Beginner's Visual Approach to Go

[agewisdom]

Hi All,

Based on the Malaysian Weiqi association book, I created a simple video mainly for myself to visualize how the stones affect the board. I might try to update this as I learn more about Go. Still, I think it might be useful for beginners, so enjoy.

This example in this video is based on the Malaysian Weiqi Association book, Go A Beginner course. The idea is based on the book by Understanding Weiqi by Observing by Yang Yujia. Not sure how accurate the representation is, so any comments are most welcome. Please be kind, it's my first effort

If it's useful, maybe we can try some more complex games, with inputs from members here

I actually wonder whether this mapping can show the significance of a major move such as Shusaku's Ear Reddening Move. It may be obvious to experienced Go players, but if we shows the areas of influence, maybe us BEGINNERS can finally understand WHY a SINGLE STONE could have changed the outcome of an entire game. I definitely plan to do this, but if we have experts that can give me technical advice, I can do so faster. Otherwise, I don't know how long before I can get good enough in Go to know be able to convey the game accurately.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=993jefNbJ8E

PS - Thanks to Bonobo for teaching me how to embed the darn video

[schawipp]

Nice video, however it gives the impression that stones only influence the region between themselves and the nearest side walls, while the situation in the center remains unaffected. This (IMHO) makes it completely useless for understanding what is going on in a real game of Go. For the latter I recommend not to rely on simplified visualizations but to dare the jump into the cold water as soon as possible.

BTW the last white move seems quite questionable for me as it is already a kind of "invasion" played close to black's strength while there are still many big and urgent open points elsewhere.

[agewisdom]

Nice video, however it gives the impression that stones only influence the region between themselves and the nearest side walls, while the situation in the center remains unaffected. This (IMHO) makes it completely useless for understanding what is going on in a real game of Go. For the latter I recommend not to rely on simplified visualizations but to dare the jump into the cold water as soon as possible.

BTW the last white move seems quite questionable for me as it is already a kind of "invasion" played close to black's strength while there are still many big and urgent open points elsewhere.

Thanks for your comments.

1. It's actually just for beginners like myself, but I understand what you mean.

2. I do plan on doing Shusaku vs. Gennan game and also highlight areas of influence in the middle after obtaining some consultation. I have no idea how to represent how the stones would exert influence in the middle, but that's the fun of trying to visualize it and learn at the same time...

I actually wonder, after years of playing, do you actually see some form of visualization like the above? I mean obviously, it may be more nuanced and complicated, but in its' essence, is this a good approximation?

[skydyr]

I actually wonder, after years of playing, do you actually see some form of visualization like the above? I mean obviously, it may be more nuanced and complicated, but in its' essence, is this a good approximation?

I can't speak for anyone else, but for me, not really like that. It's too dependent on the stones around it, in a sense. That 3-4 & 5-3 shimari, for example, could still lose the corner territory depending on the global situation. With experience, I've found I get a stronger picture not of what's settled or claimed, but of what isn't, and as I get stronger, I see more that isn't claimed because this and that bit of aji combine to give a good endgame reduction, or a choice to invade if I can do X, Y, and Z first by using the aji on this side of the board.

Don't get me wrong, I see regions of territory influence too. However, this is pretty general, in the sense of drawing lines between the stones with an undestanding of when they are strong and when they are weak, and I don't use it much except to decide on a point to play to reduce, or to count the score and estimate who has more potential. I think it's dangerous to rely on this solely, because given a sufficiently large region (not always as big as you think), there is so much scope for action. I.e. don't count your chickens before they've hatched.

I think it's more useful to get a good sense of which groups are strong and which are not. Then follow the proverb: play away from strength.

[agewisdom]

I can't speak for anyone else, but for me, not really like that. It's too dependent on the stones around it, in a sense. That 3-4 & 5-3 shimari, for example, could still lose the corner territory depending on the global situation. With experience, I've found I get a stronger picture not of what's settled or claimed, but of what isn't, and as I get stronger, I see more that isn't claimed because this and that bit of aji combine to give a good endgame reduction, or a choice to invade if I can do X, Y, and Z first by using the aji on this side of the board.

Don't get me wrong, I see regions of territory influence too. However, this is pretty general, in the sense of drawing lines between the stones with an undestanding of when they are strong and when they are weak, and I don't use it much except to decide on a point to play to reduce, or to count the score and estimate who has more potential. I think it's dangerous to rely on this solely, because given a sufficiently large region (not always as big as you think), there is so much scope for action. I.e. don't count your chickens before they've hatched.

I think it's more useful to get a good sense of which groups are strong and which are not. Then follow the proverb: play away from strength.

Ah! Thanks for the feedback!

I'm just testing out this visualisation just to gauge whether it can get close to maybe 10% of what an experienced Go player sees. Maybe it'll not even get close to that, but I'll just try and share it, just in case anyone wants to have a look at it.

For a beginner, at least it's good to get them to look at the territory and regions of influences rather than on capturing stones.

[skydyr]

I can't speak for anyone else, but for me, not really like that. It's too dependent on the stones around it, in a sense. That 3-4 & 5-3 shimari, for example, could still lose the corner territory depending on the global situation. With experience, I've found I get a stronger picture not of what's settled or claimed, but of what isn't, and as I get stronger, I see more that isn't claimed because this and that bit of aji combine to give a good endgame reduction, or a choice to invade if I can do X, Y, and Z first by using the aji on this side of the board.

Don't get me wrong, I see regions of territory influence too. However, this is pretty general, in the sense of drawing lines between the stones with an undestanding of when they are strong and when they are weak, and I don't use it much except to decide on a point to play to reduce, or to count the score and estimate who has more potential. I think it's dangerous to rely on this solely, because given a sufficiently large region (not always as big as you think), there is so much scope for action. I.e. don't count your chickens before they've hatched.

I think it's more useful to get a good sense of which groups are strong and which are not. Then follow the proverb: play away from strength.

Ah! Thanks for the feedback!

I'm just testing out this visualisation just to gauge whether it can get close to maybe 10% of what an experienced Go player sees. Maybe it'll not even get close to that, but I'll just try and share it, just in case anyone wants to have a look at it.

For a beginner, at least it's good to get them to look at the territory and regions of influences rather than on capturing stones.

It can be a contentious recommendation, but if that's what you want, I might suggest looking over and replaying professional games. Obviously, professional players see lots of things behind the scenes, but you know that a very strong player judged each and every to be the biggest point on the board at that time. Just getting familiar with their moves so that their patterns and situations are available to your subconscious to work on can be very helpful. Sometimes the most difficult thing isn't finding the particular sequence, but recognizing that there might be a good sequence somewhere.

[Bill Spight]

Hi All,

Based on the Malaysian Weiqi association book, I created a simple video mainly for myself to visualize how the stones affect the board.

What that shows is relatively secure territory, which is only part of how stones affect the board.

For instance, IIUC, it shows 13 points for Black in the top right corner, when the Black enclosure is actually worth more like 19 points, not counting its effect upon the weak White stone nearby.

I might try to update this as I learn more about Go. Still, I think it might be useful for beginners, so enjoy.

Yes, it can be useful, as long as you are clear about what it actually shows.

I actually wonder whether this mapping can show the significance of a major move such as Shusaku's Ear Reddening Move.

Most definitely it cannot do that. AFAIK, nobody has been able to do that.

[RobertJasiek]

I have no idea how to represent how the stones would exert influence in the middle

As a beginner, first understand connection and life. Influence depends on them. To simplify even further, mark the living stones. These stones generate influence and the HOW is their life, so this is a simplified but possible way to represent it.

[Bonobo]

So … we need more colours, and more (and clear) definitions of the states of stones to correlate the colours to?

I’ve read the term “heat” for some Go situations, but have not yet understood what exactly it’s about … but … if we would give unconditionally alive groups one colour (shade), and then similarly and successive with those n-alive groups, even more colours (resp. colour shades) for aji, and for unconditionally dead stones, etc., would we get closer to some more realistic visualisation, a … heatmap or something?

[agewisdom]

So … we need more colours, and more (and clear) definitions of the states of stones to correlate the colours to?

I’ve read the term “heat” for some Go situations, but have not yet understood what exactly it’s about … but … if we would give unconditionally alive groups one colour (shade), and then similarly and successive with those n-alive groups, even more colours (resp. colour shades) for aji, and for unconditionally dead stones, etc., would we get closer to some more realistic visualisation, a … heatmap or something?

Good idea. I was thinking along similar lines but I think it might be difficult. I'll definitely start exploring this as well

As a beginner, first understand connection and life. Influence depends on them. To simplify even further, mark the living stones. These stones generate influence and the HOW is their life, so this is a simplified but possible way to represent it.

Excellent feedback!
My understanding is limited but I'll do what I can to incorporate your feedback.

[RobertJasiek]

In principle, influence is not limited in its directions. If you really need to show impact on other intersections, apply my definitions http://senseis.xmp.net/?NConnection and http://senseis.xmp.net/?NAlive for each intersection and there for each player, but this is above your beginner level.

[agewisdom]

In principle, influence is not limited in its directions. If you really need to show impact on other intersections, apply my definitions http://senseis.xmp.net/?NConnection and http://senseis.xmp.net/?NAlive for each intersection and there for each player, but this is above your beginner level.

Thanks!

You're right, is out of my league. I'll wait for my 'consultant' to assist and see what he comes up with later on.

Just fooling around with the heat map a bit. This version is trying to follow the Youtube video on Go Seigen earlier.



This is an expanded version, to take into account influence(?)