17k close game

[anpd]

Hi all,

Here is a game i played yesterday as black that I am pretty happy with. I would much appreciate if you could give me some critique.

Some things that I feel I need to improve are fighting, when and where to attack and how and when to develop towards the center.



Cheers, Andreas!

[moyoaji]

It is interesting to see a 17k game that ends with only a difference of 0.5. Usually DDK games are won and lost by huge swings.

Both players made mistakes, but that is to be expected in a 17k game.

My overall advice is that you should try to find out what is important on the board. There are 2 main types of good moves in the early stages of the game. "Big" moves, like taking a corner, grabbing a large side extension, etc. and "urgent" moves that are needed for a local position to not end disastrously. As a general rule, attachments and shoulder-hits are urgent. Sometimes corner approaches can be urgent as well. You should play "urgent" moves before "big" moves, but make sure you do eventually find time to play big moves. Don't get too caught up in a local situation. If your opponent's move isn't sente, then it isn't urgent. Play a big point.

[EdLee]

Hi Andreas,

Just a few notes. Important basic shapes.

Some things that I feel I need to improve are fighting, when and where to attack and how and when to develop towards the center.

Those are all nice goals. Start with your basics. Basic shapes.

[anpd]

Thanks to both of you for taking the time to go through the game Very much appreciate your comments, will try to take them to heart. Any book recommendations for basic shapes? I was thinking about Opening theory made easy to improve my opening knowledge.

[emerus]

Thanks to both of you for taking the time to go through the game Very much appreciate your comments, will try to take them to heart. Any book recommendations for basic shapes? I was thinking about Opening theory made easy to improve my opening knowledge.

That's a good book to start with.

There are two good books for shapes. Get Strong at Tesuji and Mastering the Basics: Making Good Shape. Just read the solutions to the more difficult tesuji problems IMO. An easier problem collection is Graded Go Problems for Beginners.

I think the best way to improve is to get game reviews on KGS and ask mainly about how you can improve your shape.

[moyoaji]

Sensei's Library has a lot of information about all shorts of shapes.

There is, of course, the freely available e-book Shape Up that specifically discusses shape.

The book Tesuji by James Davies in the Elementary Go Series has an 18 page chapter on using tesujis to make shape. It is a great book that covers all sorts of tactical moves dealing with connections, attack, and forcing kos. If you are looking for a problem book that also gives basic, easy to understand explanations for how the moves work then this would be a good choice.

There is also the book Go! More than a Game by Peter Shotwell that discusses the history and basics of the game. It actually has a nice chapter on shapes that was my first introduction to shape in go. The book as a whole, however, has a lot about the history and cultural significance of go. If you are looking for just something on how to play the game there are probably better books. If you do also like learning about history and such then this book could be quite enjoyable.

Finally, there are video resources about shape. thedudda2 has a nice introduction to good and bad shapes in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LH35MkZ-Zdo

[anpd]

Thanks for the reading suggestions, taking a look at Shape Up, Tesuji from the elementary series is on my reading list.