European Congress

British Go Journal No. 63. November 1984. Page 13.

Black: C. Jager, 5k, NL
White: P. Ryan, 9k, GB
The game-file in SGF format.

The article is continued from the previous game on page 10.

Pete Ryan found the long time limits at the European Congress ideally adapted to his style, entering at 10 kyu, he had still not found his own level when he was beating the 5 kyus he met in the last two rounds. Here is one of those games, with comments adapted from those of Richard Granville.

Dia 1 (1-48) 41 connects at 36.

• Black 9, 11: It is wrong to give the opponent secure territory on the fourth line at the start of the game.
• White 14: Trying to live locally is bad - simply jumping out to 28 is quite sufficient to punish Black's poor play.
• White 16: Better at 25.
• White 18, 20: These moves make Black much stronger without helping White.
• White 24: It is usually incorrect to follow a knight's move with a one space jump because of the cut at 25. White should play 36, 29 or 27.
• Black 25 - 31: These moves take full advantage of White's error.
• White 38: White cannot afford to connect at 39, since the ladder does not work. Black would answer at 40 and be able to handle the fight.
• White 46: He could live with 47 instead.
• White 48: Must connect at 58 immediately.

Dia 2 (49-100)

• Black 49: Bad - Black should cut at 58 - threatening 55 which reduces White's ^[1] group to two liberties. Then she should cut at 51, keeping the option of cutting at 50 in reserve. After white 50 it is possible to play 54.
  [1] BGJ had "Black's" group.
• Black 55: Should still cut at 58.
• White 60, 62: Makes sure of the capture. The white corner is enormous, but the game is not over yet since Black has a lot of thickness in the centre.
• White 64: Better at 65 - Black 65 and 67 are good and threaten to take a huge side.
• White 72: Too deep - a shoulder hit at 83 is preferable.
• White 78: Appalling - must hane at 80.
• Black 79: Lets White off the hook - 80 would kill most of White's invading stones.
• Black 83: Better at 84.
• White 92: Ambitious.
• Black 93: Too passive. Black should shut White in more tightly with 94, which also restricts his eye space a bit.
• White 96, 98: Horrible aji keshi moves. The main thing White had to look forward to in this area was pulling out his cutting stones at 99.

Dia 3 (101-160) 125 at captures 3 stones.

• White 106: Should connect at 116 or 118.
• White 108: Bad shape and dangerous - should be 109.
• Black 111: Should cut at 118 - White will have to make eyes in the centre.
• Black 113: Aji keshi - she could play 114 (this is why 108 was bad).
• White 124, 126: Rather cowardly, but now he is definitely alive.
• White 140: White is slightly ahead if he just hanes at 141, so this invasion is wrong.
• Black 147: Better to peep one point above 150.
• White 148: A reasonable try, though he should die here.
• Black 149: At the last moment Black loses her nerve and lets white live. The hane above 150 actually kills very easily.
• White 156, Black 159: White contrives to live in sente.
• White 160: Taking this point gives White a clear-cut victory. The final margin was 19 points.