingGame    

A TeachingGame between Scartol and JamesA.

[Diagram]
Diag.: Moves 51-60


JamesA: W51: Ok, you were probably expecting the cut so I will play it. Let's see what tricks you can come up with here.

The last few moves have passed without comment - once this fight is concluded (probably still quite a few more moves!) we'll do some analysis.

Scartol B52: I'm willing to admit that I don't have as much of a plan as I wish I did. I figure if nothing else, I can push and claw and scratch my way into the north here and do some damage.

JamesA: W53: I'm happy to do what I'm told here. Did you read out some variations before playing B50? If so, what did you see and are things going according to plan?

Take your time over your next move, I'm away until 12th July.

Scartol: I did, and this is basically what I envisioned -- you cutting me off, me barrelling into the top. I figured that even if I couldn't rescue the stones on the right, I could use them as a decoy as I pushed in.. It's worked in the past for me; sometimes I can cause enough collateral damage to offset the loss of the five or so stones..

JamesA: Good, That's the right kind of way to use the hasami. Let's see how much damage you can do here though!

Scartol: I've had plenty of practice lately with using stones I'm going to lose anyway.. <g> Let's make things interresting with B56.

JamesA: Had to think a bit about W57... It looks natural though and I couldn't find a way for black to punish it. Let's see what you have come up with.

Scartol B58: I guess I should save the cutting stone and extend..

JamesA: W59 - the question is: can you save the cutting stone? My move indicates what I think the answer is but what does your reading tell you?

Scartol: Yeah, I think I can make it useful.. I don't have a plan for what happens after 7 here, but it seems like I can cause some kind of trouble, which will help.

[Diagram]
Diag.: Saving the cut


[Diagram]
Diag.: Moves 41-50


JamesA: OK, W41 - I'll see what can be done with that lonely white stone. I'm just wondering why the top right corner went so wrong for black - I think the answer probably lies in the aji that remained when black answered W21 at B22. It is very rare for a contact move like to W21 to go unanswered, except perhaps where it is a ko threat. The reason is that whoever plays first in a contact fight will gain a large advantage locally, and to leave two stones in contact means a lot of aji will remain.

I would like to say a little about answering W21 as you didn't appear to consider the usual responses to this kind of move.

[Diagram]
Diag.: Black response 1


This is probably the standard aggressive response. White has to think carefully about what to do next.

[Diagram]
Diag.: Black response 1(a)

If white extends then he becomes a little heavy. Black can then play at 3 to undermine white. If white then plays at 'a', black can attack strongly (due to B3) by playing at 'b'. Alternatively black could just play 3 at 'a'.


[Diagram]
Diag.: Black response 1(b)

Perhaps white might crosscut with W2 here. I think B3 after this puts white in a very difficult position - if white plays at 'a' black can simply extend at 'b' and white is in trouble.


[Diagram]
Diag.: Black response 1(c)

If white plays under with 2, B3 seems fine. If white extends with W4, B5 gives black a good position.


[Diagram]
Diag.: Black response 1(ci)

White will more likely extend with 4, then live in the corner. Of course, this result is excellent for black - his thickness is enormous. White's profit is small.


[Diagram]
Diag.: Black response 2

The other main responses for black would be 'a' and 'b'. 'c' is usually too submissive (black gains almost nothing and white gets some useful aji - a straight gain for white). Have a think through white's responses to 'a' and 'b' - black should always be able to get a good position.


To summarise, black should be very careful about ignoring a contact move like W21 - your instinct should be to answer with one of the moves above. Only play away if you have a very good reason to!

Scartol: The short answer is: My mind wasn't on the game. I probably responded to W21 while I was at school, after an insane day of insane 13 year olds, before I tackled a mountain of essays. I probably looked at the board quickly, panicked when I saw the corner getting crunched, and played the first move that looked right. I know I'm supposed to hane when someone attaches to me -- I just wasn't thinking.

As for B42, I'm very worried about losing the marked stone. But I feel like I still have options if white decides to try and surround it. Keeping the lone white stone trapped seems more urgent.

JamesA: Hmmm, actually we discussed B22 - or at least you came up with some possible lines. What worried me was that the hane was not even one of the options you considered - it should be automatic. Please don't play moves without thinking them through - this is a teaching game and I would like you to make sure you are trying your best. I am a lawyer and also very busy but I do not play moves without first reading the board!

Scartol B44: Hmm. Maybe I don't have as many options as I thought..

JamesA: W45 - let's see where this leads. Of course, I have to connect here.

Scartol B46: I feel somewhat desperate here, I'm willing to admit it. But I also feel like something should come of this..

JamesA W49: I really feel I'm starting to get the hang of knight jumps now!

Scartol B50: Maybe this will help, maybe it'll only make things worse..


TeachingGame22Moves21Thru40

TeachingGame22Moves1Thru20



This is a copy of the living page "TeachingGame22" at Sensei's Library.
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