A beginner's journal of little interest

[bakekoq]

It will gone away after u know ur mistakes.
u need to see the benefit from ur moves. If u read too much that can confuse urself. so, see the most advantage moves.

[jts]

You're certainly improving. The question is, what is the numeraire by which to judge the rate of improvement? At your level I think it makes the most sense to judge your improvement by reviewing your own games and asking the following sorts of questions:

(i) Are your moves consistent? Do you come up with a plan and follow-through, or do you have to abandon it after the next move?
(ii) Do you play moves that attack or defend groups that are already completely alive? Do you neglect to play moves which attack or defend groups that are nearly dead?
(iii) Are you playing thin formations with tons of cutting points? Who is getting cut to ribbons, you or your opponent?
(iv) Are you playing urgent moves before big moves, and big moves before small moves?
(v) Are you looking for, and finding, multi-purpose moves that answer your opponent's threats but do a little bit of extra work, as well?
(vi) Do you play in a way that shows an understanding of sente, gote, and miai?
(vii) Are you deciding whether to invade or reduce based on an appropriate understanding of the whole-board situation?
(viii) Are you spotting ladders, nets, tesuji, and other techniques that you've been studying?

If you really care about having a definite quantitative rank, then don't ask us! Log on to KGS, turn on automatch, and ranked games until you collapse from exhaustion.

[Bill Spight]

What is the difference between 14 kyu and 10 kyu? Not much.

(;CA[UTF-8]AP[GOWrite:2.2.21]GM[1]ST[2]FF[4]SZ[19]BR[12 Kyu]FG[259:]WR[8 Kyu]DT[2012-05-29]AB[dp][pd]PM[0]HA[2]KM[6.5]PW[User]GN[ ]RU[Japanese]RE[W+R]PB[Igowin HD]
;W[dd]
;B[qp]
;W[op]
;B[mp]
;W[on]
;B[ci]
(
;C[*** See variation.]W[fq]
;B[jq]
;W[cq]
;B[dq]
;W[cp]
;B[co]
;W[cr]
;B[fo]
(
;C[*** See variation.]W[dr]
;B[ic]
;W[qf]
;B[cf]
;W[fc]
;B[md]
(
;C[*** See variations.]W[pj]
;B[er]
;W[eq]
;B[eo]
;W[bo]
;B[bp]
(
;C[*** Unnecessary. See variation.]W[bq]
(
;C[*** See variation.]B[ap]
;W[ao]
;B[pl]
(
;W[ok]
;B[ol]
;W[nl]
;B[nm]
;W[om]
;B[ml]
;W[nk]
;B[mn]
(
;C[*** Bad shape. See variation.]W[pm]
;B[fr]
;W[gr]
;B[gq]
;W[es]
;B[hr]
;W[fs]
;B[hq]
;C[*** A 30 kyu move.]W[gs]
;B[hs]
;C[*** Unnecessary.]W[ql]
;B[ph]
(
;C[*** See variation.]W[qc]
;B[qd]
;W[pc]
;B[rd]
(
;C[*** Allows the hane. See variation. Last comment.]W[rc]
;B[qg]
;W[jl]
;B[rf]
;W[mk]
;B[rg]
;W[ll]
;B[mm]
;W[lk]
;B[oc]
;W[ob]
;B[nc]
;W[nb]
;B[pa]
;W[pb]
;B[mb]
;W[qa]
;B[cn]
;W[mg]
;B[qe]
;W[nf]
;B[pf]
;W[od]
;B[oe]
;W[le]
;B[ld]
;W[ke]
;B[kd]
;W[bd]
;B[je]
;W[jf]
;B[jd]
;W[jg]
;B[if]
;W[gh]
;B[ig]
;W[ih]
;B[jh]
;W[kh]
;B[ji]
;W[ii]
;B[kg]
;W[kf]
;B[ki]
;W[lg]
;B[li]
;W[ni]
;B[gf]
;W[gj]
;B[ne]
;W[me]
;B[nd]
;W[jn]
;B[km]
;W[jm]
;B[lm]
;W[jk]
;B[ko]
;W[io]
;B[ij]
;W[jj]
;B[hi]
;W[hh]
;B[hj]
;W[gi]
;B[hl]
;W[hk]
;B[gl]
;W[qq]
;B[rp]
;W[pq]
;B[il]
;W[ik]
;B[kl]
;W[kk]
;B[fp]
;W[nq]
;B[ho]
;W[ip]
;B[iq]
;W[hp]
;B[gp]
;W[hn]
;B[jp]
;W[mq]
;B[lq]
;W[lr]
;B[jr]
;W[lp]
;B[lo]
;W[kq]
;B[jo]
;W[in]
;B[go]
;W[qi]
;B[gn]
;W[ej]
;B[ck]
;W[el]
;B[fk]
;W[ek]
;B[fj]
;W[fi]
;B[ei]
;W[eh]
;B[di]
;W[dh]
;B[ch]
;W[ef]
;B[dg]
;W[eg]
;B[cd]
;W[cc]
;B[ce]
;W[ed]
;B[bc]
;W[bb]
;B[ac]
;W[ad]
;B[be]
;W[ab]
;B[kn]
;W[df]
;B[cg]
;W[gd]
;B[de]
;W[ee]
;B[em]
;W[gk]
;B[fl]
;W[hf]
;B[he]
;W[hg]
;B[ge]
;W[ie]
;B[id]
;W[if]
;B[hd]
;W[gb]
;B[bn]
;W[aq]
;B[kp]
;W[lq]
;B[fe]
;W[ja]
)
(
;C[*** Big.]W[oc]
;B[od]
;W[mb]
)

)
(
;C[*** Divide and conquer.]W[of]
)

)
(
;W[qn]
;B[po]
;W[nn]
;B[mm]
;W[np]
;B[pn]
;W[pm]
;B[qm]
;W[ql]
;B[rm]
;W[rl]
;B[rn]
;W[mq]
;B[lp]
;W[lq]
;B[kq]
)

)
(
;W[qo]
;B[pp]
;W[po]
;B[oq]
;W[ol]
)

)
(
;B[bn]
;W[ap]
;B[cn]
)

)
(
;W[cn]
(
;C[*** Bad shape for Black.]B[do]
;W[bm]
)
(
;B[dn]
;W[bm]
(
;B[cm]
;W[do]
;B[ep]
;W[dm]
)
(
;B[dm]
)

)

)

(
;C[*** Simple and strong.]W[bn]
)

)
(
;C[*** OC, this could have been played at any time, but the move in the real game makes a Black move here very big.]W[qn]
)

(
;C[*** Not that this should be played now, given the whole board, but it is a play to keep in mind, given the weakness of the Black two space jump.]W[of]
)

)
(
;C[*** A big point for Black.]W[bo]
;B[cn]
;W[bn]
;B[cm]
;W[dr]
)

)
(
;C[*** Give Black problems.]W[qn]
)

)

[Boidhre]

Thanks jts. I'm not looking for an exact rank, just to know if I've been improving at all. I feel like I have but I don't know enough about the game to be sure about it. I'm more annoyed by IgowinHD being out by so much. When I set it to 11k I wanted to be beaten and learn something, not win by resignation.

What is the difference between 14 kyu and 10 kyu? Not much.

When I was looking over the game I decided I needed a much stronger setting on the engine to punish moves like G1 or else I'll keep making them when playing instinctively. I tried it set to 8k, still the same problem of the AI being overrun, so 5k next which will hopefully thrash me and give me something decent to practice against when I can't commit to KGS.

[Boidhre]

Current reading:

Theory: Tesuji by Davies

Problems:
Speed Baduk 7 (like a more structured Go Problems for Beginners Series)
Graded Go Problems for Beginners 3 Level 1 Problems
Get Strong at Tesuji 1 star problems
Attacking and Defending Moyos (Fascinating)


I keep 4+ Problem sets going at any time to give me variety and have something to suit my mood at any given time.

[bakekoq]

wah.. U're really lucky. I only play in ogs. but in this 1 month, I already raise 2 stone handicap. because, last month I play with my fren in some place, I still need 4 handy. but,yesterday I can win even with 3 handy. and in 2 handy I win a game and lost a game too.

[Bill Spight]

When I was looking over the game I decided I needed a much stronger setting on the engine to punish moves like G1 or else I'll keep making them when playing instinctively.

I suspect that the program replied to G1 with H1 because it has a heuristic that rewards plays near the opponent's last play, or makes it a preferred search region. That might make it play better against better opponents.

[Boidhre]

When I was looking over the game I decided I needed a much stronger setting on the engine to punish moves like G1 or else I'll keep making them when playing instinctively.

I suspect that the program replied to G1 with H1 because it has a heuristic that rewards plays near the opponent's last play, or makes it a preferred search region. That might make it play better against better opponents.

Hehe. It tenukis a lot at 9k. I think it's just tuned to be more "local" at 12k or something.

Example:

http://www.lifein19x19.com/forum/download/file.php?id=1763

[Boidhre]

Myself versus hailthorn. Comments for both sides would be appreciated.

First ranked game in a month etc, I think I might be getting over my fear of KGS.

http://lifein19x19.com/forum/download/file.php?id=1766

I took Bill's advice and played as if I was 12k.

[Boidhre]

Finally found a setting that gives me a decent game.

http://lifein19x19.com/forum/download/file.php?id=1767

I need to do some serious work on my ability to disrupt territory I think. The 5k Engine seems about right though. It fought a lot better against me and punished me a few times by tenukiing when I made a bad move. I'll try it on 3k next and see if I can get myself roughed up so I can learn something.

[EdLee]

Boidhre-hailthorn.

(;CA[utf-8]FF[4]RU[Japanese]ST[2]OT[5x30 byo-yomi]AB[dd][pd][dj][pj][dp][pp]AP[SmartGo:2.8.3.0]
SZ[19]GM[1]DT[2012-05-30]PC[KGS]PB[Boidhre]BR[14k]PW[hailthorn]WR[6k]KM[0.5]HA[6]
TM[2400.0]RE[B+Resign]MULTIGOGM[0]
;W[fc]WL[2378.2];B[cf]BL[2390.2];W[db]WL[2376.5];B[hc]BL[2383.2];W[jc]WL[2373];B[fd]
BL[2381.8];W[cc]WL[2330.2]
(;B[gc]BL[2363.4]C[See var.];W[ec]WL[2291.4];B[ed]BL[2345.2]C[Gote for B.];W[bd]
WL[2273.4];B[be]BL[2319.5];W[bb]WL[2257.1]
(;B[jq]BL[2274.3]C[Big, but see var.];W[fq]WL[2210.4]
(;B[dn]BL[2252.2]C[See var.];W[cq]WL[2181.4];B[dq]BL[2212.6];W[dr]WL[2172.1];B[er]
BL[2200.6];W[cr]WL[2170.7];B[eq]BL[2199.4];W[bo]WL[2169.1]
(;B[cp]BL[2174.9]C[Bad. You hit yourself on the head. See var.];W[bp]WL[2152.3]
LB[cp:a]C[Notice the (a) stone is completely useless.];B[cn]BL[2163.8];W[al]WL[2145.7]
;B[bl]BL[2152.5];W[am]WL[2140.4];B[ak]BL[2146.9];W[bk]WL[2136.3]
(;B[bm]BL[2142.8]C[See var.];W[an]WL[2134.3];B[ai]BL[2086.8]C[What are you doing. End of notes.]
;W[bi]WL[2122.9];B[bj]BL[2078.8];W[aj]WL[2120.8];B[cj]BL[2052.6];W[ah]WL[2112.9]
;B[ck]BL[2045];W[ak]WL[2110.4];B[ci]BL[2042.2];W[ch]WL[2107.6];B[dh]BL[2039.2];W[nc]
WL[2100];B[qf]BL[2035.8];W[ld]WL[2091.8];B[pc]BL[2003.2];W[nq]WL[1917.2];B[np]BL[1972.7]
;W[mp]WL[1837.1];B[oq]BL[1952.2];W[no]WL[1829.7];B[op]BL[1947.1];W[mr]WL[1759.6]
;B[jo]BL[1869.1];W[mn]WL[1626.1];B[km]BL[1820];W[pn]WL[1615.4];B[lo]BL[1794.8];W[mo]
WL[1606.6];B[qo]BL[1774.7];W[qq]WL[1594.3];B[nr]BL[1733.7];W[mq]WL[1570.3];B[or]
BL[1729.6];W[qn]WL[1558.4];B[ro]BL[1719.5];W[rn]WL[1555.6];B[ml]BL[1711];W[qk]WL[1549.2]
;B[qj]BL[1708.3];W[pk]WL[1546.9];B[ok]BL[1705.8];W[ol]WL[1546.1];B[nl]BL[1704.1]
;W[om]WL[1543.9];B[nj]BL[1701.8];W[oi]WL[1542.3];B[oj]BL[1699.6];W[po]WL[1541.2]
;B[qp]BL[1696];W[qr]WL[1535.7];B[rq]BL[1657.3];W[rr]WL[1530.6];B[sq]BL[1655.2];W[so]
WL[1524.8];B[ps]BL[1621.2];W[sr]WL[1522.2];B[rp]BL[1614.6];W[ns]WL[1517];B[qs]BL[1602]
;W[pr]WL[1507.7];B[rs]BL[1585.8];W[oo]WL[1501.1];B[os]BL[1574.7];W[ms]WL[1495];B[ss]
BL[1566.3];W[ip]WL[1490.5];B[jp]BL[1560.8];W[hn]WL[1488.9];B[jk]BL[1525.2];W[kn]
WL[1419.2];B[jn]BL[1491.9];W[fn]WL[1394.4];B[gm]BL[1446.9];W[hm]WL[1372.1];B[gn]
BL[1422.6];W[go]WL[1267.2];B[fm]BL[1385.9];W[ln]WL[1246.1];B[jm]BL[1371.9];W[hl]
WL[1234.9];B[gk]BL[1352.3];W[gl]WL[1230.5];B[fl]BL[1350.5];W[hk]WL[1229.4];B[fk]
BL[1349];W[hj]WL[1228];B[gp]BL[1336.7];W[fp]WL[1223.6];B[ho]BL[1328.4];W[fo]WL[1221.2]
;B[io]BL[1322];W[hp]WL[1219.3];B[iq]BL[1317];W[hq]WL[1217.5];B[hr]BL[1311.8];W[gq]
WL[1214.7];B[ie]BL[1284.4])
(;B[an]C[Atari this way -- spit W.]))
(;B[bn]C[Shape.];W[co];B[cn]C[Standard.]))
(;B[eq];W[fp];B[dn]TR[eq][dp][dn][jq]C[Make good use of ALL your stones.]))
(;B[mc]))
(;B[ec]C[Shape, in sente. W has no good reply.]))

[EdLee]

Igowin HD. Still basics.

(;CA[utf-8]GM[1]FF[4]AP[Igowin iPad:1.0]SZ[19]RU[Japanese]DT[2012-05-30]PB[User]
BR[4 Kyu]PW[Igowin HD]WR[5 Kyu]KM[3.5]HA[0]RE[B+0.5]MULTIGOGM[0]
;B[pd];W[co];B[pq];W[cc];B[qk];W[iq];B[dd];W[dc];B[ed]
(;W[cd]C[See var.];B[df];W[ce]
(;B[jc]LB[de:a]C[There is a push-and-cut at (a). See var.];W[cf]
(;B[ef]C[Wrong shape. See var.];W[dg];B[eg]C[This turn helps W make a lot of cash. End of notes.]
;W[dh];B[lq];W[po];B[np];W[qm];B[qo];W[pn];B[qp];W[fq];B[ol];W[nn];B[ml];W[ln];B[kl]
;W[jn];B[il];W[gd];B[ec];W[eb];B[fb];W[fc];B[db];W[gb];B[ea];W[gf];B[fh];W[ei];B[gi]
;W[fj];B[hj];W[gk];B[hm];W[hk];B[ik];W[ij];B[ii];W[jj];B[hi];W[ji];B[jh];W[kh];B[ki]
;W[kg];B[kj];W[li];B[lh];W[lj];B[jk];W[lc];B[je];W[lg];B[mh];W[mj];B[mg];W[le];B[ke]
;W[lf];B[if];W[mf];B[og];W[nf];B[oh];W[nc];B[pc];W[ob];B[pb];W[kd];B[jd];W[jg];B[ig]
;W[jf];B[ie];W[kr];B[lr];W[kq];B[kp];W[jp];B[lp];W[ko];B[ho];W[kb];B[jb];W[ja];B[ia]
;W[ka];B[ib];W[oj];B[pk];W[pi];B[of];W[oe];B[pe];W[nl];B[nk];W[nm];B[nj];W[ni];B[mi]
;W[nh];B[ng];W[ok];B[mk];W[pl];B[oi];W[pj];B[ph];W[qi];B[qh];W[ri];B[rh];W[sh];B[sg]
;W[si];B[rg];W[rn];B[ro];W[so];B[sp];W[sn];B[rq];W[dl];B[fm];W[eo];B[fn];W[fo];B[go]
;W[gp];B[dm];W[cm];B[dn];W[cn];B[od];W[ne];B[nd];W[md];B[kc];W[mb];B[ld];W[me];B[kd]
;W[la];B[cb];W[bb];B[ba];W[bc];B[mm];W[mn];B[km];W[pa];B[qa];W[oa];B[qb];W[gm];B[hn]
;W[gl];B[gn];W[ls];B[ms];W[ks];B[mr];W[pp];B[oq];W[hp];B[lm];W[lk];B[jm];W[hl];B[im]
;W[el];B[mp];W[do];B[eh];W[di];B[ca];W[fi];B[ab];W[ac];B[aa];W[fe];B[de];W[bg];B[oc]
;W[fl];B[kf];W[mc];B[kn];W[lo];B[oo];W[io];B[in];W[jo];B[on];W[om];B[qn];W[rm];B[op]
;W[pm];B[em];W[qr];B[qq];W[en];B[gj];W[mo];B[no];W[tt];B[tt])
(;B[dg]C[Shape.]))
(;B[fg]C[Fix your cut.]))
(;W[be];B[dg];W[fb];B[hd]))

[Boidhre]

Thanks Ed. Getting flustered and playing like a 30k again would be my answer to your rhetorical question.

[EdLee]

Getting flustered...

That's normal human response. Take a deep breath, wash your face, gather yourself, re-group, maybe take a sip of water, then continue.

[Boidhre]

Getting flustered...

That's normal human response. Take a deep breath, wash your face, gather yourself, re-group, maybe take a sip of water, then continue.

Yeah, I think I've been playing too much turn based where one can simply walk away for a while after making a blunder. I need to learn to deal with it in real time.