LOL: Can’t I play other games professionally?

Chapter 383 Is there any hope for Jiu Yi Kai? (6000 words)
It's positioned slightly above the black piece.

When the pieces of both sides come into contact, blocking is one of the basic defensive tactics in Go, which involves directly blocking the opponent's intrusion by getting close to them.

The black stones then followed up with a blocking attack, but unlike the black stones, this time the blocking attack clearly aimed to prevent the go stones from escaping.

The first five moves were a close contest between the two sides.

On the sixth move of the total, Lin Ruo chose to fly out and establish a new position, which could both connect the pieces and retain the advantage of eye position, which was beneficial for temporary defense.

Six columns and eighteen rows, with the black pieces supporting the second line.

Rapid expansion and on-the-ground control are crucial to securing the initiative from the outset.

"Park Young-hoon's playing style today is very different; it's completely contrary to his usual style."

In the CCTV live broadcast room, the elderly Go master Nie Weiping also noticed the difference in today's game. Park Young-hoon was taking an aggressive approach, trying to change his thinking and catch his opponent off guard.

This was somewhat novel to him, but he didn't know whether Park Young-hoon was underestimating his opponent and thus changed his usual game strategy to practice.

Or perhaps they were simply too focused on their opponent and wanted to try a completely new approach.

Lin Ruo's solution was simple: occupy the small position in the lower right corner. This would allow him to quickly establish a base and provide support for the subsequent development of the central area, making it a balanced choice between offense and defense.

Black then occupied the empty corner in the upper left.

Just as the tension between the two sides eased slightly, Lin Ruo, now relaxed, suddenly launched a counterattack. She extended her pieces forward, closely following the pieces that had been thrown out earlier, to make it easier to connect her pieces when engaging in combat with her opponent, thus gaining a better first-mover advantage in attacking her opponent.

At this point, the most conventional and safest move for Park Young-hoon would undoubtedly be to follow the lead and create a stalemate where neither side would suffer a loss.

However, after a little thought, Park Young-hoon chose to continue the strategy he had been using since the beginning: not only would he not back down, but he would also launch a fierce attack.

Next move.

Black pieces moved in from the side.

"This move is quite rare, and it's not the best choice in AI analysis of moves either," said Chen Ying, the female commentator in the live broadcast room. As a professional Go player who is only at a lower-middle level, she naturally finds it difficult to understand the intricacies of the move.

Normally, this kind of analysis would be done by Master Nie, but Lin Ruo's moves were too fast. Before the two commentators could say a word, the white pieces had already fallen like a storm to meet the attack.

Since Black dared to clamp, it's clear they don't intend to crawl through the lower area anymore, so pushing through is the best option, bar none.

Board, glue, and glue together.

After three consecutive exchanges, Lin Ruo launched an attack from the second line on the left edge of the chessboard.

If Black retreats to the lower left area to connect back to the previously extended stones, and White then blocks the corner in the crawling area, the resulting shape will undoubtedly resemble a very old 3-3 point joseki.

After a long deliberation, Park Young-hoon realized that this way the stones in the upper trap would be controlled by White, and he obviously wouldn't gain any advantage. So he chose to retreat a move in the trap area.

"That move was quite good, definitely better than the previous one." Old Nie in the live broadcast room was about to give a long and detailed analysis.

Lin Ruo then smoothly connected with the opponent's stones, quickly completing her own move. This made it difficult for Black to easily abandon her two stones, which had already been heavily invested.
At this moment, Nie Lao was stunned, thinking to himself, "Does this person not even think before he plays chess? He moves the second after the second the opponent makes a move, giving him absolutely no room to explain."

This was the first time Old Man Nie had encountered such a problem, but he quickly figured it out.

It's alright. It's normal for both sides to make quick moves in the early stages. In the middle game, every move is a matter of life and death. If the pauses are prolonged, he'll have plenty of time to speak.

Then, when Park Young-hoon placed a black stone and crawled back, the white stones replicated the previous black move and squeezed in from the side.

Five columns and fifteen rows.

Park Young-hoon once again chose a very aggressive approach, placing stones to harass the outside influence created by White, hoping to gain some advantage both inside and outside.

Lin Ruo immediately chose to counterattack.

In the stalemate between the white stones, Park Young-hoon's previous move was undoubtedly a wrong choice, because the two remaining heavy black stones were gradually losing their way out in the pincer attack.

Black's move of jumping over the yoke is a move intended to sacrifice a piece, and Park Young-hoon clearly doesn't want to be constrained by this tactic any longer.

Long, pull, eat, hit.

After four moves in a row, Lin Ruo, having completed the blockade, seized the initiative and captured the two black pieces that had nowhere to escape.

In the early stages of the game, White not only gained territory on the left side but also built up a strong position.

Compared to Black's monotonous layout with just a few more stones on the right side, it's obvious who has the advantage.

Park Young-hoon frowned and adjusted his glasses, his face showing genuine surprise. Not only had his opponent calmly and methodically countered all his successive attacks, but he had even managed to turn the tables on them.

At present, he has only barely gained the advantage of making the first move.

Even so, Park Young-hoon felt that he should not back down, as the failure of the first two moves did not affect the overall situation of the game.

He must maintain his offensive momentum and continue with the moves he prepared yesterday.

That means keep attacking, keep attacking.

The reason Park Young-hoon changed his playing style was not to catch his opponent off guard, but because after studying the match between Lin Ruo and Fang Tianfeng, he understood a very significant principle.

This player's offensive ability is a bit too exaggerated. His smooth and flawless offense throughout the game is something I have never seen before in his professional career.

For a moment, Park Young-hoon was wondering if his defense could withstand the offensive.

Once the seeds of doubt are sown, more plans are bound to follow.

After reviewing Lin Ruo's first-round match against Huang Yizhong (7-dan) overnight, Park Young-hoon discovered that Lin Ruo had significant problems in both the early game setup and defense when dealing with Huang Yizhong's attacks.

Although he later turned the tables and won back the situation with a strong offensive, it left Park Young-hoon with another impression.

This player's offensive ability is indeed unparalleled, but if we replace him and start the offensive setup in the early stages, wouldn't it be easy to throw the opponent into chaos?

The main reason Huang Yizhong lost was that after his initial successful strategy, he switched to a more cautious approach, which gave his opponent a chance to catch their breath and launch a counterattack.

Then, amidst the relentless and fierce attacks, they were never able to recover.

He failed to put continuous pressure on Lin Ruo, so all the pressure fell on himself.

This forced Park Young-hoon to believe that sometimes offense might be the best defense.

So he did it, but the unfavorable start is obvious.

Lin Ruo did not repeat the situation in the first round of the qualifiers as he had expected, losing his composure when facing the opponent's initial attack during the setup phase.

Instead, it stabilized the situation and, in turn, caused him, a ninth-dan player, to suffer a slight loss.

Park Young-hoon's lower right corner after the suspension.

The purpose of this move is not only to destroy White's lower right corner, but also to keep a close eye on White's weakness, namely the cut point on the left.

If you can force White to make a single connection, you will naturally have a profit to make.

Having already discerned his opponent's intentions, Lin Ruo decisively split and sandwiched the opponent in the middle bottom area.

This tactic combines dismantling with a pincer attack on the opponent. It's typically used when the situation is complex or when there's a need to expand one's influence.

It is obvious that Lin Ruo's goal is to expand his influence and put pressure on the other side.

Black moves a flying attack, White moves an extension.

Black then extended its territory, while White made a novel jump.

"This kid plays really fast!" Upon seeing this move, Nie Weiping, the veteran broadcaster in the CCTV studio, couldn't help but exclaim in surprise once again.

Speed ​​was one aspect, but more importantly, he felt that this move was not perfect.

While White's jump allows for immediate play and puts pressure on Black's side stones, it also inevitably creates the possibility for Black to press down as well.
In short, it has both advantages and disadvantages.

In his view, flying to the second line is the best move, without having to worry about Black's counterattack. The risk is relatively small, but the reward is also smaller.

However, compared to losses, avoiding most risks is far more useful.

Nie Weiping finally realized that this man was a gambler, and an extremely confident one at that.

Instead of taking the safest route, we take the route that maximizes returns, even if the returns come with risks.

Of course, it's also possible that they moved too fast and didn't realize the best step.

In any case, throughout the entire game of over 30 moves, Nie Weiping did not notice any pauses of more than 10 seconds on the black side, unless he saw that the black side was playing in a very skillful manner.

Based solely on such a ferocious and ruthless attack speed, he wouldn't approve if it wasn't done recklessly.

Still in disbelief, Old Master Nie, who was watching the game, couldn't help but hiss again a second later.

That means the persistent Park Young-hoon has started his unusual offensive again, and he really won't back down at all today.
"Invading from below, continuing to threaten White's cut point on the left. Both sides have played very strategically today," Chen Ying analyzed, picking up where she left off.

From the start until now, in her eyes, it's truly been a back-and-forth exchange of blows, neither giving an inch; this match has been far too intense.

They're just short of going head-to-head, and it looks like that's coming soon.

In a rapid process of thinking, Lin Ruo faced two possible solutions.

One is to press down from above, which is the most common chess pattern for attacking a three-way split.

If Black tries to dig into White's territory from behind, White will capture it.

If Black connects, and White connects again, then if the opponent cuts off your move, you will have the initiative.

After about eight moves, White will form a wall to the right of the cut point, which will naturally block most of Black's subsequent threats.

However, this would also give Black some territory in the lower area.

It is clearly a move that involves an exchange, so we need to weigh which side is more important. At present, it seems that filling in the cut-off area is the primary point for White to resolve the threat.

"Press it, really press it." Old Master Nie's opinion also leaned towards the first point Lin Ruo had conceived.

Because playing chess requires a strategic perspective, patching up the gaps in the board will be a long-term solution for White's later moves, and the benefits will definitely outweigh the losses.

However, Lin Ruo's idea was reversed once again. He chose the second point, starting from the center.

He disliked the word "exchange" at all.

Park Young-hoon remained defiant, and Lin Ruo never backed down, not even in a beneficial way. He wanted the advantage, but he would never give his opponent a consolation prize based on that advantage.

In short, I'm sorry, but he wants it all; he wants to fill in the gaps but won't give us the actual data.

A score of 73 or 64 is not an advantage; Lin Ruo wants 91 points.

"Firstly, it's a reluctant first strike; forget about the rest of our Korean friends." Seeing this, Park Young-hoon didn't hesitate and broke through to the right to establish new contact.

White blocks, Black twists and breaks.

White retreats again.

At this point, Park Young-hoon also had a very simple move to make: capture the stones in the 13th column and 17th row, and then block the white stones as they grew.

In this way, Black can undoubtedly capture the two stones that have entered, but White's outer area will also become thicker, resulting in a roughly two-way confrontation.

This gives Black a legitimate reason to withdraw from the battlefield, no longer fixated on the attacks below, and thus be able to regroup and open up new battlefields.

After a long period of contemplation, Park Young-hoon finally made up his mind and relentlessly launched a strong attack with the tigers below forming a triangular formation, which could both connect and prevent a break.

Both sides were determined to continue threatening White's cutting points, and neither was willing to give in.

White could have stopped playing earlier, but he didn't. Park Young-hoon naturally thought there was no need for him to stop either. He wanted to continue fighting here to wear down his opponent.

Lin Ruoxin accepted this offer.

His refusal to back down was perfectly fine, but Park Young-hoon's refusal to back down was clearly problematic.

This should be called irrational stubbornness, or you could say taking too big a step, which is bound to cause problems.

While the so-called continued threat to the breakpoint is one aspect, it also leaves many gaps in their air defenses, which Lin Ruo can either exploit or attack later.

Even if you can't get in now, there will be plenty of opportunities to find a loophole in the middle game.

Anyway, Park Young-hoon left him an opening.

The forty-seventh move involves placing a piece in the seventh column and fifteenth row, continuing to consolidate the situation on both sides and maintain a solid connection.

Lin Ruo began to slow down his pace; he didn't want to suffer any more trouble.

Park Young-hoon, who was slightly annoyed, also backed down to prevent White from exploiting the weakness in his formation.

Lin Ruo, having gained the initiative, positioned herself in the upper left corner.

This is basically similar to Black's previous intention in hanging over the lower right corner, both to disrupt the corner and to subtly threaten the isolated Black stones in the lower left corner that have ventured too far into their limited territory.

Park Young-hoon's response was a move made at the bottom of Lin Ruo's stone, which undoubtedly meant to support the black formation below.

However, it seems like they've taken a bit too big a step.

This sharp point is clearly some distance from the formation below; can it really provide support?
Park Young-hoon understood this as well, but he didn't have any better options. If White dared to cross his key piece and continue pressing, then he would simply follow suit.

Unless White loses its composure, it won't be easy for White to gain an advantage.

Next move.

The nimble white stones once again moved to the upper right corner to claim territory, but black blocked them.

The two sides fought for control of the upper right corner for more than ten moves, forming the 3-3 point joseki. In the end, Black forcefully reclaimed the corner area.

With the first move in hand, Lin Ruo swiftly launched another attack from the upper left of center.

At this point, since the four black stones in the lower left corner are not alive, the two black stones in the foot will also lack a base if the white stones fly in. Park Young-hoon did not dare to rashly invade and fight against this move.

Instead, you can only choose the small flying icon in the upper right corner.

Lin Ruo stopped playing chess, took a sip of water, and continued playing without making a move, even as the clock ticked away.

He analyzed the feasibility of Park Young-hoon's move and finally concluded that it was remarkably similar to the previous move that caused him to make a huge mistake – this move was also a self-inflicted trap.

Park Young-hoon made his second obvious mistake in the game due to his constant changes in position, playing a move that was neither necessary nor useful.

This move not only poses no threat to the white stones on the right, but also has little potential for black to develop by bringing them to the upper left, making it completely meaningless.

If so, it means that in a seemingly long-term strategy, one's own pace of play has been slowed down.

They could have used the piece on the lower left to escape, but instead, they accomplished nothing.

"Finally, he's finally starting to think." In the live broadcast room, Master Nie was no longer concerned about Park Young-hoon's move and exclaimed from the bottom of his heart.

This kid finally thought for more than 10 seconds.

congratulations.

However, although Lin Ruo was indeed thinking, he was actually helping the other side to think.

[I have a feeling Lin Gou is already celebrating. Look, he's even drinking water. Based on my years of observing Lin Gou's live streams, drinking water either means he's coughing or he's completely relaxed.]

[That's not professional enough. Lin Gou never drinks water because he's thirsty; it simply means he feels confident.]

[Don't overinterpret this. I watched the AI's real-time analysis, and Lin Gou currently only has a win rate of around 60%, which isn't very stable in Go. However, if it were Lin Gou, the 6 could actually be reversed.]

New fans are still surprised that Lin Ruo was able to gain an advantage in the early stages, while veteran fans are already celebrating.

There was no other way; that's how they got to where they are.

As everyone knows, in League of Legends matches featuring Lin Ruo, when neither side is willing to give an inch, the other side is likely to be eliminated.

When you have the advantage, the other side is definitely going to be eliminated.

When in a disadvantageous situation, Lin Ruo raises his hands and retreats; he's about to unleash his ultimate show of arrogance.

Applying these fixed conclusions to Go is not so much a similarity as it is an exact match, without the slightest incongruity.

So, rounding up, Lin Gou is pregnant. It's unclear how many puppies he has, but he's definitely pregnant.

In the highly anticipated match room, Lin Ruoyi, who had gained the initiative by Park Young-hoon's useless move, chose to respond to his opponent's mistake with the most fierce attack as the storm approached.

First, cut off the black stone that just landed on the edge, intending to cut off the connection between the top and bottom.

Without thinking too deeply, Park Young-hoon followed his previous plan to block them, and Lin Ruo immediately abandoned her offensive.

Sorry, he was using a feint.

With keen insight into the main contradictions in the whole situation, Lin Ruo's real purpose in this move was to advance into the vulnerable central region, first to reinforce the central area, and to create a large-scale siege.

This ensures a more decisive blockade of the four black stones in the lower left corner from all directions.

Column 9, Row 11.

Landing on this point, slightly towards the center, can not only create a significant advantage but also provide an open space to counter Black's desperate attempt to cut off their tail and survive.

If you try to cut off your tail, you might not be able to escape.

Because the escape area I set up is quite large, it's not something you can escape in a short time.

If they really run away, it means they're abandoning this whole area, which is clearly a bit impulsive.

Lin Ruo did not place his pieces closer to the area to block the retreat of the four black pieces as much as possible, because he had the idea of ​​playing the long game.

Upon seeing this move during the intense game, Park Young-hoon immediately became very alert.

If his four black stones are captured, then white's efficiency in this area will be extremely high, and the upper left area will also be affected, giving white more ways to exploit.

This is most likely a devastating blow to the current situation.

Reverting to his usual defensive approach, Park Young-hoon, fully aware of the critical situation, demonstrated exceptional defensive capabilities in the ensuing game.

First, apply pressure from above to the upper left, then wait for an opportunity to break through the center from below.

White moves a jump, Black moves a block.

Attack the opponent's weak points, block their expansion towards the center, and reduce their strength.

When White moves back to the right to crawl and make a living group, Black accurately finds the key point in the upper right position, threatening three of White's stones.

After a few moves, Park Young-hoon effectively slowed down Lin Ruo's offensive.

"The situation is still very chaotic. Some attacks are impossible to make. I need to completely disrupt this game and force a tough battle. Otherwise, if I keep giving the opponent the first move, the disadvantage will only get bigger and bigger."

Park Young-hoon let out a breath, pondered the game for a while, and couldn't help but glance at his opponent.

This person was different from what he had expected. Not only was his offensive rhythm orderly and powerful, but his ability to maintain balance and find openings in the situation was also extraordinary.

However, such a person is only a first dan when he reaches adulthood, or even a novice player who has just started learning Go.

This world is truly full of wonders; there is no such thing as the most powerful genius, only an even more powerful one.

Park Young-hoon lowered his head again, looked at the chessboard, picked up a chess piece from the chess box, and placed it down with a click.

Lin Ruo, who had been focused the whole time, remained calm despite the situation. He had anticipated that his opponent would launch a strong defensive counterattack, as this was Park Young-hoon's specialty.

but it does not matter.

The next attack won't be something that can be stopped by simply being able to defend.

In the 17th column, second row, the corner position stabilized the situation, and then the player launched another pressing attack, forcibly twisting the stone when Black tried to push it off.

Without backing down, Park Young-hoon pressed forward, then stuck to the board after the initial attack, forcefully controlling the variations of the white pieces on the side.

Lin Ruo calmly turned around and blocked the perimeter.

Eat, grow, block.

After a series of exchanges, they not only prevented the attack from above from breaking through, but also regained the initiative.

Park Young-hoon, who switched from defense to offense, still failed to break through after struggling for more than ten moves.

Black has influence on the top, but the two outer spheres are too close together, resulting in a cohesive but unformed influence.

On the contrary, White strengthened its position.

Lin Ruo is still gradually eroding the black stones' vital strength on the board. Park Young-hoon's defense during this period is only a temporary solution. If he fails to find a breakthrough point after a few more moves, the situation will return to the previous predicament of being surrounded on all sides.

That's exactly the situation right now.

Lin Ruo hadn't felt much pressure yet, but her opponent was already under immense pressure.

Considering that Park Young-hoon is also a veteran, Lin Ruo felt it was time to cut the Gordian knot; using time to wear down a veteran was not something he should do.

(End of this chapter)