long time no see.

[balmung]

For those of you who have no idea who I am here's an introduction. I joined this website right after GD closed their doors; I spent all my time playing single digit kyu's and never thinking about my moves. When I turned 20 I started to take more than two seconds a move and slowly learned strategy of Go. I learned that every move my opponent makes is an attempt at start a conversation.

The first time I realized this I beat my rival in go, and for once he was not laughing during our game. For once when he offered my 5 stones for 60 points of territory; I said no. That was when I truly started to learn the rules of go, at the time I was a kgs 4kyu, and realized I knew nothing of the game. To this day I just play whats logical and stick to the fundamentals; Every time I play I discover something new.

I am currently transferred to university of Houston and major in pre-law. I on occasion go down to Montgomery to play my rival and his rival, who is Harrison a aga 6d who owns a dunkin doughnuts. Closest I came to him in a even game was 30 points, that's when he was shocked that two go players in middle of nowhere could get to 2-3dan without a teacher. Any who that's basically my go career in a nutshell.

[karaklis]

I remember that you were here a few years ago, so welcome back.

You have made it to 2-3d without a teacher, just by playing your rival(s)? Or was there something else behind that which made you advance so far? I am really curious..

[balmung]

I got to 3 Dan by learning the principals of opening theory, understanding the fundamentals of Go by Kageyama, and kinda one day just had a huge aliphany, and I finally was able to see my opponents thought process in a game. Harrison was not shocked by me being Dan, says I'm just like a lot of dans he's played, all talent little experience. As far as playing goes, I played online more than playing my rival.

[goTony]

Welcome back!