One of my game commented by O Rissei 9p

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The last weekend was a good one with regards to my results in the Insei-league. First there was some confusion, because the F-class –in which Flavien and I were supposed to be playing- and the E-class -to which John was supposed to had finally gone up to- where joined together.

As a result we have now a big class with 25 Insei. For the former F-class students the level got higher because there are a lot of strong players now. Unfortunately I had to play those first.
Naturally I wasn’t expecting too much, as I still had a lot of difficulties dealing with the F-class guys. However it turned out, that I was able to keep up with them and I even won 3 of my 8 games this weekend.

When I was wandering around happily, because I had just won a game against a supposedly stronger opponent, one of the sensei approached me and told me that O Rissei-sensei 9p was in the classroom and about to comment on one of my games.

As one can imagine I was really surprised, because O Rissei is one of the strongest Japanese professionals there is –even though he is originally from Taiwan. It was truly a great honor to have such a great player dealing with my moves.

Here is the commentary of the former Kisei-title holder and LG-cup winner on my game (I play as White):

Dia 1: Going for influence (1-50)

1-15:

The opening up to 9 is classic. The probe of 10 is a modern invention which I may explain in detail later in this Blog.

However the answer of Black 11 was a little bit surprising for me, as it is normally considered a submissive move.
Still O commented that Withe 12 was not very good. It should be at 15. If Black then cuts one space above 12, White can still aim for the hane of A which he can not in the game.

The conclusion is, that the exchange of 10 for 11 is not doing much for White. Therefore we can say that White failed to kikashi here.

24:

Afer making a san-ren-sei with 16 White 24 is only natural. Playing the other Joseki with W31 would be terribly slack because after Black nobis at 24 Withes influence is almost gone.

36,39:

Even though the choice of Joseki is correct. The sensei critizised Withe 36 and 39 (see Var. 1 and Var.2 ).

50:

O Rissei said that he would think about playing 50 at D, because the right side is very big. He is surely correct, but I would never even think about D here, because I like influence a lot ;)

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Var. 1:

White 36 in Dia. 1 is better played at 1 here, because this way Black will never have a chance to Atari at A (B in Dia 1).

The moves from 1 to 13 here are correct order and considered a Joseki.

13 can also be played at B (C in Dia. 1) -one can not say which one is better.

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Var. 2:

Even though White 36 is bad, black omitted the Atari at 1 here, which can not be justified. Had he played the Atari he could still aim at A after the sequence to 12 which makes a big difference in territory.

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Dia 2: (51-100)

52:

O was very surprised to see W 52. Apparently he doesn't like it very much. As a matter of fact this move is an old Joseki variation not seen in professional play nowadays (After 59 Black has a lot of territory). However there are two little Insei who love to play this way. From their games I learned this move.

62-72:

The sensei is very pleased to see Withe play like this. He says it gives one a good feeling. In fact B is being cut off.

74:

O Rissei commented, that he would play 74 at A, but he understands, that I want to build as much thickness as possible towards the center in order to attack Black.

78:

However 78 is clearly a mistake. The correct way of playing is shown in Var.3.

80:

Not severe enough. As White is extremely thick in this area 80 should at least be played at 87 which would make Whites territory very big.

82:

The boshi is also not perfect, because it gives Black a good move at 83. If Withe wants to play 82 he should first make black heavy with a peep one space to the left of 87.

84:

Yet another questionable move. O commented that he would play like in Var.4. However the other Insei said, that he would not go along with this plan and instead would choose Var.5. In fact the sensei admits, that the four marked stones there are small.

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Var 3.:

In response to 1 White should extend with 2. This way he can force with 4 to 8 making Blacks territory smaller than in the game. Moreover Black will never have the option of the huge endgame at 3.

After 10 White is very strong here.

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Var. 4:

If White 1 is answered by 2 White can continue to attack with 3 and then seal of his territory with 5. This would be the way of the former Kisei.

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Var.5:

My opponent would not like to be pushed around like this, so he would drop the burden with 2 (the tsuke which one can hardly see here) and 3 (Hane on the stone which he touched with 2).

This seems to be a reasonable way of playing and the sensei did not say anything bad about it.

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Var. 6:

96 in the Dia. is odd. Instead blocking at 97 feels natural.
I did not play this way because I was thinking of the sequence of 4 as sente for Black.
However Black would probably have to reinforce at A, for, if he ommits this move, White has the severe Tsuke one space below A, which cuts blacks forces into two.

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Dia 3: White takes the advantage (101-150)

1:

This move is recognized by my opponent as his losing move and I totally agree that it is bad.
The reason is, that it is gote.
Afterwards 2 and 4 are big, but not necessarily sente as Black may ommit 5 taking a big point at the bottom.

6:

Now that White can also play 6 he is leading.

20:

I played this move without any consideration of the brilliant Tesuji the sensei showed to us. ( Var.7)


















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Var 7:

Instead of 20 in Dia.3 it is possible to block at 1
here which makes a huge difference in territory. The essential part is, that after Black captures with 12 (I messed up the numbers -12 is below 3) W can connect at 13 (12 in the Var.)
Even if Black tries to expand his liberties he has nowhere to run after 20.

O Rissei commented, that this is a reading problem, but he himself did not read at all but just played 1 in an instant, whereas I never even thought about it. This kind of intuition and reading power is, what sets pros apart from the other Go players.










Dia 4: The last mistake


After Dia.3 the game continued smoothly with White maintaining a small advantage (around 5 points).

Black 1 here is the last mistake. It was probably one of the very last endgame moves so it is very painful to lose two stones after 4. Therefore my opponent resigned here.