Improve Fast In Go

© Milton N. Bradley 2008



Chapter 6 Solution 1

  The SWOT Analysis of this position is as follows:

Black:

Strengths:

- The Black upper left corner is not fully enclosed, and can easily make 2 eyes if needed. (Although B53 might be ataried and captured by White, doing that would be Gote and wouldn’t affect the main Black group’s viability, so it’s not important enough to be played any time soon.)

- The B3-45 lower right side/corner can almost certainly make 2 eyes if needed, although all of the territory there isn’t Black’s yet because it’s still quite open to a White invasion.

- B25 can either connect to the strong Black group above or to the one on the right, so it’s safe for now.

- The B5-49 group has good shape, easy center access and some territorial potential, so it, too, is safe for now.

- B1, B51 are in the corner, with no nearby opposing stones.

- B27 has good relationship to B1, B51, plus room to extend on either side or jump to the center if needed.


Weaknesses:
- No real weaknesses!
Opportunities:
- Attack the still unsettled White center group from the right, in order to build moyo/make territory on the right side.
- Expand/consolidate the B1,27,51 area.
- Extend on the third line to the left from B27.
- Enclose some territory in the lower left center.
Threats:
- Black:
- A White invasion is feasible in both the upper and lower right corners.
- The B5-49 group is still unsettled.
Settled Territory:
- Perhaps 10 points in the upper left corner + 10 points in the lower right. Total = 20 points.
Territorial Potential:
- Another move in the upper right corner will nail down at least 15-20 points immediately, with prospects of still more to follow when White tries to prevent Black’s further expansion.
- A move near the star point on the right side should bring substantial profit either above or below.


- White:
Strengths
- The W2-54 group is very thick and has good shape.
- The W4-32 lower left corner is almost absolutely secure.
Weaknesses
- The 11 stone W28-50 center group has only rudimentary shape and is only open above and to the right, although it technically isn’t enclosed within Black Sector Lines.
Opportunities
- Invade between B1 and 27.
- Invade the right side and use the center group to hopefully make a significant White territory in that area. (Dangerous!)
- Try to build moyo in the lower right center, using the W28-50 group.
- Create a moyo by extending from the upper left group to its right.
- Expand into the open area in the left middle, making some White territory there while minimizing Black’s.
Threats
- The big lower right center group has no eyes and is less than solidly thick, so it needs the most careful watching!
- The W2-54 group’s thickness might be neutralized without adequate compensation.
Settled Territory
- About 15 points in the lower left corner + about 3 points in the upper left. Total = 18 points.
Territorial Potential
- Extending from the upper left group could net about 15 points.
- Making proper use of the center stones to invade the right side should net some profit, but at the moment it’s hard to estimate how much.
The main focus of play now will be on White’s twin major detriments:
- The big weak W30-50 lower right center group. Black will at least harass these weak stones and attempt to kill them if possible (highly unlikely, as things now stand), or use that attack to either make territory elsewhere (especially on the right side) and/or prevent White from so doing.
- White is far behind in settled territory, and must redress that balance before it’s too late!




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