jts wrote:Part of the "lose 100 games quickly" thing is that it's hard for me to know what to focus on in a review of your games, since most of the mistakes that catch my eye will disappear a few games later. Nonetheless, some comments on Voss-Newkirk.
10: If you're going to play a move locally, play G2. (Can you see why B can't reply to G2 at G3?) Just in general, you should recognize that the F4-F3-G3 shape is bad news if G4 is empty. Further, you should realize that you don't need to reply to a second-line move directly; for example, you could play D5.
20: Cutting and connecting are the soul of Go. When you cut groups apart, you can usually attack one side and either capture it or profit from attacking it. D7 and E6 can currently be cut apart (if B plays at E7). I'm not going to say that connecting these stones is mandatory, but if you're going to add another play locally, connecting them (maybe with E7 or E8) is a solid play.
24: Hm! Do you recognize this shape? Can you think of any alternative places you could have played?
36: Since I've noticed you playing here twice now, I'll suggest O4, O3, and R8 as fun alternatives to play around with.
42: What do you do if B responds at O7? What strategic purpose does Q8 have then? Remember, cutting and connecting.
62: Not necessary. What happens if B cuts here?
66: Not necessary.
80: Remember, cutting and connecting. If you're going to play around here, it needs to be O10. Then O11 and P10 are cut off from each other and you might be able to capture something.
84: You can still live with R18.
94: It is extremely urgent that you play R13. Worth 60 points.
144: Unnecessary.
154: Locally, the c4 cut is better.
166: Sensible, but not strictly necessary. Even if B plays J14 and cuts W's stones, W has three liberties on both groups and B only has two, so J14 still wouldn't be a forcing move.
168-184: These small moves are worth 1-4 pts each, but the bottom side is almost completely open.
Thank you so much for taking the time to make such a detailed post.
10: I’m not sure, but is it because if I went G2, and B went G3, then I would go G4 and put him in Atari?
24: Would B9 or D11 have been better?
42: If B went O7 I think I would just have gone R7. But I see that Q8 is probably a better move altogether to prevent black from connecting.
62: Cutting would mean B went R17, right? I was thinking I should go Q17, but I tried playing it out in GoWrite a few times, and I kept ending up with a live black group in the corner. So I think R18 would be better? At least I can’t make proper eyes with black in the corner after playing W R18.
94: Ow… I didn’t notice that at all.
Thank you very much for the detailed feedback on the game, it was very helpful!
jts wrote:Anyway, on preview Dusk Eagle is right, and I apologize for derailing your thread, Voss.
I actually didn't mind it very much, I thought it was very interesting. I found the speaking and undo discussion very helpful too.
Personally I would never ask for an undo against another player, and I thought it was rather rude when my opponent asked for 3 undos in one of those games, so I denied it. If he had said "misclick" or something, then I would have let him of course, but since he said nothing I assumed he had simply changed his mind about the position. I have no idea how to tell the difference between a misclick and a mistake unless the opponent says so.
As for the whole talking thing, I'm a bit torn as well. I was puzzled when my first opponent said "Hi gg", as in other online games I have played, normally the winner says "gg" after kicking the loser's butt. And saying "gl" wouldn't that imply that your opponent needs luck to win against you? I think it was very useful to see different opinions about it. I certainly don't want to be rude to anyone, so it is nice to know what may be expected.
Some of you suggest getting a teacher, and I very much like that idea. But I'm really not sure how to get one or how it would normally work online? And how expensive would it normally be?
And thank you all very much for taking the time to post. All of your posts are very helpful, so thank you!
at G2 instead of G3, because B cannot cut at G3. Why not? Because after 
@G3, White plays 
at E2 and the black stone at F2 is already in atari. True, 
at D2 puts W in atari, but then W simply captures, 
at E1, and then black's stone at G3 would be marooned and useless.
(That's pretty much where I still am btw).