A few simple rules ... limitless possibilities

British Go Journal No. 67. April 1986. Page 8.

British Championship - Game 4

Game 3 was on page 7.

Black: Terry Stacey, 5d
White: Matthew Macfadyen, 6d
The game-file in SGF format.

Figure 1 (1-100)

• Black 43: (S) May not be as bad as the joseki book says it is. (M) Should be at 44.
• Black 47: (S) Should be at 56.
• White 60: (S) Why not at 63?
• White 62: (M) Could try killing the group, but black could push up above 47, save the cutting stone, and create all sorts of trouble. 62 is enough.
• White 66: (M) Kills 47 with good aji.
• White 70: (S) Overplay because of 75.
• White 78: (M) Lunatic. It must be at 81. I had failed to spot that 80' at 81 would get black 80 gaining a liberty and killing outright.
• Black 85: (S) Should be at 88, followed by white 207, black 208, white 211, black 214, white 209, black 216 leading to a ko which is favourable for Black.
  (M) Probably black would end up killing six white cutting stones (22 etc) with his ko threat. This would be very good for Black.
• White 90: (S) Takes the lead.
• Black 91: (M) Much better to leave this group for aji - it is white's only territory even if dead.
• Black 93: (S) Too heavy. 132 is better shape, or try sacrificing with 110 perhaps.
• Black 97: (S) Very heavy!

Figure 2 (101-200) 182 at 177, 192 at 103, 199 at 156.

• Black 101 - 131: (S) No comment!
• White 118: (M) Should protect the cut with 125. After black 123 white is completely out of control.
• White 132, 134: (S) Gives Black a chance.
• Black 143: (S) Black seems to take the initiative here.
• White 148: (M) Unnecessary - 174 is enough to live, then White would still have chances.
• Black 163 - 169: (S) This sequence gives Black a clear lead although it is not clear who wins the semeai. It turned out to be seki. Black's lead survived the accidental loss of the upper left group during byo-yomi.
• White 176: (M) Should kill the centre, though it's probably too small.

Figure 3 (201-288) 219 at 209, 220 at 210, 231 at 215, 232 at 216, (a double ko) 239 at , 245 at 209, 246 at 210, 253 at 215, 254 at 216, 257 at 209, 258 at 210, 261 at 215, 262 at 216, 267 at 209, 268 at 210.

White resigned at 288.