(;
ST[2]
RU[Chinese]
KM[7.50]
PW[Choi Jeong]
PB[Sarah Yu]
C[Elite Mind Games
White:  Choi Jeong
Black:  Sarah Yu
Commentary:  Sarah Yu
Game Editor:  Myron Souris
Published in the February 1, 2018 edition of the American Go E-Journal

This exciting game is from the 2017 IMSA Elite Mind Games women's team tournament. 
http://www.usgo.org/news/2017/12/elite-mind-games-wrap-up/

Already by the 3rd move, Sarah Yu shows her intention to avoid calm and normal go, and then sacrifices stones and starts kos.  Her strategy works as she attains a promising position, only to make a slip in time pressure, leading to a complicated winner-take-all ending.

Sarah gives her impressions of this game and her entire experience surrounding the competition:  "This game was the last round in women's team.  I truly enjoyed this game, and came to see the difference of skills between myself and my opponent.  I am privileged to have become a part of it.  And I am honoured to represent North America in this high standard tournament.  Overall, I am pleased with the games I played.

"This year's IEMG was in structure similar to the one in March 2016.  For Go this year, both men and women played in team of two.  After the team tournament, one would play in individual blitz, and the other player in pair Go.

"Sometimes I found myself asking, what was my role in this?  This year, my goal was to enjoy the tournament, the side events, and to connect a little with other players.  I am also grateful for the opportunity to open my eyes in other areas, such as tea tasting, calligraphy, and draughts. 

"At the closing ceremonies, it was with mixed emotions to see players getting their prizes.  My impression is that IMSA and the Chinese organizers have been doing good work together to meet the standard of the tournament, and to host cultural events for entertainment."];
B[qd]
C[Each player had two hours basic time, and five periods of one minute byo-yomi.];
W[dd];B[cc];W[dc];B[cd];W[cf];B[nc]
C[This is the first time I play an opening like this.

With tenuki, I wanted to force white to allocate two more moves to kill the two Black stones.  However, it did not turn out to be a good strategy.  Sacrificing the two stones made white very and the opening difficult for black.];
W[ce];B[pq];W[dp];B[fq];W[dn];B[jp];W[qn];B[qp];W[pj];B[pk];W[qk];B[ql];W[rl]
C[This move was very good.  It was to my surprise.];
B[pl];W[rj];B[oj];W[pi];B[pn];W[qm];B[pm];W[hq];B[db];W[eb];B[bb];W[da];B[ca];W[cb];B[rk];W[sk];B[db];W[ea]
C[With Ko threats, B could cut at E17. 
But Black would need a lot of ko threats.];
B[cq];W[dq];B[dr];W[er];B[br];W[ds];B[cr];W[eq];B[bn];W[bm]
C[Normally, I should respond at B5. 
I was not very optimistic at this stage, so I decided to break white's moyo, by giving up the corner.];
B[cm];W[bo];B[bl];W[bp];B[ci];W[cb];B[hp];W[lc];B[db];W[bd];B[ne];W[id];B[gq];W[km]
C[It has been difficult for black until now.
So Black has to do something.];
B[bc];W[be];B[ec];W[cb];B[eo];W[do];B[db];W[fb];B[gc];W[cb];B[ic];W[jc];B[hd];W[ib];B[hb];W[hc];B[cp];W[co];B[ic];W[fc];B[jb];W[hc];B[jl];W[kl];B[ic];W[ko];B[jd]
C[Black gained a lot from the ko and started to lead.];
W[kp];B[kk];W[in];B[jq];W[kq]
C[I knew black was leading, and I was too eager to see the lower side group alive. 
At this moment, black should play at O12 to build the influence. 
After I played the next two moves, I immediately regretted it.];
B[kr];W[lr];B[jr];W[nh];B[ik]
C[After the game, Choi Jeong pointed out this move would be better at K9.];
W[op];B[oq];W[lk];B[np];W[kj];B[le];W[qf]
C[This move was a little slow for white. 
After the game, she said it would be better to play at R17, and make a few exchanges with Sente.];
B[jj];W[ki];B[qe];W[rf];B[ji];W[kh];B[el]
C[At this time, it was a close game.];
W[no];B[oo];W[mp];B[nq];W[qc]
C[This move was not a good one, as it turned out to be risky. 
White loses points, and pushes the game to fighting.];
B[rc];W[pc];B[od];W[rb];B[rd]
C[This move would be better at T16. 
It could potentially affect half an eye later on.];
W[di];B[cj];W[ob];B[sb];W[kc];B[ie];W[nb];B[qb];W[md];B[oe];W[kb];B[ia];W[mc];B[ra];W[me];B[mf];W[lf];B[lg];W[kf];B[ng]
C[My opponent did not see this move. 
At this time, the game is very promising for Black.
But I immediately made a mistake.];
W[fl]
C[At this time, B should play L13 and kill white's group. 
I had a few 1 minute byo-yomi left, and I did not think.];
B[fk]
C[This was my losing move.];
W[gk];B[gl]
C[With these exchanges, White is able to make something, which I did not see.];
W[ke];B[kd];W[ld];B[kg];W[je];B[id];W[if]
C[This move surprised me.  

My byo-yomi periods started to run out.];
B[jg];W[jf];B[hf];W[ig];B[hg];W[ih];B[jh];W[hh];B[gh];W[gg]
C[With the exchanges (F8 & G9), Black can no longer atari at G14 and protect the upper group.];
B[fh];W[gf];B[he];W[ja];B[ka];W[la];B[mb];W[ja];B[ib];W[ge];B[hi];W[gd]
(;
B[ii];W[le]
(;
B[gb]
C[This move is bad.

However, Black cannot make a desirable outcome, if both players were to play correctly. 

Please see the variations.];
W[ga];B[nd];W[ma]
(;
B[oa];W[pa];B[pb];W[ka]
C[White's connection here kills Black's group.

I played a couple of moves to threaten White's lower middle group, but resigned soon after. ]
)
    (;
    B[ka]
    C[I forgot to capture here.];
    W[lb];B[oa];W[pa];B[pb];W[fa];B[qa];W[ha];B[pa]
    C[But White takes the ko 1st, and Black doesn't have enough ko threats to win the game.]
    )
)
    (;
    B[ka]
    C[This capture gives Black more practical chances.];
    W[ma];B[nd];W[lb];B[oa];W[pa]
    C[White must play here now, otherwise White only has a stage (approach) ko.];
    B[pb]
    (;
    W[na]
    C[White's capture here leads to a superko (triple ko)!];
    B[oc];W[gb];B[qa];W[ja];B[oa];W[hc];B[ka];W[pa]
    LB[gc:A]
    C[[Ed.  Under AGA rules, Black cannot recapture now at A, because of repeating a board position from 5 moves ago.  However, in this team tournament game, the current Chinese rules consider this game as a tie.  If in an individual competition, the Chinese rules consider this game as a "no result", requiring a follow up game.  Note that the AGA rules require a winner for each game, regardless.\]]
    )
        (;
        W[ga]
        C[However, White can approach from the left.];
        B[qa];W[ha];B[pa];W[gb]
        LB[ja:A]
        C[White threatens to kill the group by playing at A next.];
        B[na];W[ja]
        C[White takes the ko 1st.  Does Black have a big enough ko threat?

No.  Black has to try to kill the entire middle group, but success is unlikely, as the following variations show.];
        B[mj];W[hc];B[mh];W[on]
        (;
        B[mo];W[nn];B[mn];W[nm];B[mm];W[nl]
        (;
        B[ml];W[mk]
        )
            (;
            B[mq];W[lp];B[ml];W[mk];B[nk];W[po]
            TR[ll]
            C[Does not work for Black.  And Black does not have ko threats for the marked cut either.]
            )
        )
            (;
            B[po];W[mn]
            (;
            B[lq];W[lo]
            C[Alive.]
            )
                (;
                B[lo];W[mq];B[nr];W[ln]
                C[Alive.

Therefore, Black cannot capture the whole group, which means that Black does not have a big enough ko threat.]
                )
            )
        )
        (;
        W[gb]
        C[Similar to the previous variation.]
        )
    )
)
    (;
    B[pa]
    C[Black cannot win this race either.];
    W[ka];B[ii];W[le];B[nd];W[na]
    C[White wins.]
    )
)

