|23.r19 (or something similar) was the more natural follow-up to the preceding moves, but I chickened out and thought I had a better chance of maybe winning the corner than connecting the left side to the right. Not very smart.
On
2025-02-22 at 17:32,
MisterCat
said:
I'll agree with that.
Meanwhile, would somebody kindly explain to me why, after 4. I18 that 5. H17 doesn't work, since this would be my immediate reply. (I said 'kindly')
On
2025-02-23 at 12:59,
Alan Hensel
said:
Twixtbot and I agree, after 4.I18, 5.H17 does work locally. It just doesn't have a strong connection to the top.
Line appreciated, David. I generally don't think in such precise lines - more in generalities. (maybe because my precise lines are always faulty!)
Your line backs up what Alanbot said. 5. h17 IS effective - both blocking black from reaching the lower left AND guaranteeing that white reaches the bottom left. But you guys are saying that it doesn't matter - black erects a block in middle left and prevents white from connecting to top left.
OK then, 2 things: 1. Who says that black must proceed straight up from h17? Can there not be play through the middle of the board, aiming for upper right?
and 2. if KNOWING that 4. i18 can be bypassed, then was i18 kind of a feint ? Meaning, if white responds with h17 to punch through to the bottom, he wasted a move, where he should have played elsewhere?
I note that white DID play elsewhere, and black won by going straight across the bottom, including connecting the unblocked i18 to the left.
So maybe you can offer some insight on the reasoning behind a move like i18?
On
2025-03-30 at 03:00,
Peyrol
said:
Sorry I forgot. Yes j18 is a feint, a threat that also prepares for the main attack up higher.It nay look like black could play |8.s18 But that gives white a resource at N20, which white would not have to play right away. It's better for black to use the entire board in the opening. 14.m20 eliminates white's N20 resource and makes two threats, either to cut across on the bottom right, or to start a cascade threat with black i8. Black L22 is another tempo threat which assists black in the battle to take the bottom left corner. white did not respond to that tempo threat, and lost. But white was losing anyway at that point.
Meanwhile, would somebody kindly explain to me why, after 4. I18 that 5. H17 doesn't work, since this would be my immediate reply.
(I said 'kindly')
Twixtbot plays |23.r19 out to a Black victory: 24.i12 25.m7 26.n8 27.k12 28.h10 29.n9 30.m6 31.e13 32.k13 33.l14 34.l15
Your line backs up what Alanbot said. 5. h17 IS effective - both blocking black from reaching the lower left AND guaranteeing that white reaches the bottom left. But you guys are saying that it doesn't matter - black erects a block in middle left and prevents white from connecting to top left.
OK then, 2 things: 1. Who says that black must proceed straight up from h17? Can there not be play through the middle of the board, aiming for upper right?
and 2. if KNOWING that 4. i18 can be bypassed, then was i18 kind of a feint ? Meaning, if white responds with h17 to punch through to the bottom, he wasted a move, where he should have played elsewhere?
I note that white DID play elsewhere, and black won by going straight across the bottom, including connecting the unblocked i18 to the left.
So maybe you can offer some insight on the reasoning behind a move like i18?