Samsung 2012 Game 1

  Difficulty: Intermediate   Keywords: Game commentary

This is the final of the Samsung Cup in 2012 between Lee Sedol and Gu Li. Lee won 2-1 and this is the first game. Lee takes White and in fact all games in this final were won by White.

This game will soon be analyzed by An Younggil on gogameguru and I, Dieter, have the intention to analyze it first, to see whether my thoughts are sound. Anyone can join this analysis and is most welcome to do so.

This game ended after 305 moves as a halfpointer, so we can expect an extensive endgame analysis.

The game has been analyzed at the now defunct gogameguru ([ext] https://web.archive.org/web/20151023094851/https://gogameguru.com/go-commentary-gu-li-vs-lee-sedol-17th-samsung-cup-final-game-1/)

[Diagram]
Moves 1 to 10  

Upper right: 4-4 Point Low Approach Low Extension. SL says that W8 is common if White has a stone in the lower right. This is not true here.

[Diagram]
Moves 11 to 20  

Bottom left: is a simple variation of the large avalanche joseki. At W10 I have the impression White has command of the game. Black's bottom doesn't seem to have the potential to develop into something grand.

[Diagram]
Moves 21 to 30  

Upper left: is a variant of a well known joseki. W8 deviates from the usual pattern. Let's see what would happen if White followed it.

[Diagram]
Move 28 - variation  

If Lee had played move 28 at W1 here, then the usual pattern would flatten out Wite's position overall and the expansion of white+circle had become dame. Black could next continue with reinforcing at a or play actively at b and the flow of the game would be reversed.

[Diagram]
Moves 31 to 40  

B1 threatens a ladder and B3 threatens to kill the white stones. Thanks to the white strength below, Black must connect at B7 and White lives with W8. It may look painful for White to live this small, but Black is cut into two weak groups. This is of course the proper way to play in one's own sphere of influence.

[Diagram]
Moves 41 to 50  

W2 is a forcing move, before living at W4. See kikashi before living. Next B5 is on the run and W6 continues the attack while already keenly looking at an invasion of the bottom. Next W8 is a perfect application of make territory while attacking. W10 further splits the black groups. My feeling is definitely that White has full control over this game.

[Diagram]
Moves 51 to 60  

At W6 Lee defies the common sense that even a moron connects against a peep, because a would work next. This is the result of Lee's taking time to play W2 in response to B1. Since White now loses control over the centre, perhaps W2 was too greedy.

[Diagram]
Moves 61 to 70  

When Black cuts at B9 here, it is White who has two weak groups to take care of. Black too has two groups but all are running towards the right side, where Black has more control. It looks like the flow of the game has been reversed.

[Diagram]
Moves 71 to 80  

B3 is an instructive/awkward move. I would play W6 instead. B3 allows to undermine White's corner with B7, but ...

[Diagram]
Moves 81 to 90  

W2 lives in ko. Lee judgment seems to be he can leave this ko and use his sente to work on his weakest group while running havoc on Black's territory at the bottom.

[Diagram]
Moves 91 to 100  

The temperature rises with more eyeless groups forming at the bottom.

[Diagram]
Moves 101 to 110  

Finally, B1 cuts through one of many ikken tobi and an exchange takes place: White connects his weak groups, while Black makes a super strong tortoise shell and controls the corner.

[Diagram]
Moves 111 to 120  

But Black has a maneuver to live inside and with B5 threatens to kill White's side group. White is unimpressed and cuts off Black's group with W10.

[Diagram]
Moves 121 to 130 (5 at 2)  

In an amazing cascade of events W6 makes miai of connecting at the first line with W10 or live at B9.

[Diagram]
Moves 131 to 140  

Still, Black has a ko at B7 and the ko is so big that White captures through at the first opportunity, leading to a major exchange, because ...

[Diagram]
Moves 141 to 150  

... while B1 kills the right side, W2 kills the bottom left. B3 then finishes off the bottom right. When the dust settles, Black has one weak group left, and White will now approach the remaining corner with one eye on that weak group. For me, the game is even, which means White has benefited from the furikawari as he was under bigger pressure before.

Next, the cut at W10 is completely counterintuitive to me. I assume it gives more leverage later but I wonder if Black cannot resist.

[Diagram]
Moves 151 to 160  

Now this B7 I would have played at W8:

[Diagram]
Variation at 157  

Probably this is too good for White

[Diagram]
Moves 161 to 170  

But in the game, this looks awful for Black's centre group.

[Diagram]
Moves 171 to 180  

W4 is as close to thickness as you can get. It obviously aims at a. Gu Li resists with B5 and makes shape for his central group. I can't help but feeling that Black has overplayed at the top.

[Diagram]
Moves 181 to 190  

Isn't B7 too timid here? What would happen if B7 is at W8?

[Diagram]
Variation at 187  

Can't Black fight back here? Is the top really that weak?

[Diagram]
Moves 191 to 200  
[Diagram]
Moves 201 to 210  
[Diagram]
Moves 211 to 220  
[Diagram]
Moves 221 to 230  
[Diagram]
Moves 231 to 240  
[Diagram]
Moves 241 to 250  
[Diagram]
Moves 251 to 260  
[Diagram]
Moves 261 to 270  
[Diagram]
Moves 271 to 280  
[Diagram]
Moves 291 to 300  
[Diagram]
Moves 301 to 310  
[Diagram]
Moves 311 to 315  

Samsung 2012 Game 1 last edited by tapir on April 21, 2021 - 12:19
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