Life In 19x19

Thanks everybody. I haven't had much time to respond until now. I appreciate all the responses, and have been trying to get more games in particularly 9x9. Before now I figured 19x19 were the best to play (which made 100 games sound like a long time for me ), and hadn't really considered that 9x9 were just as helpful. I have played quite a few games against some computer programs which I placed on stronger settings than me to get a feel for shape like you all suggested and it seems to have helped .

Is 9x9 better practice for up close fighting? I seem to need practice in that area although it may just be I play too fast and don't always think moves through to some extent . Again I appreciated all your answers they were very helpful and did help my own self esteem a little since I am new and up until recently was getting creamed almost every game it seemed (even by the computer).

Boyce

Thinking moves through is very important. Try to practice thinking through each move for at least a minute, even if you don't think you need to.

Yes, 9x9 will be a good way to learn some tactics (although I think that setting up close fighting is as important as what happens before the stones come into contact, and you don't really learn the former in 9x9).

Have you tried playing against humans yet? I find it much more interesting.

The whole point of "100 games" is, imo, that it's supposed to take a really long time. Have fun, and don't get discouraged!

jts wrote:The whole point of "100 games" is, imo, that it's supposed to take a really long time.

I disagree

the whole point of the proverb (and it was only 50 games when I first heard it), is that its easier to learn this game by actually playing it, so start getting a few under your belt as soon as you can.

xed_over wrote:it was only 50 games when I first heard it

Inflation...

xed_over wrote:

jts wrote:The whole point of "100 games" is, imo, that it's supposed to take a really long time.

I disagree

the whole point of the proverb (and it was only 50 games when I first heard it), is that its easier to learn this game by actually playing it, so start getting a few under your belt as soon as you can.

Well, if he knocks out fifty 9x9 games tomorrow afternoon and then wonders why he's not awesome yet, I'll let you handle it.

EdLee wrote:xed_over wrote:
it was only 50 games when I first heard it
Inflation...

xed_over wrote:it was only 50 games when I first heard it

Inflation...

Nice

jts wrote:Thinking moves through is very important. Try to practice thinking through each move for at least a minute, even if you don't think you need to.

Yes, 9x9 will be a good way to learn some tactics (although I think that setting up close fighting is as important as what happens before the stones come into contact, and you don't really learn the former in 9x9).

Have you tried playing against humans yet? I find it much more interesting.

The whole point of "100 games" is, imo, that it's supposed to take a really long time. Have fun, and don't get discouraged!

I agree human players are much more enjoyable, but most don't seem to want to play 9x9 I find. This week I didn't have time to finish very many 19x19 games so I used what time I did have to play some fast 9x9s during the week if only to keep my mind on the game . I probably have ~50 games against humans maybe 60. But yeah I don't expect to get amazing playing the computer...

Boyce

I have two questions that are related to comments in this thread.

1) For 9x9 games, what do you all feel you learn? How do insights/skills picked up through 9x9 play transfer to 19x19? I find my thinking and "tactics" at 9x9 are very different than with 19x19, and I sometimes wonder, "What am I learning here that will be useful in 19x19 go?" (I am not implying that there is nothing useful- there is probably lot's of useful wisdom, I am just wondering what you guys think it is)

2) For computer go, I have two programs I sometimes play, Aya 6.34 and MoGo. I am not sure how strong they are (Aya is perhaps 15 kyu and MoGo is perhaps 7 kyu, but I'm not sure where I got these numbers from). Can anyone recommend other strong or stronger computer go programs?

Signifier wrote:For 9x9 games, what do you all feel you learn?

Indeed, 9x9 is almost an entirely different game from 19x19.
But for the beginner, experience is very important. So the mere act of finishing many games,
even on 9x9, can teach many basic things like atari, liberties, ko, cap race, life-and-death, seki,
basic end-game, counting, scoring, etc.

Signifier wrote:For computer go

I believe MoGo is already 6-dan+ on 9x9? It's very very good.