(;GM[1]FF[4]SZ[19]AP[SmartGo:3.0.1]CA[utf-8]
GN[RR19_2017.07.03_AlphaGo-AlphaGo-01-annotated-FINAL]
PW[AlphaGo]
PB[AlphaGo]
EV[AlphaGo-AlphaGo]RO[1]
DT[2017-07-03]
PC[The KGS Go Server at http://www.gokgs.com/]
KM[7.5]
RE[W+Resign]
RU[Chinese]ST[2]
AN[Michael Redmond 9P]MU[1]
C[AlphaGo-AlphaGo Game 1, Commentary by Michael Redmond 9P

In the Master series earlier this year, AlphaGo first showed its big shimaris, and often played to dominate the center of the board in the early opening, using its famous shoulder hits to do so. It showed strong fighting ability in the middle game. Playing 60 games against top pros, the Master version had an early advantage in almost all of the games, and I was impressed with its ability to simplify complicated middle game positions and bring the game to an early outcome. Less convincing was the way Master handled complicated joseki. It also had a disturbing habit of losing several points in the endgame to win by the smallest possible margin. 

With this new self-played series I wanted to see how these traits had survived AlphaGo's evolution; five months is a long period of time for a self-teaching AI. The exciting news is that Alphago has changed dramatically. It almost never plays complicated joseki now, and has invented some new joseki of its own. Alphago has always had good positional judgement, and these games hang in the balance much longer than top human games. The middle game starts early, with the fighting gradually heating up to create huge battles in many of the games. AlphaGo seems to rejoice in complicated positions, and loves kos to a fault. Meanwhile, the territory is usually very close throught the games, and most of the games end with the smallest possible margin. Maybe because the games are close already, the endgames are almost perfect. At first I was expecting AlphaGo to become a valuable tool for us to learn new opening strategy, but now I think it's potential to train us in the middle game might be more important. 

In this first game of the series, AlphaGo shows us a radical way for White to approach the mini-Chinese opening, after which fighting continues throughout the game. AlphaGo's fighting ability is demonstrated when White uses a brilliant sequence to save a weak group. Even the endgame is a series of reading problems, making my attempts to understand and explain exciting and intense.  

]
MU[1];B[pd];W[dd];B[qp];W[dp];B[fq];W[cn];B[kq]
C[White's most common move is the wariuchi at A (see var). ]LB[qj:A]
(;W[qf]TR[oq]
C[When Black has a shimari (marked) in the LR corner instead of 5 and 7, The kakari at 8 has become the most popular move. Maybe because it is relatively new compared to the wariuchi, White 8 is relatively unusual in this mini-Chinese opening.  When Black pincers, this can lead into a new version of the double kakari joseki (see var). ]
(;B[nc]
C[Now it seems to be most natural for White to continue on the right side (see variations). ]
(;W[pp]
C[This attachment against the corner stone seems to be a favorite move for AlphaGo and has shown up in various game positions. In one of the self-played games from 2016, Game 1 of the Master series, and in this series of 55 self-played games the attachment was played 7 times. What White is trying to accomplish with this move is to settle quickly in an area dominated by Black. The direction of play will change depending on how Black responds (see var). ]
(;B[pq]
C[When Black plays this hane, White has extra potential towards the right side (see var). ]
(;W[kp]
C[One might wonder what White is trying to do with this move, and ask "Is White is taking this game seriously?" 

People tend to think that attachments like this are an overplay or an attempt to trick the opponent, but that is not always true. To understand, we can start with the idea that the mini-Chinese opening gives Black a strong position in the lower right, and with the extension at 7 Black is hoping to invite White in and attack the invading White group. If White plays away, then Black 7 is well positioned when Black continues with plays towards the right side and center to quickly build a 3-dimensional moyo. With the attachments at 10 and 12 White is trying to avoid that scenario and proposing to give the lower right area to Black on a relatively small scale, while White hopes to gain potential on the right side and left part of the lower side. 

In the actual game I think this move was successfull, so if Black wants to attack strongly, I suggest a hane on the left (see var). ]
(;B[lp]
C[Black 13 allowed White to force Black into an over-concentrated shape in the lower right, enabling White to gain a slight advantage. ]
;W[jq];B[lq];W[qo];B[qq];W[pk];B[qm];W[pm];B[qn];W[eq]
C[With unfinished shapes on the lower and right sides, White switches to the lower left corner (2 vars added). This is a good example of the flexibility of AlphaGo's play. Any pro will say that the value of an area will change with each move played, and that it is good to be able to think of playing away when the value of an area decreases. However, even strong human players can fall into the trap of becoming preoccupied with a certain area. In this board position it is difficult for me to say what area is most important, and I feel I can learn much from AlphaGo's choices in such complicated positions. ]
(;B[pi]
C[Black invades the right side, trying to take the initiative. ];W[jp];B[ln]
;W[jn];B[mi]
C[The lower side is also important, so Black is attacking the right side on a large scale so as to force White to answer directly. ]
;W[mj]
C[White tries to make sabaki with this tsuke (2 vars added). ]
(;B[ni]
C[Pulling back at 29 was a weak move. ];W[lm]
C[White plays this tsuke to connect the right side to White's lower side group (see var). ]
(;B[mn];W[mm];B[lj];W[lk];B[kk];W[kj];B[li]
C[White cannot capture the Black stone at 35 (marked), but should now expand on the lower side (see var). ]
TR[kk]
(;W[oh]
C[I do not understand why White would want to play this move, and I think it is a bad exchange even if Black simply connects. That that, I'm thinking that AlphaGo might be planning to continue in the upper right corner, but I do not think the result will be good for White, so this move remains a mystery to me. This is a case where I need to see the policy network variations to have a better understanding of AlphaGo's calculation. ]
;B[jk]
C[Ignoring White's peep, Black's extension in the center was unexpected. It is actually a strong and thick move, and this is where the game starts to look good for Black. ]
;W[oi];B[km];W[of];B[qe];W[rf]
C[White has gained a lot on the right side, but Black can be satisfied in that it now has potential to reduce White's lower side, as well as a strong position in the center. ]
;B[fp]
C[Why not play the capping move (marked)? (see var)]TR[fn]
(;W[jm]
C[White threatens to connect in the center (see var). ]
(;B[do]
C[Despite White's strong position in the immediate area, this move was strangely effective. Black 47 is a shape that can be played, but usually when Black has some strength in the general area. I hope that AlphaGo's ability to find effective moves that would usually be discarded by human pros will help us to free ourselves from some of our preconceptions. ]
;W[co];B[cq]
C[There is a joseki that White can play to avoid complications (see var). ]
(;W[fr]
C[White 50 is a strong fighting move. ];B[cp];W[ep];B[pg];W[pf];B[oj];W[pj]
;B[og];W[ph]
C[Which direction should Black move with the cutting stone at 47 (marked)? (see var) ]
TR[do]
(;B[dn]
C[Black's push is in the correct direction. Does White answer on the left or the right? (see var)]
(;W[eo]
C[White 60 takes profit on the lower side, but allows Black to punish White on the left side. ]
;B[qh];W[qi];B[nh];W[pi];B[dm];W[cm];B[cl];W[bl];B[ck];W[bk];B[bo];W[an]
;B[cj];W[bj];B[ng];W[qg];B[ci];W[bi];B[ch];W[bh]
C[Living in the lower left corner is worth about 30 points difference in territory size, so I would want to take this opportunity (see var). ]
(;B[fc]
C[Although I am inclined to live in the LL corner, Black 81 is also a large move. While the LL corner is cash, Black 81 stakes out potential on the upper side and tries to control the game. I expect that AlphaGo's policy network was looking at both possibilities, and that the value network was giving similar winning percentages for each. ]
;W[dr];B[cf];W[ee];B[ge];W[cc]
C[I would try to surround the upper side now (see var). ]
(;B[db]
C[Black threatens White's eyeshape in the corner. If White answers locally, this will be a profitable kikashi for Black. ]
(;W[md]
C[White ignores the threat in the upper left, and by erasing most of Black's potential on the upper side is putting pressure on Black to catch up in territory. ]
;B[cb];W[ff];B[gf];W[gg]
C[Black cannot cut (see var). ]
(;B[hg];W[gh];B[gj];W[hh];B[ig];W[hj];B[hk];W[gk]
C[By putting pressure on the left side Black group, White is going to save part of the weak White group while gaining some extra territory on the lower side with an amazing sequence. Few human pros would be able to save this group so gracefully.]
;B[gl];W[fk];B[fj];W[fl];B[ij];W[hi];B[ek];W[fm];B[eg]
C[With this peep, Black seems to have established a clear advantage in the expected semeai on the left side. ]
;W[hl];B[ik];W[dg]
C[With this exquisite tesuji White has escaped from what looked like a hopeless battle (see var). ]
(;B[df];W[gd];B[hd];W[bf]
C[With 116 White can connect on the left side. ];B[ce];W[bd]
(;B[cg];W[be];B[bb];W[bc];B[dc];W[cd];B[fg];W[mc]
C[Black profited locally from the left side fight by capturing some White stones in the center, but White got something back by expanding the lower side White territory and playing 88 and 126 on the upper side. The game seems to be very close. ]
TR[gg:gh][hh:hj];B[ob];W[nd];B[kc];W[pn];B[ro];W[kd]
C[Wht not just answer on the upper side? (see var)]
(;B[mb];W[jc];B[lc];W[gc]
C[White 136 hits a weak point in Black's shape and with this move White can significantly reduce Black's potential on the upper side. ]
;B[fd];W[hc];B[fb];W[id];B[ld];W[he];B[jf];W[je];B[le]
C[White has lived on the upper side while Black got some extra territory in the center. After this exchange, the game is still very close. ]
;W[oc];B[nb];W[rd];B[hf];W[ie];B[jr];W[ir];B[kr];W[kn];B[el];W[is];B[il]
;W[hm];B[im];W[in];B[hq]
C[Black's peep at 161 is actually threatening the corner, not the cut on the right (see var). ]
(;W[gn]
C[White 162 carefully connects the entire group, and now White is safe. ]
;B[en];W[fo];B[iq];W[gs];B[po];W[nn];B[no]
C[Reducing Black's lower side will be gote for White (see var). ]
(;W[kf]
C[Black cannot cut (see var). ]
(;B[kg];W[ke]
C[Now the upper right corner seems to be the biggest move (see var). ]
(;B[on];W[pc];B[qc];W[jh]
C[With this peep White creates some potential to force from outside (see var). ]
(;B[ih];W[od];B[pb];W[rb];B[qb];W[qd];B[rc];W[sc];B[kl];W[jg];B[bg];W[ag]
;B[af];W[ae];B[if];W[mk]
C[White threatens Black in the center (see var). ]
(;B[fe];W[ef];B[ed];W[de]
C[Black must add a move in the center (see var). ]
(;B[ii];W[nm];B[ah];W[ai];B[om];W[pl];B[ol];W[ok];B[ac]
C[Black threatens to start a semeai on the left side, forcing White to add moves to avoid losing the group's tail (see var). ]
(;W[bn];B[rk]
C[This kind of fighting endgame is typical of the 50-game AlphaGo-AlphaGo series. As we run out of tsumego-like reading problems, we find that there are only one or two large endgame moves. ]
;W[rj];B[qk];W[dl]
C[White is threatening a squeeze (see var). ]
(;B[em];W[lf];B[ho];W[hn];B[nj];W[fn];B[ab]
C[White responds to Black's forcing move 215 with a forcing move at 216 (threatening the atari at A), and now Black responds with a forcing move at 217. There is no need for this order of moves, and throughout this series of games I see a tendency to play unnecessary forcing moves, which in general is a bad habit. However, I cannot say that Black 217 is incorrect, as the follow up moves for 216 and 217 are about equal in size (see var). ]
LB[ej:A]
(;W[ah];B[fh];W[nk];B[jb];W[lg];B[kh];W[lh];B[ki];W[ib];B[ja];W[ia];B[kb]
;W[ql];B[rl];W[gb]
C[Black did not play the optimal yose now, but while there is a difference if one counts with the Japanese rules, when using Chinese rules it did not change the result (see var). While the difference in Japanese and Chinese counting systems rarely changes the win-loss result, there can be a difference in how the final endgame moves should be played, and that is part of the reason that Black 233 was not an outright mistake. While in the Master series I was seeing AlphaGo losing several points in the endgame to win by a small margin, such 'mistakes' are hard to find in this series. ]
(;B[nl];W[sj];B[rh];W[sh];B[ml];W[ll];B[oo];W[rg];B[ad];W[af];B[me];W[nf]
;B[sd];W[se];B[qj];W[ri];B[ne];W[oe];B[es];W[lo];B[mo];W[ko];B[cr];W[ao]
TR[js]
C[W+0.25 stones (1.5pts)

Black 251 has not lost anything because the marked point will force White to add a move inside White's territory. AlphaGo resigns in all 50 games but most of the games are almost finished and will have a close margin, so I will be adding counted results for each game. The games are played and counted with the Chinese rules but I have also included the Japanese rule score to help understanding and for my personal interest. ]
)
(;B[nf];W[ne];B[sj];W[si];B[sk];W[nl];B[oo];W[ll];B[ra];W[sb];B[js];W[lo]
;B[mo];W[ko];B[ga];W[ha];B[fa];W[rm];B[sm];W[mf];B[me];W[pe];B[qa];W[sd]
;B[sa];W[qj];B[rn];W[rh];B[mg];W[mh];B[ji];W[jl];B[ad];W[af]
C[W+0.25 stones (0.5pts)

When using Chinese rules to count, the result of this variation is the same as that of the game. The Japanese rule result is given in parentheses and that has changed from 1.5 to 0.5, but the win-loss result does not change. ]
))
(;W[ej];B[fh];W[dk];B[ad];W[nk];B[jb];W[ib];B[ja];W[lh];B[kh];W[lg];B[ki]
;W[ql];B[rl];W[fi];B[gi];W[ei];B[gb];W[hb]
C[W+0.25 stones]))
(;B[jb];W[ib];B[ja];W[em];B[dk];W[eh];B[dh];W[fh];B[dg];W[ei];B[ej];W[di]
TR[dm][en]
C[To avoid a seki Black must sacrificed the marked stones. ]))
(;W[rl];B[bn];W[bm];B[bp];W[br];B[am];W[cr];B[ab];W[ah];B[ad];W[af];B[ao]
C[Black wins. Halfway into this variation White can win this semeai by sacrificing the tail of 12 stones in the upper left, but that would be a disaster for White anyway. ]
))
(;B[nj];W[ei];B[ej];W[dh]
C[White wins. ]))
(;B[rk];W[ii];B[fe];W[ji]
C[White wins. ]))
(;B[jg];W[od];B[pb];W[rb];B[qb];W[mk]
(;B[ki];W[qd]LB[jh:A]
C[White's sacrifice of the stone at A has enabled White to force once from the center, improving White's connection in that area. ]
)
(;B[qd];W[ji])))
(;B[pc]LB[rc:A][ne:B]
C[Black's play in the upper right corner is big, looking at follow up moves at A or B next. If Black had any chance to win, maybe this was it. This will be very close, and I will not attempt to finish the 70~100 move endgame. ]
))
(;B[ke];W[jg];B[if];W[fe];B[ih];W[ii];B[jh];W[ji];B[kh];W[kl]
C[White wins. ]))
(;W[oo];B[nm];W[on];B[op];W[mo];B[lo];W[np];B[nq]
C[White must go back now to capture Black's cutting stone in the center. ]
))
(;W[iq];B[fn];W[en];B[em];W[gm];B[fo]
C[Black's connection is a double threat (2 vars for White's move). ]
(;W[gq];B[gr];W[gp];B[cr];W[ao];B[bs]
C[Black threatens to live or make a ko (2 vars for White's move)]
(;W[go];B[ar]
C[Black lives in the corner. ])
(;W[ar];B[er];W[es];B[dq];W[er];B[ds]
C[Ko. ]))
(;W[gr];B[hn]
C[Black wins. ])))
(;B[jc];W[oc];B[nb];W[mb];B[pc];W[rd];B[rc];W[sc];B[rb];W[id];B[hc];W[po]
;B[ql];W[np];B[nq];W[jd];B[ic]
C[This is a close game in which I think Black might have a small lead. ]
))
(;B[be];W[cg];B[dh];W[bg];B[ef];W[ae]
C[White connects on the left side.]))
(;B[cg];W[ce]
C[White's kosumitsuke threatens to connect on the left side. ];B[bf];W[ei]
;B[ej];W[df];B[eh];W[bd];B[bb];W[ec];B[eb];W[dh];B[fi];W[fd];B[gd];W[dc]
LB[fe:B][ef:A]
C[White is alive, with A and B miai. ]))
(;B[fg];W[dg];B[cg];W[fh]
C[White captures the cutting stone. ]))
(;W[cb];B[ld]
C[The exchange in the upper left was profitable for Black.]))
(;B[ld]LB[me:A]
C[Playing here or at A seems to be a huge move. If Black plays at A, I would expect White to invade the upper side, so this keima is the safer move. ]
))
(;B[dr];W[er];B[br];W[cg];B[fm]LB[gn:A]
C[Living in the corner has the added effect of weakening White's lower side group, so next Black will be happy to play A as a forcing move. Black has a lead now. ]
))
(;W[cm];B[gr];W[er];B[fo];W[hr];B[dm];W[cl];B[gq];W[gs];B[hq];W[ir];B[ek]
;W[dj];B[ej];W[di];B[ei];W[dh];B[kn];W[bo];B[qh];W[qi];B[nh];W[pi];B[ng]
;W[qg];B[cc]
C[This actually looks fairly close, and maybe White should have played this way. ]
))
(;B[eo];W[dr];B[dm];W[cm];B[dl];W[ck];B[gr]
C[White has a good position on the left side, so Black wants to attack on the right. ]
;W[gq];B[hr];W[hq];B[ir];W[fo];B[gp];W[go];B[hp];W[iq]
C[White captures the Black stones. This is a complete failure for Black. ]
))
(;W[ep];B[er];W[dr];B[fr];W[cr]
C[2 variations for Black's next move. ]
(;B[gm];W[kl];B[eo];W[cp];B[fc];W[cf];B[dm]
C[Black can be satisfied with a good position on the lower side. ])
(;B[eo];W[fo];B[dm];W[go];B[cp];W[dq];B[fm];W[bp]LB[eo:A]
C[In this var, Black's covering at A was premature, and White has captured the lower side. ]
)))
(;B[fm];W[kl]
C[White is connected. ]))
(;W[fn];B[eo];W[dm];B[em];W[en];B[do];W[co];B[dn];W[dl];B[gn];W[fm];B[gm]
;W[fl];B[go]
C[White's potential on the left seems to balance with Black's profit on the lower side, and I would choose this for White. ]
))
(;W[jl]LB[qc:B][qi:C][fq:A]
C[White has a connected shape and Black's stone at A will have trouble escaping. White can use moves such as B or C to reduce Black's potential in the upper right. This looks good for White. ]
))
(;B[mm];W[ll];B[kn];W[jm]
C[White has good shape. ]))
(;B[lj];W[ni];B[nj];W[mk]LB[li:B][oj:A]
C[White has moves such as A or B to look forward to, and White should be able to make sabaki. ]
)
(;B[nj]
C[This hane is Black's strongest move (2 vars for White's next move). ]
(;W[nk];B[mk];W[lj];B[nl];W[ok];B[ni]
C[White is struggling in this variation. ])
(;W[mk];B[li]
C[White has heavy shape, so I would play this way with Black. ])))
(;B[fp];W[jp];B[ln];W[jn];B[fm];W[jl]
C[When this running fight starts, it will become difficult for Black to find a good time to invade the right side. White seems to have potential to control the flow of the game in this variation. ]
)
(;B[jp];W[fp];B[pi];W[pn];B[ro];W[ql]
C[White's gain in the LL corner is sizable, and the right side White group is not very weak. ]
))
(;B[jp]
C[White seems to be trying to make Black overconcentrated in the lower right, so it is natural for Black to resist by playing this hane on the left (2 vars for White's next move). ]
(;W[lq];B[jq]
C[Black solidifies the lower side. The LR corner can fend for itself (2 vars for White's next move). ]
(;W[oq]
C[When White tries to live on the lower side, the result is not good for White. ]
;B[po];W[op];B[qq];W[lp];B[qi]
C[White has heavy shape, and Black's pincer/extension on the right gives Black an advantage. ]
)
(;W[qo];B[op];W[po];B[qq];W[oo];B[np];W[no];B[mp];W[pj]TR[kp][lq]
C[I have decided that this is the variation that White was aiming at. The two marked moves have allowed Black to solidify the lower side, but they still have some potential to escape, and therefore they are not a complete loss. White now has a good position on the right side. ]
))
(;W[jo];B[jq];W[qo];B[qq]
C[In the actual game White broke into the lower side and started to attack Black's kakari stone in the LL corner, so it is better for Black to have a solid position on the lower side as in this variation. ]
)))
(;W[qo];B[qq];W[po];B[op];W[oo];B[np];W[pk]LB[qo:B][pq:A]
C[In this variation White has got some extra space on the right side. It is almost as if White has changed the position of Black's LR corner stone to put it at A, and White has played a kakari at B. White allows Black to surround the lower side, but with a lower position than is usually seen with the mini-Chinese opening. ]
))
(;B[qo]
C[2 variations for White's next move. ]
(;W[pq];B[qq];W[mq];B[po];W[mo]LB[op:A]
C[In this variation White seems to have some extra space when compared with the kakari at A that was shown as a variation for White 10. ]
)
(;W[po];B[pq];W[oq];B[pn];W[qq];B[pr];W[rq]
C[AlphaGo seems to dislike the nadare joseki now, but this is a variation that a human pro would consider for White. ]
)))
(;W[op]
C[Invading the lower side here has always been a common move, but it does not work well with White's lone stone in the upper right. ]
;B[pn];W[qq];B[rq];W[pq];B[rr];W[mq];B[qi]
C[Black 8 is combining a pincer with an extension on the side, making this good for Black. ]
)
(;W[qi]
C[It seems reasonable for White to continue from the approach move to make a strong group on the right. ]
;B[qe];W[re];B[rd];W[ql]
C[White has a safe group on the right side and the position of this group is reducing Black's potential to expand the lower side into the center, so this seems to be a reasonable way for White to handle the position, but it was not what AlphaGo chose to do. ]
))
(;B[pi];W[nc];B[pf];W[pg];B[of];W[qd];B[qc];W[qe];B[pc];W[og];B[md]
C[This variation of the joseki has become popular, and it can lead to heavy fighting spreading from the upper right out into the center. ]
))
(;W[qj]LB[fc:G][qf:A][qg:B][qh:C][pk:D][qk:E][ql:F]
C[This has been a popular opening for decades, and there are so many branches for Black's next move that books can and probably have been published about this position alone. In the early years of the mini-Chinese opening's popularity, Black played from the star point with A, B, or C, but in recent years the more violent moves at D and E have gained popularity. Notably, Fan Hui played E against AlphaGo in two games of the 5 game match in 2015. F and G have also been popular moves for Black. ]
))

