(;GM[1]FF[3]SZ[19]GN[US OPEN RND 2]PW[Stephenson]PB[Misca]DT[2003-08-04]KM[5.5]C[Greeetings Mr. Yang.

Here is my second round game in the US Open Tournament held at the US Go Congress in Houston, Texas. Can you please comment on it? Also, I have asked several questions, if you would not mind giving me your specific guideance.

Thank you.



]BS[0]WS[0];B[dp];W[pq];B[dd];W[pc];B[pe];W[qg];B[qc]C[Just having some fun with a. 

Sure.];W[og]C[Black must Q16, not a, agree?

Right. Black isn't easy to punish white's single stone. Black has to defend at b...]
(;B[pb]C[a is a great move.];W[qd];B[pd];W[oc]C[It leaves weaknesses in black shape.];B[qe]C[a is a great cut.];W[qb];B[rd]C[a is a strong forcing move.];W[rc]C[Wow, a is too much I think (no early ko).

Agreed.];B[rb];W[qd]
;B[ph]C[a is the only move?

Yes, this ko is so important.];W[qc];B[pg]C[Is a erasinig potential of a move around R10?

a is too soon, white corner doesn't need help yet. b is more useful...]
(;W[re];B[rf];W[sd];B[qh]C[Is a the biggest move at this moment (double value move?). How does the move at a compare with C10?

a is so big, even bigger than normal when black has a thickness on the left side. It is bigger than c10 for sure.];W[qo];B[dj]C[I thought a is a reducing move, compared with K3 to build; reducing seemed better because Black has more potential that White. Is my thinking okay? Should I simply play F3 to reduce instead of J3?

You thinking is ok. But b is the correct move.]
(;W[iq];B[gq]C[Is it too early to jump to the 5th line? I thought that White got more than 50% on the bottom and that the jump to a continued to reduce the black potential. Is this thinking okay?

a is so important, because white single stone is weaker than normal \( 6 spaces move \).];W[io]C[Shouldn't Black play K16 (4th line) instead of a?
];B[jc]C[Somehow I think a is slack. How should White handle the Black moyo?

a is too soon, the lower left corner isn't most valuable area. b is the best way to reduce black's moyo...]
(;W[cq];B[cp];W[dq]C[Black should choose B3 now instead of a? Also, I think Black really needs to get sente somehow to grab F16.

You are right.];B[eq];W[er];B[fq];W[bp];B[bo];W[bq];B[cn]C[I guess White is happy in the lower left. Is C16 an alternative to a? 

This result is good enough for white. a is doable, but b isn't... c is the best...]

(;W[cc];B[cd];W[dc];B[ec];W[eb];B[fc];W[fb];B[gc];W[bd];B[be]
;W[bc];B[cf]C[I think White is better at this moment. Agree?

Yes, it is an easy game for white.
a is a proper reduction. b is better because...]
(;W[gj];B[ij]C[Not sure about a, but...

a is too deep. White has to run out at b first.]
(;W[dk]C[The exchange of D9 for C9 seems good for White.

Yes. so black has to answer at b...]
(;B[ck]C[a tries to make 3 white stones work together, so its proper?

a is the natural move to make two previous moves work together.];W[ej];B[cj]C[White has to make a light shape, and a is light?

Yes, a is a nice light move.];W[fl];B[hm];W[dl]C[White makes a nice shape.];B[ei];W[fi];B[ek];W[fj]
;B[fh]C[a is aji-keshi?

a isn't necessary. White has to just play at b.]
(;W[eh];B[di];W[gh];B[fg]C[I next did a, because I hated a black peep there; but is it okay?

White has to avoid a peep from black, but a is slow. b is better.]
(;W[hi];B[em];W[el];B[jm]C[I thought the move at a separated the 3 black cebter stones and thereby ensured the life of the center whtie stones; nevertheless, what about L6 instead of a? Also, is it true that C8 is too small at this moment?

a isn't that important, because white center group and black three stones aren't that weak. c8 isn't big enough. b is the biggest move.]
(;W[gn]C[I think black a is slow.

I guess black was worried about his lower left group.];B[cl]C[a is a nice move now, because white lower side stones are stronger than before.];W[kn];B[pr]C[I thought, because of the L6 stone, the outside is more valuable that the inside, agree?

Correct.];W[oq];B[qm]C[Is my thinking about a, to try to make Black overconcentrated and possibly neutralize the corner aji, making sense?

A great thinking.];W[pm];B[pl]C[b is better than a....]
(;W[om]C[Now black got a useful forcing move with a.];B[qn];W[po];B[or]C[Hmmm. If I o2, can I kill the Black stones somehow? Even if not, a seems inconsistent with my previous moves.

a is right, the corner is more open than the lower side.];W[qr];B[jq];W[jp];B[jr];W[ir];B[nq]C[Black won't be able to live here. a is the best attack.]
;W[mr];B[nr];W[lq];B[mq];W[lr]C[a seemed slack. My feeling was Black could cut at R3 and then move out with N6. Also S3 was a weakness.

I don't think black might save this group. So a is a proper reduction.];B[mm]C[a is slack. b is the proper answer...]
(;W[mo];B[ol]C[a is a good timing.];W[ql];B[qk];W[rl];B[rk];W[pn];B[nm]C[a isn't necessary. b is bigger.]
(;W[no];B[km]C[Black did not get enough compensation for the lower, agree?

Agreed.];W[jh];B[ki]C[a isn't necessary. b is a easier way to win this game...]
(;W[mh];B[lg]C[Now white shape is thin.];W[ne]C[Black might play at b to split white...]
(;B[nh];W[lh]C[Now white is safe.];B[kh];W[mg];B[ni]C[a is a really useful forcing move.];W[fo];B[eo]C[Is a big enough now?

a is the biggest move.];W[rn];B[nd];W[od]
;B[nf];W[of]C[Recorded moves end here. White won the game.

Yes, it is an easy game for white.])
(;B[nf];W[of];B[ng]))
(;W[kh];B[li];W[mg];B[nh];W[rn]))
(;W[rn];B[no];W[mp]C[Black won't be able to link up.]))
(;W[mn];B[nn];W[nm];B[ln];W[mo]C[White is fine.]))
(;W[pn]C[It helps corner area.];B[ol];W[ql];B[qk];W[nm]))
(;W[lp]))
(;W[ii];B[jj];W[ih]))
(;W[gh]))
(;B[ej];W[ek];B[fk]))
(;W[gl]))
(;W[hk]C[It also good for developing.]))
(;W[cd];B[cc];W[ce];B[dc]C[Black makes an ideal position on the top left.];W[ch];B[bi])
(;W[ie];B[hd];W[cc]))
(;W[ie];B[hd];W[cc]))
(;W[jp]C[It does both reducing and developing.]))
(;W[pi];B[qh];W[qi]))
(;B[pd];W[oc];B[rd]))