Hey :)

[rafaelclp]

So, I'm new here. I started playing Go last year, but gave up after a few weeks (not because I didn't enjoy it, but because I didn't have any friends to play with and playing online didn't seem like enough incentive to me). Played a few random matches over the year, but that's all. I'm from Brazil, but living in Seattle (WA, USA) for the next 2 months before going back to my country.

I decided to start playing again, but have no idea what's the best way to improve (books, playing games, watching videos, ...?). Any suggestions?

I'm 16k on OGS, but I got to that level quite quickly and never improved after that (probably one other reason as to why I stopped).

Thanks for you time

[jeromie]

Welcome!

The most important thing you can do as a beginner is to play more games, but I also found a book very helpful when I was getting started. I liked Learn to Play Go II: The Way of the Moving Horse, but there are lots of good options. Have you checked out the Seattle Go Center yet?

[rafaelclp]

I only found out there is a Seattle Go Center today , thinking of going there next weekend. Never been to a Go center before, so what should I expect from it?

I read the first volume of Learn to Play Go some time ago, and it was a very pleasant reading (I probably read it in less than 2 hours rushing through the chapters, though, since other players had already taught me mostly everything I saw in the book, so I'm not sure if that even counts). Will try the second volume then, thanks for the suggestion!

Edit:

... The most important thing you can do as a beginner is to play more games ...

I don't think that is completely true. Unless I really spend the time reviewing the games, it doesn't seem to help me improve at all! I didn't play even 100 games to go from OGS 25k to OGS 16k. Most of my time I'd spend reading books and reviewing (and re-reviewing) these games. I'd also solve problems and watch better players' games and try to understand their moves. Then after returning recently, I've probably already played more games than I had done in the past and I can't leave the 16k level. The main difference I can see is I'm too lazy to review my own games. So maybe that's the problem? Or maybe that's because I'm not reading any books at all. Or solving problems. I don't know, but I just can't go beyond 16k. That's why I need suggestions actually. Playing games is fun, but doesn't work for me

[EdLee]

Welcome.

[cornucopia]

Welcome


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[swannod]

Welcome!

I only found out there is a Seattle Go Center today , thinking of going there next weekend. Never been to a Go center before, so what should I expect from it?

Expect to learn a lot In my experience learning from other players (and teachers) is a significantly more efficient way to improve than just reading books.

I read the first volume of Learn to Play Go some time ago, and it was a very pleasant reading (I probably read it in less than 2 hours rushing through the chapters, though, since other players had already taught me mostly everything I saw in the book, so I'm not sure if that even counts). Will try the second volume then, thanks for the suggestion!

I highly recommend all the books in the series. I think this series plus Graded Go Problems Volume 1-3 can easily take you to 10 kyu. I also really like the Jump Level Up! series after 10 kyu. Some players buy as many books as they can. However I've found that getting several solid books and simply re-reading them is very effective.

I don't think that is completely true. Unless I really spend the time reviewing the games, it doesn't seem to help me improve at all! I didn't play even 100 games to go from OGS 25k to OGS 16k. Most of my time I'd spend reading books and reviewing (and re-reviewing) these games. I'd also solve problems and watch better players' games and try to understand their moves. Then after returning recently, I've probably already played more games than I had done in the past and I can't leave the 16k level. The main difference I can see is I'm too lazy to review my own games. So maybe that's the problem? Or maybe that's because I'm not reading any books at all. Or solving problems. I don't know, but I just can't go beyond 16k. That's why I need suggestions actually. Playing games is fun, but doesn't work for me

I never bothered much with reviews until after 10 kyu. Some people get by with just playing games, but I think doing tsumego is probably a more efficient way to improve. So I agree with jeromie here, get some good books, read them several times, goto the Seattle Go Center, and play more games.

[rafaelclp]

Thanks swannod! I bought the Elementary Go Series, but found the first book (In the Beginning) soo boring that I quit reading after less than 30 pages. May try again in the future. I've solved all the problems in the Graded Go Problems Volume 1 last year, they were all extremely easy for my level at the time. The Volume 2 seems to be for 25-20 kyu players. Do you think I should move to Volume 3 or Volume 2 still has a lot to offer for my current level? I'm OGS 16k (don't know how that translates to the rating system in sensei's lib though).

I live in Brazil, where books are extremely expensive. That is, if you can even find them to buy, which usually you can't when it comes to Go books. So most of the time I just have to download the PDFs (legal or illegal, it's the only way . I'm using this opportunity in the USA to buy as many books as I can, but my luggage is pretty full already, so I should start filtering what I buy a little. I want books to help me get to OGS 5 kyu by the end of 2017 (assuming I will keep playing and studying).

[swannod]

Thanks swannod! I bought the Elementary Go Series, but found the first book (In the Beginning) soo boring that I quit reading after less than 30 pages. May try again in the future. I've solved all the problems in the Graded Go Problems Volume 1 last year, they were all extremely easy for my level at the time. The Volume 2 seems to be for 25-20 kyu players. Do you think I should move to Volume 3 or Volume 2 still has a lot to offer for my current level? I'm OGS 16k (don't know how that translates to the rating system in sensei's lib though).

I know that many players have learned a lot from the Elementary Go Series but I don't like them that much. Graded Go Problems Volume 1-4 will probably remain relevant to you all the way up to dan. Even though at your level you may be able to work fairly quickly through Graded Go Problems Volume 2 that doesn't mean it's not still useful. I don't think I really understood the value of doing many easy tsumego problems until very recently. Of course harder tsumego problems are also very useful, but the truth is you'll likely lose your games over easy tsumego problems not hard ones

[Bonobo]

[..]

I live in Brazil, where books are extremely expensive. That is, if you can even find them to buy, which usually you can't when it comes to Go books. So most of the time I just have to download the PDFs (legal or illegal, it's the only way . [..]

I’d recommend taking look at Robert Jasiek’s books http://home.snafu.de/jasiek/books.html, esp. “First Fundamentals” and “Fighting Fundamentals”. You can buy the PDF alone, or you buy the book (whereby you also get the PDF).

[xed_over]

We have a limited number of books and equipment available for sale at the Seattle Go Center.

There are classes available on Monday and Thursday nights, and more advanced classes on Wednesday nights.

Players of all levels on Tuesday nights and Saturdays.

[dfan]

Thanks swannod! I bought the Elementary Go Series, but found the first book (In the Beginning) soo boring that I quit reading after less than 30 pages. May try again in the future. I've solved all the problems in the Graded Go Problems Volume 1 last year, they were all extremely easy for my level at the time. The Volume 2 seems to be for 25-20 kyu players. Do you think I should move to Volume 3 or Volume 2 still has a lot to offer for my current level? I'm OGS 16k (don't know how that translates to the rating system in sensei's lib though).

The listed grades for the Graded Go Problems For Beginners books are famously ridiculously wrong. Volume 2 is perfect for you right now. Do not skip to volume 3.

[sparky314]

To echo what others have said, with problem books, you'll repeat them many times. I've done volume 2 of Graded Go Problems 3-4 times now. Highly recommend that series, though I'd wait on volume 4 until you're closer to 5k. There is a jump in difficulty between volume 3 and 4.

[Kirby]

I live in the Seattle area. Let me know if you want to meet up to play a game or just chat.

[rafaelclp]

I'm at work right now, so I will just quickly answer the comments .

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Yeap, guess you are right . When I'm playing I always miss simple things when these problems appear in my games and end up losing because of that.

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Nice, thanks.

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Will probably visit this Saturday (unless something happen).

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Alright, I think I will just get the 4 volumes and solve them multiple times over time (or whenever I'm prepared, for vol. 4).

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Sure! Although I think a match against me wouldn't be any fun for you, since my level is so low.

[xed_over]

...

Sure! Although I think a match against me wouldn't be any fun for you, since my level is so low.

I used to think that when I was your level, but I've learned that if a stronger player offers to play a game with you, you should take them up on it

Many stronger players really enjoy helping others get stronger too.