I'm back... and I suck!

[chef]

Hi everyone. After a long break from go, I'm back. I bought a new Macbook and I got frustrated trying to install KGS so I decided on IGS (not too shabby), Just in case anyone wants to play, but I digress. I wanted to get everyone thoughts on something. Even when I was very active in go, I had a bad habit of trying to win by killing huge things. How do you undo a habit? I want to develop a more confident, consistent and balanced play style.

[leichtloeslich]

Welcome back.

How do you undo a habit?

By losing games because of it.

[moyoaji]

I have heard that one way to break this habit is to become insanely skeptical about killing things. Basically, just assume you can't kill anything and let it live. If that thought makes you want to resign the game - like if your opponent drops a stone in an area that really should be your territory - then read stuff out and see if you can kill it. Otherwise, if the idea of that group living is tolerable, just let it live, take the outside, and get points from that.

This was my attitude for a while and it helped. The problem was that I would post games for analysis here and higher level players would sometimes show me that I could have killed the group. This, combined with getting stronger at life and death, got me back into the habit of trying to kill things.

To be honest, though, I think I was happier with my go when I thought I couldn't kill stuff. My games were more consistent.

[tchan001]

Welcome back. Guess we can start asking questions about food again

[jug]

I had a bad habit of trying to win by killing huge things. How do you undo a habit? I want to develop a more confident, consistent and balanced play style.

You observed about yourself, that you have an urge to kill huge groups. If you feel that "urge" of killing in a game, try to resist it. Halt and also think about other purposes than "killing", e.g. see http://senseis.xmp.net/?Attack If you attack a group, there should a clear goal in your mind (without hurting your other groups). Instead look out for how you can attack a group and gain some profit on the way ... basically think not of "killing" the group but using it: learn about indirect attacks (building some strength, driving your opponent into that strength and gaining with that, see http://senseis.xmp.net/?Leaning ). Try to learn other tactics like invasions and reductions:

[schawipp]

IMHO trying to kill is not a bad habit per se. If your opponent really played a highly speculative overplay and left a killable group - why not?

On the other hand, trying to kill without reading but by just hoping that it works often backfires quite badly.

In summary, it's not a style question of trying to hard to kill vs. playing too calmly - the better play is generally obtained by improved reading (locally and globally - and it's not that I'm especially good at it... ).

[chef]

Welcome back. Guess we can start asking questions about food again

Haha. I'm sure that thread is still kicking around. By all means.

I just realized that the solution is really simple and that I'm just venting over how frustrating it is to come back after a a few years away from the game. What's lifein19x19.com for if not this? It's still an issue, but it's more a result of my laziness than it is an actual problem.

[Joaz Banbeck]

Welcome back. Guess we can start asking questions about food again

Are you going to have an active food questions thread again?

[goTony]

Hey Chef,

Like the handle by the way.

You like to kill who doesn't? However I think one of the beauties of GO is that you cannot have it all! Just like life, or an argument. Your opponent is entitled to some territory just less than you....

It seemed like an enlightenment when I learned that.... I am still struggling not to do crazy attacks and break ins. I mean look how much territory he has! (or she for that matter) Sometimes it is better to develop my own territory calmly, reduce theirs by a shoulder hit rather than sticking your stone in his jaws.

For me I enjoy GO because you have to balance so many things. Invasions, territory, aji, weak groups, direction of play, etc., all at the same time!

So enjoy and don't be so greedy! : )