Life In 19x19

I do have a couple of fans, even one signed by Chang Hao 9p, but I don't use them in tournaments. However, when I hold one while I play online, I tend to notice that I take my games more seriously. The power of the placebo effect.

My club meets at the local pub. I can imagine the looks of the regular patrons if I brought a fan.

I have some fans but I don't play with them. One of these days, I'll have to show pics of them on my blog

I have several, and one signed by Yoda (a souvenir fan, not personally signed by him, I'm sure)

But I don't use them when playing go, I only use them at work because they still run the heater when its only a little cool outside.

No pro signatures here but I do have one signed by Yumi Hotta. Only used it during the 2008 EGC in Leksand because it was so hot.

No fans, I used to fiddle with a puzzle box during games in order to keep my hands off of my mouse/out of the bowl of stones. It worked. I recall reading about Cho Chikun having a penchant for fiddling with matchsticks during a game.

xed_over wrote:I have several, and one signed by Yoda (a souvenir fan, not personally signed by him, I'm sure)

But I don't use them when playing go, I only use them at work because they still run the heater when its only a little cool outside.

I think the fans sold by Nihon Kiin are normally personally signed by the pros. Just that the calligraphy associated with the name is usually printed. But if you bought a fan from that is signed by say Doseki, then I'd say it's probably most likely printed if you didn't pay dearly for it.

tchan001 wrote:

xed_over wrote:I have several, and one signed by Yoda (a souvenir fan, not personally signed by him, I'm sure)

I think the fans sold by Nihon Kiin are normally personally signed by the pros. Just that the calligraphy associated with the name is usually printed.

Sure, I understand that its his real signature, but being mass reproduced is still just not the same as having an item personally signed.

Its still my favorite fan

In all of my visits to the local go salons in Beijing, I have never seen anyone hold or use a fan while playing.

In all of my visits to the local go salons in Beijing, I have never seen anyone hold or use a fan while playing.

Maybe something particular to french player ? =)

I don't use one (or have one), but I have a friend that has one and will use it while playing. He likes it because it helps give him a little better focus (or so he says). Jokes around and claims it is a 3-stone boost to his play.

Whereas, one of our friends has a cat, and this same friend claims it is a 3-stone handicap when she's sitting in your lap.

That's the "You're a kitty!" effect from xkcd.

i tried it few times in the tornament but it was distracting my reading and lost all my games. since then i stopped.

Pretty much all the time.

Yes I know it is an affectation, I think a Japanese one, but I have been doing it for a long time.

Aside from the affected "coolness" it has been useful. I used to be a fast player, and I still am pretty fast and fairly intuitive for good or ill, so holding a fan keeps my hands off the stones or the mouse. It has stopped some knee jerk mistakes.

I am also fairly fidgety, and it is nice to have something social acceptable to fidget with.

Rarely, very rarely, it is useful as a fan.

Helel wrote:

schultz wrote: this same friend claims it is a 3-stone handicap when she's sitting in your lap.

Having friends sitting in ones lap can be quite disturbing...

Seriously...I don't know how many times I re-worded that sentence. Took such a long time to figure it out and post it. And I still fail. Hooray.

And here's to you: