Dieter's study of Otake game 6

Moves 1 to 10  

The opening has Takemiya play his favourite san ren sei, opposed by Otake's high Chinese. is a typical move of Takemiya, stressing his intention to build a central moyo.

Moves 11 to 20  

Takemiya of course* blocks at and makes the good haengma of a kosumi with keima. Otake dares not making more territory at the top and invades at right away. Follows the 4-4 point diagonal attachment joseki we all know, where the invasion group lacks a base and is under pressure. makes shape for that group immediately, allowing Takemiya to attack the lower left.

• Uberdude I wouldn't say "of course" block this side, indeed with Takemiya's kosumi it is common if not normal to block the other way, the idea being you ignore the 2nd line hane connect to take sente to play the point 7. That's when the white approach is move 6 straight after forming the san ren sei and 7 is thus empty. Here black already has 7 as white made a high Chinese, which I suppose is why he blocked this way as he doesn't need sente to get to 7 to form his big moyo.

Moves 21 to 30  

It is very important to learn from Takemiya that he does not create central moyos always: if the opponent negates that construction, his moves are always aggressive enough to attack where the opponent had neglected to play. The lower left produces another well know joseki.

Moves 31 to 40  

is an often underestimated kind of move: even if on the second line, it is very important for the thickness of either group. - induce , enhancing Black's eye space while attacking White's. Black neglects his left side group. This is probably because the upper right provides enough global influence. Otake plays a somewhat ugly peep.

Moves 41 to 50  

This diagram is a battle for shape. White plays double hane, intending to play a hanging connection at next, but Black plays there himself, upon which destroys Black's shape by playing the vital point of the table shape. Otake obviously refuses to connect at a which would give an ugly empty triangle and strengthens his stones with instead.

Moves 51 to 60  

But Takemiya is on a roll. His next attack comes at , splitting the left side. When White plays the somewhat vague , attacks the eye shape of the lower left and Otake grudgingly plays . Incidentally, I was surprised to see , taking even more territory, while I would think White can use some support for all that fighting.

Moves 61 to 70  

Both players make shape in the battle zone, then Black pushes against White's corner to create another influential group.

Moves 71 to 80  

We see in the lower left how White's eye shape is destroyed. is hence a bold move: apparently Otake feels he cannot allow even a 4th line moyo to appear, or maybe he thinks he is thick enough to play here.

Moves 81 to 90  

With and Otake is giving Takemiya his favourite present: more influence. I must say I'm not getting it: White is not quite thick in the centre. exposes the thinness.

Moves 101 to 110  

Up to , White creates a position at the right, apparently trying to turn the black group above it into a target. But Black has more pleasant business to address: sets up a splitting attack.

Moves 111 to 120  

A bit of a strange interlude is provided by -. The 20-ish points at the bottom do not outweigh a central capture, so Black responds at . Even so, shows a clear intention of killing a group. is a beautiful resistance.

Moves 121 to 130  

But Black's shape is resilient ...

Moves 131 to 140  

... as makes miai of a and b, the latter creating shortage of liberties. I find it impressive to see how Takemiya keeps things simple. He's in command and there is no need to resolve to ko. lives at the bottom and Black continues to attack the other white dragon.

Moves 141 to 150  

is extremely thick. It seems Black has it all figured out. Indeed, with the third white group is under attack.

Moves 151 to 160  

Black lures White into a small gap and splits it at . Next, is another surprising eye destroying move. Incidentally a does not split White, so all appears not to be lost. I cannot read this life and death problem, but I believe firmly Takemiya had it all figured out when he captured at move 141.

Moves 161 to 165  

This is where it ends. The white dragon dies. During the whole fight, White has not been able to explore any weakness in the surrounding position. Especially is needed to defend against cuts a and b.