KGS Plus?

[yearsago]

Hi everyone,

I have tried to search for this, but couldn't find it (if my inability to use the internet properly interfered with this, which is likely, please do direct me to the right thread); I was wondering if people could give me an impression of the value of KGS plus... I have been thinking about signing up for it, but wanted to hear from others first...

[Uberdude]

Have you found http://www.gokgs.com/kgsPlus.jsp.

How strong are you? KGS+ doesn't have much for total beginners, it's more aimed at say 15k-3d generally I'd say. If you value lectures/tournaments then at £15 for 3 months I consider it great value but that depends how much disposable income you have. You can replay the lectures later if you miss the broadcast, but obviously can't interact by asking the teacher questions. You are also helping to support KGS which is something which you may (as I used to) or may not (as I now) want to do.

There are also various people who do free teaching/lectures on KGS but they tend not to be as strong (not that that means they can't help, but they are more likely to be wrong than the pro/high dan amateur teachers of KGS+ who generally have high playing and teaching strength).

A costlier alternative for people perhaps someone wanting to put in more work and improve faster are the "insei league" style study programs where you get lectures and play games with fellow students which are then reviewed by the teacher. Teachers running these include In-Seong Hwang 7d (Korean amateur but stronger than most western pros), Alexander Dinerstein 3p (he also does some KGS+), or Guo Juan 5p (she also does some KGS+).

[yearsago]

Thank you very much; I read the page on the KGS website, but some objective assessment was what I needed.

I'll hold off on KGS plus, for now... Perhaps at some point I will.