(;GM[1]FF[4]SZ[19]AP[SmartGo:2.8.3.0]CA[UTF-8]
GN[2013 Samsung Cup Final 32, Round 1]
PW[Hideki Komatsu]WR[9p]
PB[Eric Lui]BR[6d]
EV[Samsung Cup]RO[1]
DT[2013-09-03]
PC[Shanghai, China]
KM[6.5]
RE[W+Resign]
RU[Japanese]ST[2]
AN[Myung-wan Kim 9P]
C[2013 Samsung Cup Round 1, Final 32
W: Hideki Komatsu 9P
B: Eric Lui 6D
Commentary by Myung-wan Kim 9P
Edited by Chris Garlock

Eric Lui played very well against one of the best players in the world; he had a winning position and it was only at the last momemnt that he made a mistake that cost him the game. 

The Final 32 is double elimination meaning that whoever loses two straight games or two out of three games will be eliminated.

Eric Lui of the US advanced in the World group preliminary and thus became one of 32 finalists. Eric is in Group G, which includes Lee Sedol 9p of Korea, Chen Yaoye 9p of China and Hideki Komatsu 9p of Japan.

Two players will eventually proceed to round 16. Sedol and Yaoye are the best go players in the world. The odds look very bad for Eric to be pitted against each country's no.1.

Hideki Komatsu 9p won Senior group at the preliminary. He used to be very strong in Japan. Even though he got old he should be pretty much stronger than Eric. In fact Eric should be very honored to have the opportunity to play with the top professionals.


]
MU[1]
(;B[pd];W[dc]
C[However, Eric played superbly during the game. He had a very good chance to win before he stumbled over some stones.]
;B[pp];W[dq];B[dn]
(;W[fp]
C[This knight's move looks very smooth and gentle. Good response.];B[de]
(;W[ce]
C[Monotonous?];B[cf];W[cd];B[df];W[fc];B[cj]
C[Japanese style  beginning.
Nothing wrong but it's easy for Black. ];W[nq]
;B[pn];W[kp];B[pi];W[nc]
(;B[pc]
C[Looks safe and sound. Very solid move to protect the corner.];W[kd];B[ne]
LB[pi:A]
C[Very good move telling the same story. Possess the right distance with A.]
(;W[ri]
C[This is an interesting move. 
Difficult to judge what will happen. It seems possible.]
;B[qi]LB[rh:B][rj:A]
C[Splendid move. A or B, miai.];W[rj]
C[From White's perspective the bottom side is easier to live. So White extended here.]
;B[rh];W[ql]LB[rg:A]
C[The best part of this invasion is that White can attach at A later to reduce Black's territory in the upper side.
]
(;B[np]
C[Black wants to play more aggressive. I think it's a good idea.];W[mp];B[oq]
;W[no];B[op]
(;W[rn]
C[White retaliates to Black's intention.];B[ro]
(;W[qo]
C[Whether this hane is good or bad doesn't matter; it's a must move for White. 
Eventually, it turns out to be a bad move. Contradictory!!!]
;B[qn];W[rp];B[rm];W[so];B[qm];W[po];B[oo];W[on]
C[White is trying to shift the momentum to his side. But the result was not so happy for White.]
;B[qp];W[ro];B[rq]
(;W[qq]
C[Good timing to cut.]
(;B[om]
C[Black needs to atari here first before it's too late.];W[nn];B[qr];W[or]
;B[pq];W[pr];B[qq]
(;W[mr]
C[Holy cow! Hideki is underestimating our proud US representative.];B[sm]
;W[pl]LB[nm:B][pm:A]TR[mr]
C[Black has an option: just connect at A, or fight more aggressively at B.
Don't have a clue why White left extra options for Black? White should have made this exchange before he played at N2.
]
(;B[nm]TR[mr]
C[However, is N2 really a mistake?
It's difficult to say. Rationally yes. On the other hand, it's hard to tell that O7 was a good move for Black. 
Leaving an option is White's intention to mess his opponent's mind. Black would at least spend his precious time thinking what will benefit him.
Complicating? Yes, Go is a psychological game also.
]
;W[pm]
(;B[rl]
C[Good move.];W[rk];B[sq];W[ok]
C[War is imminent. Black might be in good shape. 
Black would have been good enough without connecting at Q7.
For those circumstances, in the end N2 was not a mistake.]
;B[mo];W[mn];B[lo];W[ln]
(;B[ko];W[lp];B[ml];W[nj];B[kn];W[lm];B[kl]
C[Good strategy.];W[km];B[jm];W[jn];B[jo];W[jl];B[in]
(;W[ll]
C[Must move.];B[lk];W[kk];B[mj];W[kj];B[mm];W[kl];B[mi];W[ni];B[mh];W[nh]
C[Surprisingly, trying to kill the White group would be enormously hard.]
(;B[qg]
C[Black has to protect here to harness his strength.];W[mg];B[kh];W[nf];B[og]
;W[ng];B[ih]
C[Still a balanced game but Black seems ahead.
Eric is doing tremendously well so far.]
;W[hm];B[go];W[en]
C[Having fallen behind, White is trying to shift the momentum to his side by complicating the game.]
;B[gm];W[gl];B[fm];W[gi];B[gh];W[fh];B[hi];W[gj];B[hk]
C[Good fighting spirit.];W[hj];B[ij];W[ik];B[il];W[im];B[jk];W[jn];B[io]
;W[gk];B[ik];W[hl];B[jm];W[ji];B[ii];W[jn];B[lg];W[me];B[jm];W[nk];B[mk]
;W[jn]
C[Fortunately, White has one more ko threat.];B[gg];W[jm];B[fo]
C[Eric is a favorite at this point. ];W[dk];B[dj];W[ej];B[ei];W[ek]
(;B[dm]
C[Black is aiming to kill White, but it's too much for Black.];W[fi]
(;B[ff]
C[If this works, it's a good move.
But it wouldn't work for Black if White plays correctly. ]
;W[ck];B[bj];W[bk];B[bm]
(;W[dh]
C[This is the only way White can save his dragon.];B[di];W[ch]
(;B[aj]
C[A good move. At least it gives White a headache.
]
(;W[bl]
C[If Black plays out well it could cost White the game. ];B[eh];W[bn]
C[White can still live by this move. ];B[am];W[cm];B[cn];W[bo];B[cl];W[dl]
(;B[cp]
C[A must move.];W[cm]
C[White could make a ko.]
(;B[fl]
C[Black has played well so far. But this is the losing move. ];W[co];B[do]
;W[dp]
C[Black has no ko threat. 
Eric had played very well to this point, but he misread the number of ko threats at the last moment. That is why he lost this game.]
;B[cl];W[eo];B[em];W[cm];B[fk];W[fj];B[cl];W[fg]
C[There are so many ko threats at this area.]
(;B[cm];W[eg];B[bg];W[ef]LB[fl:A]
C[The game is over here and Eric resigned. He let loose the bird that was in his palm.

Thank you for reading my comments and hope to see you next time.
Myung-wan Kim]
;B[ee]
C[If Black keeps playing,];W[gf];B[fe];W[hg];B[hh];W[jh]
C[The center Black is dead.])
(;B[eg]
C[If Black responds to White's ko threat,];W[cm];B[bp];W[al];B[cl];W[jh]
C[Black would be a short of ko threats.]))
(;B[dp]
C[Black should let White win the ko and live. ];W[cl];B[hr]
C[By this move Black can get the lower side which is good enough to win.]
(;W[cq];B[bp];W[gq];B[jr]
C[This jump is sente. That's why Black could kill White.]
(;W[gr];B[lr]TR[kp:mp][nq][mr][or:pr]
C[White group of triangle is dead.])
(;W[kr]
C[If White has to protect here, the corner wiil die.];B[gr];W[fr];B[br]
C[That's it. The game is over. Black has enough territory to win.]))
(;W[iq]
C[If this is all White can do, Black has more territory than White has.]
;B[hq];W[bp];B[cq]
(;W[fg]
C[It is a good try but meaningless.];B[eg];W[gf];B[hf];W[ge];B[he];W[fe]
;B[je]
C[Black can live in the center.])
(;W[bg]
C[This move is good.]
(;B[bf];W[eg]
C[Black is dead.]
(;B[fg];W[dg])
(;B[dg];W[fg];B[bh];W[bi];B[ah];W[ag]
C[A disaster for Black.]))
(;B[eg]
C[But this is good enough.];W[bf];B[gd]
C[Black is still winning by territory.])))))
(;B[cm]
C[Black can't connect here because of weakness on the center.];W[em];B[eo]
;W[do];B[co];W[dp];B[bp];W[bq]
C[Black is dead first.]))
(;W[ak];B[bg]
C[This would be a disaster for White.
There is no way to live.])
(;W[eh];B[bg]
C[Still, White is dead.])
(;W[fg]
C[This would have been a superb move.]
(;B[ge]
C[If Black protect the center, White can live on the side.]
(;W[bl]
C[This is bad.];B[bg]LB[ge:B][fg:A]
C[White still has to struggle by attaching at B6 as the next move. 
A and B exchange didn't do much. It's not good variation for White.]
)
(;W[bg]
C[This move is the tesuji to live.];B[ak]LB[bf:B][eh:A]
C[It seems White is dead by either A or B. 
But,]
(;W[bf];B[eh]
C[White is dead.])
(;W[al];B[bl];W[eh];B[bf];W[bi]
C[White lived by making another eye on the side.])))
(;B[bg]LB[gf:A]
C[If Black has to connect, White will cut A and the racing game would not be favorable for Black.]
;W[gf];B[hf];W[ge];B[fe];W[he]
C[Black is dead.];B[jh];W[bi]
C[White can come to kill Black on the right side too.];B[ai];W[ah];B[bh]
;W[ci]
C[Black is short of liberty.])))
(;B[eh]
C[This one doesn't work for Black.];W[eg];B[fg];W[aj];B[dg];W[bi];B[ef];W[bg]
;B[bf];W[ag]
C[White can make another eye on the side.]))
(;W[di]
C[This would be a bad move.];B[dh];W[ci];B[bi];W[ch];B[bh];W[eh];B[dg]
C[White is dead.]))
(;B[dh]
C[This move is necessary in order to remove another eye of White.];W[ck]
;B[bj];W[fg];B[ff];W[gf];B[hf];W[ge]
(;B[fe]
C[This move doesn't work.];W[he]
C[Black seems to be in trouble already.]
(;B[if];W[jh];B[jg];W[hg];B[hh];W[kf];B[kg];W[li];B[lh];W[jj];B[ig];W[ie]
C[Black is dead first in this variation.])
(;B[ig];W[hg];B[hh];W[if];B[jf];W[ie];B[ki];W[jj];B[jh];W[kf]
C[Black is still dead.]))
(;B[he]
C[Black should push from this side.];W[gd];B[fe];W[jf]
C[This is a liberty racing and very difficult. ];B[jh];W[hg];B[hh];W[if]
;B[ig];W[lf]
C[Black seems to be short of liberty.])))
(;B[fi]
C[This cut would've been easier for Black.]
(;W[di];B[ci];W[dh];B[eh];W[dm];B[do];W[em];B[eo];W[eg];B[fg];W[fj];B[fh]
;W[fl];B[cq];W[cr];B[bq]
C[Black is still winning.])
(;W[ck];B[cm]
C[It is not going to be easy for White to live without having any damage.]
)))
(;B[mg];W[qh]
C[This cut is critical to Black.]))
(;W[im]
C[White wants to make this atari but has no ko threat.];B[ll];W[jn];B[mi]
C[White can't respond to this ko threat.];W[jm];B[ni]
C[Black is good enough. White can't compete with Black when it comes to territory.]
))
(;B[lp]
C[This atari is too weak. It doesn't attack big.];W[ko];B[mq];W[lq];B[mp]
;W[kq]
C[The lower side is not that big.]))
(;B[sn]
C[This one is bad.];W[rl]
C[White became way stronger outside.];B[sp];W[oj]
C[White is way better.]))
(;B[pm]
C[This simple connect might have been good enough.]
(;W[oj];B[nm];W[oi];B[qg]LB[mo:A]TR[oi:oj][ri:rj][pl:ql]
C[The triangle group will be floating all over the board, weakness of A has left even though White may give up three stones.
This variation is good enough for Black. ]
)
(;W[nm];B[ol];W[nl];B[ok]
C[The right side is too big. White can't give up everything.
Black has about 70 points. It is difficult to make that much territory for White even with komi.]
)))
(;W[pl]
C[This is definitely a right sequence.];B[pm];W[mr]
(;B[sm]LB[pl:A][pm:B]
C[Black has to play here anyway. 
So, White could make A and B exchange which is what he wanted at the real game.]
)
(;B[nm]
C[If Black doesn't respsond at the corner,];W[sq];B[sr];W[qs]
C[This is a big ko that Black can't endure.])))
(;B[qr];W[or];B[pq];W[pr];B[qq];W[om];B[rl];W[mq]LB[rl:B][om:A]
C[A and B is a good exchange for White.]))
(;W[om]
C[If White extends here first, ];B[sq];W[qq]
C[White can't cut and get some benefit first.];B[sp]LB[pm:A][or:B]
C[It means White can't play both A and B as sente.]))
(;W[qn]
C[Doesn't have a fighting sprit? You're right.];B[qo];W[pm]TR[pm][qn]
C[Is R6 and Q7 a too weak response? Probably. But it might be the right response. ]
(;B[mq];W[lq];B[nr];W[mo]
C[This variation is okay for White. 
White erased the right side relatively well.]
)
(;B[on];W[nl]
C[To be honest, White is okay.])))
(;W[mq]
(;B[ol]
C[This might be what Black wants. White has to struggle to live inside. ]
;W[rn];B[ro];W[qn];B[qo];W[pk];B[ok];W[so];B[rq];W[qj]LB[ok:B][pk:A]
C[White can certainly live inside but he has to make some bad exchange such as A and B.]
)
(;B[rn];W[ol];B[nn]
C[Black can still get the corner first, prevent White to live inside, then keep attacking to get some benefit.
It is a good strategy.
]
)))
(;B[rn];W[ol];B[or]LB[rg:A]
C[Protecting the corner this way would be simple and common. 
White has nothing to complain too especailly by attaching at A soon.]
;W[rg]
C[If White attach here Black has to let him connect underneath.]
(;B[sh]
C[Certainly this is an overplay.];W[qh];B[qg];W[ph];B[rf];W[pg];B[qf];W[oi]
TR[pi:qi]
C[Two traiangle moves are dead.])
(;B[qh];W[sh];B[qf];W[ml]
C[A possible variation.])))
(;W[qk]LB[ql:A]
C[Invasion time for white. This or move A seems normal.];B[qi]
(;W[qo];B[qn];W[po];B[oo];W[qp]
(;B[oq]
C[This connection is better for Black.];W[qq];B[np];W[on];B[ro]
C[Favorable fight for Black.])
(;B[op]
C[This connection is too plain.
And White can connect underneath.];W[rn]
;B[rm];W[ro];B[ql];W[pr]
C[This is awsome move. If it's connected like this it's good for White.]
))
(;W[rn]
C[This sliding is a pain in the neck for Black.];B[rp];W[om]
C[Something like this variation is possible.])))
(;B[pf]LB[pi:A]
C[This normal jump is too close to A. The real game response  seems to be better.]
))
(;W[cg]
C[I'd like to play here in order to use White's position in left lower side.
]
;B[cc];W[cj]TR[dn]
C[The triangle Black is being isolated.
This variation is only one of the many options.]
)
(;W[ci]
C[Something like this approach or invation is possible too.]
(;B[cc];W[cl]
C[White is in pretty good position.])
(;B[ck]
C[Black might play here and it's difficult to judge who's doing better.]
;W[fd]LB[ci:A]
C[A is not easy to attack.
But of course it's playable for Black too.])))
(;W[cl]
C[This approach is more common.];B[ep];W[dp];B[do];W[eq];B[fp];W[gr];B[di]
C[It is a recent joseki. 
]))
(;B[gf]))

