Saturday, June 23, 2012

Condor's Nest

The Crane's Nest is a common go position that I don't see much in my games. I guess once the players know how it works they generally can see it coming. It involves a shortage of liberties and inevitable capture.

A similar situation arose in a game I played a few days ago on KGS. It was a little bigger, however, and my good go buddy KGS ID ChasLayton referred to it as a Condor's Nest when he observed it.

Here is how it developed. The game was fairly even up until I made a mistake playing at g12. That stone was easily cut by white.



Later I felt the need to try to get into the center and so I played a move that felt to me as if it were an overplay. That was L12. My opponent responded with L13, which actually turned out to be a mistake.



Rather than responding instantly to his move I took the time to look and to read. It seemed to me as if something might happen. After I was fairly certain that I would be able to continuously atari and capture with a shortage of liberties I played m12.



Although the damage was great, it was still a game. We were playing it for review purposes anyway, so we took it to the end. I did manage to win even though white tried to cause trouble with an eleventh hour invasion in the lower right.

It was a fun game and I am glad I took my time to think and to read. Near the end I counted the board a number of times. It is all good practice for the Go Congress.

4 comments:

Nate said...

There are few things more satisfying than reading out a good tsumego in a real game. This was a nice little situation, and you're right to have some satisfaction with your reading.

Unknown said...

Great reading! It's always really great when you see your reading abilities rewarded in your own games.

Unknown said...

Great reading! It's always really great when you see your reading abilities rewarded in your own games.

Unknown said...

Good stuff! I enjoy your blog.