Commonplace

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Mistakes

Some of the biggest or most interesting mistakes I've made in past games.

Forgetting to capture

go diagram
Should have captured at a instead of self-atari at 5. [SGF]

2022-01-22: https://online-go.com/game/40565876

I don't realize that I'm in a capture race, and - having put the white group in the lower-right in atari - I try to save some stones and connect at 5 instead of capturing at a. In the process I self-atari and lose my whole top-right group, 37 points, and the game.


Defending a net

go diagram
Should have made life at a instead of pointless defense at 2. [SGF]

2022-01-20: https://online-go.com/game/40539049

I'm playing white, and losing this game anyway, but I lose it badly because of this mistake. For some reason I'm nervous about the lower-left when it's perfectly secure, and comfortable with the right side even though it's vulnerable. The right group would have been alive if I'd defended it. OGS says -36 points.


Self-atari

go diagram
Should have played almost anywhere but 2. [SGF]

2022-01-13: https://online-go.com/game/40341102

After white closes at 1 I think I'm defending my territory with 2 but I'm actually setting up a self-atari that gives up the lower-right corner entirely. OGS says -43 points, and suggests I should tenuki at a, but making a little life at b would also be fine since I'm ahead.