Oxygen

[SmoothOper]

As an aside, I don't know how they used to do it when Cho Chikun was sitting there puffing on a cigarette. Now there is a tradition, I am not sorry to see die.

[snorri]

How many players and how small a room?

In any case, if the room is really low on oxygen, then I'm not sure even regular breaks outside are going to help, unless it's every 30 seconds or so. Everyone is going to suffering. So if it's a common complaint the ventilation has to be fixed or the venue needs to be changed. Unless you're willing to volunteer to find another venue or work with those who control the building's resources, whether they be windows or A/C or whatever, there may not be much you can do. Maybe just don't go to that tournament. Are a lot tournaments held in that same place?

I have a harder time studying on airplanes than at sea level. It's possible there's a real effect.

[RobertJasiek]

How many players and how small a room?

IIRC, 54. The tables were small, but only 1 board per table. However, chairs were back to back so close that many used to alternate sitting at the left and right sides of the tables.

The room would have worked for about 35, although I am not sure if the air conditioning would have been enough then.

Maybe just don't go to that tournament.

This option I can use for small tournaments, but not for the European Go Congress.

[hyperpape]

hyperpape, evaluation is not needed. A lack of oxygen causes at least one serious blunder, and that is too many. Every reasonable amount of thinking time spent on taking breaks is worth it.

This is too much of a simplification, read literally, since it does not define reasonable...

Ok, a serious note: does anyone have a reason to think oxygen deficiency is actually at issue here? I don't know a lot about this, but I'd be surprised if an ordinary room is likely to become oxygen deficient in a few hours time, regardless of how many people are in it. While looking around after reading this thread, I did hear that CO2 is more likely to be the culprit, which makes sense: Oxygen levels can easily and almost unnoticably vary by several tenths of a percent--while the range considered safe is a couple percent wide. In contrast, typical regulations on carbon dioxide require it to be below 1% or .5% where people work.

[oren]

I was thinking the heat is more likely to cause a problem than oxygen (or CO2) issues in an environment as being discussed. You can do some scientific tests to verify, but as everyone is in the same condition, I'm not sure it is too important.

[jts]

hyperpape, evaluation is not needed. A lack of oxygen causes at least one serious blunder, and that is too many. Every reasonable amount of thinking time spent on taking breaks is worth it.

This is too much of a simplification, read literally, since it does not define reasonable...

Ok, a serious note: does anyone have a reason to think oxygen deficiency is actually at issue here? I don't know a lot about this, but I'd be surprised if an ordinary room is likely to become oxygen deficient in a few hours time, regardless of how many people are in it. While looking around after reading this thread, I did hear that CO2 is more likely to be the culprit, which makes sense: Oxygen levels can easily and almost unnoticably vary by several tenths of a percent--while the range considered safe is a couple percent wide. In contrast, typical regulations on carbon dioxide require it to be below 1% or .5% where people work.

It's possible that Robert has a cardiopulmonary condition that is denying oxygen to his brain, but unless he was playing at a very high elevation or in the crater of a volcano, I doubt the availability of oxygen, carbon dioxide, or any other atmospheric gas was causing any problems.

[RobertJasiek]

In the case of the referred game, I am very sure that I did not blunder because of heat (on that day, heat was not a noteworthy factor) but that I did blunder because of little oxygen and / or too much CO2 in the air (I cannot know which of these two gas concentrations is the problem). Anyway, the air felt "consumed"; it lacked freshness when breathing it.

[hyperpape]

Eh, there's at least one study that says that classrooms, meetingrooms and the like can often build up enough CO2 to reduce one's cognitive abilities (though not to be otherwise dangerous). I don't know if it's reliable research or not, hence asking if anyone knew anything real.

[oren]

If it's not heat, then it's likely a case of a blunder caused by distraction thinking there wasn't enough oxygen in the room.

[dfunkt]

LOL Oxygen deficiency.. best excuse I've heard yet.

[snorri]

LOL Oxygen deficiency.. best excuse I've heard yet.

In the U.S., we call it the Gore/Obama/Denver debate defense.

I was going to suggest a portable fingertip pulse oximeter, but if the European Go regulators are going to disallow signs, something like this certainly won't pass:

oximeter.jpg (4.26 KiB) Viewed 6108 times

I don't think it's a completely crazy idea. You can get some relatively inexpensive ones. Ambulance companies buy lots of them. If you can't wear it during the game, at least you could check the situation before and after the game to see if there really is any need for concern.

[Bonobo]

hyperpape, dfunkt, just see here.

[Bantari]

In the case of the referred game, I am very sure that I did not blunder because of heat (on that day, heat was not a noteworthy factor) but that I did blunder because of little oxygen and / or too much CO2 in the air (I cannot know which of these two gas concentrations is the problem). Anyway, the air felt "consumed"; it lacked freshness when breathing it.

Seriously now:

Can you explain that? Why do you think out of all the possible reasons for a blunder, why do you think oxygen/co2 was the only likely reason? I find it very interesting, since I can very seldom say why I blunder... is it the beer, the loud music, the skimpy outfits of the waitress, the heat and smoke, or what...

Also, can you estimate how many games you might have won because of oxygen/co2 influence on your opponents? Does not need to be big blunders, just slightly weaker move here and there, stuff like that. After all - you are all playing under the same conditions, it stands to reason that if there was an issue it affected you all in one way or anther, no?

Or are you special in this respect?

[snorri]

I find it very interesting, since I can very seldom say why I blunder... is it the beer, the loud music, the skimpy outfits of the waitress, the heat and smoke, or what...

Now I want to visit your go club...

[Bantari]

I find it very interesting, since I can very seldom say why I blunder... is it the beer, the loud music, the skimpy outfits of the waitress, the heat and smoke, or what...

Now I want to visit your go club...

Actually, when I was living in Germany, all the clubs I ever went to were in bars, and smoking was allowed, as was skimpiness, so... not so weird at that time. Of course, in the US things are different, and I find myself in such situation only at private Go meetings... minus the waitress, usually.