Eureka Moments

[Pio2001]

That it was more useful for me to practice easy problems, for beginners, rather than trying to solve difficult ones.

I even recently rushed through ladders problems for 25 kyu players, 15 kyu below my current level. It took about about 5 seconds per problem.

After that, I played a game during which this position was reached. Black (me) to play :

$$B
$$ -------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . b . . . .
$$ | . X X a . . O . .
$$ | . O X O c . . . .
$$ | O . O X . . . . .
$$ | . O O . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . .

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$B
$$ -------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . b . . . .
$$ | . X X a . . O . .
$$ | . O X O c . . . .
$$ | O . O X . . . . .
$$ | . O O . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . .[/go]

I instinctively thought about A (to increase the vital space) and B (to build a living shape in the corner), but I then recognized a ladder pattern and considered C, that captures the white stone.

I would never have thought of C if I had not taken the time to solve these problems for complete beginners!

[dfan]

The point of attacking weak groups is generally not to kill them.