Life In 19x19

I went to a Korean go club recently and played some in person games vs some folks older than me.

I went 2-0 against a Tygem 4D by a point after giving him a 2 stone handi.
I went 1-1 against a Tygem 7D after taking a 2 stone handi.
I went 0-1 against a Tygem 8D after taking a 3 stone handi.

I ...

Got demoted back to 4D, then went 14-6 and now back up to 5D.

Still going through GGPD problems. I might start approaching the middlegame separately.

...fml lol

Finished the final volume of the Fujisawa Tesuji Dictionary.

Excellent books, but I wouldn't recommend volumes 3 and 4 as highly as I did with volumes 1 and 2 - reason being as follows.

The first half of Volume 3 is opening / middlegame josekis, and I think there are better resources for this ...

Here's a game I played vs a 6D with a tragic end.

(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]AP[CGoban:3]ST[2]
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]KM[6.50]
PW[White]PB[Black]C[I was black here vs a Tygem 6D.
This game has a tragic end.]
;B[pd]
;W[dp]
;B[pq]
;W[dc]
;B[qk]C[Chinese opening for nostalgia :)]
;W[nc]
;B[pf]
;W[jd]
;B[ce]
;W ...

I would say Tygem1-3Ds are probably better at fighting or being aggressive than most KGS 1-2Ds but lack everywhere else lol, hence that gap on the charts at Senseis.

Finished Fujisawa Tesuji Dictionary Volume 3

Somewhat rough stretch at 5D, blew my chance at a promotion. Normalizing though!

Idk if I am facing a barrier at the moment. I feel like I’ll reach 8-9D at some point in my life at the pace that I’m going. I actually disagree with your assessment of the EGF ranks because I’ve seen very strong amateurs beat the weak pros numerous times. And I think at that point it’s just a ...

Actually, for the Kyu ranks I was referring to KGS. I started on KGS and went through the Kyus before moving over to Tygem. I remember I was doing alright vs 2-3Ds on KGS while playing against 4Ds on Tygem, so I’d imagine I’m around a 3D on KGS now.

I think if anyone can break 3D on Tygem or 1D on ...

Also, an interesting conversation I had with my friend Justin Teng... how does one measure talent in go?

Assuming one starts at a young age (below than 25), is there a ceiling in how high of a rank a player can achieve?

Justin thinks that anyone can get to 8-9D Tygem/Fox with effort. I think that ...

I am currently 10-5 as a Tygem 5D. Here are 3Ws (with not much review) that you guys can observe for fun.

I'll attach a detailed review of a very close loss vs a 6D later today.

Game 1
(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]AP[CGoban:3]ST[2]
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]KM[6.50]
PW[White]PB[Black]C[I was white vs a Tygem 5D ...

I've finished the first read through (of many I would presume), of the 2nd volume of the Fujisawa Shuko tesuji dictionary.

I really can't emphasize enough -- every dan level player should read these books.

Attached are 2 games. My promo game to 4D, and my first game as a 5D.
I did a quick self review on the 5D game, as that was a loss. Enjoy.

Promo Game
(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]AP[CGoban:3]ST[2]
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]KM[6.50]
PW[White]PB[Black]C[This is my promo game to 5D.
I was black vs a Tygem 4D.


]
;B ...

Promoted to Tygem 5D. Highest ever rank! 4 more dan levels to go!

Here are some games as promised. No self-review since I didn't have too much time. Just an idea of how I am playing these days. Enjoy!

Game 1
(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]AP[CGoban:3]ST[2]
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]KM[6.50]
PW[White]PB[Black]C[I was white, vs a Tygem 4D

This was an uncharacteristically bad ...