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StrangeThingsHapp...
SomeEndgameProblem2
PGB221

 

Stupid Moves
  Difficulty: Beginner   Keywords: Tactics

Have fun with some blunders here.

Number 1.

[Diagram]
Diag.: A group with an eye wins a semeai against a group without an eye but loses it against a group with two eyes.

2 was definitely a mistake here. White had some possibilities for ko too, but some persistence...

-- Holigor


[Diagram]
Diag.: White lives but loses two stones.

The problem here seems to be that white wants it all. In stead of trying to defend two stones, which are not directly relevant for the semeai, she should just start reducing blacks liberties straight away. Black will capture the stones but arrive too late to save the corner.
If white wants to play the ko, she can of course choose to do so (after black 5), but it is probably not in her favour.


[Diagram]
Diag.: Black kills if white misreads.

If black wants to kill white, he can try this. If white misreads the position and plays 2, she will die. (White can resist with 6 at 3, but black 'a', white 'b' at 1 and black 'c' wins the semeai.)

But ofcourse, white should never respond to black 1 with 2, but play at 3 and make her group live. Black will then play 'a' to make two eyes for his own group in gote. Similarly, if black plays 1 at 3, white should respond at 1, and she will win the semeai.

-- MortenPahle (10k)



[Diagram]
Diag.: Black Ko

Assuming that B does not choose to live gently (i.e. thinks that he can win the ko) then he throws in at 1 and 3 before playing 5. W is now behind in the fight with no internal ko threats.

-- DaveSigaty



Number 2.

[Diagram]
Diag.: A very small endgame mistake.

Strange thing but White 2 happened in one of my games recently. I was so glad. Correct move is to capture at 'a'.

-- HolIgor



Number 3.

[Diagram]
Diag.: A wasted move.

This happens quite often with weaker players. Black decides to save marked stone and plays 1. White continues with 2 and 1 becomes a totally wasted move. Correct moves are at 'a' or 3 depending on the situation. Black has sente in this corner then. -- HolIgor



Number 4.

[Diagram]
Diag.: Amazing how often this happens on my level (5k* IGS)

White 2 is a mistake. After the correct answer at 'a' Black 1 is under atari. It is small but several small things like this and you've lost the game.

-- HolIgor



Number 5.

[Diagram]
Diag.: What a silly move 2 is!

[Diagram]
Diag.: This way it would have been much more fun!

[Diagram]
Diag.: Continuing. 5 at 2. Can white kill or is there a ko in the corner?


Number 6.

[Diagram]
Diag.: On IGS a 9-stone handicap game

Definitely I'm not black! I just decided to test black...


[Diagram]
Diag.: On IGS a 9-stone handicap game (continued)

...and when I played 7, he said "Wow!". Black 2 and 4 are wrong moves, I guess you can figure out yourself. :)



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