BQM 326

    Keywords: Question

Could someone please explain how to handle the following position.

I reached this position with Black in a recent game on kgs and thought that it would be a very easy win for black given that white won't make much more then 40 points in this game and has to handle a lot of weak stones - but I managed to lose it...

So was I too optimistic and if not what is the proper plan for black here (the marked stone is the last move from white)?

[Diagram]
Black to play  




fractic : I'm only 11k but here is my take

[Diagram]
Black to play  

fractic: Whites territory on the left and bottom can be trimmed down with the circled points so i don't really see much use in keeping up the attack in this direction and build up a wall facing down since the terriotry white will make there isn't that big. And you can't make any yourself there

So why not play something like B1 to maximize your own territory?


[Diagram]
1) Optimistic?  

Dieter: You had two questions. 1) Were you overly optimistic? White indeed has 40 points of secure territory, but she has indeed two weak groups, while you are strong overall and have a lot of potential for development. So I would say Black has the advantage. But you're not at the point yet of having an easy win: White's groups are not dead and you have hardly any secure territory.

iff: So you are saying I was too optimistic - better position yes but no easy win. But I've heard strong players say that the number of weak groups you have to handle should never exceed 1 - and white has 2 here ... plus the strength that black has - all this is still not a won game (for a better player than myself of course :-)?

Dieter: Moreover, I want to point out a weakness and an oddity in your position. The oddity is the marked stone: it's an endgame move as if both groups were clearly alive. White's group is not and a-b-c would give her an eye for free.

iff: I played the marked black stone many moves before, expecting white to answer it with the idea of making a little bit if profit while retaining sente - but white ignored it at the time ... I guess should kick the habit of making yose-moves in the early middle-game ...

Dieter: Now for the weakness:

[Diagram]
Weakness  

This sequence cuts off a Black group, disturbing the balance of power. The situation is not at all problematic but it's aji to be careful with.

pwaldron: I don't understand this. Playing B2 at a would preserve a connection if Black desperately needs it. If White blocks and connects, the hane at b on top still preserves shape. Black loses a few points, but if White gets strong enough for W1 to be a serious move Black has to expect to lose point somewhere.

[Diagram]
2) How to play  

My eye lurks at the shape point a, but in all fairness I'm not sure that I can attack White conveniently. So why not invade at B1, and postpone the attack until after the exchange up to W10?

iff: I played a in the game - my basic idea was to drive the upper white group towards the lower white group, making profit at the right with the further idea of launching a splitting attack agains the two white groups when they would be closer to each other (making a splitting attack more severe) - is that completely outlandish thinking?


[Diagram]
Immediate attack  

Bill: I like Dieter's suggestion, although I am not sure that White's play is best in the variation given. The immediate attack with B1 looks good, but it forces White out, rather than towards Black's wall. After, say, W2 - W8 it is not clear how Black should continue nor what he has gained. This attack would be much better if Black had already built up thickness on the bottom side, as in Dieter's variation.

[Diagram]
Immediate attack, var. 2  

Bill: This attack look better, but I still like Dieter's play.



BQM 326 last edited by Dieter on July 5, 2008 - 12:48
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