Shape

[Scrummage]

I've found that a lot of my games revolve (at least locally) around efficiency. My shapes seem heavy and slow, I was wondering if there are any resources (books, pro games, etc.) That are particularly useful to remedy this. Thanks

[gowan]

I've found that a lot of my games revolve (at least locally) around efficiency. My shapes seem heavy and slow, I was wondering if there are any resources (books, pro games, etc.) That are particularly useful to remedy this. Thanks

Two books: Making Good Shape by Bozulich and van Zeist, published by Kiseido, and Shape Up! by Charles Matthews available on line at GoBase.

[RobertJasiek]

You can build better shapes if you know all the standard move types, meanings and directions and the principles for good extensions as described in Joseki Vol. 1 Fundamentals. Also consider local alternatives by Local Move Selection instead of playing just the first move you think of. Efficiency is explained as a strategic concept and by the analysis methods Local Positional Judgement and tewari in Joseki Vol. 2 Strategy.

http://home.snafu.de/jasiek/Joseki.html

[oren]

Haengma books can at least be interesting.

https://www.yutopian.com/yutop/cat?prod ... tegory=PAK
https://www.yutopian.com/yutop/cat?prod ... tegory=PAK

I doubt either will help you more than reviews, but they will make you think about different shape moves.

[lightvector]

I used to have this problem too. (Actually, I still do, it's just gotten a little better over time). The following were a few things that helped:

Studying and getting the feel for common ways of making shape in tight positions. Driving tesuji, flying off orthogonally, counter-hane, attaching under on the second line, crosscuts. Sensei's library has a few pages to illustrate the basic idea, and many tesuji books have a number of examples involving these.

Playing many 2-4 stone handicap games as white.

Looking over pro games, with a focus on how they develop their shapes, which choice of move they use to defend a weakness, how they settle or sacrifice an invasion.

And watching Magicwand's malkovitch games for inspiration and fighting spirit.