Odin vs. Eratos

Moves 1-10  

: Seems standard enough so far...

: Well, if you're going to be aggressive on that side, I'm going to be aggressive over here ;)

: Right, now I've surpassed my limited thoughts on what to do at the start of a game, I'm beginning to get a little edgey.... :-)

: what the hell am I doing, surely I should resign now? :) However, if you also don't know what you're doing...

: Hmmm, me not know what I'm doing.....well that's a fairly safe bet all round surely ;-)

: I'm sure I saw this on an SL page somewhere - probably bad though... I can just feel dan players shaking their heads at us...

: IanDavis I don't think anyone has pointed this out yet, but and seem to be in the wrong order. making the keima is a stadard defence here, it would eliminate the possibility of for instance.

Paul Clarke: For I'd prefer to play a pincer, e.g. at 'a'. This would threaten and build up Black's framework around the top right.

shows one way to deal with an attack from both sides: lean on one of the stones to build up strength, then attack the other. E.g.

Leaning on the right  

PC: This hurts though, so it might be better to lean on the other stone instead:

Leaning on the top  

PC: Now is nicely positioned to attack .

Odin: Wow, that looks so much better than what I did, I assume black would be looking to play the next black stone at 'a' or would 'b' also be a reasonable choice????

Quacki: In this situation, I guess black would not like to play a or b, because this situation is quite settled. The marked white stone will be caught in the end of the game, unless something dramatic happens, because it cannot get away to the center or build a base. If black wants to play locally, I think a play to strengthen is an option. Err ... like PC already mentioned.

Moves 11-20  

: Right so, good move/bad move? Never sure in this situation, when there's so much of the board left open, whether to carry on contesting the corner or just to try and surround a bit more territory....

PC: For what it's worth, I'd have played your move without much thought. If you let White play at 1 then all the White stones are practically connected while your stones are separated and weak. White will be able to make territory in the corner, along the right (by attacking your weak stones) and possibly along the top - playing a big move elsewhere isn't going to make up for all this.

: I'm going to carry on in the corner :)

: Right, I'm thinking this should help to curb those mean white pieces :-) I'd just like to thank PC here for all his comments on our game, it's nice of you to take the time.

: Yes PC - excellent to have you on board :) This move has slow written all over it, but surely was a mistake that needs some punishing...

: I don't think it was a mistake to play , but I might be mistaken :-)

PC: isn't a move I'd have played, as I can't see a good move for White in that direction. However, the exchange has taken a liberty off White and strengthened Black in the corner, so it doesn't really punish .

: Need.... space...... to breathe......

: LOL.

: Run out of things to say.... avast ye scurvy dog!

PC: : Note that White could have captured this stone if he hadn't played the exchange. Am I allowed to say 'I told you so'? :-)

unkx80's reading exercise  

This sequence obviously doesn't work to capture the circled stone, can anyone else see what unkx80 is referring to?

unkx80's reading exercise  

unkx80: Okay, my previous statement is phrased ambiguously. My claim is that without the White a and Black b exchange, it is still not possible to capture the stone. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

PC: Oops, good point!

Moves 21-30  

: Hey Eratos, don't listen to them hell they're only Dan players what would they know :-). LOL. Okay, all joking aside I'm sure I'll do plenty of things far worse as the game progresses. After all I haven't beaten you in a game so far have I?

: Hmm - PC didn't mean to imply there was nothing left to do in the corner - does that imply that there is ?!?!? Oooh, these mind games! (Don't worry PC, we're just joshing :) )

: :-) Leave the poor man alone :-)

: Take the corner :)

: hmmm, not sure if this is going to end well for me.

: Here's hoping ;)

: hmmmm

: Darn, where's the undo button? was a complete Thinko

: Now here's another position where the little voices in my head are screaming "WHERE DO I PLAY!!!". I considered playing at 'a' or 'b' instead, but I suspect some bright Dan player out there will tell me something like 'c' is far better. HELP!!!

Moves 31-40  

: Ah well, that's what I get for trying to be too clever for my own good :-) You live and....well...occaisionally you hope you learn ;-)

PC: I like . It leaves cutting points, but at least it forces White to hack his way through. Playing 'a' would let White play at 1, completely cutting off a Black stone while leaving no White weaknesses.

: <stone placed silently>

: Add your comment here. No, shaln't. :-)

: Obvious continuation

PC: : You guys like to live dangerously, don't you? :-) Odin? We certainly try :-) You should see some of our other games, if it wasn't for the fact that we both make the same number of hideously bad errors and unwarranted invasions, one of us would be in a lot of trouble. :-)

Eratos I'm not sure, come to think of it, that we know how to live safely, without gross underplays that is. I think we're still trying to find the balance between safety and aggression.

Still, (replacing an earlier a mark) seems to have merit

: Indeed it does, I only wish I'd spotted it first ;-)

: When is the right time to make a shimari?

Prisoner count  

: Hmmm

: Nice prisoner diagram ;)

: Thanks :-)

: Black is on holiday at the moment, hence page updates have slowed down a lot ;)

B  

: Right, have had a lovely holiday in greece, time for stupid moves :-)

: I'm not done over here yet.

: Now I know there's this whol thing about not making empty triangles, but hell I'm screwed either way, so I'm trying this :-)

: Has it really been that long since I moved? Blimey. Must remind my opponent that the game is still here...

: Indeed it has......

:

Prisoner count  

: Right let's see if I can't do something impressive over here..... :-)

: Too bold/timid?