Samsung 2012 Game 2

Moves 1 to 10  

From to we get an orthodox fuseki. takes up a symmetric position. is the orthodox fuseki approach.

Moves 11 to 20  

is a special move. I would expect at a.

Moves 21 to 30  

When pushes through, it feels like White has already an advantage. This means that building at the bottom may not have been the right priority for Black. With White gets a big corner. Although it is negated by , Black's farmer's hat doesn't look too good and needs reinforcement.

Moves 31 to 40  

Probably Black expects White to answer at but invades the huge moyo before it is too late. is thick but White's left side is not easy to invade as is low. A reduction at a would overlap with 's influence.

is yet another invasion. Gu Li must be quite confident that he will make both groups alive.

Moves 41 to 50  

Obviously cannot be played at , as that would be too timid. is a typical technique, aiming at both and a.

Moves 51 to 60  

feels timid here. I would keep up the pressure with a hane:

Variation  

White is split up and the marked stones are light, because the invasion of a is still possible. However, An Younggil sees at b in this variation, so probably should be there in my variation.

Moves 61 to 70  

and scoop out the eye space so that both White groups will have to seek solutions in the centre. Yet, as they move towards the left, White's problems will diminish.

Moves 71 to 80  

is quite an astonishing move for me. Suddenly, White's right side group seems out of danger and White only needs to care about the bottom. Even better, the cut lowers Black's overall thickness.

Moves 81 to 90  

From what's following, seems to set up a sacrifice in order to attack White's dragon. I wonder if Black could have been more patient and establish a position at the left side instead. looks even more desperate ...

Moves 91 to 100  

White destroys the Black group in the top left and becomes überthick. Lee Sedol must have thought that killing the dragon was the only way to reverse the game.

Moves 101 to 110  

After it's all about life and death.

Moves 111 to 120  

I don't understand why Gu Li leaves the front with here. I can see how and could help a push through at a but if Black destroys the eye shape at 'b'', would White get enough compensation at the top? A rethoric question probably.

Moves 131 to 140  

is vintage Gu Li, deciding the game with a ko. I think ko is more natural to Gu Li than it is to the majority of players.

Moves 151 to 160  

This is spectacular! Have they both read it out? It looks like a one way street, so I guess Gu new what he was doing since move 114. That means reading ahead 50 moves, still with a couple of branches!!!

Moves 171 to 174  

The music's over and we turn out the lights.