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StrangeThingsHapp...
SomeEndgameProblem2
PGB221

 

Stupid Moves
  Difficulty: Beginner   Keywords: Tactics

Have fun with some blunders here.

Number 1.

[Diagram]
Diag.: Winning against the wrong group

A group with an eye wins a semeai (race for liberties) against a group without an eye but loses it against a group with two eyes. White 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. Instead of trying to defend two stones, which are not directly relevant for the semeai, White should just start reducing Black's liberties straight away. Black will capture the stones but arrive too late to save the corner.
White can of course choose to play the ko (after Black 5), but it is probably not favourable.


[Diagram]
Diag.: Black kills if White misreads

Black can try this to kill White. If White misreads the position, playing 2 is suicide. (White can resist with 6 at 3, but Black a, White b at 1 and Black c wins the semeai.)

But of course, White should never respond to Black 1 with 2, but play at 3 and make the group live. Black will then play a to make two eyes for the black group in gote. Similarly, if Black plays 1 at 3, White should respond at 1, and will win the semeai. -- Morten Pahle (10k)



[Diagram]
Diag.: Black makes ko

Black does not choose to live gently (i.e. thinking of winning the ko) and then throws in at 1 and 3 before playing 5. White is now behind in the fight with no internal ko threats. -- Dave Sigaty



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. The 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 the marked stone and plays 1. White continues with 2, so 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.: Small typical 5k mistake

Amazing how often this happens on my level (5k* IGS). White 2 is a mistake. After the correct answer at a Black 1 is in 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.: 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 why yourself. :)



This is a copy of the living page "Stupid Moves" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2003 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.