GTL Review #2

It has been a couple weeks since I have updated now, and life has been very busy. Today, I am posting the latest review that I did for the Go Teaching Ladder of a game by two 5 kyus. Both players played very well and I believe that my review was thorough. Feel free to ask any extra questions about the game! Click numbers/letters to navigate the variations. Comments marked with "BW" were questions or comments submitted by the player.

(;FF[4]GM[1]SZ[19]ST[2]CA[UTF-8]AP[SGFC:1.17]PB[Marco1]BR[5k]PW[BruceWayne]WR[5k]KM[6.5]DT[2012-02-04]PC[The KGS Go Server at http://www.gokgs.com/]RE[B+4.5]TM[600]OT[5x30 byo-yomi]RU[Japanese]C[BW - hello reviewer. thank you in advance for reviewing my game. the main reason i decided to submit this game is because i felt very optimistic throughout - i had all four corners and a stable group in the center - yet i lost! although i didn't count, i was surprised that the game was actually so much closer than i had assumed.

Shane - Hello, I'll be reviewing this game. I play under smonds3 (1d) on KGS. Feel free to contact me with any questions.];B[pd]C[This was a game of many opportunities but only some of them were seized. This game had many turning points and there were MANY moments for one of the players to turn the tables. As a result, the game swung back and forth until it came down to who played better yose.

Thanks for the opportunity to look at this game.

( I have included many comments, but the majority were on the first part of the game because this is where there was the most missed opportunities.)];W[dp];B[pq];W[po];B[cd]
;W[ec]L[hd][gc][cg]TR[ic]C[Here white's fuseki goal is to seize the initative by approaching two corner's immediatly. White should try to use this strategy to find a way to develop the 4-4 stone.

Black's most normal response is A (or triangled point), pressuring white while also developing the Q16 stone.

B, is not quite right in this fuseki - see explanation

C, is actual game, and quite passive.]
(;B[cg]L[de][df]C[Black 7 is passive. Black's upper right 4-4 stone is his only unapproached stone, it makes most sense to look to develop this stone by pincering white's approach.


Black 7 is very low and therefore is not as severe on white's approach as even a move at A or B. In addition, because Black 7 is so low, it does not threaten to build a large territory on the right.

Because Black has played passively, it seems best for white to play active ( to be consistant with his two approaches).

It is best for white to look for a natural way to develop his 4-4 stone. See variations.

(Also I have given some examples for how white might play if black decides to pincer white's top side approach)]
(;W[hc]TR[ic][jc]L[dc][df][cf][dd]C[White 8 is very passive too, because black 7 was low, it is not needed to defend so near. If white decides to defend the top with one of the marked points.

Firstly, with this two space extension, black can later play at A which will make white overconcentrated while closing the corner.

Secondly, with white 8 so near, white cannot gain much from the exchange of White B, Black C, White D.];B[fq];W[cn];B[dr];W[cq];B[iq]
;W[qq]LB[hc:8]C[Up to this point, I prefer black's opening. White approached two corner's immediatly to try to gain some initiative. In doing so, he did missed a chance to gain momentum to develop his high 4-4 point stone. Most of white's failed opening was due to White 8.]
(;B[mq]C[Black is already low on this side so another 3rd line move does not make for a very developable position. Playing along the right side takes advantage of the largest open area. See variation.];W[qp]L[pp]C[White 16 is a little soft. 16 at A would be better as it takes a liberty away from black's stone.];B[qm]C[Black 17 is somewhat jealous. Defending in the upper right is larger territorially and more urgent than this stone so near white's strong area.

Because it is so near white's strong group, it will not easily make territory and white is already secure. Black gives white a target. White should attack.]
(;W[oq]C[This move is somewhat big, but white is already settled in the corner (plus he can move out anytime).

This misses the opportunity to attack black's overplay];B[np]L[qj]C[Since white misses the opportunity to punish. Black should fix his shape at A.]
(;W[pk]C[White gets the correct idea to attack. I prefer attacking from one space further so that it is more natural to approach the corner. (see variation)];B[om]
;W[qf]TR[pk]C[White's approach here is good, but this shows why the marked stone should be one point closer to White 22.];B[qh]L[pi]C[Black seeks complications by fighting.

However, considering that this fight is going to push out into the center. Attacking higher at A feels more natural]
(;W[pg]TR[qh]MA[pk]C[This is white's crucial mistake. The marked black stone is weak. Touching weak stones generally makes both groups get stronger (because each stone is likely to get more libeties and extend).

In the fight that comes, white damages his marked stone.

Also, W24 has less effect of the corner.];B[ph]C[White now is at a loss for a good next move.]
(;W[oh]
;B[rk]C[Too passive from B, he can play this later if in emergency.]
(;W[rj]C[This only makes black stronger.];B[qj];W[qk];B[ri];W[rl];B[sj];W[rm]
;B[oi]C[White's attack failed because now black is secure. and white still needs to settle his three stones.];W[qn];B[og];W[nh];B[of]
;W[qc]C[Good! Taking corner is valuable];B[qd];W[rc];B[rd];W[pc];B[oc];W[ob];B[nc];W[nb];B[lc]
;W[sd]C[BW - too soon? i felt like it was double sente.];B[se];W[sc]
;B[re]C[This was good enough for W. The game is now unclear.];W[cb]C[BW - Perhaps a move in the center would be more appropriate at this point? B's influence looks pretty big.

This move is large and almost sente because black's two can now be attacked. Also, it secures these two white stones which could be vunerable if black plays in this area. In short, this corner is security and territory for both, so it is important.
Good move.];B[cj]C[This secures black but maybe is a little too passive. Black's best attitude is to try to build some center and deal with these stones later.];W[ni]C[Very big. Best point. White is starting to take the lead.];B[oj]
;W[pj]L[nj]C[This move is a mistake, black doesn't need this connection.

Pushing again at A would be adequate, then making shape in the center seems easy enough.];B[nj]C[Yes. Black keeps white separated, now the game is unclear again.];W[ki];B[ol];W[pm];B[lj]
(;W[lh]
;B[ic]C[This attachment feels awkward. Black's potential in the center seems most important.];W[kj]
(;B[lk]L[kk]C[Hane at A seems better than the decent.];W[jp]C[I think this is too busy by W. See variation for full explanation.]
(;B[jq]C[Too passive.];W[kp];B[kq]
(;W[jm]C[BW - I felt like I had successfully forced B up to this point and was trying to gain a stable center group.

Yes. White should feel mostly happy. Although there is a better way to secure the center (var.)];B[hd]C[This is very large.];W[hb];B[gd];W[fb];B[jk]
(;W[kk];B[kl];W[jl];B[ik];W[ll];B[km];W[kn];B[lm];W[mm];B[ml]
;W[ln];B[ll];W[no];B[pi];W[hi];B[ii];W[ih];B[hh]
(;W[jh]L[ij]C[Here it is better to capture key cutting stones. (var)];B[hj];W[gi];B[im];W[if];B[jn]
;W[gg]C[BW - last two moves allowed us both to gain stability. Was that a fair trade?

Hmm. Almost. Black seems to be better off because can build more around the center and now white has some bad aji on the lower side. White though was in more trouble than B so he is relieved.];B[cl]
(;W[bm]L[cr]C[BW - At this point I felt good and that I could afford this big endgame move. I had 4 corners and a stable group in the center.

Counting now, I get about 52 for W and 58 B. Oops! Gee, I guess counting works! :) However, that is still surprising to me. Why was my feeling so wrong?

S - A is bigger.];B[bl];W[bc];B[dn];W[do];B[cm];W[bn];B[cr];W[eq];B[er];W[fp]
;B[gq]
;W[en]C[This atari isn't so important.];B[dm];W[br];B[dq];W[bq];B[ep];W[fo];B[mo];W[op]
;B[mn]C[With this black gains a lead.];W[nr];B[mr];W[in];B[jo];W[io];B[il];W[ko];B[jm];W[ip];B[gj]
;W[fi];B[dc];W[db];B[ed]
(;W[bd]L[af]C[Ogeima at A is bigger (monkey jump). If playing the monkey jump, white might have what it takes in territory to win.];B[be]
;W[jd]C[This isn't very large.];B[mb]C[This is an important point.];W[pb];B[lf];W[id];B[jc];W[kd];B[kc]
;W[me]L[ae][nq]C[White 150 is hoping for too much. Now it is time to play large sente moves (A, B, etc...)

The game will be very close.];B[mf];W[kf];B[le]
;W[dh]C[This move isn't that large.];B[ch];W[fe];B[fd];W[fj];B[hf];W[hg];B[ff];W[gf];B[ge];W[he]
;B[ef];W[ae];B[bf];W[cc];B[dd];W[al];B[ak];W[am];B[di];W[bk]
;B[aj]C[As white saw. This doesn't quite work for capture. But whtie can still get something out of it. (var)]
(;W[bj];B[ai];W[bi];B[ah];W[bh];B[ag];W[em];B[dk];W[nq];B[mp]
;W[ms];B[ls];W[ns]
;B[lq]C[Both sides fought hard, and in close games it is good yose that wins. There is a proverb " He who makes the second to last mistake is the one who wins". Here white made some minor yose mistakes and lost. Good game. Thanks for the opportunity to review.

-Shane.];W[hp];B[on];W[oo];B[pn];W[ql];B[nn];W[ok];B[nk];W[hq];B[hr]
;W[ib];B[jb];W[ng];B[nf];W[lg];B[ke];W[je];B[gm];W[ek];B[eh]
;W[ei];B[dj];W[el];B[eg];W[gk];B[gl];W[fc];B[gc];W[gb];B[gp]
;W[go];B[hk];W[sl];B[sk];W[cs];B[ds];W[bs];B[hn];W[gn];B[hm]
;W[ho];B[mi];W[ld];B[md];W[ji];B[li];W[ij];B[fh];W[gh];B[af]
;W[kg];B[ad];W[ac];B[pl];W[qm];B[ia];W[ha];B[ja];W[ma];B[la]
;W[na];B[fk];W[ej];B[ci];W[jj];B[fl];W[fm];B[eq];W[dl];B[ck]
;W[eo];B[ae];W[tt]
;B[tt]TW[aa][ba][ca][da][ea][fa][ga][oa][pa][qa][ra][sa][ab][bb][eb][qb]
[rb][sb][ie][hf][jf][ig][jg][hh][kh][ii][sm][an][fn][rn][sn][ao]
[bo][co][qo][ro][so][ap][bp][cp][pp][rp][sp][aq][pq][rq][sq][ar]
[or][pr][qr][rr][sr][as][os][ps][qs][rs][ss]TB[ka][kb][lb][mc][nd][od][ce][de][ee][fe][me][ne][oe][pe][qe][cf]
[df][pf][qf][rf][sf][bg][dg][pg][qg][rg][sg][bh][dh][rh][sh][bi]
[qi][si][bj][mj][rj][bk][gk][mk][hl][jl][nl][mm][nm][fr][gr][ir]
[jr][kr][lr][es][fs][gs][hs][is][js][ks]C[Marco1 [5k\]: thanks
BruceWayne [5k\]: thx])
(;W[ah];B[bi];W[af];B[nq];W[or];B[on];W[oo];B[pn];W[ql]
;B[ib]C[Game is very close.]))
(;W[af]C[Black's usual response at A doesn't work here.

He will have to play B]L[bf][be]
(;B[bf]
;W[ag]C[Black's territory is gone.])
(;B[be];W[ae];B[ag];W[ad];B[bf]
;W[mb]C[It is still close. But if white plays yose correctly, he should win.])))
(;W[cr];B[er];W[bm]))
(;W[ij];B[ji];W[jj];B[jh];W[hk];B[il];W[im];B[hl]
;W[gl]C[The ladder works for W.]))
(;W[hh]))
(;W[id]))
(;B[hd];W[gc]
;B[jl]L[ki][jp]C[White B now is made to be an overplay. White has to decide how to take care of his heavy center group and take care of the lower side stone (B).];W[hj];B[ip]))
(;B[kk]))
(;W[jh]))
(;W[nd]C[Playing more active from white is better.];B[oe]C[Black would look to keep white separate.];W[qc]C[Taking the corner is a vital point for territory and security for both sides.];B[qd]C[If black wants to keep the right side separated...];W[pc];B[od];W[oc];B[ne];W[md];B[og];W[rd];B[re];W[rc]
;B[qe]C[White gains some very large territory in sente. Black is overconcentrated.]))
(;W[ng]C[Like this would be slightly better for white, but still not quite good enough because black will get to link up and defend the upper right corner.];B[oh];W[og];B[nc];W[nh];B[oj];W[ok]
;B[ni]L[nk][rk]C[White now has two separated groups. Black is threatening a hane at A, and black has the move at B in reserve.]))
(;W[of]C[Jumping like this aims at pressuring the corner and attacking the R12 stone.]))
(;W[pj];B[om];W[qf];B[nc];W[no];B[mo];W[nn];B[nm];W[mn];B[lo]
;W[mm]C[This fight is better for white because black is the only one with a weak group.]))
(;W[qj];B[om];W[qg]
;B[nc]TR[om][qm]C[The marked black stones do not serve much purpose to B. Also B has missed a chance to develop territory on the right side.]))
(;B[qj]C[It is better if Black plays on the largest side and extends his 4-4 stone];W[pr]C[White needs another move here or black will get to develop on both sides and white will be left with an awkward group.];B[nc]TR[pq]C[Black take a comfortable lead here.

Black and white have roughly equivalent groups in the upper and lower left, but black's development of the upper right is superior to white's lower right. Furthermore, black has the aji of the marked stone in reserve.]))
(;W[mq]C[The top side white stone doesn't need to be defended because white played low (continue this varition for full explanation).

White should swtich to this side to develop his star point stone and use his early approach.];B[op];W[mo];B[oo];W[cm];B[pn]
;W[eq]C[White has developed a vast potental and territory on the bottom.];B[gc]C[Black cannot easily take advantage of white's single stone up top because he played so low on the left.];W[df];B[cf];W[cc];B[bc];W[dd]
(;B[ce];W[cb];B[bb]
;W[ff]C[White's stones are difficult to attack. Black is too low on the left.])
(;B[cb];W[ce];B[dc];W[bd];B[cc];W[bf];B[ed];W[de];B[fd]
;W[dg]C[This is not good for B.])))
(;B[hd]TR[ic][id]L[fd][ef][cg]C[Black making a distant pincer seeks to develop his upper right stone. This is most normal because it pressures white, but remains high which works with the 4-4 stone. Moves at the marked points are also equally possible.

A - is white's most normal 'defensive way' to this pincer
B - is white's most agressive way to this pincer
C - is a special strategy which is very useful in this fuseki]
(;W[fd]C[The kosumi is a normal defensive way of moving out, it keeps the black corner stone separated from the pincering stone and seeks to make a base. This move is the most normal given the situation on the top side.

HOWEVER. In this fuseki strategy for white, it is not advisable. Remember that white is looking to develop his 4-4 stone naturally. Continue this variation for more explanation.];B[df]C[It is natural for black to move out his corner stone. (Defending the H16 stone would be poor because white would attack black's corner and build up strong on the left).];W[cb]C[White's most normal move is to play here to establish a base, white also making the two black stones potentially weak.];B[cj]C[Here black settles his two stones. End of joseki.

Although all moves were normal. Black is slightly happier here because his extension has hindered the development of white's lower side stone and also black has the useful stone at H16 which works well with Q16.])
(;W[ef]C[Here white moves out quickly with the aim to counter attack black's pincer stone (although because black is at Q16 this is not advised)];B[cg]C[Black defends his corner stone];W[kd]C[White seeks an early fight, but this fight is harder on white because black is at Q16. If white were in the upper right corner this would be a much better situation for W.];B[gf]C[White now has two groups on black's side of the board. While this is not a 'losing' strategy, it is a difficult road for white.])
(;W[cg]C[This counter pincer aims at developing the left in exchange for a sacrifice of the original approach stone.];B[ed]C[Black protects his corner stone, and keeps white separated.];W[cj]C[White now defends his stone while making a very nice 5 space extension from his 4-4 stone.]
(;B[dc]C[This is needed to close corner. End of joseki

Please look at variation for why this move is needed.];W[mq]C[Now white's fuseki strategy is working well. He has used both of his early approaches to develop his 4-4 stone naturally.];B[op];W[mo];B[oo];W[pm])
(;B[qf];W[dc];B[dd]
;W[cc]C[White is happy to live in corner taking territory in the corner and on the left. Black's wall is not useful here. This is why black must play D17 himself.])))
(;B[gc]C[This pincer is not advised because it doesn't seek to develop the upper right stone (it is low and very far from Q16). Also, white has a good counter measure against this pincer.];W[ee];B[df]
;W[dh]C[This move is useful with D4 in place.];B[ef]C[Black must play here to keep from being enclosed and from letting white connect.];W[gd]C[This attachment is a normal way to make shape for white's top side stones.]
(;B[hc]C[Because white's three are being squeezed, this move gives white less breathing room because it leaves black no cutting point.];W[ff];B[fg];W[gf];B[eh];W[dj];B[dc];W[fc]
;B[kc]C[End of joseki. White is satistifed with getting the extension at D10 and can look to the bottom to develop the other side of his D4 stone.];W[mq])
(;B[hd]C[Although hane here seems normal. It leaves black with a cutting point which is too much to take care of because his group on the left is still unsettled.];W[ge];B[fc];W[fd]
;B[ic]C[There is no time to defend the cutting point.];W[fg])))