Way back, when I was younger and less experienced, at a few occasions I have tried to bully female players around the board, but it always went wrong... I found that, somehow, most female players around my strength I have played have had really violent styles themselves! Funnily enough, a lot of women around 10-20 kyu I've ever played had a tendency to play really peacefully, almost passively. Then again, every rule has its exceptions, so I try not to change my game plan either way.
Peter Hansmeier wrote:In Minnesota we get female players each year who show up to the club interested in the game, but with a few exceptions they all eventually leave. I think that the men smother them with attention and make them uncomfortable (too much kibitz and "advice"). Of course, we also have male players who stop showing up, so I could be wrong.
Whether the beginners in question are male or female, this kind of unsolicited "helpful advice" is possibly the single most egregiously annoying thing that can happen when playing teaching games (or when two weak players play each other). To everybody reading this:
PLEASE don't ever do that! A lot of beginners just play for fun, and really don't care for confusing discussions about the aji of a two-step ko in a certain corner shape.
I once tried playing a game of draughts with a few members of the local draughts club standing nearby (I am a beginner at draughts myself). Getting through that flood of kibitz and still remaining enthousiastic requires a lot of endurance - many beginners, including some really good people to have around, will not have that kind of endurance and will simply leave. A beginner's soul is tender. Be gentle to it.
My name is Gijs, from Utrecht, NL.
When in doubt, play the most aggressive move
Still will try to win though.
The fight ended with her win by 6.5 mokus and with our friendship.
). Against men I have practically a balanced result (29:25).