It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 9:07 am

All times are UTC - 8 hours [ DST ]




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 7 posts ] 
Author Message
Offline
 Post subject: Thoughts on "The workshop lectures" by Yilun Yang
Post #1 Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2018 10:53 am 
Lives in gote
User avatar

Posts: 507
Location: Germany
Liked others: 176
Was liked: 46
Rank: terrible
OGS: paK0, paK0666
Universal go server handle: paK0
Triton had some nice things to say about them and I am considering buying them, but I would like some more opinions if possible and reviews on the net seem rather scarce.

- How did you like the individual books/the series as a whole?

- Do they hold up in the "AI" world?

- What player level are they targeting?

Thanks in advance.

Top
 Profile  
 
Offline
 Post subject: Re: Thoughts on "The workshop lectures" by Yilun Yang
Post #2 Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2018 11:49 am 
Lives in gote

Posts: 388
Liked others: 416
Was liked: 198
paK0 wrote:
- Do they hold up in the "AI" world?


Just to point out that this is a very high expectation - I don't think any material published before AlphaGo would "hold up".

On the other hand, I don't think it matters much: one can learn tons from pros, regardless of whether AI agrees with pros or not :-)

_________________
Sorin - 361points.com

Top
 Profile  
 
Offline
 Post subject: Re: Thoughts on "The workshop lectures" by Yilun Yang
Post #3 Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2018 2:47 pm 
Lives with ko
User avatar

Posts: 205
Liked others: 49
Was liked: 36
Rank: EGF 2k
KGS: MKyle
I really like these books. I think they're a little bit distinctive as go books, so I expect some people will disagree.

The author is not affraid to state a state a clear principle. Whenever you try to nail something down in go, there seems to be a host of exceptions, so I think a lot of books avoid being so clear cut, but Yilun Yang seems happy to commit to his statements.

paK0 wrote:
- How did you like the individual books/the series as a whole?


The series is really easy to dip in and out of. Each book is made up of 4 or 5 lectures. If you're not looking for something specifically after a review or a discussion then the lectures are still just nice bitesize chunks to read through.

I found myself getting half the series from one source and then I enjoyed it enough to seek out the other half. I recomend getting the full set if you can.

sorin wrote:
paK0 wrote:
- Do they hold up in the "AI" world?


[snip..] high expectation [snip..] I don't think it matters much [snip..]


I agree absolutely with sorin.
The author gives great insight in how to think about techniques and styles. The specifics might loose a little bit of relevance as tastes change, but the fundamental guidance will almost certainly still apply.

paK0 wrote:
- What player level are they targeting?


I'm not sure exactly where they're targeted. I'm European 3/4k (KGS 1k if you're more familiar with that?) and I get a lot out of them. I have players at my club at around 15k (European) who I think would get something from them. Any lower may be a stretch, but I think it's good to pick materials that stretch you.

Top
 Profile  
 
Offline
 Post subject:
Post #4 Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2018 3:58 pm 
Honinbo
User avatar

Posts: 8859
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Liked others: 349
Was liked: 2076
GD Posts: 312
Quote:
The author is not affraid to state a state a clear principle.
I can live with doubt and uncertainty and not knowing. I think it is much more interesting to live not knowing than to have answers that might be wrong. -- RPF

Top
 Profile  
 
Offline
 Post subject: Re: Thoughts on "The workshop lectures" by Yilun Yang
Post #5 Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2018 8:26 pm 
Honinbo

Posts: 9545
Liked others: 1600
Was liked: 1711
KGS: Kirby
Tygem: 커비라고해
I like them. They are not very long, but fun to read.

_________________
be immersed

Top
 Profile  
 
Offline
 Post subject: Re: Thoughts on "The workshop lectures" by Yilun Yang
Post #6 Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2018 10:02 pm 
Judan

Posts: 6087
Liked others: 0
Was liked: 786
sorin wrote:
I don't think any material published before AlphaGo would "hold up".


Neural net AI does not create explicit go theory so there is only very little competition between AI and written explicit go theory. AI has provided a few new josekis, shown as much flexibility as previously the most flexible human players, deep (simulated) reading and as accurate positional judgement as previously the most accurate explicit go theory on positional judgement has described. All that previous material holds up that has not been more restricted or less accurate than AI. E.g., I have no regrets about what I have written about positional judgement, endgame or fighting but wish I had anticipated the AIs' new 3-3 under 4-4 josekis. Of what I have seen from Yang Yilun about explicit go theory in other books, AI does not restrict its validity but my more detailed work shows limitations (not: refutations, except for one example) of his.

I quickly browsed through the workshop lectures and found that they would be for single digit kyus, mostly 9k - 5k maybe to 3k. I did not buy them because they are not for advanced dan readers. If there is a problem of Yang's writing, it is not AI but being often written for SDK more than dans, i.e., for progress beyond SDK, a reader also needs to consult other sources.

Top
 Profile  
 
Offline
 Post subject: Re: Thoughts on "The workshop lectures" by Yilun Yang
Post #7 Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2018 12:10 am 
Lives in gote
User avatar

Posts: 507
Location: Germany
Liked others: 176
Was liked: 46
Rank: terrible
OGS: paK0, paK0666
Universal go server handle: paK0
Thanks for your comments, i have decided to order the books.

- Sdk rank fits me nicely.
- I like clearly stated principles.
- Little chunks of knowledge are preferable, as I want to focus mainly on playing as much as possible right now.

Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 7 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 8 hours [ DST ]


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group