Life In 19x19

Though, since starting to seriously do something for Go again in Octobre my win-loss-rate is 47%

How many games? I'll crunch the numbers for you and let you know within statistical margins of error how strong you are

...

I like to think of progress as "time to seeing mistake". If you never see the mistake, you're not progressing. If you see the mistake in the game review, you have some ideas sloshing around in your brain, but they're not in a good form to use in-game. If you see the mistake right after the stone is on the board, you're literally on the verge to being a better player. If you can read out that a line of play doesn't work because of a "mistake" several moves in, you've really mastered the concept (shortage of liberties is a good example of this, I think).

As to the game you posted, you had an impressive mid and end game. Think of it in those terms

I'm on 50% now. 20 games =D

Yes, the thought of unconsciously progressing is a comforting one. Actually this is what gets me up and playing again, when I had some really bad games ^^

As for the game, I think it was mere luck that my not even good played invasion in the top right corner succeeded. But okay, this is part of the game, too, but so overwhelming winning a lost game just leads to the question: What's the point? =D

So yeah, 20 games isn't enough to really tell if you're better or not.

Use this calculator (the second one "Find Confidence Interval"). Leave population size blank (to represent a "global" sample size) and enter in the number of games you've played and the percentage you've won. You'll get back a confidence interval. This is the +/- margin of error. I got back about +- 20%.

So there's a 95% confidence that your rank is between 30% and 70% of your current rank. Which corresponds to about a stone to stone-and-a-half either way. (I use this chart. Assuming that a handicap stone represents about 100 elo rating difference).

Not sure how comforting you find statistics of course. Depends how rational you like to pretend you are.

Interesting ^^ Thank you!

It appears, I'm getting in good shape again, which is a wonderful thing ^^ Even attained 3-kyu today but that's more because of two escapers right behind one another.
Nevertheless I manage to beat 4-kyus more easily now, espacially as Black. We'll see if I can hold 3-kyu ^^

I'm doing some fun Blitz-games with a Dan-Player on 5-6H at the moment. Really entertaining and very good for my time-management : D Now I can even finish a game without going into Byo-Yomi =D It's also very good to concentrate on the important stuff, recognize shape etc.

Hi SoDesuNe, I've been following this a bit since the time you originally started doing so many tsumego. I'm in a very similar situation as you, basically 3k sometimes on the verge of 2k, but I have recently had bad spells that even sent me into 4k territory, which was disheartening.

The problem I am facing all the time is time management, and I wonder if this has been a serious issue for you? I love to practice reading deeply in games and think about the positions quite a lot, but I am very often using my 30 minutes main time by move 80 while my opponents may have used 5-10 minutes at most. How have you tried to conquer this without sacrificing all your reading practice? (The consequence is that I lose a great percentage of my game in endgame, where I rarely find the best or even good moves consistently owing to time shortage.)

I have the same problem with time-management, but for me it's not so much an issue of long-time reading but figuring out the direction of play. Especially in situations, which don't comfort me, I tend to look around for ten minutes before I play wrong ^^

But well, as for the reading issue, I think knowing and being able to spot Tesujis does a great deal to your reading speed, but this applies more to close combat and life and death situations, I guess.
I, for once, don't read everything out what I play. Most of the things I play, I do so with the confidence of choosing and playing out a Joseki. If my oppenents derivates from what I expect, I start to read.
So, I guess, most of the time, I probe around on shape-points, knowing there is something, but not knowing exactly what I can get.

Here is an example:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Bc
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . O X . . . . X . . . O . O X . |
$$ | . . . O . X . . . X . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . |
$$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . |
$$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . X . X . . . . . . . . . O X . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . X . O . . . . . . . . . O . . X . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . O . O . . . . . , . . . X . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . O . . . X . . . . X X O O . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X O . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Admittedly this move is dangerous and maybe uncalled for, but for the sake of the argument: It's a shape-point =D
My left side group was a bit thin, so I thought instead of just defending and giving my opponent thickness, I probed there to see how I can manufacture Aji to save my group in a more efficient way.

This is what came out.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Bc Moves 45 to 54
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . O X . . . . X . . . O . O X . |
$$ | . . . O . X . . . X . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . |
$$ | . . 2 O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . 9 1 . 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . 8 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . |
$$ | 0 5 O 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . 6 . , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . . X . X . . . . . . . . . O X . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . X . O . . . . . . . . . O . . X . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . O . O . . . . . , . . . X . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . O . . . X . . . . X X O O . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X O . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Bc Moves 55 to 64
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . . . . O X . . . . X . . . O . O X . |
$$ | . 6 . O . X . . . X . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . |
$$ | 3 2 O O 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | 5 X X . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . O X . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . X . . |
$$ | O . O O 8 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . O . , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . |
$$ | . 7 X . X . . . . . . . . . O X . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . |
$$ | . . X . O . . . . . . . . . O . . X . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . O . . |
$$ | . O . O . . . . . , . . . X . O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . O . . . X . . . . X X O O . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X O . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Again, admittedly he played this not so well (I'm sure I didn't, too) and almost died with this new group. But well, then it came down to reading and I think then it's called for longer reading sessions.
On the other hand, without some experience how to handle certain situations, it might still be very time consuming to play like that. Here for example move to (first diagram) are textbookish to move out in the center and didn't require very much reading.

Awesome games, which reward you for the ongoing hours of studying (part 1):

[sgf-full](;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]AP[CGoban:3]ST[2]
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]KM[0.50]TM[1500]OT[5x30 byo-yomi]
PW[KbICb]PB[SoDesuNe]WR[2k]BR[3k]DT[2010-11-25]PC[The KGS Go Server at http://www.gokgs.com/]C[SoDesuNe [3k\]: Hey, good gsme
SoDesuNe [3k\]: game*
KbICb [2k\]: hu gg
]RE[B+43.50]
;B[qd]BL[1497.021]
;W[dp]WL[1497.599]
;B[pq]BL[1495.366]
;W[dd]WL[1495.187]
;B[fc]BL[1492.765]
;W[fd]WL[1487.313]
;B[gd]BL[1487.794]
;W[ec]WL[1485.545]
;B[fe]BL[1486.478]
;W[ed]WL[1484.235]
;B[fb]BL[1460.635]
;W[ge]WL[1479.682]
;B[hd]BL[1458.461]
;W[ff]WL[1477.601]
;B[he]BL[1452.909]
;W[gf]WL[1475.68]
;B[cj]BL[1431.533]
;W[ch]WL[1472.737]
;B[cn]BL[1422.532]
;W[cl]WL[1470.499]
;B[en]BL[1421.089]
;W[el]WL[1468.76]
;B[fp]BL[1414.395]
;W[fq]WL[1462.749]
;B[gq]BL[1412.499]
;W[eq]WL[1461.156]
;B[gp]BL[1410.549]
;W[co]WL[1457.194]
;B[bn]BL[1291.301]
;W[dm]WL[1403.331]
;B[dn]BL[1284.408]
;W[bo]WL[1401.905]
;B[gn]BL[1242.05]
;W[gl]WL[1344.11]
;B[gi]BL[1226.96]
;W[fi]WL[1342.129]
;B[fh]BL[1157.205]
;W[gh]WL[1325.483]
;B[fj]BL[1153.632]
;W[ei]WL[1323.608]
;B[gj]BL[1150.94]
;W[ej]WL[1322.211]
;B[hl]BL[1114.765]
;W[hk]WL[1310.544]
;B[gk]BL[1099.679]
;W[hm]WL[1303.87]
;B[fl]BL[1095.605]
;W[il]WL[1301.102]
;B[fm]BL[1094.131]
;W[ek]WL[1285.288]
;B[fk]BL[1030.138]
;W[io]WL[1278.54]
;B[jm]BL[1016.362]
;W[jl]WL[1274.787]
;B[km]BL[1008.613]
;W[hn]WL[1273.057]
;B[jq]BL[982.155]
;W[jp]WL[1259.662]
;B[iq]BL[963.408]
;W[kq]WL[1251.307]
;B[kp]BL[960.14]
;W[ko]WL[1247.182]
;B[lp]BL[958.822]
;W[nq]WL[1244.465]
;B[mq]BL[947.154]
;W[np]WL[1242.344]
;B[qo]BL[924.45]
;W[lo]WL[1240.014]
;B[mr]BL[916.986]
;W[mp]WL[1237.982]
;B[lq]BL[915.204]
;W[nn]WL[1236.405]
;B[ip]BL[900.93]
;W[jo]WL[1233.641]
;B[ll]BL[887.655]
;W[lk]WL[1230.802]
;B[nl]BL[879.654]
;W[ml]WL[1227.994]
;B[mm]BL[877.844]
;W[mk]WL[1226.723]
;B[nm]BL[877.226]
;W[pn]WL[1224.127]
;B[pl]BL[867.918]
;W[qm]WL[1222.231]
;B[ql]BL[863.365]
;W[qn]WL[1220.552]
;B[ph]BL[848.341]
;W[nr]WL[1218.131]
;B[kr]BL[834.896]
;W[rq]WL[1214.605]
;B[on]BL[790.205]
;W[oo]WL[1211.699]
;B[mn]BL[788.693]
;W[mo]WL[1206.117]
;B[no]BL[785.291]
;W[po]WL[1191.804]
;B[nc]BL[732.78]
;W[pj]WL[1187.873]
;B[qj]BL[728.966]
;W[qi]WL[1182.797]
;B[pi]BL[727.578]
;W[qh]WL[1127.104]
;B[rj]BL[713.173]
;W[qg]WL[1122.737]
;B[pg]BL[709.676]
;W[qf]WL[1121.486]
;B[pf]BL[705.535]
;W[qe]WL[1119.833]
;B[pe]BL[695.282]
;W[rd]WL[1118.051]
;B[qc]BL[673.853]
;W[rc]WL[1115.932]
;B[sg]BL[658.614]
;W[rg]WL[1112.048]
;B[sf]BL[637.611]
;W[sh]WL[1109.125]
;B[si]BL[636.533]
;W[ri]WL[1093.152]
;B[rh]BL[633.129]
;W[pd]WL[1075.948]
;B[sh]BL[623.385]
;W[pc]WL[1073.789]
;B[qb]BL[575.201]
;W[se]WL[1069.731]
;B[re]BL[567.396]
;W[oj]WL[1062.589]
;B[eb]BL[523.079]
;W[db]WL[1059.551]
;B[cc]BL[513.484]
;W[dc]WL[1046.122]
;B[cb]BL[506.747]
;W[da]WL[1040.813]
;B[ce]BL[470.702]
;W[cd]WL[1038.311]
;B[bd]BL[467.561]
;W[bf]WL[1036.543]
;B[bl]BL[402.467]
;W[bk]WL[1009.251]
;B[bm]BL[397.271]
;W[ck]WL[1007.456]
;B[kf]BL[378.852]
;W[ld]WL[1003.299]
;B[mf]BL[355.349]
;W[nd]WL[1000.867]
;B[oc]BL[343.114]
;W[nf]WL[998.799]
;B[me]BL[322.372]
;W[md]WL[988.998]
;B[ne]BL[318.576]
;W[od]WL[977.815]
;B[pb]BL[306.758]
;W[mb]WL[972.889]
;B[jd]BL[274.028]
;W[jb]WL[953.583]
;B[kc]BL[269.565]
;W[kb]WL[950.419]
;B[lc]BL[259.616]
;W[mc]WL[947.892]
;B[ob]BL[258.325]
;W[jc]WL[937.046]
;B[kd]BL[255.345]
;W[hb]WL[935.524]
;B[gb]BL[225.286]
;W[hc]WL[933.665]
;B[gc]BL[223.495]
;W[lb]WL[929.021]
;B[ic]BL[196.68]
;W[ib]WL[925.846]
;B[id]BL[195.62]
;W[le]WL[922.707]
;B[lf]BL[189.343]
;W[ke]WL[906.334]
;B[jf]BL[179.26]
;W[je]WL[905.023]
;B[if]BL[176.24]
;W[ii]WL[880.356]
;B[qq]BL[147.252]
;W[rp]WL[875.595]
;B[ro]BL[138.216]
;W[qp]WL[873.596]
;B[fr]BL[96.658]
;W[er]WL[871.506]
;B[ao]BL[90.174]
;W[ap]WL[869.212]
;B[an]BL[88.22]
;W[bq]WL[867.508]
;B[gr]BL[84.311]
;W[ep]WL[865.279]
;B[ns]BL[34.121]
;W[os]WL[838.354]
;B[ms]BL[31.073]
;W[or]WL[835.126]
;B[ak]BL[6.498]
;W[aj]WL[832.129]
;B[al]BL[4.24]
;W[bj]WL[830.149]
;B[rl]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[rm]WL[798.274]
;B[nk]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[nj]WL[796.399]
;B[mj]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[mi]WL[749.77]
;B[lj]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[kk]WL[745.135]
;B[li]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[lh]WL[743.378]
;B[mh]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[ki]WL[733.219]
;B[ni]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[kj]WL[720.134]
;B[mi]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[kl]WL[703.482]
;B[lm]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[hf]WL[696.135]
;B[ie]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[kh]WL[688.404]
;B[ng]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[hh]WL[663.777]
;B[es]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[ds]WL[662.004]
;B[fs]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[dr]WL[661.223]
;B[ho]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[eo]WL[640.313]
;B[fo]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[sl]WL[631.631]
;B[sk]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[sm]WL[630.165]
;B[pm]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[ig]WL[621.285]
;B[op]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[pp]WL[615.083]
;B[oq]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[nn]WL[605.624]
;B[ee]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[de]WL[603.173]
;B[no]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[ha]WL[595.363]
;B[ma]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[nn]WL[591.277]
;B[hj]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[ij]WL[589.276]
;B[gm]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[hl]WL[584.897]
;B[em]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[om]WL[581.756]
;B[cm]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[dl]WL[563.483]
;B[jg]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[jh]WL[561.337]
;B[ol]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[on]WL[558.907]
;B[lg]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[in]WL[534.661]
;B[ea]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[hi]WL[525.392]
;B[ca]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[ef]WL[522.077]
;B[ab]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[bc]WL[494.647]
;B[ac]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[be]WL[475.112]
;B[bb]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[ae]WL[473.044]
;B[ad]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[]WL[473.044]
;B[]BL[30]OB[5]TW[ce][ee][fe][af][cf][df][ag][bg][cg][dg][eg][fg][gg][hg][ah][bh][dh][eh][fh][ih][ai][bi][ci][di][ji][cj][dj][jj][dk][ik][jk][rn][sn][no][qo][ro][so][bp][cp][op][sp][aq][cq][dq][oq][pq][qq][sq][ar][br][cr][pr][qr][rr][sr][as][bs][cs][ps][qs][rs][ss]TB[aa][ba][fa][ga][ha][ia][ja][ka][la][na][oa][pa][qa][ra][sa][hb][ib][jb][kb][lb][mb][nb][rb][sb][bc][hc][jc][mc][pc][rc][sc][ld][md][nd][od][pd][rd][sd][je][ke][le][oe][qe][se][nf][of][qf][rf][mg][og][qg][rg][nh][oh][qh][oi][qi][ri][nj][oj][pj][sj][ok][pk][qk][rk][am][fn][go][hp][hq][kq][hr][ir][jr][lr][gs][hs][is][js][ks][ls]C[SoDesuNe [3k\]: Thank you
KbICb [3k\]: thx
])[/sgf-full]

Awesome games, which remind you of maybe reading a bit deeper before placing a stone - part 1.

[sgf-full](;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]AP[CGoban:3]ST[2]
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]KM[0.50]TM[1500]OT[5x30 byo-yomi]
PW[tzc]PB[SoDesuNe]WR[2k]BR[3k]DT[2010-11-30]PC[The KGS Go Server at http://www.gokgs.com/]C[SoDesuNe [3k\]: hey, good game
tzc [2k\]: hi gg
]RE[W+80.50]
;B[qd]BL[1498.234]
;W[dp]WL[1497.571]
;B[pq]BL[1494.787]
;W[dd]WL[1495.307]
;B[fc]BL[1492.99]
;W[df]WL[1493.495]
;B[kc]BL[1485.914]
;W[po]WL[1492.425]
;B[nq]BL[1462.441]
;W[qq]WL[1483.881]
;B[qr]BL[1460.508]
;W[qp]WL[1482.742]
;B[rr]BL[1459.303]
;W[ql]WL[1482.042]
;B[cn]BL[1396.659]
;W[gq]WL[1471.118]
;B[bp]BL[1362.007]
;W[cq]WL[1407.404]
;B[ck]BL[1358.038]
;W[ci]WL[1405.731]
;B[bq]BL[1344.1]
;W[od]WL[1402.236]
;B[pf]BL[1337.993]
;W[qc]WL[1400.149]
;B[rc]BL[1335.778]
;W[pc]WL[1398.252]
;B[rb]BL[1330.976]
;W[ld]WL[1395.884]
;B[kd]BL[1313.583]
;W[le]WL[1388.493]
;B[qj]BL[1305.208]
;W[ke]WL[1381.747]
;B[je]BL[1270.813]
;W[jf]WL[1379.335]
;B[ie]BL[1269.297]
;W[ec]WL[1376.913]
;B[fd]BL[1264.767]
;W[fb]WL[1376.041]
;B[gb]BL[1255.55]
;W[lc]WL[1373.985]
;B[qn]BL[1251.519]
;W[pn]WL[1371.575]
;B[qm]BL[1249.269]
;W[pl]WL[1370.833]
;B[rn]BL[1136.523]
;W[ro]WL[1125.97]
;B[rl]BL[1123.788]
;W[rk]WL[1118.567]
;B[qk]BL[1121.86]
;W[sl]WL[1117.419]
;B[rm]BL[1108.085]
;W[rj]WL[1115.148]
;B[ri]BL[1102.557]
;W[pm]WL[1110.907]
;B[eb]BL[944.246]
;W[db]WL[1105.058]
;B[fa]BL[943.356]
;W[jq]WL[1099.941]
;B[cg]BL[931.928]
;W[dg]WL[1080.553]
;B[ch]BL[886.692]
;W[di]WL[1076.676]
;B[cc]BL[881.835]
;W[dc]WL[1072.157]
;B[cb]BL[879.631]
;W[cd]WL[1067.568]
;B[da]BL[876.212]
;W[cm]WL[1066.898]
;B[cl]BL[866.717]
;W[dm]WL[1058.943]
;B[bm]BL[865.304]
;W[bn]WL[1041.507]
;B[bo]BL[842.466]
;W[dn]WL[1036.121]
;B[an]BL[840.19]
;W[mp]WL[1029.268]
;B[np]BL[800.793]
;W[mo]WL[1021.521]
;B[no]BL[795.809]
;W[nn]WL[1019.832]
;B[mn]BL[794.153]
;W[mq]WL[1018.135]
;B[ln]BL[785.939]
;W[nm]WL[1010.814]
;B[mr]BL[753.14]
;W[kp]WL[891.36]
;B[ll]BL[743.272]
;W[pj]WL[881.651]
;B[pi]BL[702.661]
;W[qh]WL[794.624]
;B[pk]BL[677.839]
;W[qi]WL[791.454]
;B[ok]BL[655.245]
;W[rh]WL[788.655]
;B[jn]BL[578.319]
;W[lr]WL[778.135]
;B[nr]BL[571.35]
;W[qe]WL[776.695]
;B[er]BL[564.804]
;W[cr]WL[749.329]
;B[ep]BL[507.724]
;W[fp]WL[744.481]
;B[eo]BL[503.843]
;W[do]WL[739.32]
;B[dq]BL[479.994]
;W[cp]WL[729.583]
;B[fn]BL[472.43]
;W[gn]WL[724.477]
;B[fm]BL[470.514]
;W[el]WL[705.127]
;B[ek]BL[421.179]
;W[fl]WL[676.744]
;B[gm]BL[417.382]
;W[hn]WL[629.149]
;B[hm]BL[403.81]
;W[fq]WL[570.689]
;B[eq]BL[396.967]
;W[fo]WL[566.716]
;B[en]BL[392.202]
;W[fk]WL[565.385]
;B[in]BL[336.284]
;W[rd]WL[556.463]
;B[ej]BL[328.622]
;W[fi]WL[546.068]
;B[dh]BL[320.161]
;W[ei]WL[533.409]
;B[eh]BL[316.003]
;W[fj]WL[528.83]
;B[fg]BL[309.341]
;W[if]WL[524.075]
;B[ff]BL[299.958]
;W[kb]WL[522.115]
;B[hh]BL[278.887]
;W[fh]WL[510.682]
;B[eg]BL[258.29]
;W[il]WL[506.708]
;B[hl]BL[253.044]
;W[ik]WL[501.501]
;B[hk]BL[251.541]
;W[hj]WL[498.821]
;B[hi]BL[201.989]
;W[ij]WL[490.334]
;B[gj]BL[200.513]
;W[gi]WL[486.952]
;B[gk]BL[199.441]
;W[im]WL[486.096]
;B[hp]BL[147.728]
;W[go]WL[481.77]
;B[hq]BL[143.558]
;W[hr]WL[480.171]
;B[ir]BL[137.453]
;W[fr]WL[358.214]
;B[hs]BL[70.225]
;W[es]WL[352.922]
;B[gr]BL[28.489]
;W[fs]WL[345.065]C[tzc [2k\]: do you want more thinking time?
]
;B[ho]BL[30]OB[5]C[SoDesuNe [3k\]: it's okay, thank you
]
;W[jr]WL[317.737]
;B[io]BL[30]OB[4]
;W[lo]WL[315.687]
;B[lq]BL[30]OB[4]
;W[kn]WL[302.296]
;B[km]BL[30]OB[4]
;W[ko]WL[301.442]
;B[jm]BL[30]OB[4]
;W[ml]WL[299.555]
;B[lm]BL[30]OB[4]
;W[lk]WL[296.299]
;B[kk]BL[30]OB[4]
;W[lj]WL[293.227]
;B[kj]BL[30]OB[4]
;W[li]WL[290.154]
;B[ii]BL[30]OB[4]
;W[dr]WL[282.327]
;B[ji]BL[30]OB[4]
;W[he]WL[270.963]
;B[ic]BL[30]OB[3]
;W[id]WL[267.994]
;B[jc]BL[30]OB[3]
;W[jd]WL[266.261]
;B[jb]BL[30]OB[3]
;W[fe]WL[248.074]
;B[ee]BL[30]OB[3]
;W[ge]WL[245.82]
;B[de]BL[30]OB[3]
;W[gg]WL[243.952]
;B[jl]BL[30]OB[3]
;W[em]WL[238.635]
;B[jk]BL[30]OB[3]
;W[gl]WL[231.273]
;B[iq]BL[30]OB[3]
;W[ki]WL[221.906]
;B[gs]BL[30]OB[3]
;W[jj]WL[215.492]
;B[lb]BL[30]OB[3]
;W[mb]WL[212.117]
;B[ka]BL[30]OB[3]
;W[qb]WL[206.644]
;B[pp]BL[30]OB[3]
;W[bi]WL[201.557]
;B[bj]BL[30]OB[3]
;W[hc]WL[185.619]
;B[hb]BL[30]OB[3]
;W[ks]WL[174.426]
;B[kq]BL[30]OB[3]
;W[is]WL[172.72]
;B[js]BL[30]OB[3]
;W[bf]WL[161.503]
;B[is]BL[30]OB[3]
;W[bg]WL[158.585]
;B[cf]BL[30]OB[2]
;W[be]WL[155.484]
;B[ed]BL[30]OB[2]
;W[bc]WL[152.581]
;B[sp]BL[30]OB[1]
;W[so]WL[132.598]
;B[rq]BL[30]OB[1]
;W[qo]WL[127.216]
;B[gf]BL[30]OB[1]
;W[hf]WL[121.876]
;B[ce]BL[30]OB[1]
;W[bd]WL[119.47]
;B[ma]BL[30]OB[1]
;W[nb]WL[117.577]
;B[cj]BL[30]OB[1]
;W[ba]WL[103.956]
;B[ca]BL[30]OB[1]
;W[bb]WL[102.055]
;B[ea]BL[30]OB[1]
;W[ph]WL[91.252]
;B[gc]BL[30]OB[1]
;W[na]WL[86.16]
;B[br]BL[30]OB[1]
;W[la]WL[82.737]
;B[hg]BL[30]OB[1]
;W[gh]WL[78.732]
;B[ma]BL[30]OB[1]
;W[aj]WL[65.857]
;B[ak]BL[30]OB[1]
;W[ai]WL[65.053]
;B[hd]BL[30]OB[1]
;W[la]WL[61.288]
;B[kb]BL[30]OB[1]
;W[oi]WL[58.682]
;B[dj]BL[30]OB[1]
;W[dl]WL[54.398]
;B[cs]BL[30]OB[1]
;W[oo]WL[51.919]
;B[op]BL[30]OB[1]
;W[rp]WL[48.187]
;B[sq]BL[30]OB[1]
;W[mm]WL[46.736]
;B[bs]BL[30]OB[1]
;W[bh]WL[42.692]
;B[bl]BL[30]OB[1]
;W[gd]WL[40.986]
;B[hc]BL[30]OB[1]
;W[co]WL[35.062]
;B[bn]BL[30]OB[1]
;W[]WL[35.06]
;B[]BL[30]OB[1]TW[aa][oa][pa][qa][ra][sa][ab][ob][pb][rb][sb][ac][mc][nc][oc][rc][sc][ad][md][nd][pd][qd][sd][ae][ie][je][me][ne][oe][pe][re][se][af][kf][lf][mf][nf][of][pf][qf][rf][sf][ag][hg][ig][jg][kg][lg][mg][ng][og][pg][qg][rg][sg][ah][hh][ih][jh][kh][lh][mh][nh][oh][sh][hi][ii][ji][mi][ni][pi][ri][si][gj][mj][nj][oj][qj][sj][gk][hk][mk][nk][ok][pk][qk][sk][hl][nl][ol][rl][fm][gm][hm][om][qm][rm][sm][en][fn][on][qn][rn][sn][eo][ep][dq][eq][er]TB[ga][ha][ia][ja][fb][ib][df][ef][dg][bk][al][kl][am][kn][ao][jo][ko][lo][mo][ap][ip][jp][kp][lp][mp][aq][jq][mq][oq][ar][hr][jr][kr][lr][or][pr][sr][as][ks][ls][ms][ns][os][ps][qs][rs][ss])[/sgf-full]

Awesome games, which reward you for the ongoing hours of studying (part 2):

[sgf-full](;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]AP[CGoban:3]ST[2]
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]KM[6.50]TM[1500]OT[5x30 byo-yomi]
PW[sbkk]PB[SoDesuNe]WR[3k]BR[3k]DT[2010-12-03]PC[The KGS Go Server at http://www.gokgs.com/]C[SoDesuNe [3k\]: hey, good game
sbkk [3k\]: hi
]RE[B+Resign]
;B[qd]BL[1498.715]
;W[dd]WL[1492.918]
;B[pq]BL[1497.124]
;W[dq]WL[1488.005]
;B[do]BL[1492.189]
;W[cm]WL[1484.18]
;B[cq]BL[1485.139]
;W[cr]WL[1481.605]
;B[cp]BL[1479.569]
;W[er]WL[1480.183]
;B[en]BL[1478.107]
;W[em]WL[1467.099]
;B[fq]BL[1433.633]
;W[gq]WL[1452.621]
;B[fp]BL[1401.392]
;W[fr]WL[1449.278]
;B[gp]BL[1398.068]
;W[hq]WL[1446.384]
;B[hp]BL[1344.306]
;W[ip]WL[1441.323]
;B[iq]BL[1317.447]
;W[ir]WL[1435.614]
;B[jq]BL[1315.804]
;W[jr]WL[1433.748]
;B[kq]BL[1310.459]
;W[io]WL[1429.466]
;B[fm]BL[1293.895]
;W[el]WL[1426.252]
;B[im]BL[1282.974]
;W[ko]WL[1422.997]
;B[lp]BL[1242.745]
;W[lo]WL[1418.425]
;B[mo]BL[1197.055]
;W[mn]WL[1413.108]
;B[no]BL[1193.04]
;W[nn]WL[1408.027]
;B[on]BL[1058.352]
;W[km]WL[1391.517]
;B[om]BL[1024.959]
;W[gm]WL[1353.079]
;B[fl]BL[988.801]
;W[fk]WL[1346.548]
;B[gl]BL[983.046]
;W[in]WL[1322.254]
;B[hm]BL[975.025]
;W[jm]WL[1316.308]
;B[ek]BL[958.9]
;W[dk]WL[1312.704]
;B[ej]BL[957.063]
;W[dj]WL[1311.596]
;B[ei]BL[944.483]
;W[di]WL[1305.246]
;B[gj]BL[923.845]
;W[jk]WL[1293.444]
;B[cd]BL[916.896]
;W[ce]WL[1281.032]
;B[be]BL[807.8]
;W[cf]WL[1246.994]
;B[cc]BL[796.485]
;W[dc]WL[1244.421]
;B[db]BL[777.284]
;W[eb]WL[1240.693]
;B[cb]BL[771.756]
;W[bf]WL[1238.112]
;B[bd]BL[739.483]
;W[fc]WL[1233.764]
;B[oc]BL[709.897]
;W[qj]WL[1214.551]
;B[qh]BL[697.919]
;W[qm]WL[1211.426]
;B[qo]BL[683.744]
;W[rn]WL[1206.849]
;B[ro]BL[680.133]
;W[oj]WL[1200.171]
;B[kc]BL[612.225]
;W[oe]WL[1194.968]
;B[pf]BL[605.051]
;W[nc]WL[1191.579]
;B[nb]BL[573.952]
;W[od]WL[1185.59]
;B[pc]BL[570.411]
;W[mc]WL[1181.141]
;B[hc]BL[563.919]
;W[mb]WL[1178.217]
;B[he]BL[526.233]
;W[eh]WL[1151.192]
;B[fh]BL[508.263]
;W[fg]WL[1148.354]
;B[gh]BL[498.638]
;W[gg]WL[1145.899]
;B[hg]BL[494.063]
;W[hh]WL[1141.523]
;B[gi]BL[441.372]
;W[hf]WL[1137.389]
;B[ig]BL[438.227]
;W[if]WL[1135.142]
;B[eg]BL[423.695]
;W[jg]WL[1126.177]
;B[ih]BL[412.268]
;W[jh]WL[1123.708]
;B[ii]BL[410.187]
;W[dh]WL[1122.573]
;B[gf]BL[405.824]
;W[ff]WL[1120.255]
;B[ge]BL[403.661]
;W[jf]WL[1103.107]
;B[fe]BL[400.562]
;W[ef]WL[1099.283]
;B[ee]BL[398.514]
;W[df]WL[1087.171]
;B[de]BL[397.364]
;W[ic]WL[1078.691]
;B[hb]BL[381.878]
;W[jc]WL[1060.69]
;B[jb]BL[336.661]
;W[kd]WL[1056.499]
;B[ib]BL[332.441]
;W[lc]WL[1051.181]
;B[oh]BL[290.18]
;W[ji]WL[1043.133]
;B[mh]BL[259.036]
;W[ij]WL[1038.901]
;B[hi]BL[257.102]
;W[kb]WL[1026.595]
;B[fd]BL[236.704]
;W[ri]WL[1023.071]
;B[rh]BL[234.28]
;W[lr]WL[1019.886]
;B[kr]BL[196.599]
;W[ks]WL[1016.398]
;B[mr]BL[180.926]
;W[hr]WL[1011.062]
;B[ms]BL[169.071]
;W[so]WL[1004.956]
;B[sp]BL[167.057]
;W[sn]WL[1003.689]
;B[rp]BL[165.761]
;W[sh]WL[1002.073]
;B[sg]BL[163.94]
;W[si]WL[1001.141]
;B[rg]BL[162.903]
;W[rl]WL[979.674]
;B[bn]BL[153.891]
;W[bm]WL[976.885]
;B[af]BL[129.045]
;W[ag]WL[972.1]
;B[ae]BL[126.842]
;W[bg]WL[971.197]
;B[qi]BL[114.736]
;W[rk]WL[968.728]
;B[cn]BL[92.578]
;W[an]WL[958.512]
;B[ao]BL[89.315]
;W[am]WL[957.47]
;B[br]BL[77.93]
;W[bs]WL[952.654]
;B[ar]BL[72.951]
;W[ob]WL[940.231]
;B[pb]BL[70.597]
;W[na]WL[939.314]
;B[pa]BL[45.53]
;W[ls]WL[935.006]
;B[lq]BL[42.585]
;W[js]WL[934.221]
;B[nl]BL[22.763]
;W[dm]WL[926.027]
;B[dn]BL[18.333]
;W[ng]WL[919.792]
;B[nh]BL[10.048]
;W[mg]WL[917.228]
;B[of]BL[4.102]
;W[me]WL[910.574]
;B[mj]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[lh]WL[902.715]
;B[li]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[lk]WL[896.216]
;B[mm]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[lm]WL[892.789]
;B[nm]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[ln]WL[891.26]
;B[ie]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[je]WL[887.36]
;B[id]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[hk]WL[878.851]
;B[gk]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[ho]WL[836.43]
;B[go]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[dp]WL[820.397]
;B[ep]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[og]WL[798.581]
;B[pg]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[pi]WL[795.85]
;B[ph]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[pe]WL[791.743]
;B[qe]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[nf]WL[785.545]
;B[pk]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[pj]WL[781.666]
;B[qk]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[ok]WL[776.002]
;B[pl]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[qn]WL[764.751]
;B[rj]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[sj]WL[759.531]
;B[pn]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[mk]WL[752.07]
;B[nk]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[ki]WL[743.567]
;B[nj]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[lj]WL[740.638]
;B[mi]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[kp]WL[701.229]
;B[mp]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[eq]WL[662.034]
;B[ql]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[sl]WL[656.224]
;B[il]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[ik]WL[648.44]
;B[ka]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[la]WL[644.606]
;B[ja]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[jl]WL[633.592]
;B[gn]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[cs]WL[626.2]
;B[bp]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[jd]WL[616.937]
;B[oi]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[jp]WL[607.231]
;B[oa]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[nb]WL[604.784]
;B[pd]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[ml]WL[595.911]
;B[ol]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[rj]WL[593.049]
;B[hn]BL[30]OB[5]C[SoDesuNe [3k\]: Thank you
sbkk [3k\]: thx
])[/sgf-full]


So, I finished "Attack and Defense" today. At least the theory part, I didn't do the problems in the last chapter, yet. I will read the chapter about the invasions into three-space-extensions again before I turn to "Positional Judgment".
I can say while and after reading "Attack and Defense" fighting situations got more handy, maybe it's some sort of late effect from "Direction of Play", too, I don't know, but it helps me feeling much more comfortable when playing a running group.

Furthermore, it's a nice change after almost working through "Graded Go Problems for Beginners Vol. 4" to read something strategic - a lot of new moves and ideas to try =D


post scriptum: 18 problems right out of 20 - yeah! =D

Phew, applying new ideas is devastating. Until the point, where it really works out, you have to lose nine consecutive times ^^

Well, lack of concetration plays its part, too. I could have won three of three games yesterday but managed only to get one win (opponent made a huge mistake, but even without I think I could have won with good endgame).
One time loss in a winning game (too much concentration? ; )) and one loss due to bloodlust. How is the saying: Never try to kill a group unless you can really read it to the end?

Started "Positional Judgement", quite interesting, I now try to count in my games more often. I am also reading "Tesuji" again. I need something where I have to focus on reading out sequences otherwise I tend to not do this in my games ^^


I feel like 2k might be within my reach for this year :o

After a little break I'm back on track.

3-kyu is stable, 2-kyu definitely in reach but for that I have to stop losing won games. Just now I lost a game, where I was like ten points ahead in late middlegame, beginning of yose. What did I do? Almost self-killed two groups (the one in the stupidest way mankind could ever imagine), losing every territory they once surrounded except for two points for eyes... Lost by over twenty points.

I feel like I could crush a Go stone between my thump and index finger

Some memorable and interesting problems I came across in my studies.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$B Black to life
$$ ------------------
$$ | . X . . . . . . .
$$ | . . O X . X . O .
$$ | O . O X . X . O .
$$ | . O X X X . . . .
$$ | X O X . . O . O .
$$ | . X O . O . . . .
$$ | . X O . . . . . .
$$ | . O . . . . . . .
$$ | . . X . . . . . .[/go]

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$B Black to play the best local move
$$ ------------------
$$ | . O X . . . . . .
$$ | . O X . . . . . .
$$ | . O X X . . . . .
$$ | . O O X X . . . .
$$ | . . X O X . . . .
$$ | . . O O X . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . .
$$ |-----------------[/go]

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$B Black to play the best local move (imagine there are still other points on the board)
$$ ------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . X . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . X X X X |
$$ | . . . X X X O O O X |
$$ | . . X X O O . . O O |
$$ | . . X O O . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ |-----------------[/go]

SoDesuNe wrote:Some memorable and interesting problems I came across in my studies.

$$B Black to life
$$ ------------------
$$ | . X . . . . . . .
$$ | . . O X . X . O .
$$ | O . O X . X . O .
$$ | . O X X X . . . .
$$ | X O X . . O . O .
$$ | . X O . O . . . .
$$ | . X O . . . . . .
$$ | . O . . . . . . .
$$ | . . X . . . . . .

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$B Black to life
$$ ------------------
$$ | . X . . . . . . .
$$ | . . O X . X . O .
$$ | O . O X . X . O .
$$ | . O X X X . . . .
$$ | X O X . . O . O .
$$ | . X O . O . . . .
$$ | . X O . . . . . .
$$ | . O . . . . . . .
$$ | . . X . . . . . .[/go]

$$B Black to play the best local move
$$ ------------------
$$ | . O X . . . . . .
$$ | . O X . . . . . .
$$ | . O X X . . . . .
$$ | . O O X X . . . .
$$ | . . X O X . . . .
$$ | . . O O X . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . .
$$ |-----------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$B Black to play the best local move
$$ ------------------
$$ | . O X . . . . . .
$$ | . O X . . . . . .
$$ | . O X X . . . . .
$$ | . O O X X . . . .
$$ | . . X O X . . . .
$$ | . . O O X . . . .
$$ | . . . . . . . . .
$$ |-----------------[/go]

$$B Black to play the best local move (imagine there are still other points on the board)
$$ ------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . X . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . X X X X |
$$ | . . . X X X O O O X |
$$ | . . X X O O . . O O |
$$ | . . X O O . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ |-----------------

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$B Black to play the best local move (imagine there are still other points on the board)
$$ ------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . X . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . X X X X |
$$ | . . . X X X O O O X |
$$ | . . X X O O . . O O |
$$ | . . X O O . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ |-----------------[/go]

Hmm, a problem I haven't seen. That's getting rarer and rarer these days.

First one's right (it's one of the most beautiful problems I encountered so far =) ), the other two show locally inferior variations ; )

That first one is quite interesting. The final portion of the solution evaded me until I looked at Shaddy's answer. It's the type of solution I find difficult to read out, though I got most of the way there.