Helping a beginner

[markeemark]

Hi again folks

Well it's clear there is plenty of work to be done!!

I lost the first game by losing a big group.

I lost the second game in a closer teritorial game.

The final game was a disaster, I was drawn against a 17 Kyu given a five stone handicap and still got smashed by assisting to kill one of my own groups and having one of my corners invaded. This was the shortest game and the most disappointing out of the three.

So 0-3, although I did make some new acquaintances, reestablished some I already had and learnt quite a bit about a variety of areas of the game.

I must take a more systematic approach to my Go study, as I realised most of most short comings today.

Thanks for the input regarding the weiqi book. Study starts again Monday, I am taking the day off tomorrow!

I was also loaned a copy of graded go problems volume one, so i'll add that to my workload.

Bye for now.

Regards

Mark

[Amelia]

I was also loaned a copy of graded go problems volume one, so i'll add that to my workload.

Vol 1 starts at the very beginning (like capturing stones that are already in atari and so on). So even at 20k it will probably feel quite easy to you. But I find even easy problems are very much worth doing, I just try to solve them as fast as I can. It helps to put the basics firmly in your head for you to spot quickly during games.

Vol 2 will be more your level (with a lot of very important basic shapes to think about), vol 3 will be hard and by the time you get to vol 4 you will probably be a lot stronger than now.

Good luck with your studies

[otenki]

Weiqi 1001 problems at 22kyu is great!
I'm also doing this book right now but my reading fails me every time i get like past 10 moves deep, 7 or so variations

Ok here is my advice of books:

Initialy:

- Level up series (1-10) , (30-10kyu)
- 1000 Life and death (kiseido version, not the 1001 chinese version)
- Graded go problems for beginners 1 & 2 (3 & 4 is going to be too difficult)
- tesuji by james davis
I know some people in this threat say its too hard for you but I did it also at low level and learned a lot from it allready.
It encourages you to read situations instead of seeying what happens like most beginners do.

Once you get a bit stronger:
- Jump Leven up series (1-5) (10-1kyu)
- weiqi 1001

Also what helped me a lot to get a feeling of direction, walls, midgame fighting was to watch lectures by battousai.
Initialy they are going to look random, lots of terms don't mean anything etc.
But you learn a buch of "patterns" in your head which allow you to do the right things intrinsicly while not yet knowing why.

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL96339EFDFDE696FC

Forget books like opening theory made easy and attack and defence.
You'll have plenty of time to think about these things once you are a killing machine from studying life & death

Good luck!

[markeemark]

Hi Otenke

Thanks for the information.

I don't actually know what the level up series is?

I have shelved attack and defence and opening theory made easy.

Im concentrating on tsumego at the moment.

Your right about Bats lectures online, I have seen some of these, they are very good, (although I don't recognise a number of patterns yet!).

I also like commented games, I think Lee Sedol's new (ish) book is great as is the Master
Play series.

Thanks again for your input.

Best regards

Mark

[msgreg]

I don't actually know what the level up series is?

Level Up series. After a brief search, I couldn't find where they are available from a UK shop, but I did find them here at goshop-keima.com.

I have shelved attack and defence and opening theory made easy.

I personally would read Opening Theory Made Easy when you're ready to start improving on 19x19 boards. It is an easy and helpful read at 20k or so. The main lesson that I learned (or...still trying to learn) from it was to look at the board anew for each stone played. This helps determine when to tenuki in the beginning vs. just following your opponent around.

[markeemark]

Hi msgreg

Thanks for that, I have had a previous read of OTME previously and will give it a proper reread shortly.

I trying hard to move away from following my opponent around the board (!) I've now began to get to the stage of making my own plans (albeit somewhat inferior or suspect at times).

Thanks for indicating where the level up series is likely to be sourced from. I've got quite a few books to go through and I keep finding interesting tsumego sites for looking at various positions. All i need now is the time to put the work in.

There's plenty of work ahead in learning this fascinating game, it really helps when you have likeminded people who are able to assist greatly in the process. I have to say the Go community is a lot accepting and accessible than the previous chess community which I was a part of for many years.

Much appreciated,

With regards

Mark