BadukMovies
Episode #7 Let's be frank (part 1)
Today we would like to try something different from the previous episodes.
This is a game between Frank Janssen, playing black, and me: Peter, playing white.
This game is played on the Dragon Go Server.
It is a turn-base go server. Games can last for weeks there.
We got a very interesting request from one of our fans.
She asked if we could show one of our games and explain what we are thinking about during the game.
Today Kim will ask questions about my game and I will try to answer them.
Hey, wait a second Peter! Haven't we seen this position before?
Yes, you are absolutely right.
In episode 3 we explained how a common joseki can change when there are other stones nearby.
In this case A helps white a lot.
This white move seems to be very powerful. Couldn't black have prevented it?
Yes. Black could have played in a more flexible way.
Like this black develops quickly.
I prefer this way of playing for black.
I see. But black didn't play this way.
I like this opening for white.
Yes, me too.
This move looks rather small at first sight. Why did you play here? And not somewhere on the upper side, like A?
Yes, the upper side is certainly very big. However, this move looks more urgent.
My thinking was..that the following sequence would be played.
And black would extend from his shimari on the lower right.
This not only makes territory, but also threatens to invade at A.
If black is allowed to strike at A, white's whole group would become weak.
So white needs to respond.
Black took this opportunity to play on the upper side himself.
Yes. During the game I didn't know how to respond to this move.
Playing on the left side with A is not very interesting, because black B destroys the potential territory that white wants to make on the left.
A pincer around C looks more attractive than A. But I was not sure about it.
So, I remembered the proverb: [When you don't know what to play, play tenuki]
You're spending all your moves on the lower side. Shouldn't you play all over the board?
Yes, I think you are right. My thinking was that this move and the previous one at A both were sente. So that I could expand my moyo in sente.
However, it turned out to be gote in the end.
And my moyo doesn't look that big at all.
I responded here, so this sequence was gote.
I think this move is very big. It is a keypoint between the frameworks of black and white.
Imagine black playing here!
This move is very big. It's huge!
Wow! This move looks crazy! Can you tell us why you played here?
Yes, this move is pretty weird.
Most likely [this] is the proper move.
However, I felt that enclosing my territory with something like this would not be big enough.
So I tried something crazy and interesting.
When I play a move I always look if the move has any good follow-ups.
I played this weird move because the follow-up looks really promising.
But black will try to prevent this plan, right?
Yes, he will.
That was the problem with A, it only had one good follow-up.
Ideally, you should have at least two good follow-up moves.
I think I understand why you play here instead of a move around A.
It's the same as before, isn't it?
The left side is not interesting for either black or white.
Yes. On top of that, if white plays at A, black can still invade the corner at the 3-3 point.
Another advantage of this white jump is its power towards the upper side. Moves like white B are now possible.
This spoils black's shape and gives white the opportunity to strengthen his corner.
I think this position is very interesting.
Many players will be flabbergasted about this move.
You were trying to make a moyo in the centre. And now you suddenly invade!
Please share your thoughts.
Yes, I did not have the confidence to build a moyo any further.
I did not find any good spots to do so.
If I would try to make my moyo bigger, black could secure all his territory at the top. And he still would have invading points in my framework.
So I decided to destroy his territory instead.
When one strategy does not work, be flexible, and try something else.
Don't be stubborn. It will only hurt you.
Ah! I know this sequence. It's sort of a middle game joseki, isn't it?
Yes. It is.
This move seems strange to me. Shouldn't black attack your base and make you run?
For example, like this?
The ladder works for black. What do you think?
I think white has some other ways to fight back.
But anyway, what Frank played against me in the game felt natural to me.
Black seperates the two white groups.
Wow! Nice. I'm curious to see how you attack this stone.
I thought that defending here would be bad.
Suddenly A looks very weak.
And now black seems to be the one making territory in the centre, instead of white.
So I decided to attack here. Also to strengthen the stone at A.
Nice.
Oh, maybe not so nice!
It looks like black will escape easily.
Wait a second. You're suddenly surrounding black entirely.
Wasn't black A a mistake?
Yes. This gave me the opportunity to play the kosumi at A in sente.
I think black should just run away with B instead.
Now white's position seems thin. If black manages to escape, or make life, the white moyo in the centre is gone.
From this point on a wild fight developed in the centre.
And later all over the board. We will continue with this game next week.
See you next time!