(;
GM[1]FF[4]VW[]AP[Many Faces of Go:10.0]
SZ[19]
HA[0]
ST[0]
PB[Thomas Hsiang]
PW[Takao Matsuda]
DT[1976-02-01]
PC[Telephone match. NY City Go Club - San Francisco Go Club]
KM[4.5]
TM[3600]
RU[Japanese]
RE[W+R]
SO[AG Journal - Volume 11, No. 2, Mar/April 1976]
AN[Takao Matsuda]
EV[1976 North American Honinbo]
GN[North American Honinbo Title game]
CP[AGA 1976]
GC[218 moves.
Total time (including transmission time for moves): 4 hrs 45 min.
Both players in byo-yomi at game's end.

At the time of this American Go Journal issue, the staff consisted of:

John C. Stephenson, General Editor
Terence G. Benson, Managing Editor
Matthias Thim, Distribution
Tako Onishi, Translations
Robert H. Rusher, Photographic Consultant

This was Terry Benson's first issue as the Journal Managing Editor.
]
OT[5x30 byo-yomi]

C[1976 North American Honinbo
February 1, 1976
Telephone match: NY City Go Club - San Francisco Go Club
B: Thomas Hsiang
W: Takao Matsuda
Commentary by Takao Matsuda
Originally published in the American Go Journal Volume 11, No.
2, Mar/April 1976
This edition published March 4, 2002, American Go E-Journal
Transcribed by John Goon
Edited by Chris Garlock
]CA[UTF-8];B[dp]
C[B1 is a "star" , one-stone corner opening, intending a fast development
out towards either side from this corner.
]LB[dp:1]
;W[ce]LB[ce:2][dp:1]
;B[qd]LB[qd:3]
;W[qp]
C[W2, B3, and W4 are all two-stone corner openings. The immediate
intent is to play a second stone to form a corner territory.
]LB[qd:3][ce:2][dp:1][qp:4]
;B[dc]
C[B5 is open to the following criticism: W at O3 forms a two-stone
corner position with W4 and makes it difficult for Black to follow
with a two-stone corner at P17 because that allows the mutual
extension point to the side to become a perogative
of W. My choice for B5 would be a knight's approach to the W4
stone extending from B1. If W then plays at 5, B can play at
P17.
]LB[dc:5][oc:B][qd:3][ce:2][dp:1][qp:4][nq:A]
;W[nq]LB[nq:6]
;B[ci]
C[Therefore, the B7 pincer atack is understandable. It is not as
severe as the other pincers, but here it is a matter of individual
style, as also was the choice of W6 over the small knight's corner
enclosure.
]LB[dc:5][qd:3][ce:2][ci:7][dp:1][qp:4][nq:6]
;W[fd]
C[W8 is a maneuver that could lead to complex tactical exchanges.
]LB[fd:8][ci:7]

;B[de]
C[B9 accepts the challenge. 
]LB[fd:8][de:9]
;W[df]
C[W10 shifts to a safe exchange. 
]LB[fd:8][de:9][df:10]
;B[ee]LB[ee:11]
;W[cd]LB[cd:12]
;B[ec]LB[ec:13]
;W[cc]LB[cc:14]
;B[ic]
C[After B15, a joseki variation, the values of the B7 pincer attack
and of the W8 attack cancel each other out. W chose this variation
to gain sente in order to play P17, the last big corner play
remaining on the board.
]LB[ic:15][oc:A][fd:8][ci:7]
;W[oc]LB[oc:16]
;B[pc]CR[pc]
;W[od]CR[od]

;B[pf]
C[B17-19 combination is a strategic maneuver. First, to present
W with a problem of whether to extend out fully at L17 and face
the invasion at N17, or hold back at M17 for a safe position.
Second,
Black wants to get an extension out towards the W4-6 corner before
White extends out from this corner. My choice at B17 would be
to simply play at 19. If W20 at L17, the Black invasion at N17
can be played without stress. And if W20 is played at M17, B
can play 17. 
]LB[kc:A][lc:C][mc:B][pc:17][od:18][pf:19][qp:4][nq:6]
;W[kc]CR[kc]
;B[mc]
C[B21 is not simply an invasion, but has strategic implications.
This play indicates a formidable opponent.
]LB[mc:21]
;W[of]CR[of]
;B[og]CR[og]
;W[nf]CR[nf]
;B[ph]CR[ph]
;W[ob]
C[W26 is an important play, allowing W a connective play at N18,
or an invasion into the corner, diminishing the value of saving
the B21 stone, and eliminating B's sente play at 26.
]LB[mb:A][ob:26][mc:21]
;B[qn]
C[B27 is excellent. It is taught that the extension should be out
to this point, threatening an invasion into the corner.
]LB[qn:27]
;W[gc]
C[W28, I felt, was the strongest play I could make at this point,
though not a very elegant one. B29 is a natural key point of
attack, but a play simply at 31 would have made W's continuation
difficult.
]LB[gc:28]

;B[hd]CR[hd]
;W[fe]CR[fe]
;B[ef]CR[ef]
;W[ff]CR[ff]
;B[dg]
C[B33 should be at F13. W would play at H14 and this leaves B the
option to cut at C14.
]LB[dg:33]
;W[cf]LB[cf:34]
;B[fg]LB[fg:35]
;W[hf]LB[hf:36]
;B[if]
C[B37 must be treated very carefully.
]LB[hf:36][if:37]

(;W[gg]CR[gg]
;B[kd]CR[kd]
;W[lc]CR[lc]
;B[ld]CR[ld]
;W[mb]CR[mb]
;B[ig]CR[ig]
;W[gh]
C[W44, without atari on the B35 stone, is correct.
]
PL[W]LB[fg:35][gh:44]
;B[ij]
C[B39 through 45 rapidly pulls this B group out, while attacking
the W8 group at the same time.
]LB[mb:42][lc:40][kd:39][ld:41][gg:38][ig:43][gh:44][ij:45]
;W[gj]CR[gj]

;B[dl]CR[dl]
;W[gl]CR[gl]
;B[il]CR[il]
;W[kf]
C[After B49, we have Black rapidly, but loosely, developed, in
contrast to White's compact but sound positions, with only the
W8 group as yet not stabilized. The mid-game begins with W50.
Although W50 is a key attacking point, it is better at L13, which
is more aware of a Black build-up for a center territory.
]LB[kf:50][kg:A][gj:46][ij:45][dl:47][gl:48][il:49]

(;B[kg]CR[kg]
;W[lg]CR[lg]
;B[jf]
C[B51 is a strong play, but Black should have continued by playing
B53 at L12 (at the very least), M12 (double hane), or M14 (cut).
The last two are natural follow-ups of B51. B53 is the losing
play.
]LB[jf:53][lf:C][kg:51][lg:52][kh:A][lh:B]
;W[kh]CR[kh]
;B[ji]CR[ji]
;W[jg]CR[jg]
;B[hi]CR[hi]
;W[ih]CR[ih]
;B[hh]CR[hh]

;W[hg]CR[hg]
;B[jh]CR[jh]
;W[ie]CR[ie]
;B[je]CR[je]
;W[jd]
C[B55-57 missed the W58 through 64 play which not only cut off
the B15-29 stones, but made this W group safe. The latter reason
was the decisive factor.
]LB[ic:15][hd:29][jd:64][ie:62][je:63][jf:53][kf:50][hg:60][jg:56][kg:51][lg:52][hh:59][ih:58][jh:61][kh:54][hi:57][ji:55]
;B[kg]CR[kg]
;W[he]CR[he]
;B[lq]CR[lq]
;W[jg]CR[jg]
;B[ke]CR[ke]

;W[md]
C[W70 captures the B21 stone and the ko fight threatens the eyes
of this B45-49 group.
]LB[mc:21][md:70][ij:45][il:49]
;B[kg]CR[kg]
;W[cg]
C[W72 gains while making a ko threat. If Black had a chance to
play here, the ensuing ko fight in the upper left hand corner
would be a fight for the life of the W group. Now, W can still
live if the corner ko is lost.
]LB[cg:72]
;B[ch]CR[ch]
;W[jg]CR[jg]
;B[cb]CR[cb]
;W[bb]CR[bb]
;B[kg]CR[kg]
;W[dj]CR[dj]
;B[di]CR[di]

;W[jg]CR[jg]
;B[ba]CR[ba]
;W[eh]CR[eh]
;B[eg]CR[eg]
;W[db]CR[db]
;B[kg]CR[kg]
;W[ei]CR[ei]
;B[dh]CR[dh]
;W[jg]CR[jg]
;B[ii]CR[ii]

;W[gi]CR[gi]
;B[cj]CR[cj]
;W[pn]CR[pn]
;B[qm]CR[qm]
;W[pm]CR[pm]
;B[ql]CR[ql]
;W[qo]CR[qo]
;B[da]CR[da]
;W[ca]CR[ca]
;B[jc]CR[jc]

;W[id]CR[id]
;B[cb]CR[cb]
;W[pl]CR[pl]
;B[qk]CR[qk]
;W[ca]CR[ca]
;B[kb]CR[kb]
;W[lb]CR[lb]
;B[cb]CR[cb]
;W[pe]CR[pe]
;B[qe]CR[qe]

;W[ca]CR[ca]
;B[oo]CR[oo]
;W[no]CR[no]
;B[cb]CR[cb]
;W[qf]CR[qf]
;B[pg]CR[pg]
;W[ca]CR[ca]
;B[gp]CR[gp]
;W[ea]
C[The net result of the upper left corner ko fight is that the
B27 and B67 stones that threatened the lower right corner are
not only negated, but W92, W94, WW96, and W102 have made this
W group safe, pressed Black down on the right side, and reversed
the Black potential center territory into a threat against the
B45-49 group.
]LB[ea:118][ij:45][qk:103][il:49][pl:102][ql:95][pm:94][qm:93][pn:92][qn:27][no:112][oo:111][qo:96][lq:67]
;B[nn]CR[nn]

;W[np]CR[np]
;B[pq]CR[pq]
;W[qq]CR[qq]
;B[co]CR[co]
;W[ip]
C[W124 invades this side, cuts off the B67 stone, and has an eye
on the B45-49 group. At this point, it is a close count on the
board, but W has the komi. The biggest factor here is that White
has all safe groups, while the Black center group is not yet
stable.
]LB[ij:45][il:49][lq:67]
;B[ko]CR[ko]
;W[hn]CR[hn]
;B[jn]CR[jn]
;W[fq]CR[fq]
;B[gq]CR[gq]

;W[fp]CR[fp]

(;B[fr]
C[B131 is correct. If B131 plays at G5 instead, the W invading
group will escape and upset Black's lead. See the previous alternate
play diagram to see what would happen in that case.
]
PL[B]LB[go:A]
CR[fr]
;W[fo]CR[fo]
;B[hr]CR[hr]
;W[dn]CR[dn]
;B[cn]CR[cn]
;W[in]CR[in]
;B[jq]CR[jq]
;W[pk]CR[pk]
;B[pj]CR[pj]

;W[qb]CR[qb]
;B[ok]CR[ok]
;W[nm]CR[nm]
;B[mn]CR[mn]
;W[po]CR[po]
;B[go]CR[go]
;W[gn]CR[gn]
;B[fn]CR[fn]
;W[en]CR[en]
;B[fm]CR[fm]

;W[em]CR[em]
;B[fl]CR[fl]
;W[el]CR[el]
;B[fk]CR[fk]
;W[ek]CR[ek]
;B[eo]CR[eo]
;W[gk]CR[gk]
;B[eq]CR[eq]
;W[cm]CR[cm]
;B[bm]CR[bm]

;W[cl]CR[cl]
;B[bl]CR[bl]
;W[ck]CR[ck]
;B[bk]CR[bk]
;W[rf]CR[rf]
;B[qg]CR[qg]
;W[rc]CR[rc]
;B[rg]CR[rg]
;W[on]CR[on]
;B[mr]CR[mr]

;W[nr]CR[nr]
;B[lf]CR[lf]
;W[mg]CR[mg]
;B[ns]CR[ns]
;W[os]CR[os]
;B[ms]CR[ms]
;W[pr]CR[pr]
;B[ro]CR[ro]
;W[rp]CR[rp]
;B[rn]CR[rn]

;W[mm]CR[mm]
;B[ln]CR[ln]
;W[kg]CR[kg]
;B[lj]CR[lj]
;W[iq]CR[iq]
;B[ir]CR[ir]
;W[me]CR[me]
;B[qc]CR[qc]
;W[pb]CR[pb]
;B[rd]CR[rd]

;W[sc]CR[sc]
;B[rb]CR[rb]
;W[ra]CR[ra]
;B[fj]CR[fj]
;W[ej]CR[ej]
;B[lm]CR[lm]
;W[le]CR[le]
;B[ih]CR[ih]
;W[sd]CR[sd]
;B[sf]CR[sf]

;W[oj]CR[oj]
;B[nk]CR[nk]
;W[pi]CR[pi]
;B[qj]CR[qj]
;W[ni]CR[ni]
;B[bg]CR[bg]
;W[bf]CR[bf]
;B[fb]CR[fb]
;W[gb]CR[gb]
;B[bh]CR[bh]

;W[ml]CR[ml]
;B[ll]CR[ll]
;W[mk]CR[mk]
;B[nj]CR[nj]
;W[oi]CR[oi]
;B[mj]CR[mj]
;W[jk]CR[jk]
;B[ik]CR[ik]
;W[lk]
C[Black resigns after W218. The early ko fight was the decisive
batle.

Young Kwon, Larry Brauner, and several other high Dan players
commented on the game during a lull in the action at the New
Jersey Championship (a separately held event). In general, they
agreed with Mr. Matsuda's analysis. Young Kwon especially noted
the "fast, agressive style" of Mr. Hsiang. Larry Brauner found
W128 to be "an interesting play". Several players considered
the corner ko at 75-98 to be premature, and, because the W28
group could live even if the ko were lost, indecisive. All felt
that Black should have taken advantage of his potential for a
center territory.
]CR[lk]
)
(;B[go]
C[If B1, White escapes through the following sequence.
]LB[go:1]
;W[gr]CR[gr]
;B[hr]CR[hr]
;W[er]CR[er]
;B[dr]CR[dr]
;W[hq]CR[hq]
;B[gs]CR[gs]
;W[fr]CR[fr]
;B[ir]CR[ir]

;W[iq]CR[iq]
;B[jq]CR[jq]
;W[jp]CR[jp]
;B[kq]CR[kq]
;W[en]CR[en]
;B[gn]CR[gn]
;W[gm]CR[gm]
;B[ho]CR[ho]
;W[io]CR[io]
;B[in]CR[in]

;W[hm]CR[hm]
;B[kp]CR[kp]
;W[fn]CR[fn]
;B[jo]CR[jo]
;W[cn]CR[cn]
;B[cm]CR[cm]
;W[fo]CR[fo]
;B[hp]CR[hp]
;W[do]CR[do]
))
(;B[mg]CR[mg]
;W[mf]CR[mf]
;B[lg]CR[lg]
;W[lf]CR[lf]
;B[jh]CR[jh]
;W[ie]CR[ie]
;B[oo]
C[This illustrates what could happen. Of course, W7 should be played
at B8.
]LB[ie:7][kf:1][lf:5][mf:3][lg:4][mg:2][jh:6][oo:8]
))
(;W[ig]CR[ig]
;B[gg]CR[gg]
;W[he]CR[he]
;B[hg]CR[hg]
;W[ie]CR[ie]
;B[jf]CR[jf]
;W[je]CR[je]
;B[kf]CR[kf]
;W[ke]CR[ke]

;B[lf]CR[lf]
;W[le]CR[le]
;B[mf]CR[mf]
;W[me]CR[me]
;B[ng]
C[If W plays this variation, it could easily lead into an exchange
where B gains a tremendous outside wall; bad for W.
]LB[ob:26][cc:14][dc:5][ec:13][gc:28][ic:15][kc:20][mc:21][oc:16][pc:17][cd:12][fd:8][hd:29][od:18][qd:3][ce:2][de:9][ee:11][fe:30][he:40][ie:42][je:44][ke:46][le:48][me:50][cf:34][df:10][ef:31][ff:32][hf:36][if:37][jf:43][kf:45][lf:47][mf:49][nf:24][of:22][pf:19][dg:33][fg:35][gg:39][hg:41][ig:38][ng:51][og:23][ph:25][ci:7][qn:27][dp:1][qp:4][nq:6]
))
