Life In 19x19

Posted: **Sun Dec 15, 2013 10:04 pm**

robertg wrote:I just lost a game by more than 40 points, and I thought I was winning. I am 4d KGS

You're 4d and don't know how to count :shock:

I'm curious how strong you'll become after mastering the way to count

Posted: **Mon Dec 16, 2013 5:04 am**

moyoaji wrote:
Boidhre wrote:I'm mostly thinking about midgame positions. Mainly the issue I see is that counting depends heavily on your reading ability, if I think an opponent's group is alive because the tesuji that removes its eyes is "invisible" to me then this will affect the count no? I don't think it'd be very useful for either of us to sit down with a pro-level life and death book and stare at them for a while, why would it be any different with counting problems?

That and, doesn't "improving your counting" once you get past the basic level of being able to count and remember intersections just come down to reading and we already have tons of problems dealing with this?

*shrugs*

Such a book would not need to contain problems that involve professional level life and death. You can take a look at this lecture to see a counting problem from one of Cho Chikun's games. It is interesting and not hard to figure out once you know the basics of the end-game in the problem. Problems like this could make for a good counting book.

Generally, I know how to count, I need more practice. Also, I tend to memorize solutions, as I do them, so if they occurred in real live games, that would be a bonus, even if the positions were basic, as long as the positions were fundamentally sound.

Posted: **Mon Dec 16, 2013 12:30 pm**

I wish there were counting problem books.

There is one good book, "Get Strong At The Endgame", where you have to find:
- the right move
- the right order of moves (sente,gote etc.) and
- the final score.

The problems use mostly 13x13 boards. This is extremely good training to become better at the endgame and at counting. It's a hard book, but good.

Glad to join this very interesting discussion, BTW! To the original poster, robertg:

I bet you are freakishly strong at fighting! But how do you decide wether to reduce a territory or to invade? I would like to see a game from you!

I am 1k - 1d on KGS and sometimes I count, sometimes I just have a "feeling" of the score. Most of the time, at the end of the game, I am in byoyomi and I do not have the time to count. I guess if you have the time you should estimate the score. Here on the forum they say you should count after the opening and before the endgame begins, IIRC?

Posted: **Mon Dec 16, 2013 1:47 pm**

I bet you are freakishly strong at fighting! But how do you decide wether to reduce a territory or to invade? I would like to see a game from you!

I am 1k - 1d on KGS and sometimes I count, sometimes I just have a "feeling" of the score. Most of the time, at the end of the game, I am in byoyomi and I do not have the time to count. I guess if you have the time you should estimate the score. Here on the forum they say you should count after the opening and before the endgame begins, IIRC?

If reducing expands my moyo or an invasion is impossible I reduce, if I can invade without him getting too many benefits I invade.

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