Hehe...
The other day I played a game at Go club against a friend who is 2d on KGS. He has never beaten me, so this time (not to insult him, our Go club is often full of joking around, and kind of insolent ^^) I placed my first 7 moves in a straight line in the center, all attached as one group. He wanted me to play as black that game (some 1k-->3d friends of mine likely to have me take black recently, because they know from my results pretty much everywhere that I have a high win % as white and low as black). I knew that I would probably win the game, I had these factors clear in my head:
1. He is at least 2-2.5 stones weaker than me (assuming his kGS 2d makes him 2-3d in Canadian Go Association, as it commonly would) 2. The 7-stone wall is far from useless (although my very strong friend played me and ate it.........). Even though it gives me a disadvantage, maximum 3-handicap disadvantage, probably even less. This would probably mean that, given our rank difference, he probably only has a 2-stone advantage or so? Something like that? Very hard to say. 3. His attitude toward it, like most peoples', would probably put him into a bad situation with the game psychologically, though I don't rely on this for much of an effect... 4. The biggest reasons why I did it, besides for hilarity and fun, were because I know his style quite well - he has one of those styles that tells you everything about his Go after a few games. His style is blunt and always hardcore, in a really predictable way. He had to resign in under 50 moves, pwnd by big wall.
I would say that moves in the center (hopefully less than 7...) can work against the right kind of opponent, and especially when you are weaker than high-dan.
Of course, normally "playing the player" is a bad mindset, but it is really al ot of fun to start with moves in the center.
I know this really has nothing to do with the topic, but thought it would be mildly amusing, almost worth the read.
Please experiment with many, many styles, moves and theories in order to expand your horizons! It will make you stronger as long as you think about your games and learn from them.
This is not the first time I did stuff like that.
When I was 1k-1d on KGS, I had an account called the box and it did not make me weaker at all. I even hate straight wins here and there, streaks as long as 10, I remember, on that particular account. I had my first 4 moves as black on the 8-12, 12-12, 12-8 and 8-8 points.
Almost forgot. In a tournament not long ago I was matched up with a weaker player, so I played first few moves in the center to amuse the strong players watching/hovering ^^
_________________ Experienced Go Teacher: http://ygami.blogspot.ca/2014/02/teaching.htmlCheck out my Go content, fiction stories, anime talk and more @ http://ygami.blogspot.ca"Go Explained" series! http://ygami.blogspot.ca/search/label/go%20explained
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