(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]AP[CGoban:3]ST[2]RU[Japanese]SZ[19]KM[5.50]PW[Yoda Norimoto]PB[Hans Pietsch]WR[9d]BR[1d]DT[1997-06-27]EV[2nd LG Cup]RO[Round 1]PC[Seoul, Korea]SO[http://gogameguru.com/]AN[An Younggil 8p]C[This is a game from 1997 between Hans Pietsch 1p (at the time) and Yoda Norimoto 9p, from the 1st LG Cup.Hans Pietsch was a German Go player who became a professional at the Nihon Kiin (the Japanese Go Association) in 1997.That year, while still a 1 dan professional, Hans defeated Yoda Norimoto 9p in the 1st LG Cup in Korea.Tragically, Hans was shot by robbers in a random act of violence, and died shortly afterwards, on January 16, 2003. He was on a trip to promote Go in South America at the time.The Nihon Kiin posthumously promoted Hans to 6p.January 16, 2013 was the 10th anniversary of Hans' death. One of his German friends asked for this game to be commented in memory of Hans. Many Go players remember Hans' cheerful nature and warm heart.You can read more about Hans Pietsch here:http://senseis.xmp.net/?HansPietschhttp://www.nihonkiin.or.jp/joho/hans_shinobu/index-e.htmhttp://www.361points.com/hans/Yoda Norimoto 9p was one of the best players in the world when this game was played.He won the 1st Samsung Cup, defeating Yu Changhyeok 9p in the final 2-1, and lost the final of the 3rd Ing Cup 3-1, against Yu Changhyeok once again.At the time when this game was played, he'd already won several domestic Japanese titles, and was regarded as the top player in Japan.Yoda plays well balanced games and he likes solid and tidy positions. He was described as a 'Samurai' in Korea, because his style of play is well disciplined, and the motion with which he plays his stones is very Samurai like.Yoda places stones on the board with a full snap, and it recalls the image of a Samurai.]RE[B+0.50];B[pd]C[Hans Pietsch plays black.];W[dp];B[pp];W[ed]C[Opening on 5-4 is unusual in professional Go, but Yoda sometimes played like this at the time.];B[cd]C[Normally, it's easier to delay approaching here right away, because of fear of trick plays. However, Hans didn't seem to be worried about that.];W[cc]C[White just chose an easy joseki.];B[bc];W[dc];B[be];W[ic];B[df]C[This is a well known joseki.];W[cm]C[The opening is peaceful so far. Yoda would have wanted to win smoothly in this game, since he was regarded one of the top players in the world.Hans was a 1p at the time and was much less well known.];B[kc]LB[df:A]C[This move is sente when black has a stone at A.](;W[ie]C[This jump is the right move to defend.];B[qf]LB[kc:A][nc:B]C[This enclosure is generally good, in combination with A. It creates more potential than playing solidly at B.](;W[ke]LB[nc:A]C[Capping here is questionable. It would be better for white to tenuki now and look forward to invading at A later.];B[mc]LB[jd:A]C[Yoda doesn't want to rush, but this exchange doesn't look good. Black's peep at A will be annoying for white later. ];W[nq];B[kp](;W[no]C[It's unusual to see this move in pros' games, but Yoda wanted to simplify the position because he was very confident about the second half of the game.];B[pn];W[pr];B[qq];W[kr]C[This is regarded as a joseki, but you can't easily find it in pros' games.](;B[nm]C[This knight's cap is nice, because it makes black's right side position wider and reduces white's potential at the bottom.](;W[pj]C[White splits on the 4th line.];B[mp]C[It's a good time to peep here.];W[np];B[pl]LB[mp:A][np:C][lq:B]C[If black peeps at A after playing here, white may answer at B instead of C.];W[nj];B[lj]C[This cap is an active move. Black's stones are all lively, and the game's enjoyable for black.];W[eq]TR[nj][pj]C[White played a tenuki and enclosed here. It's a very big move, and black should attack white's marked stones severely to get compensation.];B[jd];W[id];B[ph]C[This is a good place to attack. Black can make some points while attacking.];W[mk];B[lm]C[This jump is good, and the flow of the game is still favorable for black.];W[lk];B[jj]C[It's a nice jump. ];W[kj];B[ki];W[kk];B[ji]LB[je:A]C[Black's outside is getting stronger. Black's aiming for A.](;W[jc]LB[je:A][jk:B]C[White reinforced here to prevent black from pushing at A. This move is more tactical than connecting at A. However, white has to play at B instead.];B[jm]C[It's a very nice jump again! I couldn't find any mistakes in black's game so far, and it's very impressive.];W[jk];B[ik];W[il];B[jl];W[ol];B[om];W[mn];B[mm];W[ql]C[Now white has to make shape for this group.Yoda specializes at Sabaki. You should know that he's the author of the book named 'Vital Points and Skillful Finesse for SABAKI'.];B[qm];W[pk];B[rl]C[Black's outside is quite solid, so it's not that easy for white to sabaki here, even if white is Yoda Norimoto.];W[pm];B[jr]C[This is a good ko threat. ];W[kq](;B[jq]C[This move was black's first mistake.];W[rm]C[This is an excellent time to enlarge the ko. ];B[pl];W[hk]C[This is white's only ko threat. ](;B[ij];W[pm]C[But now, there's no ko threat for black at all.](;B[qn]C[It's inevitable that black connects here, and];W[rk]LB[rm:A]C[White's happy to capture the single stone. The game suddenly becomes nearly even.];B[qr]C[The game's still alright for black, because black can still get some profit by attacking this group.](;W[mq];B[lp];W[lq];B[io]C[This is a good shape move.];W[oq]C[White lives. ];B[ck]C[This is the last big move, and the game's still playable for black. Hans' moves in this game are natural and flawless.];W[dk]C[Yoda must have felt he was a bit behind, but he stayed calm. This is Yoda's style of play.](;B[cl]C[This is a very practical move, but it wasn't right in this case. ];W[dl];B[bm];W[cn];B[bn];W[bo];B[cj];W[dj];B[dm];W[dn];B[bp];W[ao];B[di];W[ci];B[bi](;W[pc]C[The timing of this attachment was a mistake.];B[qc];W[oc](;B[qd]C[This connection is right.];W[nd];B[le]C[This is a good tesuji. ](;W[nf];B[me];W[ne];B[nh];W[mg];B[kf]C[Black's playing a wonderful attacking sequence.];W[mh](;B[je]C[This atari was a small mistake.];W[jf];B[kd];W[jg];B[kg];W[lh]LB[kh:A][mi:B]C[This is a good response, and black's center group becomes weaker. If white doesn't play here, black can hane at B and capture the top group.];B[em]C[Anyway, this was a very important point, and the game is still favorable for black. It's very close though.];W[en];B[mf]C[Black wants to make sure he can live at the top.];W[ng];B[fm];W[ei];B[dh];W[fn];B[gm];W[gi];B[gg]C[Hans' moves in this game are very confident and lively.];W[hh];B[hl]C[This cut is nice and calm. Black's still in the lead by a small margin, but it's very hard to maintain the lead against such a strong player. ];W[eg]C[This is a good counter-attack. Yoda Norimoto also specialized in the endgame at the time.](;B[fe]C[This sort of move is very hard to find in real games. It's a very impressive move by Hans.];W[dg](;B[ch];W[eh];B[ee]C[Black was able to save his center stones, and the game's still alright for black.];W[fd];B[ge];W[dd];B[cf];W[hg]C[White has to connect the center group, and black takes sente.](;B[gr]C[This is a very good move. ](;W[fr]C[White has to answer here, and ](;B[dr]C[This move is brilliant, and it was the winning move.](;W[er]C[White should answer here, and ];B[gq]C[This was an accurate sequence. ](;W[fp]C[This reinforcement was necessary, and black can't live in the corner anymore (see the variations).](;B[ri]C[However, black gets sente to play here, and this is the biggest remaining endgame move. The game's still slightly better for black, by around 2~3 points at this point.];W[qb];B[rb];W[bb];B[ab];W[ba];B[hf];W[if];B[fj];W[gl];B[im];W[ej];B[fk];W[gh];B[ps]C[This is sente endgame for black.];W[os];B[qs];W[ms];B[jb];W[ib];B[kb];W[ho]C[This is a good endgame tesuji.];B[hp];W[hn];B[hj]C[Black's answers are correct. ];W[in];B[jn];W[gp];B[hq];W[de];B[ef];W[pb];B[gd];W[gc];B[ia];W[ha];B[ja];W[hc];B[nb];W[ra];B[sb];W[oh];B[oi];W[ni];B[pi]C[There are no more difficult endgame moves in this game.];W[pg];B[qg];W[ln];B[kn];W[pf];B[sn]LB[sl:A]C[This is a good endgame tesuji. Black's threatening to extend at A.];W[pe];B[qe];W[rn];B[ro];W[sl];B[fi];W[fg];B[gf];W[fh];B[gn];W[go];B[pq];W[or];B[qj];W[rj];B[sj];W[ce];B[bd];W[cg];B[bg];W[js];B[is];W[ks];B[ga];W[hb](;B[hs]LB[li:A]C[This move is a 2 point reverse sente endgame move, but A (4 points) is bigger.];W[li]C[White is catching up little by little, but the game's already nearly finished. Black's winning by about 1.5~2.5 points.];B[nl];W[oj];B[pl];W[bl];B[bk];W[pm];B[co];W[cp];B[pl];W[qk];B[qi];W[pm];B[al]LB[oo:A]C[Black plays here to make some extra ko threats in the corner, but it's a small mistake. Playing at A should be better.];W[md];B[nc];W[od];B[ld];W[oo];B[pl];W[po];B[qo];W[pm];B[an];W[do];B[pl];W[hm];B[gk];W[pm];B[bq];W[cr];B[pl];W[sk];B[si];W[pm];B[br];W[cq];B[pl];W[rc];B[rd];W[pm];B[ap];W[co];B[pl];W[sm];B[ok]C[This is a big mistake. ];W[so]C[This endgame is bigger than 3 points in sente, so black should have answered. White caught up a bit more here.];B[rp];W[nk]C[Now, the game becomes very close. ];B[ol];W[lo];B[ko];W[fs]LB[jh:A]C[This is a small mistake. A should be a tiny bit better, but black's still winning by half a point anyway.];B[jh];W[oa];B[na];W[ob];B[sp];W[gs];B[kl];W[ih];B[lg];W[sn]LB[pc:D][dm:C][rm:B][jq:A]C[Black won by half a point.It was an amazing game by Hans Pietsch. His opening was wonderful, and until he made the first mistake at A, the game was kind of perfect. After white settled on the right side, the game was quite close, but he maintained his lead, and he didn't allow white to catch up, managing to win by the smallest margin.On the other hand, there were several questionable moves by Yoda, and he tried very hard to catch up until the end of the game, but wasn't successful.Throughout the whole game, white had only one good chance. If white had captured the stone at C, instead of playing D, the game would have been even.Anyway, it was an excellent game by Hans. I can't believe that he'd just become a pro in 1997, and he played such a beautiful game in the same year.It's such a pity that we can't see him anymore. This was a game that Hans could be proud of, and he would have been happy to have created a masterpiece (this game) in his lifetime as a professional player.Commented by An Younggil 8phttp://gogameguru.com/])(;B[li]C[If black doesn't answer at the bottom, ];W[ir]C[White can play like this. ];B[hs];W[jp];B[iq];W[ko];B[jo];W[lo];B[ip]C[Since there's no particularly big endgame move now, this should be better for black.]))(;B[cp];W[co](;B[br];W[cq];B[bq];W[cr])(;B[dq];W[br]))(;B[br];W[cq])(;B[cq];W[br]))(;W[rh]C[White really wants to play here, but];B[cp];W[co];B[dq]C[This is good move, and white can't manage the situation. ];W[br];B[ep](;W[fp]C[If white ataris on the outside,];B[do];W[eo];B[dp];W[fq];B[ap]C[Blocking here is good, and white can't kill this corner without a ko.];W[ds]C[If white tries to kill, ];B[cs];W[cr];B[es]LB[bs:B][fs:A]C[ A and B are miai for black now. ];W[fs];B[bs]LB[gd:B][ps:A]C[It's a ko, but black has more big ko threats, starting with A and B. It's unbearable for white.])(;W[do]C[If white connects, ];B[es](;W[cq];B[fs]C[White loses too many points here. ])(;W[fs]C[White doesn't have enough liberties to play here,];B[fq];W[ds];B[gs]C[Black would capture white's stones like this.]))))(;W[cr]C[White can't play here now. ];B[cq];W[br];B[er];W[fq];B[fs]C[Because black can connect under in sente, and];W[dq];B[ri]C[Black can even play here now. It's a big loss for white. ]))(;B[gq]C[If black just extends here, ];W[rh]C[White can still play here. ];B[dr];W[cr];B[cq];W[br];B[dq]C[If black tries to fight, ];W[er];B[co];W[cp];B[ep];W[do]C[It doesn't work well for black.]))(;W[rh]LB[gr:A]C[If white doesn't answer A,];B[dr];W[er];B[cp];W[co];B[dq];W[br];B[ep];W[do];B[es];W[cq];B[fq]C[It's a big loss for white.]))(;B[gq]C[If black plays here, ];W[fr];B[gr];W[rh]C[White can play here which is very big. ];B[dr]C[If black comes into the corner here, ];W[cr]C[This attachment is good. ];B[cq];W[br];B[er];W[dq];B[fq]C[Black can capture the single stone, but ];W[qg](;B[pg];W[rf]C[This is troublesome for black. ])(;B[rf];W[pg]C[White is winning now.])))(;B[cg]C[Black should be careful not to answer here. ];W[eh];B[ch];W[ee];B[ef];W[ff]C[If this happens, black will be in big trouble.]))(;B[ef];W[dg];B[ch];W[ff];B[eh];W[fg];B[fh];W[gh]C[This is troublesome for black.]))(;B[jf]C[This move should be better. ];W[li];B[em]LB[je:A][mf:B]C[There's no problem in the center area. Connecting at A isn't sente for white, because B is sente for black.]))(;W[ld]C[If white tries to cut,];B[md];W[me];B[lf];W[lc];B[lb];W[kd];B[nc](;W[od];B[ne];W[mf];B[oe];W[mg];B[kb]C[Black will gain a lot of territory in the top right.])(;W[ob];B[na];W[ne];B[od];W[ng];B[kb];W[qb];B[pa]C[White stones in the top right are captured after this tesuji.])))(;B[od]C[If black tries to kill white like this, ];W[qb];B[rc];W[nc];B[nd];W[mb];B[lb];W[md];B[lc];W[ma](;B[oa];W[ob];B[pa];W[pb];B[na];W[ld]C[Black finds himself short of liberties.])(;B[ld];W[rb];B[sb];W[ob]LB[me:A]C[This isn't a good result for black. Black still needs to play at A later.]))(;B[qb]C[In this case, this extension isn't the proper move.];W[od];B[me];W[pe];B[qd];W[ne];B[mf];W[og]C[It's impossible for black to keep attacking this white group. ]))(;W[em]C[White should take this stone first.];B[kd];W[je];B[oc]C[If black reinforces the corner,];W[ei];B[dh];W[hl]C[This connection is sente, and ];B[mh];W[hq]C[This extension is big, and the game's pretty even.]))(;B[dj]C[This hane here is common, but];W[dl];B[cj];W[pc]C[White can tenuki and come in here.])(;B[cj]C[This extension should be right. ];W[cl];B[dj];W[ek];B[kd];W[je];B[oc]C[Black can secure the corner now, and black's still ahead.]))(;W[jp]C[If white cuts here to fight, ];B[lp]C[This connection is a good answer, and];W[mq];B[ip];W[jo];B[io]TR[jo][jp]C[White can't save the two stones.]))(;B[lq]C[If black threatens to kill white's group at the bottom,];W[qn]LB[po:A]C[White wouldn't care, and would win the ko. Black can't capture white because of the weakness at A.]))(;B[qk]C[If black ends the ko,];W[ij]C[This ponnuki is priceless.];B[lp]C[If black attacks this white group next,];W[mq];B[qr];W[lq]LB[jp:A]C[This is sente because of the cutting point at A,];B[jp];W[oq]LB[ik:A][ql:B]C[And, white can live like this. This trade is no good for black. A is more valuable than B.]))(;B[pl]C[Black should take the ko.](;W[hk];B[ij];W[pm]C[If white plays like this, ];B[jq]C[Then black can come back here.];W[rm]C[White can't cut here now. ];B[pl]C[Because white doesn't have a big enough ko threat now.])(;W[jq]C[If white tenukis and plays here, ];B[qk]C[Black can just eliminate the ko, and it's good enough for black. ];W[li];B[lh];W[mi];B[ck]C[Black has more territory, and the game is simple and easy.])))(;W[jk]C[Coming out to the center is far more important. ](;B[ik]C[If black keeps going, ];W[il](;B[hk];W[jm]LB[mn:A]C[White can make a good shape. Black needs to reinforce here because of the threat of A.])(;B[jl]C[This cut isn't a good idea. ];W[mm];B[mn];W[ml];B[ln]LB[jm:A]C[Black has to connect here, otherwise white will capture the cutting stone with A.];W[nn]C[White can cut in sente, and];B[nl];W[li]C[Even if white plays simply like this now,];B[lh];W[mi]LB[kh:B][ij:A]TR[jl][lm][ln][mn][kp][mp]C[White can live on the right side, so black's marked stones are in danger and there are cutting points at A and B.]))(;B[je];W[jf];B[if]C[If black pushes through and cuts here, ];W[lb];B[lc];W[oh]C[This attachment is good. ];B[og];W[nh]C[And now, black can't make a big territory in this area.])))(;W[qj]TR[qf][pn]C[When there's not enough space for a two-space extension, splitting on the 4th line (as in the game) is better.];B[ql]LB[qh:A][pj:B][qj:C]C[White can only extend one-space at A, so white played at B instead of C.]))(;B[pj]C[If black plays something like this,];W[nm];B[pl];W[eq]C[Now white's framework at the bottom becomes deeper and black's right side doesn't have much future potential.]))(;W[qq]C[This would be more common. ];B[pq];W[qp];B[po];W[pr];B[or];W[qr];B[oq];W[qn];B[fq];W[dq];B[ip]C[It's another game.]))(;W[qn]C[This approach is normal from today's point of view.];B[nq];W[rp])(;W[nq]C[This is also possible, but then];B[pn];W[jp];B[ke]C[This jump is very good. ]))(;W[qn]C[If white tenukis and plays something like this,];B[nq];W[rp];B[gc]C[Black can invade here and,];W[gd];B[hc];W[hd];B[ib];W[id];B[jb];W[fc];B[qf]C[This is good for black.]))