[Welcome to Sensei's Library!]

StartingPoints
ReferenceSection
About


Referenced by
BigQuestionMark

 

BQM38
   

The following position appeared in a handicap game between me and a friend in which I gave him three stones. -BlueWyvern

[Diagram]
Diag.: Thor vs. Yombo

I think I'm a little bit ahead at this point, and decide to reduce his center. What would the best way to do this be? My attempt at a "best guess" reduction turned into a bit of a fiasco. (I feel obliged to point out that while I am writing this in a computer cluster, there is someone passed out on his keyboard next to me. :-)


[Diagram]
Diag.: Thor vs. Yombo, white screws up.

This is what actually happened. It seems like a minor disaster for White.



[Diagram]
Diag.: Thor vs. Yombo

White 1 goes so deep it seems to be asking for trouble. Finding the best move is beyond me, however. I might play a, b, c or d. Or something else.



HolIgor: At this particular moment I'd be mostly concerned with the life of the bottom group. It is a target for an enemy attack. So, my choice would be in strengthening this particular group. a tries to solve both problems, so it is most interesting.

And of course, the following moves are too big to miss.

[Diagram]
Diag.: Top first

I bet the opponent would reply.

DaveSigaty: Regarding the bottom, I agree with HolIgor that the life/eye shape of the bottom group is a question. At the same time Black's bottom right group is also not secure.


[Diagram]
Diag.: Thor vs. Yombo

Dave Should White start here? Now Black's group on the bottom does not have two eyes. If Black 2, can White play 3? If she does, I think that she needs an answer to 4. If White tries 9, Black 10 puts her on the spot.


[Diagram]
Diag.: Thor vs. Yombo

If White answers submissively with 1, etc., is it good enough? If not...


[Diagram]
Diag.: Thor vs. Yombo

Is something like this better? Dave



Dieter: White has >50 points and Black 45. But Black is far more powerful in the center. So it is time to acquire more power in the center, playing a in the earlier diagram. The territorial loss incurred, will be compensated for in the endgame. I think 1 here emphasizes the bottom, which is not interesting because open at both sides. White should delimit the center first (all this is opinion, of course).



This is a copy of the living page "BQM38" at Sensei's Library.
(C) the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.