(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]AP[CGoban:3]ST[2]
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]KM[6.50]
PW[Gilles van Eeden]PB[Rob van Zeijst]WR[6d]BR[7d]DT[2018-01-14]EV[Dutch Go Championships 2018]RO[4]PC[EGCC, Amstelveen]AN[Rob van Zeijst, translated from Dutch by Kim Ouweleen]C[After three rounds of the Dutch Go Championship 2018, Gilles van Eeden and I were the only players with 3 victories and faced each other in the subsequent round.
It had been quite a while since I last played Gilles. We have known each other for about 40 years or so and played many a match. I remember well how our youthful hubris made us feel invincible on the go board: during the Go Congress in Albano, Italy, we played for a tenner per match. I can't recollect getting rich from those bets and the hourly wage wasn't exactly something to brag about. Especially since the winner always paid for the beers. 
]RE[B+Resign]
;B[pd]
;W[dc]
;B[qp]
;W[dp]
;B[fq]
;W[cn]
;B[np]C[As a strong player you must be flexible and capable to handle many different aspects of the game. I had decided, therefore, to rejoice my opponent with an AlphaGo-esque variation when the opportunity would present itself. This opening is an example of that.]
;W[nc]C[Black has a choice here: defend the right side or play a pincer on the upper side. I decided that a pincer was best.
]
(;B[kd]C[This pincer is the result of personal likes and dislikes, based on theory (replaying and studying professional games) and personal experiences that can be either good (correctly judged) or bad (incorrectly judged). Well, I suppose that's a go players' fate.]
;W[qf]C[As expected, Gilles does not just dive into the corner. Not because it would be a bad move, but because that isn't his style. At least, that is my suspicion.]
(;B[nd]C[The correct move.]
;W[qc]
(;B[qd]
(;W[md]C[Gilles wouldn't be Gilles if he did not spoil Black's party. He is resisting fiercely. ]
(;B[od]C[This is joseki and leads to a fight. Should you ever have the aspiration of becoming a top level player, then don't back down from a fight. 
Do you also want to win the fight? Then you need reading power. That means practising tsumego problems over and over again.
I estimate that every additional move that a kyu player can read ahead in a chain of moves, makes them one kyu grade stronger. When you look at the matches of contemporary top professionals, such as Ke Jie, Lee Sedol and Park Junghwan (not to forget AlphaGo), a conclusion can be made that fuseki is of secondary importance to brute calculating skill.]
;W[ld]
(;B[kc]C[Black 17 is too heavy. This was the cause of Black's misery later in the game. ]
;W[ke]C[A beautiful move. This is the strength of Gilles. He has a good sense of the entire board, a proper style - much better than mine - and a good balance. ]
;B[je]
;W[kf]
;B[jf]
;W[kg]
;B[jg]
;W[kh]TR[dc]C[Black builds a wall towards the left side, but its power is negated in advance by the placement of White's marked stone. In the meantime, White gains a nice wall that dominates the centre and the right side. White has the advantage now. ]
(;B[jh]
(;W[nf]C[White isn't fooled easily and takes the important point. This keima encloses Black's corner and more or less connects to White's stone on the right side. ]
;B[ob]C[Black defends the corner, but a lot of aji remains.]
(;W[ji]
;B[ii]
;W[ij]
(;B[hj]C[I would normally never play like this, as it gives Black bad shape immediately. I was forced, however, as I saw no good alternatives. ]
;W[hi]
;B[ih]C[Bad shape, but Black gains a move in comparison to the previous Diagram.]
;W[jj]
;B[hk]
;W[gi]
;B[ej]
;W[id]
;B[jd]C[Black may have "earned" a move in the centre, but his line of stones on the upper side has become a lot weaker. This will prove problematic for Black.
]
(;W[ei]
;B[di]
(;W[eh]C[Proper.]
;B[fj]
;W[gg]
(;B[dh]
;W[dg]TR[dh][di]C[Black 45 was very bad, allowing White the beautiful hane of 46. Once again, this is an issue of heaviness. 
Now the two marked stones can no longer be sarificed. ]
;B[dm]
;W[cm]
;B[dk]
;W[cg]LB[go:C][fp:A][gp:B]C[A wonderful move. It must have been a real pleasure for Gilles to play here. 
Not only does this create a lot of territory and eye shape, it also takes away the eye shape of Black. Black needs to be very careful or his lizzard in the centre might end up as lunch: for example when White forces A to C in preperation of an attack.
]
;B[gd]C[Black needs to somehow protect his group. ]
;W[mb]C[White threatens the upper right corner.]
(;B[dd]LB[rd:A]C[Before I defend in the upper right - for example by playing at A - I first wanted to test the upper left corner and find out its status.
However, this has OVERPLAY written all over it, in capitals. ]
;W[cd]LB[ed:A]C[I expected White to resist with A, but Gilles was sensible and played the hane from the other side. ]
(;B[ce]C[Me, myself and I, on the other hand, did not see reason and I only made things worse.]
;W[ed]C[An aggressive approach. ]
;B[de]
;W[ee]
;B[cc]C[By sacrificing the corner - worth at least 20 points - White puts all his money on killing the Black group.]
;W[ec]
(;B[bd]
;W[ic]C[Painful. The situation looks hopeless for Black. ]
;B[gf]C[This attachment is tough to answer though. ]
(;W[hg]C[White occupies the vital point.]
;B[gb]C[At the moment, Black's only goal is to make it as difficult as possible for White to capture his group.
]
;W[ie]
;B[ib]
;W[jb]
;B[hc]
(;W[kb]C[White avoids any ko, with good reason.]
;B[ef]
;W[ff]
;B[fe]
;W[fg]
;B[df]
;W[eg]C[The result of the fight at the top is a trade: Black was forced to abandon his 9 stones, but in return captures the 4 White stones in the upper left, creating almost 20 points of territory. All in all not a bad furikawari (trade).
During the match I still thought I was hopelessly behind. I judged Gilles to already have more territory than me and would also strike at the upper right corner with venom. ]
;B[of]
(;W[og]C[This was an ill-considered move. I saw a glimpse of hope. ]
(;B[ng]C[After the game, Gilles told me he had not been happy with the trade on the upper side, as a lot of aji remains in Black's 9 stones.]
(;W[mf]C[White realises the danger.]
;B[pg]
;W[oh]
;B[pf]C[I still estimated to be behind, even more so as I had used up all the aji in the centre.]
;W[rd]
(;B[rb]
;W[rc]
;B[qb]C[Black decides not to compromise. ]
;W[qg]
;B[ph]LB[qg:B][oh:A]C[This position, with A and B and Black 89 slicing through is called "poortje" in Dutch (little gate). Actually, it would be fair to call it a triumphal arch here.
Black is forced to play good moves. Very bad style for White, but he has no choice - he must survive with his group on the right side.
After this, I had a good feeling about the match.

]
;W[ri]
(;B[oi]C[A thick move.]
;W[qk]LB[qj:A]C[White 92 isn't such a great shape. Proper shape would be A instead. ]
(;B[ql]C[The vital point (see Diagram).]
(;W[rl]
;B[rm]
;W[qm]
;B[pl]
;W[rn]
;B[rk]
;W[sm]
;B[qj]C[White has been split in two and needs to survive on either side. Black's aim is to keep things as simple as possible.]
;W[rp]
;B[qo]
;W[ro]
;B[rj]
;W[qi]
;B[nh]C[By taking the two stones, Black becomes very solid in the centre and is safe. ]
;W[pj]
;B[pk]
(;W[lj]C[I did not understand the reason for White's jump when Gilles played here in the game. In the post-game analysis he showed me his motivation, a sequence I had totally overlooked (see Diagram).
After the game he told me that I laughed when he played the jump. I don't really remember doing so, but if I did in fact laugh, I did not laugh at him. It must have been a wry smirk, expressing the fact that Gilles thought he was still ahead and that I realised he might actually be right.]
;B[si]
;W[sh]
;B[sj]
;W[sf]
(;B[qq]
;W[rq]
;B[rr]
;W[qn]
;B[pi]
;W[qh]
;B[do]
;W[co]
;B[dq]C[After taking sente, I anticipated taking a decisive lead with moves 121 and 123. ]
(;W[ep]
;B[eq]
;W[cq]
;B[fp]C[Moves 121 to 127 are a joseki. ]
(;W[fo]
;B[go]
;W[fn]
;B[gn]
(;W[lq]C[White is doing well here.]
(;B[nr]LB[pr:A]C[Black prevents White's peep at A. ]
(;W[lo]
;B[jq]
;W[mq]LB[nq:C][pr:A][qr:B]C[Another stingy move, threatening once again White A, Black B and White C.]
;B[nq]
;W[sr]C[The right timing to play here. ]
(;B[qr]
;W[nn]
;B[mo]
;W[mn]
;B[ln]C[Black 141 and 143 are rash. Suddenly I felt like I had to fight back. ]
;W[ko]
;B[lm]
;W[ip]
;B[iq]
;W[hp]
;B[hq]
;W[jm]
;B[ml]
;W[eo]
;B[in]
;W[fl]
;B[gm]LB[gj:D][fm:C][jn:A][jp:B]C[To my surprise, Gilles suddenly resigned. I still felt like the match was close and exciting. 
On the other hand, Black 153 and 155 are safe moves that make follow-up cuts like A and B possible. In the centre Black is already connected: a White move at C is followed by Black D. 

To conclude, it is safe for me to say that Gilles is an opponent that always gives me a real run for my money.
The only reason that I managed to win this match, was luck, although I did nudge myself in the right direction by staying calm in the fight on the upper side.
All in all, for most of the game I did not feel confident that I would win.])
(;B[mo]C[Another possibility for Black. ]
;W[ln]
;B[mn]
;W[lm]
;B[eo]
;W[cp]
;B[fm]
;W[qr]
;B[pr]
;W[rs]
;B[kq]))
(;W[iq]
(;B[eo]
;W[cp]
;B[fm]C[Like this Black can simplify even further, but in reality the game is very close. ])
(;B[cr]C[After White's extension, I would probably have played the hane to set up an attack on the corner and claim some territory at the same time. ])))
(;B[eo]
;W[cp]
;B[fm]LB[fm:B][eo:A]C[With A and B, Black could of course ensure hegemony in the centre. ]
;W[pr]
;B[qr]
;W[oq]
;B[op]
;W[jq]LB[oq:A][pr:B]C[White A and B, however, are sharp moves. This would break the game open again.]))
(;W[fb]C[My reason for thinking that I was still behind, is that I suspected some nasty left-over aji at the upper side. Perhaps White could conjure up a ko somehow?
Gilles, however, had given up any hope for such a thing. We did not know this about each other, which was the reason we both saw the match in a completely different light.]
;B[db]
;W[eb]
;B[cb]
;W[ga]
;B[ha]
;W[fd]
;B[ge]
;W[gc]
;B[fa]
;W[hd]
;B[fc]))
(;W[cp]LB[gn:D][fo:B][go:C][cr:A]C[This is an interesting move, preventing Black from playing the hane at A and ruining White's corner in sente. At the same time, White threatens to attack the Black mongrel in the centre with the sequence of B to D. However, this move would still be way too passive for White to have a shot at victory.]))
(;W[cq]
;B[ep]
;W[cp]
;B[jp]C[White cannot play passively and stand by, watching how Black builds the lower side. ]))
(;B[rh]C[I had the feeling I was ahead and wanted to keep the game as straightforward as possible. However, I should have just cut here.]
;W[rg]
;B[qh]
;W[re]
;B[qq]))
(;W[qh]
;B[lc]
;W[lb]
;B[mc]
;W[nb]
;B[ki]LB[lc:A][mc:B]C[After gaining A and B, White was afraid that Black would cut here. It is difficult for White to find a counter.]
(;W[lj]C[This seems to work...]
;B[li]
;W[mi]
;B[lh]
;W[mh]
;B[le]C[...but Black has a clever timing move up his sleeve.  ]
;W[me]
;B[lg]C[Game over.])
(;W[jl]C[If white jumps towards the lower side, he also loses the local battle.]
;B[lh]
;W[lf]
;B[me]
;W[le]
;B[lg])
(;W[kj]C[Even if White first forces this atari and then starts the semeai, he perishes. ]
;B[li]
;W[if]
;B[lh]
;W[ig]
;B[me]
;W[le]
;B[lg])))
(;W[pk]C[This would be bad. Probably game-over bad.]
;B[qe]
;W[re]
;B[rh]
;W[qh]
;B[qi]
;W[qj]
;B[pi]
;W[rg]
;B[rj]
;W[sh]
;B[rk]))
(;B[rh]
;W[qh]
;B[qi]
;W[qj]
;B[pi]
;W[rg]
;B[ql]C[Black can choose to play out this sequence whenever he wants. Thus its best to play the attachment directly, see the game.
]))
(;B[qi]C[The Black kosumi looks most severe, but White will fight back. ]
;W[rh]
;B[rj]
;W[qj]
;B[rk]
;W[pj]C[It isn't easy to assess the result.]))
(;B[re]
;W[rb]
;B[sd]
;W[rc]
;B[pb]
;W[qe]
;B[qg]
;W[rf]
;B[rg]
;W[se]
;B[pj]C[This sequence is a lot more straightforward for Black than what happened in the game. 
Like I said, though, I felt like I was losing. ]))
(;W[pf]C[I expected Gilles to be in the winning mood and would perhaps be tempted by this atari. This was my sneaky plan, which would be a fatal mistake by White.]
;B[lc]
;W[lb]
;B[mc]
;W[nb]
;B[le]
;W[me]
;B[mf]
;W[lf]
;B[ne]
;W[le]
;B[ki]C[The ladder is good for Black. After this cut, White is in deep trouble. ]))
(;B[lc]C[Black could have played here directly. ]
(;W[lb]C[White has no choice but to connect on this side. ]
;B[mc]
;W[nb]
;B[mf]C[Once again this point proves vital. ]
;W[le]
;B[ng]
;W[nh]
;B[ne]
;W[oh]
;B[li]
;W[ki]
;B[mh]C[A good result for Black. ])
(;W[mc]C[An error. ]
;B[jc]LB[lb:A][if:B]C[When Black cuts, he creates a miai of A and B, saving all his stones. ])))
(;W[ng]C[White should have just extended here.]
;B[og]
;W[oh]
;B[nh]
;W[ph]
;B[lc]
;W[lb]
;B[mc]
;W[nb]
;B[mf]C[Even in this variation, White must be careful. This is another scenarion in which White has been tricked.
]))
(;W[ia]
;B[ha]C[The psychological advantage of having a bad position is that you no longer have anything to lose. Therefore, Black welcomes any ko, regardless of its outcome. 
]))
(;W[ff]LB[hg:A]C[This wouldn't be good, as Black gets to take the vital point at A. ]
;B[hg]
(;W[ge]C[Playing the atari here allows Black to escape.]
;B[gh]
;W[hf]
;B[fi]C[Black captures the two stones.])
(;W[gh]C[If White defends, Black suddenly has a way to make life. ]
;B[ie]
;W[gc]
;B[hd]
;W[hc]
;B[ge]))
(;W[hf]
;B[he]
;W[ie]
;B[hg]
;W[if]
;B[gh]
;W[fg]
;B[fi]C[This is slightly better for White than the previous Diagram, but Black makes life nevertheless.]))
(;B[cb]LB[fb:A][gb:B]C[This move seems to allow Black the potential follow-ups of A and B, which could be beneficial in the fight to come. ]
;W[be]
;B[bd]
;W[bf]
;B[ab]
;W[eb]
;B[db]LB[eb:A]C[However, White spoils Black's dreams. In fact, gaining A is dangerous for the Black group on the right, which might now be dead.]))
(;B[ec]
;W[cc]
;B[rd]LB[eb:A][ec:1][fc:B][rd:3]C[Black could still have apologised with 1 to then switch and defend his vulnerable corner with 3. 
This, however, would result in a White move at A later, or even worse, a clamp at B. Quite troublesome for Black. ]))
(;B[fc]C[It is more sensible to play the kosumi. ]
;W[ed]C[If White defends...]
;B[db]
;W[cb]
;B[eb]C[..black gains two sente moves. ]
;W[bc]
;B[rd]C[Afterwards, Black can secure the corner. This would still be a playable game for Black. ]))
(;B[dm]
;W[cm]
;B[cg]LB[cg:2][ci:B][dj:A][dm:1]TR[ej][fj]C[Perhaps Black should first make the exhange with 1 to afterwards jump to 2. White has the cut at A, but Black can answer it by extending to B. 
In this scenario, White might be able to capture the marked Black stones, but this could - metaphorically speaking - turn out to be just the tail of the lizzard, allowing the lizzard itself to escape.
]))
(;W[fj]C[This would be a mistake.]
;B[eh]C[Black's atari gives White bad shape.]
;W[fi]
;B[dj]
;W[fl]
;B[dm]TR[hj][hk]C[At any moment, Black is prepared to sacrifice the marked stones if he gains something significant in return. ]))
(;W[fj]C[White could consider this kosumi as well.]
;B[ei]
;W[fk]
;B[ek]
;W[fl]
;B[dm]C[Another good result for White. ]))
(;B[hi]C[This would be passive.]
;W[hj]
;B[gj]
;W[gi]
;B[hg]
;W[fi]
;B[jj]
;W[ki]
;B[gk]
;W[hl]LB[mb:A]TR[dc][kc][kd][je][jf][jg][jh][ii][cn][dp]C[A chaotic fight is about to errupt. Since White has more stones in the vicinity - especially the marked ones on the left side - he has the initiative. 
Also, Black's marked dragon can still be attacked: White's move at A is pretty much sente against the upper right corner (see earlier variations).]))
(;W[rd]
;B[re]
;W[rb]LB[rb:2][oc:B][rd:1][qe:A]C[Any moment now, White can play the combination of 1 and 2, making miai of A and B. Right now, it is still too early. ]
;B[sd]
;W[rc]
;B[qe]
;W[oc]
;B[pc]
;W[pb]
;B[pa]
;W[qb]
;B[nb]
;W[mc]
;B[mb]
;W[rf]C[After this move, the outcome doesn't look that obvious.]
;B[sc]
;W[sb]
;B[se]
;W[lb]
;B[lc]
;W[oa]
;B[na]
;W[ra]C[White creates more liberties, amounting to 5 in total.]
;B[of]
;W[og]
;B[mf]LB[le:A][ng:B]C[However, Black has a tesuji up his sleeve and takes back the corner. White has no response to this, as he cannot prevent Black from playing at either A or B. ]))
(;W[ki]
;B[pg]TR[jh]C[I pushed once more with the marked move, visualising this result. My shoulder-hit would then give me compensation for White's wall.]))
(;B[pg]C[Black could consider playing this immediately.]))
(;B[ke]C[Gilles' was of the opinion that this is the only move in this position. Retrospectively, I agree with him. ]
;W[mf]
;B[ob]
;W[hd]TR[kd]C[Here Black's marked stone is clearly centre-oriented. Black's group is much "lighter" than it was in the game. 
This is a personal problem of mine. After an extensive self-diagnosis several years ago, I came to the conclusion that I am too attached to my stones. Because of that I play too heavily in areas where light play would be more sensible. "Playing heavily" is also connected to the concept of territory - I am, in fact, too greedy. Back in the day, when I used to practice Zen Yoga and meditation, I was less focused on direct results and was less burdened by attachment. 
So all in all, I know about this tendency in my game, but it is very difficult to spot it at the right moment and stop it, since it is part of an unconscious process. ]))
(;B[ne]
;W[pc]
;B[oc]
;W[ob]
;B[od]
;W[mb]
;B[me]
;W[pj]
;B[ql]
;W[nj]LB[ld:A][ke:C][le:B][nj:2][ql:1]C[White is aiming for such a result. Black does get the extension at 1, but White's defence at 2 is quite effective, as it also threatens the sequence of A, Black B, White C. Some sharp players might even cut at B directly without first defending at 2. I don't rule out that Gilles might belong to that category.
In such a position, the result is no longer onesided with Black having thickness and White a weak group.
 ])
(;B[oc]C[This move cannot be good.]
;W[ne]
;B[od]
;W[mb]
;B[me]TR[kd]C[If Black wants to achieve something here, he must cut. This has such a heavy impact on Black's marked stone, however, that the following result cannot be good.]
;W[le]
;B[mf]
;W[ld]TR[kd]))
(;W[pc]C[This continuation is what Black hopes for.]
;B[oc]
;W[ob]
;B[od]
(;W[mb]
;B[mc]
;W[nb]
;B[rd]
;W[lc]
;B[ld]
;W[md]
;B[me]
;W[pj]
;B[ql]C[I had predicted this outcome. An exciting development for Black. Black has some thickness at the top - always a good thing when facing Gilles - and a promising attack on White's formation on the right side. ])
(;W[nb]
;B[rd]
;W[lb]
;B[mc]
;W[lc]
;B[ld]
;W[pj]
;B[mb]
;W[ma]
;B[md]
;W[jc]
;B[ie]
;W[ic]
;B[ql]C[This result also looks favourable for Black, who feels very comfortable with such thickness.])))
(;B[oc]
;W[qd]
;B[ce]C[In this variation Black finds the time to prevent a White shimari in the top left.   ]
;W[gc]LB[mc:A]C[However, when White creates a base, Black must return to the upper side in order to prevent a White move at A. ]
;B[mc]TR[kd]C[I assess this as better for White, because Black's marked stone isn't doing much.]))
(;B[pf]C[In principal, this move isn't the best.]
;W[pg]
;B[of]
(;W[qd]
;B[qc]LB[qc:B][qd:A]C[Nowadays the exchange of White A for Black B is quite popular with the top professional players.
Might we have felt fashionable, this variation could have appeared on the board. ]
;W[qe]
;B[pc]
;W[qj]
;B[ce])
(;W[qc]C[White can also choose to play on san-san.]
(;B[pc]C[When Black blocks on this side, the sequence that follows is a kind of joseki you often find in handicap games.]
;W[qd]
;B[qe]
;W[re]
;B[pe]
;W[rg]
;B[og]
;W[ph]
;B[hc]LB[ld:A]C[White's corner is worth more than the influence of Black's wall. Even after Black defends at H17, possibilities remain for White to mess about on the top side, for example with the attachment at A.]
;W[ce]
;B[fo]C[The second disadvantage for Black is White's strong position on the right side, which limits the natural development of Black's shimari in the lower right.])
(;B[qe]C[In this case, Black should block from this side. ]
;W[pc]
;B[qg]LB[ob:B][lc:A]TR[kd]C[This result is very probable. However, Black's marked stone is oddly positioned. It would be more favourably placed on A, which would actually threaten a follow-up at B.
]))))
(;B[qf]
;W[kd]LB[jd:A]C[If Black defends the corner, White extends at the top in a natural flow. White A is also possible. 
This is the "Kobayashi Fuseki", which is usually played by Black. ]
;B[cf]
;W[cd]
;B[ci]TR[cn][fq]C[The moves that follow all look natural as well. However, the marked exchange in the lower left corner does not look good for Black, since White's marked stone puts some slight pressure on Black's formation on the left side.])
(;B[lc]C[Playing a low, close pincer is possible.]
(;W[qc]C[If white jumps into the corner, Black gets to decide the development of the opening. ]
;B[pc]
;W[qd]
;B[pe]
;W[pb]
;B[ob]
;W[qb]
;B[nb]LB[oc:A]C[Note that AlphaGo gives a much higher evaluation to this move than it does to A (when Black has M17 in place).]
;W[qf]
;B[hd]
;W[ce]
;B[fo]C[This jump is another move in the style of AlphaGo.
Black has the initiative. However, I did not expect Gilles to hand me the initiative without a fight.
])
(;W[qf]
;B[nd]
;W[qc]
;B[oc]
;W[qd]
;B[ce]LB[ob:C][mc:B][md:A]C[This variation is another possibility. Because White did not exchange A for B before invading on san-san, he can later pester Black with B.
Black will then have to block at A, after which White connects to the corner with C. This is the reason that I am not particularly charmed by this outcome. On the other hand, I cannot say this variation is bad.])))
