Goal: 16k -> 9k in 60 days

[Boidhre]

I dont agree that you should be playing against people much higher rated (unless its a teaching game). Although the occasional game against someone higher than 9 kyu would be fine its probably better at each step to play people slightly higher rated, that way when you try out new things you can see how effective they are. You also wont get frustrated and constantly losing.

I respectfully disagree, I think I've learned more about what mistakes are in my play from playing substantially higher rated players than playing against people close to my own rank. I don't get away with weaker moves so much and I learn a lot about good shape and big moves just by watching how they beat me and studying what point the game turned. I've never found constantly losing to much stronger players frustrating though. Getting absolutely crushed by an EGF 4k at the club on 9 stones made me re-evaluate my entire approach to handicap go for instance and go in general. Having stronger players resurrect a "lost" game by a series of big moves has taught me a lot about timing, efficiency and the need for whole board thinking. I think I learned more from a single 9x9 game where I lost to a 2k because of one local move too many by me, than from a dozen games against people my own rank where I get away with not making the biggest move.

[Drewch]

Hey guys, I've played 2 games since Sunday, and a bunch of go problems. I beat a 13k with a 2 handicap as a 16k, so that bumped me to 15k.

You guys said I should post the game in Game Reviews instead of here, or should I post here as well? Anyways, here is a link to the game in Game Reviews: http://lifein19x19.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=5814

Feel free to let me know if you think there's some improvements I made, or can keep making.

Thanks!

Status:
DAY 1 (April 8): 16k
DAY 4 (April 11): 15k

[Drewch]

Hey all, played another game vs a 12k, again, I lowered the handicap by 1. I won the game and got 14k ranking. The game went really well I think. I definitely got a lot more center moyo early game then I usually get. Here it is in case anyone wants to comment. Your comments are really helping me with my goal!

Thanks!



Status:
DAY 1 (April 8): 16k
DAY 4 (April 11): 15k
DAY 6 (April 14): 14k

[Joaz Banbeck]

[Drewch]

Thanks Joaz, love the comments! I really do need to stop thinking about individual situations and moves that I know work, and start thinking whole board. In some situations, you've pointed out that I've given away a lot of potential points. When I flip back between your move and my move in those comments, the board looks worldly different. It's amazing how one move made with the whole board mindset can completely change the look of the game.

Thanks again!

Round 2 of KGS tournament today ... unrated games unfortunately, but fun none the less. And it's against much stronger players usually.

[lildrummerninja]

I think that you can do it. When I used to play actively about 3 years ago, I made similar improvement and before I knew it I was 5k. I was a pretty strong 5k too, if I do say so myself. Upon returning after that terribly long hiatus, I'm ranked at around 20.. I just have lost a lot of what used to be decent reading ability, and as such, most of my major game losing mistakes are reading related.
Best of luck to you.
P.S.
If you want to do a study group type thing on kgs, just P.M. me. (I'm lildrummer on kgs).

[Drewch]

Cool thanks, yeah let's play some time for sure!

[Drewch]

Hey guys,

Just played a very solid game vs a 11k (again I dropped the handicap from 3 to 2) as a 14k, and I won the game (again with a pretty huge mistake, I'm sure you'll see it) by about 45 points.

I'll post the game here only this time. I'd love to hear more comments about it again as I really find it invaluable information that I start using in games asap and see it making a difference.

Thanks guys! Here's the game:



Status:
DAY 1 (April 8): 16k
DAY 4 (April 11): 15k
DAY 6 (April 14): 14k
DAY 9 (April 17): 13k

[EdLee]

Your opponent played his 130 moves in 9.5 minutes, or just over 4 secs/move.
Think about the time and effort you spend on your moves, compared to the review.

[Drewch]

Thanks EdLee, will look at your sgf shortly, much appreciated.

Also, this game was a 10 minute game with 2 20 second byos. I didn't realize that when I joined the game, or else I wouldn't have played it

[lightvector]

Lots of basic shapes to work on.

[Drewch]

Thanks a lot lightvector and edlee. Very good stuff on shapes. I'll try to get a few games in this weekend and helpfully hit 11-12k

Thanks a ton!

[Drewch]

Still at 13k, decided to start putting in large amounts of games for a bit instead of reading books. Still mixing in a bunch of tsuemego problems.

Here's a recent game of a lose (by 0.5), and there are moves in the end game that still could have one for for me that I missed.

[EdLee]

Basics: Broken (Fractured) Shapes:

[Drewch]

Thanks EdLee,

Going to look deeper into this game, especially that middle area where I made awful shape. I'll also try to find some reading material on shape. Do you have any good books for learning about shape? It seems to be the common mistake in my games that you have pointed out.

Thanks!