Hall v Fearnley

British Go Journal No. 41. May 1978. Page 17.

A poor game for Harry Fearnley, but characteristic of Mark Hall's simple and uncomplicated style of play, which can be very effective - he has beaten Matthew Macfadyen several times in the last year. Matthew's style is complex and ambitious; perhaps there is a moral here.

Black: TMark Hall, 2d
White: Harry Fearnley, 1d
Played at the 1978 British Go Congress
The game-file in SGF format.

Figure 1 (1-115) [BGJ omitted lettered points Recreated by Jon Diamond.]

• White 6: Unusual. Mark Hall has popularised this move in British Go.
• Black 7-17: This looks good for Black, opposite the 4-4 stone, but ...
• White 18: ... this breaks the ladder, but neither Black nor White realised this.
• White 20: It would be better to pull out 12.
• White 22: Better to invade on the third line. Now black at 114 would be strong.
• White 28: Too close to black's thickness. This extension should be one point less.
• Black 29; Threatening to kill the corner.
• White 30-32: White establishes himself and black takes his profit in the corner.
• White 34: Not a severe attack. White A would be better to strengthen White's broad shimari.
• White 38; To not answer black 37 makes white 34 a meaningless move.
• Black 39 & 41 are profitable and in sente. White's right hand area is very thin and weak.
• Black 43: Mark's favourite invasion of his favourite shimari.
• White 46: Nice shape, but black has no problem in living.
• White 56: A mistake because it threatens nothing.
• Black 57: Natural. Now white has no attack on any black group and is far behind on territory.
• White 58-72 are not very effective as Black can easily save 67 and 71.
• White 80: Aji keshi, losing the possibility of moves such as B to cut off the Black stones.
• White 86 must be at 88 or C. Black is now able to secure himself too easily.
• White 90: This is the time to play at 98, while black is sure to answer.
• White 106: A blunder, he must just descend straight to the edge, inviting black to kill white, before black himself is killed.

White resigned after black 115.