BillSpightsElfPositionalJudgmentExercises/Game 15 ELf's Solution

Black is ahead  

In the bottom left corner White has made life and also has a weakish group in the center, a not uncommon joseki pattern. It seems that White's corner life is too small, or its center group is too weak, or both.

Elf's mainline continuation after  

cuts in the center, and then White pushes Black towards White's floating stones. It looks like White's plan is sacrifice some or all of his weak stones.

Elf's mainline after , continued  

is a nice tesuji. makes a table shape. OC, now Black a can capture some White stones. If connects at 42, White makes a bamboo joint at b. So it appears that White is not going to sacrifice any of his original floating stones.

Earlier in the game.

Joseki, but . . . .  

- is joseki. but Elf reckons that White loses 16%; loses 8% and also loses 8%.

Kosumi for  

Bots do not like premature pincers. Elf prefers the kosumi respones for . Then Black approaches the top left corner and White plays the kick and extend joseki. Not long ago might have been criticized for being neither here not there, too far away from the White stones in the bottom left for an effective pincer, and also too far from the Black stones in the top left for an extension. OC, the old rules no longer apply. White does not reply, but invades the bottom right corner.

Elf's mainline for  

With the three space high pincer, , the push and cut is not very severe. Elf prefers to reply on the third line. Against White plays the kick, but Black plays the keima, , instead of the stand. Again, Elf prefers to reply on the third line. extends on the fourth line, and plays the underneath hane on the left side.

Elf's mainline for , continued  

plays the turn on the top side, a big play. Then attaries on the left side. The result in the top left is as though White started with a play at C-16 and Black played the high approach. plays a one space low pincer against and then jumps into the bottom right corner.

Back to the game.

White gets enclosed for small life  

plays the attachment on the 2-2 and Black pulls back. Next plays the keima and replies. is a dual purpose play, saving and making some eye space, but Elf says that it loses 13%. is a one space extension, making eye space and threatening to separate the central White stones. Elf thinks it is a minor error, losing 6%. connects White's stones and threatens Black's group. Elf thinks that it loses 15½%. Before sliding out into the bottom side Black blocks at with sente, enclosing the White group and forcing it to make small life.

By now the main damage has been done. Elf estimates Black's winrate as 88% with 71.8k playouts. White's sins have added up. First, White played a premature three space high pincer and then followed with the push and cut. Then, White allowed Black to enclose the Wbite group into the corner and force it to make small life.

Elf's main variation for  

simply crawls along the second line so as not to keep from getting easily enclosed. After jumps plays a wedge. makes a keima connection, then connects his outside stones and puts pressure on Black's stones in the corner. Black thens captures the stone and makes life.

Elf's main variation for , continued  

plays the clamp and escapes to the left side. Then Black plays the AI 4-4 attachment in the top left corner. White has avoided getting enclosed in the bottom left corner and his bottom side stones are healthier than in the game. OC, because of his previous errors Elf still says that Black is ahead.

Elf's main variation for  

As above, keeps from being easily enclosed. threatens White's outside stones, connects and then lives and undercuts the White stones. White then pushes out into the left side and Black plays the attachment in the top left corner. Because of White's error, , the White stones on the bottom are not as healthy as above.

Up to White made only a small error after . White's errors, and illustrate the importance of the basics. Avoid getting enclosed in a corner, and avoid having to make small life.