Kirby's Study Journal
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EdLee
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daal
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Re: Kirby's Study Journal
Kirby wrote:
But what's past is past. There is no need to dwell on negativity excessively. Rather, I'd like to look forward to what I can do from this point forward.
So, I have made a resolution for this year's Go Congress. In contrast to the last two years, where I had ambitions of winning all of my games, my goal is different this year. Namely, my goal for this year's Go Congress is to reignite my passion for the game. I can play games online any day. But Go Congress happens only once a year. And if anything can make me passionate again about Go... It's probably the US Go Congress. So here's to finding my passion, again.Cheers!
Looks like passion is working for youAmerican Go E-Journal wrote: Albert Yen Leads in US Open: Albert Yen 7D, undefeated going into the final round of the US Open on Saturday, is the favorite to win this year’s Open. Other 5-0 players: Xiaocheng Hu 4D; Yifan Zhang 3D; Gilbert Feng 2D; Brian Kirby 1D; Kelly Liu 1D; Mark Fraser 7K; Sherrie Echols 9K; Ryan Kim 21K. Click here for complete results through Round 5
Way to go!Patience, grasshopper.
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Kirby
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Re: Kirby's Study Journal
Thanks, guys. The short answer is, yes, my passion is back.
Going 6-0 is just a bonus
Going 6-0 is just a bonus
be immersed
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Uberdude
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Kirby
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Re: Kirby's Study Journal
I didn't record them, but I should be able to remember them for the most part. I also have some ideas from Inseong, and also Feng Yun for one of the games.Uberdude wrote:Well done Kirby. Can we see the games?
I've got to submit a code review for work, but I'll see if I can reconstruct the games here after that.
be immersed
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Kirby
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Re: Kirby's Study Journal
I decided to start posting here, again. Earlier, I got into a rut - I played a lot of games, but the quality of play and review was low.
I will try to refrain from that and make sure I put thought into any games or reviews that I have.
Here's a game I played today, along with some comments and variations.
I will try to refrain from that and make sure I put thought into any games or reviews that I have.
Here's a game I played today, along with some comments and variations.
be immersed
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Kirby
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Re: Kirby's Study Journal
Here are some interesting positions.
Position 1 In the game, I played the marked move. It seems a bit lacking in strategy to me. It doesn't protect an invasion in the top right, isn't connected with the bottom right corner, and is just kind of sitting there.
To be safer against invasion, I could play this: But ultimately, I think I like to just enclose the corner in this case: I can't get everything in one move, and enclosing the corner is solid. Furthermore, I can followup when white plays on the right: I think this type of play is fine.
Position 2 Though my opponent answered it, the marked move was naive of me. White can proceed to jump in at 'a' and do damage. Instead, I should just block: I also think the marked moves were small ones: ---
I included some other variations of positions I thought were interesting in the SGF file.
But I'm not going to elaborate for the sake of quantity. I want to avoid making garbage reviews, so I'll stick to just these two positions for now.
Position 1 In the game, I played the marked move. It seems a bit lacking in strategy to me. It doesn't protect an invasion in the top right, isn't connected with the bottom right corner, and is just kind of sitting there.
To be safer against invasion, I could play this: But ultimately, I think I like to just enclose the corner in this case: I can't get everything in one move, and enclosing the corner is solid. Furthermore, I can followup when white plays on the right: I think this type of play is fine.
Position 2 Though my opponent answered it, the marked move was naive of me. White can proceed to jump in at 'a' and do damage. Instead, I should just block: I also think the marked moves were small ones: ---
I included some other variations of positions I thought were interesting in the SGF file.
But I'm not going to elaborate for the sake of quantity. I want to avoid making garbage reviews, so I'll stick to just these two positions for now.
be immersed
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ez4u
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Re: Kirby's Study Journal
A few alternative positions...
Position A Ishida gives
as a possibility when there is a White stone around the left-side star point. Black plays to reduce White's left side. My database bears this out. All 40+ examples of have a White position on the left side. White should probably block at 2. If 3, White plays 4 and is happy to let Black live in gote. The play at 'a' remains as sente against the corner.
Position B In the game Black played 'a' with the comment, "Kind of slow, but I felt it helped my group." I think that something like is much better. Black should consider the marked stone as kikashi and not reinforce here. White's group in the lower left is too strong. Adding a stone nearby will not be interesting. What can we call Black's resulting shape in the game: a shovel, a scow? "Make a barge-like shape!", doesn't have the ring of a great proverb to my ear.
Position C (refer to your position 1) In the game with the marked stone on 'a', you played 'b'. In your analysis you looked only at alternatives on the right side. How about pincers at the top? White's only weak stone is in the upper right while none of Black's stones are weak. Why leave White time to fix things up? Notice how much more natural might seem with the marked stone instead of 'a'.
Position D (in your variation) In the game file you gave the marked stone as an alternative to 'a'. I like it much better. After all, you already used it on the left side to make White over concentrated there! However, I prefer to your 'b'. If White rushes to erase the right side, her three stones will probably come under attack after Black uses the cut at 
to strengthen the corner shape. What do you think?
Position A Ishida gives
as a possibility when there is a White stone around the left-side star point. Black plays to reduce White's left side. My database bears this out. All 40+ examples of have a White position on the left side. White should probably block at 2. If 3, White plays 4 and is happy to let Black live in gote. The play at 'a' remains as sente against the corner.Position B In the game Black played 'a' with the comment, "Kind of slow, but I felt it helped my group." I think that something like
is much better. Black should consider the marked stone as kikashi and not reinforce here. White's group in the lower left is too strong. Adding a stone nearby will not be interesting. What can we call Black's resulting shape in the game: a shovel, a scow? "Make a barge-like shape!", doesn't have the ring of a great proverb to my ear. Position C (refer to your position 1) In the game with the marked stone on 'a', you played 'b'. In your analysis you looked only at alternatives on the right side. How about pincers at the top? White's only weak stone is in the upper right while none of Black's stones are weak. Why leave White time to fix things up? Notice how much more natural
might seem with the marked stone instead of 'a'.Position D (in your variation) In the game file you gave the marked stone as an alternative to 'a'. I like it much better. After all, you already used it on the left side to make White over concentrated there! However, I prefer
to your 'b'. If White rushes to erase the right side, her three stones will probably come under attack after Black uses the cut at to strengthen the corner shape. What do you think?Dave Sigaty
"Short-lived are both the praiser and the praised, and rememberer and the remembered..."
- Marcus Aurelius; Meditations, VIII 21
"Short-lived are both the praiser and the praised, and rememberer and the remembered..."
- Marcus Aurelius; Meditations, VIII 21
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skydyr
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Re: Kirby's Study Journal
A few thoughts on the early game:
I don't like this line. It does give you more territory, but it also ruins your bottom-side prospects if white gets H4 as he does later. If black had a solid group here, a corner enclosure in the bottom right would work well with it.
I prefer the variation where black takes H4. White's moyo isn't much of a muchness, and white owes a move in the upper right. Black could do something on the top side or just make a corner enclosure that works with both sides.
I wonder if it's too slow. You already got a submissive response out of white with the attachment, and white's attachment helped your group too. White also played the territorial move at F17 rather than the more aggressive F16.
I prefer a corner enclosure too, because the other two moves have an iffy relationship with the bottom right, and white's topside stone is still weak. R12 isn't a big threat without backup.
I don't like this line. It does give you more territory, but it also ruins your bottom-side prospects if white gets H4 as he does later. If black had a solid group here, a corner enclosure in the bottom right would work well with it. I prefer the variation where black takes H4. White's moyo isn't much of a muchness, and white owes a move in the upper right. Black could do something on the top side or just make a corner enclosure that works with both sides. I wonder if it's too slow. You already got a submissive response out of white with the attachment, and white's attachment helped your group too. White also played the territorial move at F17 rather than the more aggressive F16. I prefer a corner enclosure too, because the other two moves have an iffy relationship with the bottom right, and white's topside stone is still weak. R12 isn't a big threat without backup.-
Bill Spight
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Re: Kirby's Study Journal
What were you thinking? I know, you gave some variations. But really, what were you thinking!If that doesn't make sense to you, consider
. The Adkins Principle:
At some point, doesn't thinking have to go on?
— Winona Adkins
Visualize whirled peas.
Everything with love. Stay safe.
At some point, doesn't thinking have to go on?
— Winona Adkins
Visualize whirled peas.
Everything with love. Stay safe.
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Kirby
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Re: Kirby's Study Journal
I was thinking that the left was bigger than the bottom.Bill Spight wrote:
I lived on the bottom, and white's influence didn't seem that useful. White got ponnuki by capturing my stone, but in the game, I got to tenuki twice.
be immersed
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Bill Spight
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Re: Kirby's Study Journal
If the left was bigger than the bottom, why approach the bottom left corner from the bottom side? Why not play a wedge on the left side, for instance?Kirby wrote:I was thinking that the left was bigger than the bottom.Bill Spight wrote:
I lived on the bottom, and white's influence didn't seem that useful. White got ponnuki by capturing my stone, but in the game, I got to tenuki twice.
Also, if you are concerned about the left side, why not play
at D-03 instead of C-03?And why not play
at G-03 instead of G-02?The Adkins Principle:
At some point, doesn't thinking have to go on?
— Winona Adkins
Visualize whirled peas.
Everything with love. Stay safe.
At some point, doesn't thinking have to go on?
— Winona Adkins
Visualize whirled peas.
Everything with love. Stay safe.
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Kirby
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Re: Kirby's Study Journal
Well, I got the bottom, and also a position on the left - so I got both.Bill Spight wrote: If the left was bigger than the bottom, why approach the bottom left corner from the bottom side? Why not play a wedge on the left side, for instance?
I took a bit of a hit on the bottom by not extending and letting white atari the stone, but it seemed less big to me after living. After that, white can't make a big position on either the left or the bottom.
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Kirby
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Re: Kirby's Study Journal
I thought I'd use my study journal as an outlet to let out some thoughts.
This isn't about a game I played or a review, so I'll just ramble from within the hide tags, mostly for myself - I dunno, I guess I seem to get some pleasure from airing my feelings publicly.
---
This isn't about a game I played or a review, so I'll just ramble from within the hide tags, mostly for myself - I dunno, I guess I seem to get some pleasure from airing my feelings publicly.
be immersed
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wineandgolover
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Re: Kirby's Study Journal
Hi Brian,
As you know, improvement once you are dan is much harder, with thick walls, and it can be frustrating. If I were you, I wouldn't give up on improving, because I still think that is a reasonable and achievable goal, for you especially. But it might be worth finding another way to appreciate the game at the same time.
I like the idea of trying something different, which is one of the reasons I started making videos. Before making a video, I have to really understand my blunder, and be able to play through all the variations from memory. This is a far more comprehensive approach to understanding my mistakes than I've taken before.
Will it help? Not the way I'm doing it now, because I'm hardly playing go at all. (I will try to fix that when I get back from Thailand.)
Is it fun for me? Yes, it's kind of a new way for me to appreciate go. Plus, I feel like I'm giving something back to the community. And I get some nice feedback which always feels good.
I imagine that there are many ways to enjoy go, without improvement being the only goal. I see the appeal of studying pro games as one approach. Another is perhaps using your web-skills to build a utility that would be useful to go players around the world. I am sure there are many suitable second purposes (in addition to improvement) that will help your appreciation of this great game.
Finally, I am confident you have a few more stones improvement in you. They'll come naturally if you don't stress too much.
Good luck!
As you know, improvement once you are dan is much harder, with thick walls, and it can be frustrating. If I were you, I wouldn't give up on improving, because I still think that is a reasonable and achievable goal, for you especially. But it might be worth finding another way to appreciate the game at the same time.
I like the idea of trying something different, which is one of the reasons I started making videos. Before making a video, I have to really understand my blunder, and be able to play through all the variations from memory. This is a far more comprehensive approach to understanding my mistakes than I've taken before.
Will it help? Not the way I'm doing it now, because I'm hardly playing go at all. (I will try to fix that when I get back from Thailand.)
Is it fun for me? Yes, it's kind of a new way for me to appreciate go. Plus, I feel like I'm giving something back to the community. And I get some nice feedback which always feels good.
I imagine that there are many ways to enjoy go, without improvement being the only goal. I see the appeal of studying pro games as one approach. Another is perhaps using your web-skills to build a utility that would be useful to go players around the world. I am sure there are many suitable second purposes (in addition to improvement) that will help your appreciation of this great game.
Finally, I am confident you have a few more stones improvement in you. They'll come naturally if you don't stress too much.
Good luck!
- Brady