Today is the second day of our weekend. Yesterday morning, we returned to the Kansai Ki-in to see the pros play. While we were waiting for them to start their matches, they sequestered us in the kids' room.
The main playing room, where most of the pros were already deeply involved in their games, even though they had just started, with almost 3 hours left on each clock:
Four of our teachers from camp were playing (including the player facing us in the following photo):
There was a side room, where another of our teachers was playing. The young woman recording here is most likely a new pro herself.
Yet another of our teachers was playing in one of the top rooms, with the tatami mats.
Pros' shoes lined up outside the tatami mat rooms:
Li-sensei explaining how things work to a bunch of us back in the kids' room:
She said that the way they decide where you play is by rank. If they're playing against players from the Nihon Ki-in (based in Tokyo) then whoever has the higher rank gets to play at their home institution and the other player has to travel for the game. The games we saw today were all inside the Kansai Ki-in (based in Osaka) so no one was traveling for them. But your rank still determines whether you play in the top room or the main room. In any given match, the rank of the higher ranked player is the one that decides the location. So even if you're a lowly 1p, you might get to play in the top room if your opponent is a 9p. After rank, they sort by seniority (by the year the player became a pro) and then by age.
Each player has a wooden name card, which is placed on the table they are playing at for the day. (You can seem them in the following photo next to the board.) The name cards are placed on the board itself initially. When the players enter, the lower-ranked player clears the name tags to the side and then has to clean the board before the match begins. Note also the cute little cell phone holder next to the board.
After watching the pros, we hung out at the Kansai Ki-in for a little while. William played a simul match against his sister and mother.
There was a lecture (in Japanese) followed by simul games.
In the afternoon, I walked over to Osaka Castle with Pete.
I forgot to post a photo of the super-nice board that we saw at the Go equipment factory/store. This board is worth more than $20,000.
Today I'm taking it easy. I'm told it's good to get some rest occasionally.
I've missed posting for a few days, so there's a lot to catch up on. One of the 9 dan pros who visited our camp, Nakana Yasuhiro, is also a shamisen player.
Another 9 dan pro who visited, Yuki Satoshi, gave a lecture in which he reviewed a game he had played recently. His opponent was Iyama Yuta. Even though it was not an official match, he was proud because he beat Iyama Yuta, and in only 68 moves!
We had another lecture by Yokota Shigeaki, who I think is the best lecturer we've had so far. Here are a few notes.
(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]AP[CGoban:3]ST[2]
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]KM[6.50]
PW[White]PB[Black]AW[hc][kc][cd][qd]AB[ec][qo][dp][pq]TR[ec]C[Lecture from Yokata-san
Black to deal with the marked stone.
Black basically has two choices: save it or sacrifice. This stone is weak, and White is strong on both sides. If Black saves it (e.g., escapes), White will not become weak (like in the lecture last week). So Black should sacrifice. How?
There are four possible situations:
1. both players are weak
-- this is the important area... whoever plays there first has a huge advantage.
2. you are weak and your opp is strong
-- sacrifice. don't let your opp profit by attacking your stones
3. you are strong and your opp is weak
-- attack to make profit
4. both players are strong
-- this area is not important, play somewhere else -- come back to play in 30 years]
(;B[dd]C[WRONG
])
(;B[ee]C[WRONG])
(;B[cc]C[WRONG])
(;B[de]C[WRONG])
(;B[df]C[WRONG])
(;B[cg]C[RIGHT
Sacrifice the stone]
;W[de]
(;B[fd]C[WRONG
You just decided to sacrifice, now you're trying to save. Bad idea. Should be consistent.])
(;B[dj]C[RIGHT
Sacrifice the lone stone, and build a big dream.]))
(;B[dg]C[RIGHT
Sacrifice the stone])
(;B[]
;AW[cg]AB[ef][cn]C[Now Black is weak and White is strong. How should White attack?]
(;W[dc]TR[hc][kc]C[This is the best. Since the marked White stones are strong, White should play from the other side. White should think about making Black heavy.]
;B[ed]
;W[de]
;B[ee]
;W[dh]C[This is one example. Even if Black runs away, Black is not making profit.
If White reduces Black's moyo, that is profit too.])
(;W[hf]C[This is also a nice direction, but Black can settle.]
;B[cc]
;W[bc]
;B[dd]
;W[ce]
;B[cb]C[Black makes a base, and then it's hard for White to profit.])))
Meanwhile, I've continued my losing streak by losing the last two league games (so my record is 3-2 now in the league). I lost by 2.5 to Shawn (in a no-komi game).
We never did get it reviewed, since it was such a long game (we were both in byo-yomi for a while) and because we went to the Go equipment factory/store that afternoon. Here's what I have recorded from the game.
The Go equipment factory/store was awesome. I bought slate and shell stones and bowls for them.
Here I am with the owner, who also makes the boards and bowls. The business has been in his family for 140 years.
Testing out whether size 44 stones fit in this particular bowl:
You have to test with the black stones, since they're larger than the white stones. The really nice bowls (way nicer than the ones I bought) sometimes come in fancy boxes.
Comparing different really nice bowls:
Yesterday I lost to Lee Schumacher by half a point. (!)
This was also a no-komi game. Actually, I botched a corner early on and died a tragic death. So the game was good for him. Later he let me come back and we also both went deep into byo-yomi.
(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]AP[CGoban:3]ST[2]
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]KM[0.50]
PW[Becci]PB[Lee Schumacher]LB[bf:3][bl:2][do:1]C[B+0.5
Reviewed by Li-sensei.]
;B[dp]
;W[pd]
;B[dc]
;W[pq]
;B[nc]
;W[ce]
;B[ed]
;W[qf]
;B[df]
;W[lc]
;B[jc]
;W[md]
;B[cf]
;W[cn]
;B[cl]
;W[fp]
;B[eo]
;W[cq]
;B[dq]
;W[cp]
;B[dm]
(;W[do]
;B[dn]
;W[co]
;B[ep]
;W[jp]
;B[cr]
;W[br]
;B[dr]
(;W[bl]C[Overplay.]
;B[bm]
;W[cm]
;B[bk]
;W[dl]
;B[al]
;W[ck]
;B[bl]
;W[bn]
;B[bs]
;W[bp]
;B[aq]
;W[el]
;B[en]
;W[cj]
;B[bj]
;W[ar]
;B[ao]
;W[an]
;B[ap]
;W[ci]
;B[bi]
;W[ei]
(;B[bf]
;W[qn]
;B[po]
;W[qo]
;B[pp]
;W[qp]
;B[oq]
;W[mq]
(;B[nr]C[The shape is wrong.]
;W[pr]
;B[lq]
;W[mr]
;B[lr]
;W[np]
;B[mp]
;W[lp]
;B[mo]
;W[nq]
;B[no]
;W[or]
;B[kp]
;W[lo]
;B[ko]
;W[ln]
;B[jq]
;W[pj]
;B[lj]
;W[kn]
;B[jn]
;W[jm]
;B[in]
;W[kl]
(;B[hk]
;W[gl]
;B[hl]
;W[jo]
;B[kq]
;W[im]
;B[hm]
;W[hn]
;B[io]
;W[ip]
;B[ho]
;W[hp]
;B[go]
;W[ir]
;B[iq]
;W[hq]
;B[hr]
;W[gr])
(;B[jj]C[Black should just secure his group and win.]))
(;B[nq]C[Black should play here.]))
(;B[bg]C[If Black plays here, Black should play this one so that White C12 (or D12) is not sente.]))
(;W[bs]C[White should just live.]))
(;W[dr]C[White should hane under first, to exploit the problems in Black's shape.]
;B[er]
;W[cr]))
I also got to play a simul game against Yuki Satoshi, 9p, yesterday, taking 3 stones.
(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]AP[CGoban:3]ST[2]
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]HA[3]KM[0.50]
PW[Yuki Satoshi]PB[Becci]AB[pd][dp][pp]LB[qc:3][be:1][if:5][dk:2][rk:4]C[W+Res.]
;W[ce]
;B[pj]
;W[nq]
;B[lq]
;W[mo]
;B[qn]
;W[kp]
;B[iq]
;W[fp]
;B[cn]
;W[hp]
;B[jd]
;W[fd]
;B[cc]
;W[ec]
;B[cg]C[This is good.]
;W[eg]
(;B[be]C[This is bad. ]
;W[bf]
;B[cf]
;W[bd]
;B[de]
;W[cd]
;B[dd]
;W[dc]
;B[bc]
;W[ae]
;B[bg]
;W[df]
;B[ee]
;W[fe]C[This is, obviously, not good for Black.]
;B[ef]
;W[ff]
;B[dg]
;W[ed]
;B[df]
;W[bb]
(;B[dk]
;W[nc]
;B[lc]
;W[pf]
(;B[qc]
;W[ne]
;B[oe]
;W[of]
;B[nf]
;W[me]
;B[ng]
;W[lf]
;B[jf]
;W[ph]
;B[ni]
;W[re]
;B[rd]
;W[pb]
;B[qe]
;W[rf]
;B[od]
;W[mc]
;B[ob]
;W[oc]
;B[pc]
;W[qj]
;B[qk]
;W[rj]
;B[pi]
;W[qi]
;B[oh]C[This is good.]
;W[nb]
;B[qb]
;W[rh]
;B[lb]
;W[kg]
(;B[rk]
;W[jg]
(;B[if]
;W[ig]
;B[hf]
;W[eh]
;B[hc]
;W[ci]C[Ouch.]
;B[qg]
;W[qf]
;B[cj]
;W[bi]
;B[oq]
;W[np]
;B[si]
;W[sj]
;B[nr]
;W[mr]
;B[or]
;W[kq]
;B[sk]
;W[pg]
;B[dr]
;W[eq]
;B[dq]
;W[lr]
;B[fr]
;W[hr]
;B[gr]
;W[hq]
;B[fb]
;W[bj]
;B[eb]
;W[db]
;B[hg]
;W[ii]
;B[ik]
;W[kj]
;B[ol]
;W[po]
;B[qo]
;W[op]
;B[qq]
;W[cl]
;B[hi]
;W[ij]
;B[hj]
;W[jk]
;B[il]
;W[oa]
;B[pe]
;W[qa]
;B[ra]
;W[nl]
;B[nk]
;W[mk]
;B[nm]
;W[ml]
;B[om]
;W[bn]
;B[bm]
;W[rb]
;B[pa]
;W[cm]
;B[bo]
;W[qa]
;B[ac]
;W[cb]
;B[pa]
;W[dn]
;B[co]
;W[qa]
;B[ad]
;W[ab]
;B[pa]
;W[pq]
;B[pr]
;W[qa]
;B[qh]
;W[sa]
;B[ri]
;W[rc])
(;B[hc]C[Black should just live here, instead of hurting the stones on the left side.]))
(;B[jg]C[Black should play out this way to attack White. This is consistent with M18.]))
(;B[nd]C[Black should do this, since White is so strong.]
;W[md]
;B[mc]
;W[qd]
;B[oc]
;W[qc]))
(;B[nc]C[Black should still play back here. White can't take the Black stones with one move.]))
(;B[nc]C[Black should just play something like this, leave the aji in the corner for later.]))
Today we went to the Kansai Ki-in to play with some pre-insei kids. We sneaked past some insei who were playing official matches (these count toward whether they become pros, so we were warned repeatedly to be absolutely quiet).
From there, we got to poke our heads into the fancy playing room for top matches and sit at the board where the most important matches are played. One pro was playing a game in there online when we went in.
Next to that is the second best room:
They have a great view:
This is where other pros review the top matches while they're being played:
And here are some of our Osaka Go Camp members playing with the pre-insei kids:
My first game was against Ootani Kensuke, who was 9 years old and must have been 5 dan.
He gave me 2 stones. I made a stupid reading error in byo-yomi at the end, and then resigned. Here's part of the game.
In my second game, they had trouble finding me an opponent for some reason, so they paired me with a 6 kyu. I gave him 8 stones. (!) I didn't record this one, but he did a great job. At the very end, he made an endgame mistake that would have cost him the game, but I had him take it back so he won. (And he deserved the win.)
Yesterday a bunch of students from a local university visited us at the TTS center for a friendly match. I went 0-2 for the day. (In fact, all of us on the Go Camp side of the top table went 0-2 yesterday; we really let down our team.) Pete and Shawn did their part, both winning both of their games!
My first opponent had an English name, Josh. When he was in elementary school, he lived in Arlington, MA, just up the road from where I live now! He said he even went to our Go club, back when we had the basement space in Davis square. His dad is a doctor and was doing something at Harvard at the time. Josh is currently studying to become a doctor as well.
Unfortunately, I didn't get pro reviews of either of my games from yesterday. I did review my games with my opponents though, and it was good to at least get their perspectives. Here's my game with Josh:
(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]AP[CGoban:3]ST[2]
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]KM[0.50]
PW[Yoshiya (josh) Sanada]PB[Becci]C[White+~20
Went over the game with my opponent at the end, but we didn't get a pro review.]
;B[pd]
;W[dd]
;B[pq]
;W[dp]
;B[fq]
;W[cn]
;B[ip]
;W[pn]
;B[qo]
;W[pj]
;B[qn]
;W[qf]
;B[nc]
;W[oq]
;B[pp]
;W[pr]
;B[qr]
;W[lq]
;B[jq]
;W[lo]
;B[cf]
;W[ch]
;B[fd]
;W[df]
;B[dg]
;W[cg]
;B[dc]
;W[ce]
;B[cc]
(;W[lc]
;B[bf]
;W[be]
;B[ef]
;W[de]
;B[jc]
;W[le]
;B[pf]
;W[qe]
;B[qd]
;W[pe]
;B[oe]
;W[pg]
;B[of]
;W[rd]
;B[rc]
;W[re]
;B[qb]
;W[hd]
;B[je]
;W[lg]
;B[og]
;W[ph]
;B[hf]
;W[ic]
;B[kc]
;W[ge]
;B[fe]
;W[gf]
;B[hg]
;W[gg]
;B[eh]
;W[gh]
;B[jh]
;W[kh]
;B[hh]
;W[gi]
;B[ej]
;W[ec]
;B[fc]
;W[ed]
;B[eb]
;W[db]
(;B[cb]
;W[fb]
;B[da]
;W[gb]
;B[fj]
;W[gj]
;B[ck]
;W[cj]
;B[bd]
;W[bg]
;B[fl]
;W[jg]
;B[he]
;W[gd]
;B[ji]
;W[hi]
;B[jf]
;W[di]
;B[ei]
;W[ki]
;B[jj]
;W[kj]
;B[jk]
;W[hl]
;B[bk]
;W[bj]
;B[fn]
;W[em]
;B[fm]
;W[dk]
;B[jm]
;W[gc]
;B[ll]
;W[kr]
;B[mf]
;W[lf]
(;B[mj]
;W[mk]
;B[lk]
;W[mi]
;B[qk]
;W[qj]
;B[rk]
;W[eq]
;B[fp]
;W[fr]
;B[gr]
;W[er]
;B[jr]
;W[kd]
;B[jd]
;W[lb]
;B[ib]
;W[hb]
;B[eg]
;W[jb]
;B[kb]
;W[ia]
;B[do]
;W[co]
;B[el]
;W[dl]
;B[dn]
;W[dm]
;B[or]
;W[nr]
;B[ps]
;W[op]
;B[no]
;W[oo]
;B[nn]
;W[np]
;B[mr]C[I was in byo-yomi and stopped recording. ])
(;B[ni]C[We think this might have been the better move.]))
(;B[fb]C[Looks like Black can play this side because of White's shortage of liberties.]
;W[cb]
;B[bc]
;W[bb]
;B[ab]
;W[bd]
;B[ee]
;W[cd]
;B[ac]
;W[ba]
;B[da]
;W[bg]
;B[ea]
;W[af]
;B[ca]
;W[ad]
;B[aa]))
(;W[hc]C[White should probably play this side first.]))
Here's my afternoon opponent, Dai Chida:
And here's our game, with a few suggestions from him:
(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]AP[CGoban:3]ST[2]
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]HA[2]KM[0.50]
PW[Dai Chida]PB[Becci]AB[pd][dp]C[White+11
Went over the game with my opponent, but we didn't get a pro review.]
;W[dc]
;B[pp]
;W[qn]
;B[pj]
;W[nq]
;B[oo]
;W[qq]
;B[mp]
;W[qp]
;B[mq]
;W[cn]
;B[fq]
;W[en]
;B[ci]C[I was not happy with this opening for Black, especially since it started as a 2 stone game.]
;W[cq]
;B[cp]
;W[bp]
;B[dq]
;W[br]
;B[cr]
;W[bq]
;B[cf]
;W[or]
;B[ln]
;W[nc]
;B[qf]
;W[dh]
;B[ch]
;W[de]
;B[kd]
;W[pe]
;B[qe]
;W[pc]
(;B[qc]
;W[od]
;B[qd]
;W[ic]
;B[lc]
;W[ie]
;B[me]
;W[ne]
;B[mf]
;W[md]
;B[kf]
;W[ld]
;B[jc]
;W[le]
;B[ke]
;W[lf]
(;B[ib]
;W[lg]
;B[bd]
;W[ce]
;B[be]
;W[df]
;B[dg]
;W[eg]
;B[cg]
;W[hc]
;B[hb]
;W[gc]
;B[gb]
;W[hq]
;B[hp]
;W[ip]
;B[gp]
;W[io]
(;B[jq]C[We both thought this was a bad move.]
;W[iq]
;B[gn]
;W[im]
;B[gl]
;W[ql]C[This move is huge. I really wanted to play here. ]
;B[jn]
;W[in]
;B[ik]
;W[kq]
;B[jr]
;W[ko]
(;B[jp]
;W[jo]
;B[kp]
;W[lo]
;B[mo]
;W[jk]
(;B[lm]
;W[jl]
;B[ij]
;W[lk]
;B[nl]
;W[rj]
;B[jm]
;W[il]
;B[gk]
;W[nk]
;B[ok]
;W[ml]
;B[nm]
;W[nj]
;B[pl]
;W[fm]
;B[gm]
;W[ck]C[Ugh. My opponent got *both* of the big side moves. Totally not ok. ]
;B[qm]
;W[rm]
;B[qk]
;W[rl]
;B[rk]
;W[sk]
(;B[pf]
;W[pb]
;B[qb]
;W[rh]
;B[qj]
;W[qi]
;B[ki]
;W[pi]
;B[oj]
;W[ni]
;B[kj]
;W[ll]
;B[mh]
;W[nh]
;B[nf]
;W[mg]
;B[oe]
;W[lb]
;B[kb]
;W[mc]
;B[kc]
;W[cc]
;B[bc]
;W[fb]
;B[hg]
;W[gf]
;B[hf]
;W[he]
;B[gg]
;W[fg]
;B[bj]
;W[bk]
;B[ek]
;W[mr]
;B[lr]
;W[kg]
;B[fi]
;W[ma]
;B[ja]
;W[bb]
;B[ab]
;W[ba]
;B[dm]
;W[dn]
;B[ms]
;W[nr]
;B[rg]
;W[dr]
;B[er]
;W[cs]
;B[jh]
;W[jg]
;B[ka]
;W[cj]
;B[bi]
;W[dl]
;B[fa]
;W[eb]
;B[el]
;W[em]
;B[dk]
;W[cl]
;B[fh]
;W[eh]
;B[ei]
;W[ff]
;B[cd]
;W[dd]
;B[pa]
;W[oa]
;B[qa]
;W[lp]
;B[lq]
;W[fo]
;B[go]
;W[ig]
;B[ih]
;W[pm]
;B[om]
;W[qg]
;B[pg]
;W[qh]
;B[rf]
;W[fp]
;B[gq]
;W[ir]
;B[oi]
;W[si]
;B[li]C[In byo-yomi; stopped recording.])
(;B[pb]C[I'm sure this is bigger...])
(;B[ff]C[My opponent recommended this move, which I hadn't considered at all.]
;W[ef]
;B[fc]
;W[fd]
;B[gd]
(;W[hd]
;B[ed]
;W[fe]
;B[ec]
;W[dd]
;B[ee]
;W[ed])
(;W[fb]
;B[id]
;W[ec]
;B[hd])))
(;B[ij]C[Probably responding here is better.]))
(;B[kn]C[My opponent also thought I should play this way.]))
(;B[iq]C[Black should just cut and live.]
;W[jq]
;B[ir]
;W[jr]
;B[hr]
;W[ko]))
(;B[lg]C[My opponent thought I should just cover here.]))
(;B[od]C[My opponent thinks I should have played here.]
(;W[oc]
;B[qc]
;W[nd]
;B[qd])
(;W[qc]C[I would have worried about this.])))
After our matches, we went out for sake. I should have stopped after one, but I went for a second. (It's so good!) My resulting lack of sleep is unlikely to help me in our match against the pre-pre-Insei at the Kansai Ki-in today...
Today was day 3 of Osaka Go Camp, after our Wed-Thu weekend. (The pros play their official matches on Wednesdays and Thursdays, so those are our days off.) On Wednesday, I went to Nara on my own.
On Thursday, we had a group tour of Koyasan.
A few of us split off and took a detour through the incredible cemetery/forest.
We had told the others we were going to walk to the next bus stop while they waited for the bus, but the next bus stop was so close that we decided to go a little further. And then further. And further. Then we veered off through the cemetery/forest, still thinking we'd meet up with them at any minute. It was quite a while before we found them again, though. And our delightful leader Hyodo-san was worried about us.
I feel badly that he was worried, but our detour was the best part of the trip.
Today we were back at the TTS for another league game day. I played Ohgaki-san, 1 dan.
I won by 5 points. Our game was reviewed by Maeda-sensei.
(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]AP[CGoban:3]ST[2]
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]KM[0.50]
PW[Becci]PB[Ogaki-san 1d]LB[qh:1][rj:3][do:2]C[W+5 (no komi)
Reviewed by Maeda-sensei.]
;B[dp]
;W[pd]
;B[dc]
;W[ce]
;B[ed]
;W[pq]
;B[df]
;W[cn]
;B[cf]
;W[ck]
;B[co]
;W[dn]
;B[fp]
;W[hq]
;B[fq]
;W[jc]
;B[po]
;W[np]
;B[qq]
;W[qr]
(;B[pp]C[Maeda did not like this move for Black (but I think Guo Juan generally considers this a possibility).]
;W[oq]
;B[qk]
;W[rq]
;B[qf]
;W[nd]
;B[qc]
;W[qd]
;B[rd]
;W[pc]
;B[rb]
;W[qb]
;B[rc]
;W[gc]
;B[qp]
;W[ch]
;B[nn]
(;W[qh]LB[rd:A][po:B]C[This is not a good move. Since Black's A and B groups are both strong, this is not an interesting place to play. Also, White owes a move on the bottom.]
;B[rp]
;W[pb]
;B[rg]
;W[og]
;B[id]
;W[ic]
;B[gd]
;W[fc]
;B[fd]
;W[rh]
;B[qe]
;W[pl]
;B[ql]
;W[cb]
;B[db]
;W[bf]
;B[bg]
;W[be]
;B[cg]
;W[cc]
;B[eg]C[Black does not need to defend here. Black should take sente.]
;W[bn]
;B[bo]
;W[kq]C[(It's about time!!)]
;B[pm]
;W[gr]
;B[fr]
;W[jd]
;B[ie]
;W[kf]
;B[jg]
;W[ei]
;B[kg]
(;W[gh]
(;B[hg]
;W[gm]
;B[ii]
;W[oi]
;B[gj]
(;W[fi]
;B[ik]
;W[ra]
;B[se]
(;W[do]
(;B[bp]
(;W[rj]
;B[rr]
;W[rs]
;B[sq]
;W[pr]
;B[mh]
;W[nj]
;B[of]
;W[qj]
;B[mf]
;W[pk]
;B[rm]
;W[le]
;B[fk]
;W[el]
;B[ga]
;W[hb]
;B[ko]
;W[kp]
;B[lj]
;W[nl]
;B[jo]
;W[fs]
;B[es]
;W[gs]
;B[dr]
;W[gg]
;B[dh]
;W[di]
;B[ci]
;W[cj]
;B[bi]
;W[dd]
;B[de]
;W[cd]
;B[ec]
;W[ff]
;B[ek]
;W[dk]
;B[fe]
;W[im]
;B[lp]
;W[lq]
;B[mp]
;W[mq]
;B[km]
;W[no]
;B[mn]
;W[il]
;B[jk]
;W[lk]
;B[kk]
;W[mj]
;B[mi]
;W[hf]
;B[me]
;W[md]
;B[fl]
;W[fn]
;B[em]
;W[fo]
;B[dl]
;W[cl]
;B[ho]
;W[bj]
;B[iq]
;W[ir]
;B[jq]
;W[jr]
;B[ll]
;W[qg]
;B[if]
;W[hh]
;B[ig]
;W[gl]
;B[mk]
;W[gi]
;B[gk]
;W[hp]
;B[io]
;W[rk])
(;W[rr]C[This is the biggest endgame.]))
(;B[cp]LB[eo:A]C[Black should defend this way, so that White A is not sente.]))
(;W[ao]C[This is a better move for White.]))
(;W[fk]C[White could also sacrifice one stone.]))
(;B[fi]
;W[fh]
;B[eh]C[The ladder is good for Black; Black should cut and fight.]))
(;W[gi]C[This would be normal for White.]))
(;W[kp]C[White should play somewhere on the bottom to defend. If Black plays here first, Black can split White and attack.]))
(;B[qp]C[He said this is normal: protect the weak stone. ]))
As usual, Maeda-sensei reviewed our homework. Then we had a lecture by Ha Yongil, 6p. He reviewed the official game he played yesterday. There was a really interesting life-and-death problem in the middle of it. None of us saw the answer (including Francis Meyer, 1p). When Ha Yongil finally showed us how to solve it, Francis said he had never seen that tesuji in a game before, only in books. Here, Shawn and Arthur are taking a stab at the problem:
I signed up to play in the simul games against Ha Yongil. I took 3 stones, knowing I didn't stand a chance. Here's the game.
(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]AP[CGoban:3]ST[2]
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]HA[3]KM[0.50]
PW[Yongil Ha, 6p]PB[Becci]AB[pd][dp][pp]LB[dc:5][mk:1][dm:3][gn:2][qr:4]C[W+res.]
;W[cd]
;B[jp]
;W[qn]
;B[ql]
;W[qq]
;B[pq]
;W[qp]
;B[po]
;W[rn]
;B[om]
;W[nc]
;B[lc]
;W[ne]
;B[qf]
;W[ic]
;B[le]
;W[ng]
;B[lg]
;W[pb]
;B[qc]
;W[ni]
;B[li]
;W[pg]
(;B[mk]C[This was my biggest mistake of the game. It's not a bad move in and of itself, but Black R13 is urgent.]
;W[qg]C[Now White gets to become extremely strong, and makes Black really weak in the corner.]
;B[qb]
;W[rf]
;B[re]
;W[qe]
;B[rd]
;W[pf]
;B[ob]
;W[oc]
;B[pc]
;W[nb]
;B[pa]
;W[fq]
;B[eq]
;W[fp]
;B[cn]
;W[hp]
;B[jq]
;W[in]
(;B[gn]
;W[hn]LB[gn:A][hn:B]C[The A-B exchange is bad -- it fixes White's problems.]
;B[kn]
;W[en]
(;B[dm]C[This does not protect the corner in this case.]
;W[em]
;B[dl]
;W[do]
;B[co]
;W[cq]
;B[cp]
;W[er]
;B[dq]
;W[dr]
(;B[qr]C[This is not sente while Black has the cut at Q8.]
;W[rr]
;B[pr]
;W[bq]
;B[ch]
;W[ed]
(;B[cc]C[This is not good, since it secures White's corner.]
;W[dc]
;B[bd]
;W[bc]
;B[ce]
;W[cb]
;B[rs]
;W[rl]
;B[qk]
;W[rk]
;B[hd]
;W[hc]
;B[ef]
;W[fk]
;B[ej]
;W[fj]
(;B[kl]
;W[ei]
;B[di]
;W[eh]
;B[cg]
;W[je]
;B[ke]
;W[jf]
(;B[ji]C[This is not necessary. ]
;W[qj]
;B[pj]
;W[pi]
;B[gr]
;W[hr]
;B[ir]
;W[hs]
;B[gf]
;W[de]
;B[df]
;W[be]
;B[jb]
;W[jc]
;B[kb]
;W[cf]
;B[bf]
;W[ce]
;B[rq]
;W[rp]
;B[sr]
;W[oj]
;B[ol]
;W[ih]
;B[dg]
;W[ek]
;B[dj]
;W[iq]
;B[ip]
;W[hq]
;B[ha]
;W[gb]
;B[ii]
;W[il]
;B[fi]
;W[gi]
;B[fh]
;W[fg]
;B[gh]
;W[gg]
;B[hh]
;W[hg]
;B[hi]
;W[ff]
;B[ig]
;W[if]
;B[jh]
;W[ee]
;B[hl]
;W[hk]
;B[jr]
;W[an]
;B[bn]
;W[ao]
;B[am]
;W[bp]
;B[bo]
;W[ap]
;B[bl]
;W[bg]
;B[bh]
;W[af]
;B[el]
;W[fl]
;B[qo]
;W[ro]
;B[eg]
;W[jk]
;B[kk]
;W[qm]
;B[ok]
;W[pk]
;B[pl]
;W[io])
(;B[ee]C[Probably this is best, ])
(;B[be]C[Or maybe this.]))
(;B[ei]C[Black should probably just respond here.])
(;B[jm]C[If Black is going to play on this side, this is probably better.]))
(;B[fd]C[This should be better.]))
(;B[cr]C[Black should just play here, which is normal.]))
(;B[dn]C[If Black wants to protect the corner, Black should play this wya.]))
(;B[kn]C[Black should just play here.]))
(;B[qg]C[Black should just play here.]))
Yesterday was our second day of Osaka Go Camp. For my league game in the morning, I played Joel Sanet. He's an AYD member and I've played him online before, but this was the first time I played him in person. And he said this is his first-ever selfie:
He's playing as 1 dan, so I had to take white with no komi. I won by 11 points. The game was good for him after I invaded too early (before defending my group). But then he played some slow endgame moves too early so I was able to come back. I left a weak group, so he had a chance to kill it, but my group lived. Here's the sgf, with some comments from Ting Li:
(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]AP[CGoban:3]ST[2]
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]KM[0.50]
PW[Becci]PB[Joel Sanet 1d]LB[gq:1][hq:2]C[W+11 (no komi)
Reviewed by Ting Li]
;B[dp]
;W[pd]
;B[cd]
;W[ec]
;B[pp]
;W[cn]
;B[fq]
;W[cg]
;B[de]
;W[dj]
;B[fd]
;W[fc]
;B[gd]
;W[gc]
;B[hd]
;W[ic]C[She said this is fine for Black, though In-seong doesn't like it because Black builds influence and can't extend from it. ("Influence needs an extension.")]
;B[id]
;W[jc]
;B[dc]
;W[qn]
;B[np]
;W[rp]
;B[ql]
;W[qq]
;B[qo]
;W[ro]
;B[pn]
;W[pm]
;B[qm]
;W[rn]
;B[om]
;W[qf]
;B[em]
(;W[gq]C[This was my big mistake of the game. Ting Li says to only play this when Black has already sealed the area and White needs to create some aji.]
;B[fp]
;W[fr]
;B[er]
;W[jq]
;B[cm]
;W[ed]
;B[ee]
;W[oj]
;B[pk]
;W[jd]
(;B[lq]
;W[hr]
;B[fs]
;W[lr]
;B[mq]
;W[kr]
;B[mr]C[This move is slow. It's hard to attack this White group, and this move is not even making points.]
;W[be]
;B[bd]
;W[qi]
;B[ci]
;W[cl]
;B[bm]
;W[dm]C[This is an overplay.]
(;B[dn]
;W[dl]
;B[bl]
;W[bk]
;B[co]
;W[cj]
;B[jo]
;W[ip]
;B[gr]
;W[io]
;B[jn]
;W[gp]
;B[bf]
;W[oc]
;B[oh]
;W[pi]
;B[mh]
;W[ng]
;B[oi]
;W[pj]
;B[og]
;W[pf]
;B[lf]
;W[mj]
;B[ne]
;W[md]
;B[nk]
;W[nj]
;B[nd]
;W[nc]
;B[me]
;W[ld]
;B[ll]
;W[kp]
;B[lo]
;W[eb]
;B[bg]C[This was also slow.]
;W[bi]
;B[eg]
;W[jf]
;B[kh]
;W[en]
;B[bn]
;W[cb]
;B[pr]
;W[qr]
;B[ir]C[This was Black's chance. ]
(;W[hq]C[White should not settle this part first. Instead, White should jump out first to see how Black will respond.]
;B[hs]
;W[gn]
(;B[fn]C[This is a mistake.]
;W[gm]
;B[fo]
;W[iq]
;B[in]
;W[go]
;B[il]
;W[el]
;B[fm]
;W[js]C[Once White is alive, the game is hard for Black.]
;B[ig]
;W[fi]
;B[rk]
;W[qp]
;B[po]
;W[rj]
;B[os]
;W[qs]
;B[is]
;W[jr]
;B[gs]
;W[ls]
;B[ie]
;W[kf]
;B[gh]
;W[le]
;B[lg]
;W[of]
;B[nf]
;W[fh]
;B[fg]
;W[if]
;B[hf]
;W[pq]
;B[oq]
;W[mk]
;B[nl]
;W[ml]
;B[mm]
;W[ok]
;B[ol]
;W[db]
;B[bb]
;W[cc]
;B[dd]
;W[bc]
;B[ac]
;W[cf]
;B[ce]
;W[ch]
;B[eh]
;W[ei]
;B[dh]
;W[di]
;B[fk]
;W[fl]
;B[hk]
;W[kj]
;B[ji]
;W[jj]
;B[ii]
;W[gi]
;B[hi]
;W[jg]
;B[ih]
;W[kl]
;B[lm]
;W[jl]
;B[lk]
;W[lj]
;B[ek]
;W[dk]
;B[hn]
;W[gk]
;B[gj]
;W[gl]
;B[fj]
;W[ps]
;B[or]
;W[ko]
;B[kn]
;W[lp]
;B[mp]
;W[ba]
;B[pg]
;W[qg]
;B[hc]
;W[hb]
;B[je]
;W[ke]
;B[ab]
;W[ij]
;B[hj]
;W[ph]
;B[mi]
;W[ni]
;B[nh]
;W[rm]
;B[sj]
;W[si]
;B[sk]
;W[df]
;B[oe]
;W[pe]
;B[ef]
;W[od]
;B[mg]
;W[bh]
;B[qk]
;W[ms]
;B[sm]
;W[sn]
;B[qj]
;W[ri]
;B[sl]
;W[ns]
;B[nr]
;W[al]
;B[am]
;W[ak]
;B[kk]
;W[jk]
;B[li]
;W[ag]
;B[ae]
;W[hl]
;B[km]
;W[ik]
;B[im]
;W[ho]
;B[af]
;W[ah]
;B[pl]
;W[ca]
;B[ad]
;W[jp])
(;B[fm]C[Since White already played H3 on the bottom, Black should play this way to prevent White from getting a second eye.]))
(;W[gn]C[White should play out first, to ask Black how he will respond.]
(;B[fn]
;W[gm]
;B[fo]
;W[hq]
;B[hs]
;W[iq])
(;B[fm]
;W[fn]
;B[fk]
;W[hs])))
(;B[dl]C[Black should atari this side and kill one group or the other.]
;W[dn]
;B[ck]))
(;B[bl]C[Ting Li recommended this for Black. It secures the corner and is almost sente against White's side group.]
;W[bj]
;B[pc]C[If White responds, Black can come in here now.]))
(;W[dl]C[White should just respond. This keeps Black's wall useless, and makes points. Black's skirt is open on the bottom, so this is just normal.]))
Maeda reviewed our homework from the first day. (A bunch of us won small prizes for getting them all right. I chose a Kansai Ki-in handkerchief.) There's a lot of pressure to get them right because they're all mid-kyu level problems now. The tsume-go problems have been easy so far, but I feel less confident about the opening problems because they are so wide open. Here's Maeda-sensei looking for weak groups:
We had a lecture by Yokata Shigeaki 9p in the afternoon (with translation by Francis Meyer). Here are a few notes I took from the lecture:
(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]AP[CGoban:3]ST[2]
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]KM[6.50]
PW[White]PB[Black]AW[fc][jd][pd][ch][pp]AB[dd][df][qj][dp][jq]C[Many people think only about their own stones. Need to think about opponent too.
1. Which group(s) are weak? (for both players)
-- in this case, the Black upper left group and the single White stone on the left side
2. Which of those groups is weaker?
-- in this case, the White stone is a little weaker
3. Have to think about the situation (like when you dress -- if it's raining, you bring your umbrella)
4. If you're weaker, defend; if you're stronger, attack.
5. Need to think about getting profit from attack.]
;B[ck]LB[cj:A][dj:B][ck:C][dk:D]C[Black should pincer -- attack and build the lower left. (Which pincer is not so important.)]
;W[eh]C[Now White is stronger, so Black should defend.]
;B[fd]C[Black should escape, rather than defend the corner, since Black can keep the pressure on the two White stones.
Attaching here is the best way to escape. When you attach, you should know that both you and your opponent will become stronger. ]
;W[gd]
;B[fe]C[Sort of joseki])
Note the two little kids sitting eagerly up front. Their mother thought this was a camp for kids. (Oops!) They seem to be having fun anyway.
In the afternoon, I asked for a friendly game with a former insei, Yamagita Tomoya 7d. He graciously agreed to play and beat me with 5 stones. (!) In my game against the pro on day 1, I played very thickly, just taking points and not leaving a lot for White to do. In this game, I tried to attack more. It would have been ok anyway, but for a few rather obvious mistakes. I should know better. I am sure I can do better, but I was very conscious of trying to not take too much of his time, so I played faster than I usually would.
(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]AP[CGoban:3]ST[2]
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]HA[5]KM[0.50]
PW[Yamagita Tomoya 7d]PB[Becci]AB[dd][pd][jj][dp][pp]LB[ff:1][lh:3][co:2]C[White+Res.]
;W[cn]
;B[cl]
;W[dg]
;B[ci]
;W[gd]
;B[ef]
;W[di]
;B[dj]
;W[ej]
;B[dk]
;W[eg]
;B[ch]
;W[gg]
(;B[ff]
;W[gf]
;B[fg]
;W[fh]
;B[gh]
;W[fi]
;B[df]
;W[cg]
;B[cc]
;W[en]
;B[fl]
;W[ii]
;B[fp]
;W[ij]
(;B[nc]
;W[gn]
;B[hl]
;W[hp]
;B[fo]
;W[fn]
;B[ho]
;W[go]
;B[gp]
;W[hq]
;B[io]
;W[bp]
;B[cq]
;W[bq]
;B[gr]
;W[gq]
;B[fq]
;W[hr]
;B[fr]
;W[kq]
;B[br]
;W[hm]
;B[do]
;W[dn]
(;B[co]C[This is slow.]
;W[il]
;B[hk]
;W[ik]
;B[nq]
;W[ko]
;B[qo]
;W[bg]
;B[bj]
;W[ec]
;B[be]
;W[qi]
;B[qk]
;W[qf]
;B[qe]
;W[pf]
;B[ok]
;W[lc]
;B[ne]C[Good.]
;W[nh]
;B[le]
;W[jc]
(;B[lh]
;W[qc]
;B[re]
;W[pc]
;B[oc]
;W[md]
(;B[nd]
;W[me]
(;B[mj]
;W[mf]
;B[jh]
;W[nn]
;B[oi]
;W[oh]
;B[om]
;W[ce]
;B[bd]
;W[db]
;B[cb]
;W[ar]
;B[cr]
;W[bn]
;B[bh]
;W[rk]
;B[rl]
;W[pq]
;B[qq]
;W[oq]
;B[op]
;W[nr]
;B[qr]
;W[mq]
;B[np]
;W[rf]
;B[sf]C[This is the (final) losing move.]
;W[rd]
;B[qd]
;W[pb]
;B[rc]
;W[rb]
;B[sd]
;W[sb]
;B[qa]
;W[ra]
;B[ob]
;W[pa]
;B[oa]
;W[qb]
;B[nf]
;W[mg]
;B[pe]
;W[mb]
;B[sc]
;W[sg]
;B[se]
;W[ll]
;B[nm]
;W[kg]
;B[ji]
;W[ed]
;B[jg]
;W[de]C[Oops...])
(;B[nf]C[Even now, Black should come out.]
;W[mf]
;B[ng]
;W[mg]
;B[oh]
;W[oi]
;B[ni]
;W[mh]
;B[pi]C[Black's corner/side is huge.]))
(;B[oe]C[Black should defend this way.]
;W[me]
;B[ng]))
(;B[mc]C[Black needs to defend this cut.]))
(;B[ik]C[This way, Black is out and White is in trouble.]))
(;B[gn]C[Black should cover.]))
(;B[gf]
;W[hf]
;B[ff]
;W[hg]
;B[fg]
;W[fh]
;B[gh]
;W[fi]
;B[hi]C[Black should play this way.]))
I won my first league game today! My opponent was Arthur Touchard from Paris:
I played the Yunguseng opening. I made a mistake coming out with my group, so he cut me off, which was a good result for him. Later, he made a reading mistake and resigned. Here it is, with a few comments from Maeda-sensei:
(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]AP[CGoban:3]ST[2]
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]KM[0.00]
PW[Arthur Touchard]PB[Becci]LB[ne:2][mi:1][qk:3]C[B+Res.
Reviewed by Maeda-Sensei]
;B[pd]
;W[dd]
;B[pq]
;W[dp]
;B[fq]
;W[cn]
;B[ip]
;W[qn]
;B[po]
;W[rp]
;B[pl]
;W[pn]
;B[on]
;W[om]
;B[nn]
;W[qo]
;B[pp]LB[qo:A][pp:B]C[Bad exchange for White.]
;W[pm]
;B[ql]
;W[pi]
;B[oj]
;W[ol]
;B[pj]
;W[qh]
;B[qj]
;W[qf]
;B[qe]
;W[pf]
;B[nc]
;W[mk]
(;B[mi]C[This is not a good idea because it leaves a cut.]
;W[mg]
(;B[ne]C[This is a mistake, because now White can cut.]
;W[ni]
;B[oi]
;W[nh]
;B[nj]
;W[mj]
;B[nl]
;W[nk]
;B[ok]
;W[nm]
;B[ml]
;W[mm]
;B[ll]
;W[li]
;B[lj]
;W[mh]
;B[lk]
;W[mi]
(;B[rk]
;W[mn]
;B[mp]
;W[kn]
;B[cf]
;W[lp]
;B[lq]
;W[kq]
;B[mq]
;W[kp]
;B[dr]
;W[cq]
;B[iq]
;W[ji]
;B[ci]
;W[fc]
;B[bd]
;W[cc]
;B[ik]
;W[im]
;B[gk]
;W[dj]
;B[ek]
;W[cj]
;B[bi]
;W[hj]
;B[hk]
;W[fi]
;B[fn]
;W[fp]
;B[gp]
;W[go]
;B[fo]
;W[ep]
;B[ho]
;W[gm]
;B[gn]
;W[fl]
;B[hm]
;W[hl]
;B[hn])
(;B[rm]LB[rh:A]C[Black should play here. This take's an eye from White in the corner, and then this move is not sente for White. Black can live this way because Black has A.]))
(;B[oi]C[Maybe here?]))
(;B[mj]
;W[lk]
;B[oh]LB[qj:A]C[This is one idea.
Black's A group is not strong, so Black should fix the problem, not leave a cut.])
(;B[oi]C[Or maybe just turn here.]))
In the afternoon, we had lectures by Maeda-sensei (introducing our homework) and then by two pros, Frances Meyers 1P and Takami Hoshikawa 4P.
After the lectures, they did teaching games. I got to play a simul game vs. Takami Hoshikawa. I think all 4 of us might have won our games (not sure what happened in Gabby's game), which makes it seem like that might have been intentional. We did have large handicaps (he gave me 5 stones) but still... Anyway, here's the game.
