Handicap tips

[OtakuViking]

So, when giving handicap to other players I find myself losing with a few points quite alot. Something about my style doesn't lend itself well to playing vs 2h 3h 4h etc.

Can anyone point me in the direction of a good book or just give some general tips online? I'd like to be able to play more handicap games because the queue for normal games is much longer...

[virre]

So, when giving handicap to other players I find myself losing with a few points quite alot. Something about my style doesn't lend itself well to playing vs 2h 3h 4h etc.

Can anyone point me in the direction of a good book or just give some general tips online? I'd like to be able to play more handicap games because the queue for normal games is much longer...

While I am the player that gets handicap almost always I suspect that even reading the books on handicap for beginners might be helpfull, in fact I think the handicap go chapter in 'The second book of Go' is a bit over the top for a second book of Go, but it is helpfull in showing thinking.

And I guess the book named 'Get strong at Handicap Go' is somewhere what you look for, just based what I overheard. Others might prove this right or wrong.

[DrStraw]

You should just be playing handicap games like any other - that is, finding the best move in each situation. If you are losing when the handicap is correct for your rating (based on even games) then I suspect you are following your opponent around too much. You don't say what your rank is, but if it is anything below mid-kyu then the chances are that both you and the opponent do this in even games and it cancels out. But when you are giving a handicap it does not cancel and it causes you to lose ground.

Try looking for the best move, not the best way to answer your opponent.

[Uberdude]

Don't make it too easy for your opponent to find the best move. Mix things up a bit, play slightly unusual choices. Double approach a lot (and a variety, e.g 2 space high). Play slightly thinly with overextensions that if not invaded means you get a bit more than you deserve, and if they are invaded lead to a fight which should be better for the stronger player. Of course there are many ways to give handicap and it's also possible to win playing simple normal moves, but as that doesn't seem to be working for you make your opponent have to work a bit harder for the win.

[Charles Matthews]

So, when giving handicap to other players I find myself losing with a few points quite alot. Something about my style doesn't lend itself well to playing vs 2h 3h 4h etc.

Can anyone point me in the direction of a good book or just give some general tips online?

I used to play a lot of handicap games, and found it mattered how many stones (six was easier for me with White than four).

I think the fundamental method is clear, though: high handicap go is about playing well within the opponent's framework, so study the techniques for that, not special "handicap joseki". The other thing to do is to collect a "bag of tricks", special plays (not standard hamete) that make the game unusual and a personal lesson from you.

When you are the stronger player, you should be able to get some advantage by better perception of miai (and when the value of two similar plays is not exactly the same); and better endgame. I would guess that up to 30% of the handicap can be caught up in the endgame, depending on the type of game. Certainly creeping up on the opponent is generally better than double-or-quits fights. In other words, skill.

This way you can try to get some satisfaction from teaching and learning, whatever the results.

[OtakuViking]

Thanks for the replies. It's good advice and I needed the reminders since I just started up on Go again after a break.

I looked over two games that I played today giving 2h. By coincidence it was against the same guy. I lost the first one by 6.5 pts and I could see some of the things you've been pointing out. I also might look into a book about handicap as it might be useful. In the second game, I got off to a good start because black made a weird joseki, then he made a mistake in the joseki and I was able to take away his eyes and run him out into the center while building territory. I ended up winning by 31 pts (No major kills or anything, but I reduced his center alot due to his mistake.

So for me it seems that one of the most important things is to try and find a weak group to attack, while also trying to not live too small. If you live everywhere, but with no pts, even one moderately sized black moyo is enough to win him the game.

Btw, KGS put me at 2d, which is where I'm after about 5 games. Really looking forward to getting into the improvement race again ^_^

[Bill Spight]

So, when giving handicap to other players I find myself losing with a few points quite alot. Something about my style doesn't lend itself well to playing vs 2h 3h 4h etc.

Can anyone point me in the direction of a good book or just give some general tips online? I'd like to be able to play more handicap games because the queue for normal games is much longer...

In general advice for White in a handicap game is to make the game close. If you are only losing by a few points, you are doing that. So you probably only need to make minor adjustments. Like maybe playing a little more sharply after move 100, or maybe playing a little more thinly overall, or a little more aggressively.

[Bill Spight]

Certainly creeping up on the opponent is generally better than double-or-quits fights. In other words, skill.

This way you can try to get some satisfaction from teaching and learning, whatever the results.

Hear, hear!