(;GM[1]FF[3]
PC[Dragon Go Server: http://www.dragongoserver.net/]
DT[2006-04-18,2006-10-25]
GN[slashme-gbin-202753-20061025]
GC[Game ID: 202753, rated
]
PB[Guillaume BINET (gbin)]
PW[David Richfield (slashme)]
BR[7 kyu]WR[8 kyu]
OT[Japanese byoyomi: 90 days + 1 day per move and 10 extra periods]
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]KM[6.5]
RE[B+Resign]
C[Konrad Scheffler: I have marked my comments with KS. 
ALLCAPS indicate what I consider to be the most important mistakes to focus on.
]
;B[pd];W[pq];B[dd];W[dp]
C[David Richfield: Is there any reason to choose D3 or C4 at this point?

KS: At around 1 dan it might start mattering that Q3 and D3 are not so great facing the opponent's  4-4 stone as here; at kyu level it is irrelevant. Choosing between C4 and D4 is personal preference only. In general these questions have next to no effect on your playing strength.
]
;B[po]
C[Guillaume BINET: GB: Here I am expecting R5 or something around Q8, depending on which tone David wants to give to the game.]
;W[np]
C[David Richfield: This seems like a straightforward way to play];
B[qq]
C[Guillaume BINET: GB: ok, this should drive use to a peaceful joseki. the probable scenario is white ending up in sente against a good black extension around r8-r9 for black. I would be happy with this outcome]
;W[qr]
C[David Richfield: I think this is joseki.  Black connects and I extend.]
;B[qp]C[Guillaume BINET: GB: AFAIK white has S2 or P2];W[jp]
C[KS: (EARLY TENUKI) This is bad, leaving weak shape at the bottom right. The joseki moves are at P2, creating a thick position (no extension required), or at S2 followed by an extension around K3 (to cover the weakness left behind at M3).
]
;B[ql]
C[Guillaume BINET: I feel white left some bad aji on the bottom. I would have played p2. Now M3 seems to be a sweet spot in the white shape that I'll check carefully

KS: Extending only 2 spaces is a little tight - in the joseki black usually extends 3. But sometimes black will extend 2 spaces due to special circumstances (to prevent a possible counterattack later) and it will never be a big error.
]
;W[cf]
C[David Richfield: Don't really know what to do here.  I guess I should learn which josekis go in which direction.

KS: If you want to do some reading on josekis there's no harm in that, but I wouldn't say it's urgent for you at this stage. In these positions you can pretty much play anything.

Direction of play is often just about stating the obvious: e.g. here, approaching at C14 emphasises the left side while approaching at F17 emphasises the top (duh!). And either way is a viable strategy.
]
;B[di]
C[Guillaume BINET: The explanation for this one will be far fetched... I feel that I need a presence here on the west side for 2 reasons : 1) I have more territory than influence compared to white so I'm ready to give up some territory on the top to avoid white making a framework 2) I want to move the combat toward the lower left so M3 gonna ripe quicker in case of too much gain for white in my loose framework

KS: Cannot be anything wrong with a pincer like this.
]
;W[ef];B[fd]C[Guillaume BINET: joseki];W[bd];B[cc]
C[Guillaume BINET: Joseki];W[dk]
C[David Richfield: Play aggressive against lone black stone, build up thickness.

KS: (EARLY TENUKI) This is an overplay - white needs to settle his group by sliding to B11 first. Now the white group will end up under attack.
]
;B[dg]
C[Guillaume BINET: The precedent move was not expected, the joseki is at b11 probably to make white some eye space. This forces a running fight. So first I need to reinforce my lonely stone and remove some breathing space from the above group. After this forcing move I'll try to force a B13/B14 echange]
;W[df]C[David Richfield: Can't allow B D14];B[bg]
C[Guillaume BINET: This should force white to play b14 otherwise it will lack an eye if black plays there. My plan is to perhaps take an extra move at C13 to secure an eye then push white along the top to make profit, secure my lonely group and accumulate pressure toward D9

KS: This is not a forcing move, but it is strong as it prevents white's slide to B11.
]
;W[eg]
C[David Richfield: Press down on black, create escape route for weak group.]
(;B[cg]
C[Guillaume BINET: I assure life inside first, then will try to escape at f11, or as a last resort make a larger life at c9 or walk outside at e10 depending on white move. also b14 is a good life in sente

KS: HEAVY! This does not make life (yet), it just forces black to save all of his stones. Before this move, black could be satisfied with sacrificing any 1 (2?) of his 3 stones, but now this is not possible. If black is forced to make eyes while white gets outside influence, it will be a success for white.

Instead, black needed to move out immediately - see variations.
]
;W[ei]
C[David Richfield: Enclose black's invasion, force him to make eyes, and in the process try to escape with my corner group

KS: White breathes a small sigh of relief. Not out of the woods yet, but things are looking much better than a move ago. Black has to worry about getting locked in.
]
(;B[bf]
C[Guillaume BINET: sente and eye shape. Now I'm unsure if I'll play M3 next or E10 to get out

KS: Not sente: white can consider sacrificing B16.

]
(;W[ce]
C[KS: The empty triangle is ugly. Saving the corner is not large because there is no eye space available there.
]
;B[ck]
C[Guillaume BINET: I tried several cut variations in the center but they are not glorious. I prefer to make some room for life still threatening to cut in the center and play J17 ASAP. this serie of echanges are quite not satisfactory for black.]
;W[cl]C[David Richfield: Keep black enclosed];B[cj]
C[Guillaume BINET: It should be sente. My next move is probably J17, it is flashing red

KS: J17 is not particularly urgent, and may even be overconcentrated for black (K17 preferable). If white plays at H17 black can simply pincer and his group would not be in any danger (the B16-C17 exchange makes the black group quite secure). In this position the fight on the left is more urgent than anything else and there is no real need to end in sente. Rather try to end in gote with thickness (for white) or preventing white thickness (for black).
]
;W[dl]
C[David Richfield: Could I have kept sente?

KS: Hard to say - B8 may be sente but leaves weaknesses. Nothing wrong with this thick move. As I said, neither side should be overly concerned with sente here.
]
(;B[ic]
C[Guillaume BINET: I still have a faint exit option for my left handside group sacrificing 2 stones. So this move exploit this aji + secure the top left group. now black has 40 points of almost certain territory but the white framework is scary.

KS: EARLY TENUKI. I do not see "almost 40 points". Black has about 15 in top left and 11 in bottom right. 


]
(;W[qf]
C[KS: (EARLY TENUKI). Just because black has played tenuki doesn't mean white should do the same. The fight on the left looked like dominating the game, but after black's tenuki white can settle it in one move - this would have a large effect on the whole board, e.g. most of the bottom left quarter would have a good chance of becoming territory.
]
;B[qh]
C[Guillaume BINET: It should trigger R17 in return that I intend to block at Q17. It should give me a counter influence to the white one. The sente should be white at the end of it but white doesn't seems to have a convincing attacking point, in return I have M3, C3, F3 or a cut/ getting out around F12.]
;W[of]
C[David Richfield: Jumping into the corner already just looks too comfortable for black

KS: The jump-and-shoulder-hit joseki doesn't work too well with R8 lying in wait. Alternatives are the 3-3 invasion, double approach (O17) or the attachment at Q12.
]
;B[nd];W[pi]C[David Richfield: Build influence by attacking];B[qi];
W[pj]
C[David Richfield: With  R8 in place, I can't really hane, so I threaten to bend instead.

KS: No hane anyway! (Black would simply cut.)
]
(;B[qj]
C[Guillaume BINET: I'll have to take actions soon to avoid any more central moyo buildup]
;W[rd]
C[David Richfield: The connection between Q11 and the stones at P and R 14 looks lose whether or not I play at Q12, so better to slide now before connecting.

KS: Sliding is ok. For the connection, if you don't like Q12 you can consider Q13, keeping the option of sacrificing Q11 if black pushes and cuts.
]
;B[ej]
C[Guillaume BINET: it gets pretty ugly now for black, I need to get in whatever it takes but the white right influence now diminuish the attack effort on the upper group and white will be able to kill me an eye once I'll be out.

KS: Back to the urgent area! Black won this game by being the first to return here.
]
;W[dh]
C[David Richfield: More sente than E12, as it threatens to cut at D10]
;B[ch]
C[Guillaume BINET: I was expecting white D10, because white gets a nasty cut at c11]
;W[eh]C[David Richfield: Retain sente];B[dj]
C[KS: Now white is separated and the top group is in trouble. Black is out in the center (no more white moyo). Victor would say that the game is over.
]
;W[gl]
C[David Richfield: This move seems more urgent to me than protecting  C3 or making a base at B17]
;B[fj]
C[Guillaume BINET: white cannot let his group like that si he will probably extend from his wall, then I switch to the next invasion M3/C3, P8 seems important too

KS: Yes, suddenly there are urgent points everywhere and white cannot cover all of them.
]
;W[ig]
C[David Richfield: Just realized:  I can't make an eye in the corner!

KS: A bit thin. Holding back to H13 would have saved some headaches later.
]
;B[cq]
C[KS: GREEDY - this gives white a game plan. Instead, play to prevent white's moyo: any of P8, M3, D3, E2, H3 etc would be better.
]
;W[dq]
C[KS: Naturally white blocks from the wider side - now he has hopes of making a large territory.
]
;B[cp];W[co];B[bo];W[cn];B[dr];W[er]
C[David Richfield: The cut doesn't look that dangerous.

KS: If you are worried about cuts in this sort of situation (and in some variations they look a lot scarier than this), consider the issue of consistency: if the block at D3 was correct, you cannot possibly consider any move other than this block. To refrain from blocking would be to declare your move at D3 a mistake.
]
;B[cr];W[fq];B[qc]C[Guillaume BINET: tough choice];W[rc]
C[David Richfield: Comfortable sente

KS: Famous last words :-) The exchange of R17 for S17 is a success for black, who can now 
tenuki happily.
]
;B[mf];W[ph];B[ie];W[nl]
C[David Richfield: Need lots more territory to be in the running.];
B[hj];W[kg]
C[David Richfield: It looks hard to get two eyes here, so I have to run fast.  If BG13, WG12 might make a connection...
]
;B[gg]
C[Guillaume BINET: I calculated that it triggers a ko and reinforceme toward the south (I want that), but the k3 invasion for me should generate a really long ko threat string... white has few too by threating life on diverse groups]
;W[gh];B[hh];W[hg]
C[David Richfield: Looks bad, but maybe BG14 WG11 BH11 WG10 BG9 WH9 BF9 WJ10 will work?

KS: Replace the last move in that line with the crane's nest tesuji (WJ9) and you have a clean capture. (With WJ10 it's messier.)
]
;B[gf]
C[Guillaume BINET: no no white simply gets out .. but black could build a wall south faced in sente so it is still favorable]
;W[gi];B[gj]C[
];W[hi]C[David Richfield: OK, I'm out...];B[ii];W[ih];
B[jj];W[lh]C[David Richfield: Make the connection];B[lp]
C[KS: COUNT before invading! If black needs an invasion, I think M3 may be better - aiming at the weakness at P3. But as it is, simple reducing moves are a much clearer way to win (with white's thickness on the left any invasion is risky). The move played unnecessarily gives white a chance to play for a kill. 
]
;W[jn]
C[David Richfield: Make it harder to connect, build safer territory.

KS: Yes!
]
;B[jq];W[iq]C[David Richfield: Looks bad, but L3 looks even worse];
B[kq];W[ir]
C[David Richfield: Protect against j4 and threaten eyespace

KS: Strong play by white, going for the kill.
]
(;B[no];W[op]
C[David Richfield: Now I can hane at N5 or push at P5.  My corner stones are weak, though.  I'm desparate, though.]
;B[oo]
C[Guillaume BINET: I see a kill inside after black getting libs on the left side]
(;W[mo];B[mp]
C[Guillaume BINET: If I am not mistaken, I think that black just won. N4 was better. Now  white has to defend in miai m6 and o3]
;W[nq]C[David Richfield: Try and make some kind of eye-shape];B[ln];
W[mr]C[David Richfield: OK, so the cut doesn't work.];B[ld];N[RESULT]
C[Result: B+Resign

KS: Summary: Optically, this looked like a classic game of thickness vs territory. BUT, white lost because his thickness wasn't real (either at bottom right or on the left). Thickness means uncuttable shape - look for sequences where the supposedly thick stones can be separated without any clean way to capture the cutting stones. If such sequences exist, the stones are not thick and the player making thickness should spend his sente perfecting it rather than play tenuki (proverb: "play urgent points before big points"). Black won this game by playing the separating sequence on the left before white got around to defending against it.
])

(;W[mp]
(;B[lo];W[mo];B[ln];W[mn];B[ll];W[ik];B[ij];W[kk]
C[KS: Difficult for black.
])

(;B[mo];W[lo]
(;B[mq];W[kp];B[lq];W[nr])

(;B[ln];W[ko];B[rr];W[pr];B[rb]
C[KS: Unfortunately for white, black can still change his mind and play simple endgame moves to win on territory. But the game is closer than it was before the invasion.
])
)
)
)

(;B[ln];W[nn]
C[KS: Even this way I don't see a clear way of getting out.
])
)

(;B[ph];W[oh];B[qj];W[pk];B[og]
C[KS: With R8 in place already black is a move ahead of the joseki, and white has no good way of dealing with this move.
])
)

(;W[dh]
C[KS: Doesn't matter too much which move is played, just anything that will connect all of white's stones.
])
)

(;B[ej];W[dj];B[eh]
(;W[ci];B[fi];W[bi]
C[KS This would be a brilliant exchange for black - out in the center with a strong ponnuki, and white's group above is in serious trouble, plus black has sente! White cannot play this way.
])

(;W[fi];B[fh];W[ci];B[dh]
(;W[gi];B[gf]C[Still no good for white
])

(;W[gf];B[gi];W[fj];B[gj];W[fk];B[hg]
C[Maybe white can play something like this and survive?
])
)
)
)

(;W[dj];B[ce]
C[KS: This way may be best for white. The whole-board influence is ample compensation for the loss of the corner. Compare white's territorial prospects below (and the advantage of not having a weak group) to some of the other variations given.
])
)

(;B[ej]
C[KS: Both sides have to continue fighting in the center. I don't know how white should handle this fight (would probably go for the first variation given, but without detailed reading it's a guessing game...).
]
(;W[dj];B[eh];W[fi];B[fh];W[ci];B[dh];W[gf]
C[White is weak above but has made gains below.
])

(;W[fi];B[dj];W[fj];B[ek]
C[White sacrifices a lot of territory below for strength above, hoping to invade the top later. But the sacrifice looks too big to be playable.
])
)
)

(;B[fi]
C[KS: This way black remains light and moves into the centre quickly. By the time white has made his group safe black will be safe too and white will have no prospects of territory below.
]
(;W[cg];B[ch];W[dh];B[bi]
C[If white focuses on capturing the sacrifice stone (not recommended!), black's shape will develop nicely.
])

(;W[ch];B[ci];W[cg];B[bh]C[Again white accomplishes nothing.
])
)

)