A few simple rules ... limitless possibilities

British Go Journal No. 92. Autumn 1993. Page 4.

Alex Rix

Feng Yun, 7 dan lady professional, was one of the four Chinese professionals at Canterbury last year. She expressed a desire to visit this country to improve her English and she persuaded me to issue an official invitation earlier this year to the Chinese Weiqi Association.

She was originally to stay for just two months prior to attending the European Go Congress in Prague, but the visit was unfortunately shortened due to difficulty obtaining a diplomatic passport in time. At the last minute, the trip was in jeopardy since the British Embassy were insisting that she obtain a "working visa". Luckily, this demand was withdrawn when I pointed out that she could win any game here with here eyes shut.

She arrived on the 18th June to my great relief and spent a hectic month touring the go clubs of England - unfortunately, due to shortage of time, I had to turn down an invitation from the West Wales Club at Barmouth.

Mrs Feng visited Newcastle, Cambridge, Leamington Spa, Bath and Bristol as well as playing in London at the CLGC, the Chinese club and Wanstead. The visit was paid for mainly by the BGA so I hope everyone found it worth while. We would be grateful for feedback so we can judge whether this type of expenditure is favoured by BGA members.

Feng Yun is a very pleasant professional, willing to teach and not so totally absorbed by the game that she couldn't find time to take an interest in other things. She is now due to take part in a very important championship, and I hope we haven't ruined her go whilst teaching her English!

Considering that I arranged the visit, I'm not sure how much the result of our game was due to diplomacy on her part or her desire to have fun rather than play reasonable moves in order to win.

Black: Alex Rix, 4d
White: Feng Yun, 7p
Handicap: 3 stones
The game-file in SGF format.

The game was one of a number of simultaneous games played at the Central London Go Club on 23rd July.

Figure 1 (2-100)

• Black 15: Better at 21. If White 17 then Black can attack at 28 and cannot get a bad result.
• Black 31: Black has been outplayed here, but at least has thickness towards the centre.
• Black 33: Perhaps it would be better to play at 36 and, after White 43, either live in the corner immediately or later.
• Black 41: Facile - a one point jump towards the centre from 3 would be better.
• Black 43: Attaching above 44 would prevent White linking up easily. In the game White makes territory whilst nearly rescuing the weak stones 8, 10 and 12.
• Black 45: The Black stones combine to make a large territorial framework.
• Black 69: I did not know how to attack these stones. Attaching to the left of 68 is possible, aiming at A, but 69 can't be bad.
• White 70: This is an overplay, but then it is a handicap game and the onus is on Black to prove it.
• Black 75: It looks better to cap at 76 instead and contrive some double attack. I was anxious to attack the White stones below.

Figure 2 (101-153) 127 connects at 120.

• White 102: Overplay, but White assumes that Black will falter, and I do. 103 is a double threat, and I am happy enough to capture three White stones and build enormous strength in the centre. However, I could connect at 106 after 104 and win the semeai by one move in all the variations I could find.
• White 112: If Feng Yun had played normal yose, I think she would have won. Presumably she felt like having some more fun.
• Black 115; The corner is now ko (though not really playable by Black), though after 135 it is unconditionally dead after a hane at A.
• Black 119: Perhaps 121 is better.
• Black 153: Removes all the aji: White could probably connect to 8, 10, 12 but not to the main group, and Black has strong thickness in the right place to prevent White escaping or making a second eye in gote.

Black won by resignation.

Mrs Feng's visit generated a great deal of enthusiasm, and further articles concerning games she played or commented upon follow overleaf.