(;GM[1]FF[3]SZ[19]AP[SmartGo:1.1]
GN[3D Band]
PW[John Stephenson]WR[3d]
PB[Kory Stevens]BR[3d]
EV[US OPEN]RO[6]
DT[2003-08-09]
PC[Houston TX]
TM[5400.0]
KM[5.5]
RE[B+Resign]
GC[The 3d band was one of the largest. Kory Steven's late round win over John Stephenson created a three way tie for first place in the 3D band -- three players with 5-1 records. John had defeated a player who had also defeated Kory. When the "SOS" tie braking points were calculated, John was awarded first place.]
C[Greetings Mr. Yang. 

This was my last round game in the tournament and my only loss. Would you comment and answer some questions for me? Thank you.

]
BS[0]WS[0]
;B[dp];W[pq];B[qd];W[cc];B[po];W[oc];B[pf]
C[How is N3 or L17 instead of a? How about tenuki?

a is too soon. White can do tenuki and play at b, to destroy the right side...]
(;W[qc];B[rc];W[pd];B[qe];W[qb];B[np]
C[a is a normal way to develop eye-space. White has to squeeze black's heavy group at b first...]
(;W[qo];B[qn];W[qp];B[pn]
C[I guess a shows White lacks patience? But since Black did a tenuki in the upper right, White wants to somehow punish it. How should White think about this whole board situation?

White has to squeeze black, but a is too tigh. b is the proper one...]
(;W[qh]
C[Now black has an ideal pincer.];B[qj]
C[How about Q10 now to try to make Black overconcentrated?

a is a normal way to run. b is a useful forcing move and good timing...]
(;W[oh];B[nf];W[mh];B[lf]
C[Does White have to keep moving the inside stones out with L12 or even L11?

No, strong group doesn't need help. White has to help weak group at b. c is the best move on the top side.]
(;W[ld];B[kh]
C[a is a useful forcing move.];W[rj];B[rk]
C[R9 possible for sabaki?

a is slow. b is the proper forcing move...]
(;W[qi];B[pj]
C[This is exchange helped black. Now white isnt' easy to run.];W[ki]
C[Black can play at b now...]
(;B[ji];W[li]
C[Now is ok now.];B[jh]
C[a is the proper.];W[kk];B[ik]
C[a isn't necessary at all. White has to run out at b.]
(;W[og];B[of]
C[b is a better way to help white group, that is also good for reducing.]
(;W[rf];B[kd];W[kc];B[ke];W[jc]
C[These exchanges are good for white.];B[or];W[pr];B[cf]
C[I feel like White is losing. What is the positiional judgement as this point?

White isn't behind in territory yet, just black has a lot of potential.  
a is too soon, white can't destroy all. White has to help inside stone get out at b first...]
(;W[cn]
C[a seems an ideal pincer and extension; but, shouldn't Black punish the C17 stone?

a isn't the best move. b is the proper move in this case... Black can punish white's top left stone later.]
(;B[cl]
C[a is the proper move when outside is more valuable than the lower left corner.]
;W[en];B[fp]
C[a is a nice way to squeeze black.];W[dk];B[dl];W[el];B[ck];W[dj];B[cj]
;W[di];B[ch]
C[This is painful for black, left side is flat. The center potential is gone.]
;W[fk];B[km];W[jl]
C[Is a the right direction? Shouldn't Black separate two weak groups?
];B[jm]
;W[il];B[im];W[hl]
C[This result isn't too bad for white -- all getting stronger.];B[jq]
C[How can White reduce the bottom at this moment, which seems urgent?

b is the way to reduce the bottom...]
(;W[ie];B[rb];W[re];B[rd]
C[b is the proper defense in this case.]
(;W[ed];B[ef]
C[a makes a complete territory. White can reduce at b first.]
(;W[ge];B[gn]
C[a is big.];W[cq];B[cp]TR[cn][en][el]
C[b is the correct move when the outside marked stones aren't need help...]
(;W[bp];B[dq];W[br];B[cr];W[bq];B[md];W[mc];B[nd];W[nc];B[oq]
C[Who is winning this game at this moment?

It looks a close game.
a is a good timing.]
;W[os];B[ns];W[ps];B[mr];W[dr];B[er];W[cs];B[ro];W[rp];B[rn]
C[Oh oh, I did not read out the corner correctly! Shame on me.

b is necessary.]
(;W[ml]
C[a is a strong attack.];B[sr]
C[White lacks way to live.];W[rq];B[rr];W[pp];B[qr];W[ln];B[nn];W[mn];B[ko]
C[Now white is losing.];W[jf];B[qa]
C[a is so slow. White has to split black at b...]
(;W[pb];B[kf];W[mg];B[mf];W[mp]
C[White resigned later.
])
(;W[lg];B[le];W[dh];B[cg];W[fg]
C[White is ahead in territory now.]
TW[aa][ba][ca][da][ea][fa][ga][ha][ia][ja][ka][kb][la][ma][mb][ab][bb][cb][db][eb][fb][gb][hb][ib][jb][ec][fc][gc][hc][ic][gd][hd][he][hf][if][gg][hg][ig][jg][fh][gh][hh][ih][jh][kh][lh][ei][fi][gi][hi][ii][ji][ej][fj][gj][hj][ij][jj][jk][ik][hk][cr][ao][ap][aq][ar][as][bs][sf][sg]
TB[me][sa][sb][sc][rl][sl][sm][rm][ql][qm][sn][so][sp][sq][rp][rq][qo][qp][qq][pp][pq][pr][ps][os][qs][rs][ss][oo][op][eq][fq][gq][hq][iq][ip][io][ho][hp][gp][in][hr][hs][is][js][ks][kr][ls][lr][ms][jr][ir][nr][bk][ak][bj][aj][ag][bg][bh][ah][ai]
))
(;W[pp]))
(;W[dr]
C[This is good for reducing.];B[fr];W[bp];B[bo];W[bq];B[co];W[er]))
(;W[go]))
(;W[fd]))
(;W[go];B[gp];W[ho];B[ip];W[nr];B[mr];W[nq];B[mq];W[op];B[no];W[cq]
C[The lower side isn't big at all.]))
(;B[ck]
C[Now white isn't easy.]
(;W[cq];B[cp];W[dq];B[ep];W[bp];B[bo];W[bq];B[co];W[fq]
C[This is good enough for black.];B[dd]
C[Black's potential will become a real territory.])
(;W[en];B[fp]
C[Now white lacks proper follow up move.];W[ek];B[di])))
(;W[ed];B[dj];W[fq]
C[White will win if black has only left side territory.]))
(;W[km]))
(;W[km]))
(;B[lh];W[li];B[mi]))
(;W[pj];B[qk];W[lj]))
(;W[kh])
(;W[lc]))
(;W[pj];B[qk];W[oh];B[nf];W[mh]))
(;W[pi]
C[Loose pincer is good for defending.];B[nf];W[mi]))
(;W[pi];B[nf];W[ql];B[ro];W[nr];B[mq];W[mr];B[kq];W[rq]))
(;W[qm];B[qq];W[qj];B[pp];W[oq];B[rp];W[lq]))