British Go
Journal No. 19. January 1973. Page 4.
J Diamond 4d and J Tilley 1d
This is a game from the 1971 Leeds Congress. The comments are
designed for beginners and low kyu players.
Black: Dr G. Gray, 5k
White: C. Edwards, 6k
The game-file in SGF format.
- 1-7: A good start, no mistakes at all. Black plays 5 in the left
corner, so that, when White plays 6, Black 7 is an ideal extension cum
squeeze attack. This occurs frequently and should be learnt.
- White 10: White correctly decides to live in the corner.
- White 12: Very bad. White has no base if Black plays A and this
group will be left floating and subjected to a fierce attack. White must
play sagari (one
point left of A).
- Black 13: A is better to undermine Whites position.
- White 14: A is essential. For the rest of this game A is a key
point for both.
- Black 17: A little heavy. An attack with keima at B maps out
more territory and keeps up a more aggressive attack, but A is still
more important.
- White 20: Very bad. This move is too close to Blacks strength.
White need not worry about Black making too much territory on the upper
side as Black needs three more moves at least. White should play 30 or
C. Later D is a useful point on the upper side.
- Black 21: Good. A move around 22 would gain territory but would
weaken Blacks three stones.
- White 28: In this case essential. Black 28 would be too big.
- Black 29: Not so good. There is no need to play on the third line
as Black shouldnt expect to make territory there - it was Whites
position after all! 52 is the vital point for both - "the head of
three stones" - White E would be the best answer and then Black C
is big, threatening 29.
- White 30: Black 29 left a very wide gap between Blacks positions
on the lower side, and White should play C. There are more important
things than territory now.
- Black 31: 52, White E and Black C better.
- White 32: OK. The gap between 23 and 31 was too wide.
- Black 33: Horrible. Dont attach to weak stones. A simple one point
jump to 41 is best.
- White 34: Better to play 37. White wants to develop to the left of
33, so he should play to the right first.
- Black 39: This move fills in liberties and doesnt help Blacks
shape.
- Black 41: Bad. Must play 42 to capture.
- White 42: Correct. Black is in trouble here.
- Black 43: Too loose. 46 would be better.
- White 44 & 46: Good.
- White 48: A game-losing move. Must play 49. Moves like 48 are
sometimes good, but here it goes against the rhythm of play.
- Black 51: White has lost everything he had here.
- White 52 & 54: Good. 52 is a vital point.
- Black 57: Rather reckless. A better sequence would be B 63, W 58,
B F, W 57, B G.
- White 62: No. He must strengthen his very weak group 60 etc. If he
plays G then all will be well.
- Black 63: Better to play H - attack at a distance.
- Black 65: F is correct.
- White 70: A little too solid in this position. White must try to
make eye shape and protect the cut at the same time. W I, B J, W 71 is
recommended.
- Black 71: Good. White has too many weak groups to have much hope
now.
- Black 75: 90 correct. Dont play atari unless necessary. "Extend
one stone in a crosscut".
- Black 77: 90 correct.
- Black 79: Should capture as now White K is no longer sente.
- White 80: K first then B L, W M. Later White N is good.
- Black 83: Good.
- White 84: Must play atari one line to the left.
- White 86: Meaningless. Must play A.
- Black 87: He should jump out to P.
- Black 89: Q correct.
- White 90: White must play Q, Black takes, White 90. This squeeze is
a 'must'.
White now has three weak groups and no real hope. He could play A,
O, or R next, but one group must die.
White lost this game because he failed to strengthen his weak
groups. The attack and defence of weak groups comes before everything
else in Go. It was a pity White played 48; if he hadnt, he could have
made Black suffer for his weak moves on the lower side. Black handled
the lower side badly. He made too many overplays. He was too greedy in
trying to make territory.
This article is from the
British Go Journal
Issue 19
which is one of a series of back issues now available on the web.
Last updated Thu May 04 2017. If you have any comments, please email the webmaster on web-master AT britgo DOT org.