I think your 18 was a mistake. You should have built a wall facing the left side as it had much more potential than the bottom.
Also your invasion at 54 wasn't optimal imo. I think N17 would be more appropriate, o17 allows your opponent to play out the joseki that happened in the game and if you were playing a more experienced opponent would have dealt with you much more easily. N17 is more flexible and no matter what side your opponent attacks your from you can flexibly jump three spaces to the 18th line and start to make shape.
Good job on your win though.
Working through the kyus! (Easier said than done)
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moyoaji
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Re: To 5 kyu in 5 months! (We'll see about that)
Another Game I Am Proud Of
("Another Game of which I Am Proud" - If you insist on using titles like a loser at least get them right...
)
My first game of December, the month I said I was going to hit 5k, I have hit 3k again. (Anyone remember that it was a math mistake that made him think 5 months was from the start of July to the end of December? Anyone?
)
I'm not going to declare myself 3k until I win another game, but this game was actually pretty easy for me. I think my opponent made a lot of mistakes, but I'm proud of my play. It was very solid, just like I prefer. Looking back at the game I don't see any enormous blunders and I did a lot of cool reduction tricks, some that I actually read out all the way and others that I came up with on the fly. (Wow, so you have the playing ability of a person that can almost read. Congrats.
)
It was a big win. I think my shining moment was sacrificing the 4 stones at Q8 to reduce the center. Before this month I would have saved the stones, but I saw that, even though they were technically cutting stones, they really were just worth 8 points because the cuts weren't going to work without my opponent making a mistake. So I let him take my "cutting stones" to reduce the center by a lot more than 8 points. I also did a good job on life and death in the top right. I saw that it was okay to give because I was ahead - thanks to the counting I've been trying to do. After I reduced the bottom I felt I was ahead by over 30 points so giving up a few points in the corner was nothing. (Okay, but again your opponent basically let you win. He made blatant mistakes like taking the 4 stones. So how was your play any good when your opponent is begging you to beat him?
)
Let me know if you can see any errors in judgement. I do worry that
was an overplay, but I think I could fight and kill black if he did cut. And I do think move 182 was a mistake. I should have just descended. I didn't consider my opponent cutting and trying to kill me. (Aw, that means you were just a couple of points of eye-space away from a loss. 
)
Other than those I feel great about the game. And I'm going to get a good night's sleep.
("Another Game of which I Am Proud" - If you insist on using titles like a loser at least get them right...
)My first game of December, the month I said I was going to hit 5k, I have hit 3k again. (Anyone remember that it was a math mistake that made him think 5 months was from the start of July to the end of December? Anyone?
)I'm not going to declare myself 3k until I win another game, but this game was actually pretty easy for me. I think my opponent made a lot of mistakes, but I'm proud of my play. It was very solid, just like I prefer. Looking back at the game I don't see any enormous blunders and I did a lot of cool reduction tricks, some that I actually read out all the way and others that I came up with on the fly. (Wow, so you have the playing ability of a person that can almost read. Congrats.
)It was a big win. I think my shining moment was sacrificing the 4 stones at Q8 to reduce the center. Before this month I would have saved the stones, but I saw that, even though they were technically cutting stones, they really were just worth 8 points because the cuts weren't going to work without my opponent making a mistake. So I let him take my "cutting stones" to reduce the center by a lot more than 8 points. I also did a good job on life and death in the top right. I saw that it was okay to give because I was ahead - thanks to the counting I've been trying to do. After I reduced the bottom I felt I was ahead by over 30 points so giving up a few points in the corner was nothing. (Okay, but again your opponent basically let you win. He made blatant mistakes like taking the 4 stones. So how was your play any good when your opponent is begging you to beat him?
)Let me know if you can see any errors in judgement. I do worry that
was an overplay, but I think I could fight and kill black if he did cut. And I do think move 182 was a mistake. I should have just descended. I didn't consider my opponent cutting and trying to kill me. (Aw, that means you were just a couple of points of eye-space away from a loss. ) Other than those I feel great about the game. And I'm going to get a good night's sleep.
"You have to walk before you can run. Black 1 was a walking move.
I blushed inwardly to recall the ignorant thoughts that had gone through
my mind before, when I had not realized the true worth of Black 1."
-Kageyama Toshiro on proper moves
I blushed inwardly to recall the ignorant thoughts that had gone through
my mind before, when I had not realized the true worth of Black 1."
-Kageyama Toshiro on proper moves
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Boidhre
- Oza
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Re: To 5 kyu in 5 months! (We'll see about that)
If Black cuts after I quite like the fight for white afterwards. Someone stronger can give you a better opinion though, I'm probably missing something.
There's probably something better than
here.
I quite like the fight for white afterwards. Someone stronger can give you a better opinion though, I'm probably missing something. There's probably something better than
here.-
skydyr
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Re: To 5 kyu in 5 months! (We'll see about that)
Some thoughts:
Move 10: This is an interesting idea, but I'm not sure I like it by tewari. It's as if white set up the low chinese, black approached, and everyone played a very standard joseki, but compared to the chinese with black, white doesn't have sente to look at the top, so a play on the upper star point seems like it limits white and leaves him overconcentrated on the left, perhaps.
Move 11: I don't like this move for the reason stated above, but I'm no expert on the chinese opening, so perhaps this is fine. The ensuing sacrifice, though, is chancy. Black's definitely betting on his thickness to win after giving up such a huge corner, and the right side is by no means solid. That said, white's potential is mostly tapped out, while black has the rest of the board to develop in.
Moves 38 and 39: I'm not absolutely certain where white should try and break into the right side. Move 38 seems like a good idea, trying to reduce the effect of black's wall, but it could let black build up the right instead. Move 39 is horrible on black's part, making territory from thickness, and black's followups make me cry.
Move 42: Did you consider attaching at Q15 or playing Q14?
Move 44: Did you consider R14 or Q14?
Move 58: I'm looking at either Q6, or the exchange around Q2 followed by Q6, since I don't like the wall black got. With Q6, if black cuts, I think white can give up the corner to strengthen and then drop a bomb around R11. If Q2ish and black cuts, white can ruin the bottom side and be alive in the corner, plus white has ways to get into black's moyo from the bottom and the top.
Move 68: I'd rather ruin the center more with something like N10 or exploiting aji around k3, maybe with a cap or shoulder hit. This stone doesn't seem that big and gives black the opportunity to solidify the center a great deal if he tenukis. Imagine black 71 at O10.
Move 75: Interesting strategy by black, but because sealing this side ends in gote, it's not that great. I'm wondering about a shoulder hit for black at G4 to provoke a running fight and help solidify the bottom side more. Black gives up a lot of points on the bottom left for this when he already is short on solid territory.
Move 91: Too small in gote.
The rest of the game is painful to look at (from black's perspective), but I think black had a decent position up until he started trying to make territory from thickness, which he did several times.
Move 10: This is an interesting idea, but I'm not sure I like it by tewari. It's as if white set up the low chinese, black approached, and everyone played a very standard joseki, but compared to the chinese with black, white doesn't have sente to look at the top, so a play on the upper star point seems like it limits white and leaves him overconcentrated on the left, perhaps.
Move 11: I don't like this move for the reason stated above, but I'm no expert on the chinese opening, so perhaps this is fine. The ensuing sacrifice, though, is chancy. Black's definitely betting on his thickness to win after giving up such a huge corner, and the right side is by no means solid. That said, white's potential is mostly tapped out, while black has the rest of the board to develop in.
Moves 38 and 39: I'm not absolutely certain where white should try and break into the right side. Move 38 seems like a good idea, trying to reduce the effect of black's wall, but it could let black build up the right instead. Move 39 is horrible on black's part, making territory from thickness, and black's followups make me cry.
Move 42: Did you consider attaching at Q15 or playing Q14?
Move 44: Did you consider R14 or Q14?
Move 58: I'm looking at either Q6, or the exchange around Q2 followed by Q6, since I don't like the wall black got. With Q6, if black cuts, I think white can give up the corner to strengthen and then drop a bomb around R11. If Q2ish and black cuts, white can ruin the bottom side and be alive in the corner, plus white has ways to get into black's moyo from the bottom and the top.
Move 68: I'd rather ruin the center more with something like N10 or exploiting aji around k3, maybe with a cap or shoulder hit. This stone doesn't seem that big and gives black the opportunity to solidify the center a great deal if he tenukis. Imagine black 71 at O10.
Move 75: Interesting strategy by black, but because sealing this side ends in gote, it's not that great. I'm wondering about a shoulder hit for black at G4 to provoke a running fight and help solidify the bottom side more. Black gives up a lot of points on the bottom left for this when he already is short on solid territory.
Move 91: Too small in gote.
The rest of the game is painful to look at (from black's perspective), but I think black had a decent position up until he started trying to make territory from thickness, which he did several times.
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Kirby
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Re: To 5 kyu in 5 months! (We'll see about that)
The situation around is kind of weird.
First, if you select to jump out here:
Black should be helping his 4-4 stone. The way he played in the game is the wrong direction. He should play like this:
This way is totally natural, and black is already strong on the left. If he tries to make territory with that wall, he'll just be overconcentrated. Plus, his 4-4 stone becomes weak.
Back to the game, since black left his 4-4 stone weak, I would, as white, consider enclosing the 4-4 stone:
If black tries any funny business in the top right corner, it can't go bad for you. The ladder that could come from the cut at the marked intersection is even good for you.
Compared to the game move, this puts a lot more pressure on the 4-4 stone immediately, and opens up potential for the right side. For example, later, you can approach the bottom right 4-4 stone, and it will work nicely with the potential you have by enclosing his 4-4:
I don't know if black plays 3-3, it's just an example. But it's even better if white gets some sort of influence when black tries to live. For example:
Maybe black doesn't do this and gets sente somehow to play the right side first, but either way, I think the pressure on the 4-4 stone is valuable, because the stone is somewhat weak.
Anyway, the move you played is not terrible, because black is still over-concentrated, but black can get the opportunity to help his 4-4, although it's slightly inconsistent:
But anyway, you played another jump, which is OK, but not doing as much as pressuring the 4-4 like I explained above, in my opinion.
That brings us to the 3-3 invasion, which makes me slightly confused. In the immediate local area, ignoring the jumps you made, I feel the 3-3 is too much here, because black can block the other way and damage the group you jumped out with - I feel 3-3 is inconsistent with you jumping out:
If black gets solid, cutting points, like those marked above, could be possible to exploit - anyway, the 3-3 makes your group weaker in this sense.
However...
In this case, black has basically tenuki-ed in the 4-4 up until now, so you can't say that his group is totally comfortable by playing in this direction from the 3-3, either. The three stones you jumped out with, while kind of thin and weak against a wall, are somewhat annoying for black, since his group is cramped. For example:
If black blocks on this side, it's kind of meaningless for him to have blocked with
, above, in the first place:
On the other hand, if black plays down, white is somewhat thin, but at least it doesn't feel right to me as black:
Maybe there are better moves... Anyway, in conclusion, normally I feel 3-3 here is damaging to your white stones, since black can play this move:
But the situation is so weird here, since black tenuki-ed twice against the 4-4, so maybe what he did in the game was OK. After he got to this stage, I think black should play something like this:
In the actual game, he played several moves in this area, which were unnecessary - just play a single move to strengthen the group.
Either way, getting out seems correct: He is not strong enough to really be fighting you right now, since he tenuki-ed twice in a row in this area. He just needs to get out. Then, later, and only after he's strong, he can consider either the cut like you guys already discussed, or perhaps simply here, depending on what happens in the future:
Either way, black's decision to keep jumping on the left was silly, ignoring the potential of the 4-4 stone in the top right, so he can't expect to get a great result.
is kind of weird.First, if you select to jump out here:
Black should be helping his 4-4 stone. The way he played in the game is the wrong direction. He should play like this:
This way is totally natural, and black is already strong on the left. If he tries to make territory with that wall, he'll just be overconcentrated. Plus, his 4-4 stone becomes weak.
Back to the game, since black left his 4-4 stone weak, I would, as white, consider enclosing the 4-4 stone:
If black tries any funny business in the top right corner, it can't go bad for you. The ladder that could come from the cut at the marked intersection is even good for you.
Compared to the game move, this puts a lot more pressure on the 4-4 stone immediately, and opens up potential for the right side. For example, later, you can approach the bottom right 4-4 stone, and it will work nicely with the potential you have by enclosing his 4-4:
I don't know if black plays 3-3, it's just an example. But it's even better if white gets some sort of influence when black tries to live. For example:
Maybe black doesn't do this and gets sente somehow to play the right side first, but either way, I think the pressure on the 4-4 stone is valuable, because the stone is somewhat weak.
Anyway, the move you played is not terrible, because black is still over-concentrated, but black can get the opportunity to help his 4-4, although it's slightly inconsistent:
But anyway, you played another jump, which is OK, but not doing as much as pressuring the 4-4 like I explained above, in my opinion.
That brings us to the 3-3 invasion, which makes me slightly confused. In the immediate local area, ignoring the jumps you made, I feel the 3-3 is too much here, because black can block the other way and damage the group you jumped out with - I feel 3-3 is inconsistent with you jumping out:
If black gets solid, cutting points, like those marked above, could be possible to exploit - anyway, the 3-3 makes your group weaker in this sense.
However...
In this case, black has basically tenuki-ed in the 4-4 up until now, so you can't say that his group is totally comfortable by playing in this direction from the 3-3, either. The three stones you jumped out with, while kind of thin and weak against a wall, are somewhat annoying for black, since his group is cramped. For example:
If black blocks on this side, it's kind of meaningless for him to have blocked with
, above, in the first place:On the other hand, if black plays down, white is somewhat thin, but at least it doesn't feel right to me as black:
Maybe there are better moves... Anyway, in conclusion, normally I feel 3-3 here is damaging to your white stones, since black can play this move:
But the situation is so weird here, since black tenuki-ed twice against the 4-4, so maybe what he did in the game was OK. After he got to this stage, I think black should play something like this:
In the actual game, he played several moves in this area, which were unnecessary - just play a single move to strengthen the group.
Either way, getting out seems correct: He is not strong enough to really be fighting you right now, since he tenuki-ed twice in a row in this area. He just needs to get out. Then, later, and only after he's strong, he can consider either the cut like you guys already discussed, or perhaps simply here, depending on what happens in the future:
Either way, black's decision to keep jumping on the left was silly, ignoring the potential of the 4-4 stone in the top right, so he can't expect to get a great result.
be immersed
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Kirby
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Re: To 5 kyu in 5 months! (We'll see about that)
By the way, at move 60, he can cut you:
Also, as was earlier mentioned:
I agree that G4 might be a good move for black. Your invasion might have been an overplay, because black is strong - it's not clear that white can get a great result if black plays G4 and attacks you effectively.
Also, as was earlier mentioned:
skydyr wrote:Move 75: Interesting strategy by black, but because sealing this side ends in gote, it's not that great. I'm wondering about a shoulder hit for black at G4 to provoke a running fight and help solidify the bottom side more. Black gives up a lot of points on the bottom left for this when he already is short on solid territory.
I agree that G4 might be a good move for black. Your invasion might have been an overplay, because black is strong - it's not clear that white can get a great result if black plays G4 and attacks you effectively.
be immersed
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moyoaji
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Re: To 5 kyu in 5 months! (We'll see about that)
My First Blitz Game
So I've never tried playing a full game of blitz go before. I've played blitz on 9x9 but never on 19x19. Part of the reason is that I don't feel like the blitz format is representative of a player's skill, it is more about instinct. Even so, I've wanted to give it a try. (I see. Well, I'll try giving "blitz comments" for this post. No more than three words per comment.)
I feel that I'm lacking game experience, but playing a full game takes about an hour most of the time. I enjoy sitting for an hour and playing go, but if I want to get in more games against more players that will take quite a bit of time. (Blitz is faster?) On top of that, blitz games force you to read quickly. There are some reading mistakes I make on a regular basis and, if my opponent is good at catching those kind of mistakes I will get punished for it. If I make that mistake enough times then I should learn to spot it right away. (Learning tactics! 
)
The biggest thing, however, is that I want to build a brain database of go positions. Even if I don't consciously remember every position I should still retain some memory of the games. (Subconscious go playing?
) A blitz game is all about instinct and using what you already know. If I want to gain game experience then playing blitz will give me just that - raw game experience. It is not a place for me to study and look for new moves or to really experiment. It is just for playing. (Just play more? )
On other game servers I've been on, like Chess.com, there is a rank separation between blitz and regular timed games. You have two different ranks. Sadly, KGS does not have this. So I felt it would be appropriate to make a second account strictly for playing blitz games. I called it "moyoblitz" because it's for blitz games. (Creative! Not.)
So here was my first attempt at a blitz game. I was barely able to win because my opponent's yose was not that good. I also had a hard time reading and my hand was shaking by the end of the game - I had trouble placing stones accurately fast enough, but thankfully I didn't misclick. (Mediocre win...
)
My opening was interesting - it's not what I usually play. I think the time constraints somehow made me also want to play fast. I don't think my opponent should have given me a ponukki. I also think
was an interesting move for me. I think I did a fair job making points and I definitely tried to play solid. In retrospect move 224 was not necessary but I didn't feel I had time to read to save the corner. Usually I can read something like that within 30 seconds, but not within 10. (So, bad reader?)
Overall I didn't care much for the blitz format. 1 minute plus 10 second byo-yomi periods is just not enough time... However, I will give it more tries. The purpose is to play a lot of games. I hope to get in 5-10 tomorrow. (That's many games!
) We'll see how this goes. I might realize this was a bad idea... (Stupid? No surprise! 
)
So I've never tried playing a full game of blitz go before. I've played blitz on 9x9 but never on 19x19. Part of the reason is that I don't feel like the blitz format is representative of a player's skill, it is more about instinct. Even so, I've wanted to give it a try. (I see. Well, I'll try giving "blitz comments" for this post. No more than three words per comment.
)I feel that I'm lacking game experience, but playing a full game takes about an hour most of the time. I enjoy sitting for an hour and playing go, but if I want to get in more games against more players that will take quite a bit of time. (Blitz is faster?
) On top of that, blitz games force you to read quickly. There are some reading mistakes I make on a regular basis and, if my opponent is good at catching those kind of mistakes I will get punished for it. If I make that mistake enough times then I should learn to spot it right away. (Learning tactics! )The biggest thing, however, is that I want to build a brain database of go positions. Even if I don't consciously remember every position I should still retain some memory of the games. (Subconscious go playing?
) A blitz game is all about instinct and using what you already know. If I want to gain game experience then playing blitz will give me just that - raw game experience. It is not a place for me to study and look for new moves or to really experiment. It is just for playing. (Just play more? )On other game servers I've been on, like Chess.com, there is a rank separation between blitz and regular timed games. You have two different ranks. Sadly, KGS does not have this. So I felt it would be appropriate to make a second account strictly for playing blitz games. I called it "moyoblitz" because it's for blitz games. (Creative! Not.)
So here was my first attempt at a blitz game. I was barely able to win because my opponent's yose was not that good. I also had a hard time reading and my hand was shaking by the end of the game - I had trouble placing stones accurately fast enough, but thankfully I didn't misclick. (Mediocre win...
)My opening was interesting - it's not what I usually play. I think the time constraints somehow made me also want to play fast. I don't think my opponent should have given me a ponukki. I also think
was an interesting move for me. I think I did a fair job making points and I definitely tried to play solid. In retrospect move 224 was not necessary but I didn't feel I had time to read to save the corner. Usually I can read something like that within 30 seconds, but not within 10. (So, bad reader?)Overall I didn't care much for the blitz format. 1 minute plus 10 second byo-yomi periods is just not enough time... However, I will give it more tries. The purpose is to play a lot of games. I hope to get in 5-10 tomorrow. (That's many games!
) We'll see how this goes. I might realize this was a bad idea... (Stupid? No surprise! )"You have to walk before you can run. Black 1 was a walking move.
I blushed inwardly to recall the ignorant thoughts that had gone through
my mind before, when I had not realized the true worth of Black 1."
-Kageyama Toshiro on proper moves
I blushed inwardly to recall the ignorant thoughts that had gone through
my mind before, when I had not realized the true worth of Black 1."
-Kageyama Toshiro on proper moves
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RBerenguel
- Gosei
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Re: To 5 kyu in 5 months! (We'll see about that)
I found the UR corner weird: first W tenukies the B extension after approaching, leaving O17 ready for a pincer... Then B leaves a huge open skirt with R10... And until move 44 nothing happens in the UR area, which I think was still pretty much a fun zone to play (san-san, the skirt aji, the pincer... lots of stuff to do round there) 
Geek of all trades, master of none: the motto for my blog mostlymaths.net
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vst
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Re: To 5 kyu in 5 months! (We'll see about that)
I don't think blitz is a good idea especially for Kyus because it fosters the bad habit of not thinking and is of little help to your reading and judgement skills.
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nacroxnicke
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Re: To 5 kyu in 5 months! (We'll see about that)
Rather than blitz (in which i suck horribly) I prefer to play 10/5 mins game, some people say it's blitz but with byo yomi it's actually very playable, and not over-fast as blitz
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Bill Spight
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Re: To 5 kyu in 5 months! (We'll see about that)
moyoaji wrote:The biggest thing, however, is that I want to build a brain database of go positions. Even if I don't consciously remember every position I should still retain some memory of the games.
To do that it's easier to play over pro games.
As an added bonus, you get to build a brain database of good plays.The Adkins Principle:
At some point, doesn't thinking have to go on?
— Winona Adkins
Visualize whirled peas.
Everything with love. Stay safe.
At some point, doesn't thinking have to go on?
— Winona Adkins
Visualize whirled peas.
Everything with love. Stay safe.
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moyoaji
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Re: To 5 kyu in 5 months! (We'll see about that)
So I got in one blitz game the next day and then realized that you guy's advice was probably right. Not only did I lose horribly by resignation based on, as vst said, not thinking, but because it again wasn't any fun and still didn't seem to be all that fast. (It's not like your thinking was of much value in other games anyway... )
The reason I thought I could get in so many games was because blitz games would be faster. However, I realized that the game still took about 15-20 minutes even though the game didn't even last 140 moves AND it took over 5 minutes for the game to be matchmade in automatch. That would still equate to only 2 games an hour or so assuming they don't all end that quickly - maybe 3 games if the game is an early resignation. So one of the main things I wanted from blitz - an ability to play a lot of games quickly - wouldn't even happen. (Why didn't you do this math for your first game?)
Finally, I don't even like the idea of posting games like this because I didn't put the thought into the game when I was playing it so why should I expect others to put thought into reviewing it? (Why do you ever expect anyone to review one of your games? Do an extra 5 minutes really make your games that much more interesting or somehow profound?)
I may play a few more blitz games later. Now that I'm on break until January I should have time to play a good number of games. But I think the time would be better spent playing fuller games. I like narcoxnicke's idea of doing 5-10 minute games with decent byo-yomi. Maybe 5 main with 5 20 second byo-yomis? That would probably be much more playable than 1 main with 3 10 second periods. (Okay, I guess that's all well and good, but why do you feel the need to post this? Why not just go play the freaking games?!)
And finally, I will also take your advice, Bill. However, I do worry that is feeding my addiction for looking at pro games over actually playing go. I need to apply what I have been learning about tactics and direction in real games if I want to learn, but I can agree that pro games would be a better source for a "brain database" than my own games. (Bill, I've loved your stuff in the past. I remember when you showed him how he actually lost that "brilliant" game of his back in October.
But seriously, this is like telling a couch potato "Quit going outside; you don't live in a very nice part of the country. Instead watch nature documentaries of beautiful places. It'll be more enjoyable and you'll learn more!" )
So I think I will continue to look at professional games over the break, but I will also plan on going back to my original plan. ( You mean it?)
And that means every week I will: (Don't list it. They can go back to the first po-)
The game every day will be a challenge, but it should be possible and I may use narco's suggestion and do some semi-blitz games to get in more. The book I'm doing now is Tesuji so I can sort of double-dip on the go problems and reading. And as for reviewing games and posting I do at least a quick review before posting each game here so I basically double-dip on that. (And now I am torn. On the one hand I'm proud that you want to go back to what you originally promised. On the other I am upset you reposted - word for word - the list you made back in June. Do I give him praise or punishment?)
Thanks for the advice guys. I'm not sure how much of a role blitz games will play in by march to shodan, but I do know your support has been invaluable thusfar.
(Random Japanese and a sappy outro... Yeah, I've decided now:
)
)The reason I thought I could get in so many games was because blitz games would be faster. However, I realized that the game still took about 15-20 minutes even though the game didn't even last 140 moves AND it took over 5 minutes for the game to be matchmade in automatch. That would still equate to only 2 games an hour or so assuming they don't all end that quickly - maybe 3 games if the game is an early resignation. So one of the main things I wanted from blitz - an ability to play a lot of games quickly - wouldn't even happen. (Why didn't you do this math for your first game?
)Finally, I don't even like the idea of posting games like this because I didn't put the thought into the game when I was playing it so why should I expect others to put thought into reviewing it? (Why do you ever expect anyone to review one of your games? Do an extra 5 minutes really make your games that much more interesting or somehow profound?
)I may play a few more blitz games later. Now that I'm on break until January I should have time to play a good number of games. But I think the time would be better spent playing fuller games. I like narcoxnicke's idea of doing 5-10 minute games with decent byo-yomi. Maybe 5 main with 5 20 second byo-yomis? That would probably be much more playable than 1 main with 3 10 second periods. (Okay, I guess that's all well and good, but why do you feel the need to post this? Why not just go play the freaking games?!
)And finally, I will also take your advice, Bill. However, I do worry that is feeding my addiction for looking at pro games over actually playing go. I need to apply what I have been learning about tactics and direction in real games if I want to learn, but I can agree that pro games would be a better source for a "brain database" than my own games. (Bill, I've loved your stuff in the past. I remember when you showed him how he actually lost that "brilliant" game of his back in October.
But seriously, this is like telling a couch potato "Quit going outside; you don't live in a very nice part of the country. Instead watch nature documentaries of beautiful places. It'll be more enjoyable and you'll learn more!" ) So I think I will continue to look at professional games over the break, but I will also plan on going back to my original plan. (
You mean it?)And that means every week I will: (Don't list it. They can go back to the first po-)
- 1. Play go - at least averaging one game a day on the KGS and still regularly attending my local go club
2. Study from a go book - at least one chapter OR Watch two hour long go lectures on YouTube
3. Do go problems - at least 5 per day, making sure they are around my skill level
4. Review games - at least one of my own and one professional game
5. Post here with what I have done and what I have learned
The game every day will be a challenge, but it should be possible and I may use narco's suggestion and do some semi-blitz games to get in more. The book I'm doing now is Tesuji so I can sort of double-dip on the go problems and reading. And as for reviewing games and posting I do at least a quick review before posting each game here so I basically double-dip on that. (And now I am torn. On the one hand I'm proud that you want to go back to what you originally promised. On the other I am upset you reposted - word for word - the list you made back in June. Do I give him praise or punishment?)
Thanks for the advice guys. I'm not sure how much of a role blitz games will play in by march to shodan, but I do know your support has been invaluable thusfar.
(Random Japanese and a sappy outro... Yeah, I've decided now:
)"You have to walk before you can run. Black 1 was a walking move.
I blushed inwardly to recall the ignorant thoughts that had gone through
my mind before, when I had not realized the true worth of Black 1."
-Kageyama Toshiro on proper moves
I blushed inwardly to recall the ignorant thoughts that had gone through
my mind before, when I had not realized the true worth of Black 1."
-Kageyama Toshiro on proper moves
-
moyoaji
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Re: To 5 kyu in 5 months! (We'll see about that)
So far so good for my studies this week. I've looked at a couple of rjm's Shusaku lectures and I got in about 2 hours of study yesterday in Tesuji, which means I did dozens of go problems and read 2 chapters. (Okay, how many cookies do you want?)
At tonight's club someone new is supposed to attend. They are around my level, possibly better than me. Apparently they are an out-of-practice 1 kyu who needs 1 more stone than I do against another guy at our club. So I have been training to beat them. I wanted to focus on fundamentals so I re-read Chapter 2 on capturing cutting stones. (You re-read a chapter? That hardly counts. Read a new chapter!) I also read the chapter on attacking tesuji because that is an area I know I'm weak. (Okay...)
I had another revelation during my study of the Davies book - this time about reading. (About reading, eh?
) It was a sudden rush of information and was surprisingly complete. I'm actually going to work on some sort of essay that goes over all the thoughts I had, but basically the idea is that reading in go is very similar to reading a book. I'll also talk about how it is easy to be lazy and not want to read, but why you should do it anyway beyond just a desire to win. (You're going to try to get these nice folks to read some boring thing you wrote about reading? ) One of the quotes I like from it so far is this: "If go is like a sport, then I want to be an athlete... But reading is for eggheads, right? So why would I read if I want to be an athlete?"
I plan to get in some KGS games on Thursday as I'll be busy during the day today and tomorrow - perhaps I'll get in one KGS game on either day. I will also make sure I fully review one of my losses on Thursday and post it for review here as well. (But what if you don't lose?!
- Just kidding, you'll have plenty of losses to look at. 
) So with all of that I am on track to keep up with my study regiment.
At tonight's club someone new is supposed to attend. They are around my level, possibly better than me. Apparently they are an out-of-practice 1 kyu who needs 1 more stone than I do against another guy at our club. So I have been training to beat them. I wanted to focus on fundamentals so I re-read Chapter 2 on capturing cutting stones. (You re-read a chapter? That hardly counts. Read a new chapter!
) I also read the chapter on attacking tesuji because that is an area I know I'm weak. (Okay...)I had another revelation during my study of the Davies book - this time about reading. (About reading, eh?
) It was a sudden rush of information and was surprisingly complete. I'm actually going to work on some sort of essay that goes over all the thoughts I had, but basically the idea is that reading in go is very similar to reading a book. I'll also talk about how it is easy to be lazy and not want to read, but why you should do it anyway beyond just a desire to win. (You're going to try to get these nice folks to read some boring thing you wrote about reading? ) One of the quotes I like from it so far is this: "If go is like a sport, then I want to be an athlete... But reading is for eggheads, right? So why would I read if I want to be an athlete?"I plan to get in some KGS games on Thursday as I'll be busy during the day today and tomorrow - perhaps I'll get in one KGS game on either day. I will also make sure I fully review one of my losses on Thursday and post it for review here as well. (But what if you don't lose?!
- Just kidding, you'll have plenty of losses to look at. ) So with all of that I am on track to keep up with my study regiment."You have to walk before you can run. Black 1 was a walking move.
I blushed inwardly to recall the ignorant thoughts that had gone through
my mind before, when I had not realized the true worth of Black 1."
-Kageyama Toshiro on proper moves
I blushed inwardly to recall the ignorant thoughts that had gone through
my mind before, when I had not realized the true worth of Black 1."
-Kageyama Toshiro on proper moves
-
Ember
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Re: To 5 kyu in 5 months! (We'll see about that)
That sounds like you are making really good progress, keep up the good work! I'm looking forward to reading your essay, so don't listen to your inner critic and post it here. It sounds really interesting that you are writing something about it and as you are around my level, it might be helpful for others to read it. And be sure to report on how you fared against the newcomers, I'm curious to read about that.
I also hope that we might play a game or two in the near future, too, before you run too far ahead of me.
But before that I'll have to figure out if I want to be an egghead or an athlete. Hm....
I'm looking forward to reading your essay, so don't listen to your inner critic and post it here. It sounds really interesting that you are writing something about it and as you are around my level, it might be helpful for others to read it. And be sure to report on how you fared against the newcomers, I'm curious to read about that. I also hope that we might play a game or two in the near future, too, before you run too far ahead of me.
But before that I'll have to figure out if I want to be an egghead or an athlete. Hm....
-
moyoaji
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Re: To 5 kyu in 5 months! (We'll see about that)
So the new guy was a no-show, but I had a come-from-behind victory against the second strongest player at our club when giving him 5 stones so that was good. (You and your come-from-behind victories... that just means you made a big mistake and your opponent countered by making a bigger one. This is not a good thing to share with people. ) The issue was a reading mistake early on where I thought my opponent would play one response and didn't consider that he might do something else. I actually talk about that concept in my essay using the analogy of putting words in someone else's mouth. I was basically saying "my opponent said this" before he even spoke and was planning my game around that, but then he said something else and I found my metaphorical foot lodged firmly in my metaphorical mouth.
The thing that ended up saving me, however, was my counting. (I thought it was your opponent making several mistakes...) By end-game I had come back and I stopped to count the score - by my estimate I was up by 12 points. After playing the end-game somewhat conservatively and winning the last true ko of the game (which was worth about 8 points) I had won by - exactly 12 points. White 28, Black 16 - no komi. By playing the end-game conservatively I avoided trying an unneeded invasion that could easily have cost me the game. So it looks like my counting has improved over these last few weeks. (Try 6 weeks. You posted about counting in early November.)
Thanks for the encouragement, Ember. I agree, we should get in a game. You can let me know when you're available. We are 6-7 hours different in time I believe, so if you'd prefer we can do correspondence on OGS or a Malkovich game here. That being said, I have worked around my sleep schedule to get in games and I am on break from classes. (I look forward to seeing you beat him.)
I plan to finish up the essay before going to bed or I'll have it posted tomorrow.
) The issue was a reading mistake early on where I thought my opponent would play one response and didn't consider that he might do something else. I actually talk about that concept in my essay using the analogy of putting words in someone else's mouth. I was basically saying "my opponent said this" before he even spoke and was planning my game around that, but then he said something else and I found my metaphorical foot lodged firmly in my metaphorical mouth.The thing that ended up saving me, however, was my counting. (I thought it was your opponent making several mistakes...) By end-game I had come back and I stopped to count the score - by my estimate I was up by 12 points. After playing the end-game somewhat conservatively and winning the last true ko of the game (which was worth about 8 points) I had won by - exactly 12 points. White 28, Black 16 - no komi. By playing the end-game conservatively I avoided trying an unneeded invasion that could easily have cost me the game. So it looks like my counting has improved over these last few weeks. (Try 6 weeks. You posted about counting in early November.
)Thanks for the encouragement, Ember. I agree, we should get in a game. You can let me know when you're available. We are 6-7 hours different in time I believe, so if you'd prefer we can do correspondence on OGS or a Malkovich game here. That being said, I have worked around my sleep schedule to get in games and I am on break from classes. (I look forward to seeing you beat him.
)I plan to finish up the essay before going to bed or I'll have it posted tomorrow.
"You have to walk before you can run. Black 1 was a walking move.
I blushed inwardly to recall the ignorant thoughts that had gone through
my mind before, when I had not realized the true worth of Black 1."
-Kageyama Toshiro on proper moves
I blushed inwardly to recall the ignorant thoughts that had gone through
my mind before, when I had not realized the true worth of Black 1."
-Kageyama Toshiro on proper moves