I thought maybe Hairspring wasn't paying attention with 10.i15, but 11.k18 left a big hole on the left side, which 12.l13 quickly showed.

So, looks like the "standard" |11.i14 12.j13 13.h16 is better here

white L16 looks losing to me, just because of the problems that black L18 gave you. I dunno, maybe |7.k17 8.m9 9.i9

|11.i14 12.m9 then for example 13.m10 14.l11 15.n8 16.o12 17.l12 18.k14 or 13.i10 14.h13 15.j16 16.j12 17.m8 18.n7 19.l10 20.l8

|11.g14 also loses after 12.h12 13.k14 14.j17 15.i13 16.f18 17.f16 18.h18 19.e20 20.f19 21.d18 22.d17 or 13.f11 14.g11 15.g13 16.h13

I disagree that L16 is losing. I simply played Achilles to early. I think white's position looks pretty good after

|9.j17 10.j19 11.h18 12.h20 13.d19

doh! "too early," not "to early"

|9.j17 10.j19 11.h18 12.h20 13.d19 14.j8 is a negative ladder catcher. 15.m9 16.f20 17.e21 18.e22 19.d23 20.e18 21.e17 22.f16 23.f15 24.g14 25.g13 26.h12 27.h11 28.i10 29.g9 30.g5 or 25.e13 26.f11 or 15.j10 16.i10 17.h11 18.o8 for example. The threats are widely separated and I don't see what white can do about it.

ahem, that's JUST A TAD different than "just because of the problems that black L18 gave you"

but, that's okay, I learned about "negative ladder catcher" and added it to the toolbox

now all I have to do is remember it and recognize when to use it

I'm sorry for being vague, but of course this is a full board battle. I should have said from the start that pressure from L18, coupled with pressure on the top half, is why I believe L16 loses. I did feature threats along the top half prominently in my first post. Although I did not give white's best defense in my last line. |9.j17 10.j19 11.h18 12.h20 13.d19 14.j8 15.i10 16.k6 17.n7 18.l4 19.o5 20.k11 21.e17 22.o11 23.r12 24.p9 or 21.o13 22.g18 23.e17 24.f16 25.f15 26.g14 27.g13 28.h12 29.f11 30.j13 31.f7 32.g5 or 31.f6 32.f8 33.g9 34.g6 35.h5 36.i5 Is a lot messier than I thought but I still believe black wins.