BSR 2003 W108 discussion

Critical position  

Charles Matthews When Black played in the game, a difficult position was created. The exchange / on the upper side was good for Black: was supposed to make the hane-connection here White's sente, but there is great danger now that it will be double sente instead.

Critical position  

White should certainly consider playing this way. threatens to cut, and prevents Black rescuing the two stones.

Follow-ups  

Black at a certainly now has an effect, but White at b is dangerous too. From a mutual damage point of view White should probably accept this.

More aggressive  

Dave: How about this instead?

More aggressive  

Charles I suppose might be better in the way of follow-up - it's not a classic shape. If then immediately can't be right because of . (Black can't get anything pushing along to the left?)

More aggressive  

So, here and now it seems will be sente because of a.

More aggressive 2  

Dave: Even more interesting?

More aggressive 2  

Dave: Can Black play like this? In the upper right he can exchange a for b before all the rest if that is necessary.

More aggressive 2 (continued)  

Charles Maybe White is going down in flames anyway in this game. But if this leads to White resigning, it might almost be worth it?

More aggressive 2 (continued)  

Dave: I think Black must play first. If it looks like may work. Against , Black has ? There are a lot of tricky looking variations here, including the aji of White a...

More aggressive 2 (continued)  

Charles Making of the previous diagram into descent, does White make it by a single liberty up to here?

More aggressive 2 (continued)  

Dave I think that Black can win by filling a liberty with .

More aggressive 2 (continued)  

Charles Not sure we ever reach the end of the debate. But with of the previous diagram replaced by here, would revert to the previous kind of capturing race? Anything else and White has two half-eyes? Well, no, at a I suppose. See next.

Dave: Charles, I cheated you and swapped and in the previous diagram while you were thinking! Sorry about that but you are right about White winning here I think.

More aggressive 2 (continued)  

Prepare to be astonished after ...

More aggressive 2 (continued)  

Credible? is on principle, seems to win. at fails too. Actually this may not be quite right either.

Well, the real game may peter out instead of such fireworks.

More aggressive 2 (continued)  

Dave So going back to here if White moves to here Black has to try because giving way will lose after as shown above. But after the exchange of for the aji of comes into play!

More aggressive 2 (continued)  

Game over?

More aggressive 2 (continued)  

Dave So Black has to back track to here and try this ...

Charles Does seem stronger.