Life In 19x19

Even without the changes in ranking system, I lost 4 5 stones on OGS ( 4k 3k-8k) after my daughter was born. At one point I was (IIRC) 6k and lost a rated correspondence game to a 10k player, as part of losing 12/13 in a row.

It's very easy to get considerably worse

(I still haven't fully ...

A while ago, I put together a playlist of his theory lectures for my own amusement - that is, not game reviews or hidden-move go or tsumego sessions. Some tactics, some wider ideas, some opening guidance.

Your friend might not enjoy the joseki ones too much (though the simplest end of the "must ...

Have gone on a bit of a losing streak; busted back down to 5k on OGS.

I suddenly feel like I don't have any idea what's going on during games.

I just lost one by a half-point, looking back it was littered with overplays and glaring weaknesses - my patience has evaporated and i keep making these ...

(By the way, this whole exercise has convinced me to buy CrazyStone as a learning tool. Awesome.)

I used my credit on Crazy Sensei to have this game analyzed at its 4d level, and here's what I've gleaned about my questions below.

(Full analysis here .)


I have regrets about and think my opponent let me off the hook with his wide pincer. Even so, the sequence to seems dubious for White.

CS ...

Diagonal openings may be less frequent than parallel openings, but they are hardly unorthodox. If you want to play one, feel free.

Indeed!

As White, I almost always offer Black the option of a cross game, just because I like them. I'm not strong enough to take advantage of the heavier komi (at ...

I posted this game in my study journal - it's from a while ago (my rating has improved since then though I'm not sure I'm any smarter) but I definitely want some feedback on it, so please excuse the crosspost (I'll remove it from there is admins or anyone else have strong feelings).

During the game ...

I'm not stronger than you, so this is more of a question for other reviewers than anything.

The moves at the bottom right seemed generally fishy. The approach to a 4-4 that already has an extension is a move I'm trying to stop making, but when the inevitable pincer comes, then lets you off the hook ...

Here's the game that caused the above comment - it started a long time ago, and came to a sudden conclusion when I had otherwise been feeling pretty good about the game until then.

But:

I have regrets about and think my opponent let me off the hook with his wide pincer. Even so, the sequence to ...

Today I learned: all the patient play and good shape in the world won't help you if you mis-count a [edit: game-deciding] capturing race that you initiated by a stone. Being in a correspondence game somehow makes this even worse.

Either that or they're playing 83x83 or something.

spotting weak groups, extending from corners, how to use a moyo, choosing between reduction and invasion... There are very few exercices about these very important subjects.

Isn't this what the "Get strong at X" problem books are? I think there are others like them too.

[edit: There are ...

it just happens that I get stronger

On reflection, this is pretty deep.

I play a lot because I love to play, and I try to win. I review my games because it's interesting to see what I didn't think about. I watch videos because it kills time on my commute and is otherwise enjoyable. I very ...

I have a new aphorism:

Have a baby, become two stones weaker.

So this appears to have been only temporary. Weirdly, due to the fragmented schedule and snatched moments of downtime, I have been playing correspondence moves more consistently across each day (although my tsumego has dropped to ...

*dances*