Life In 19x19

Hi,

Been reading this forum in the past a lot, and as I recently, today, started playing GO again, I thought I should register, to make myself known. This place is quite a goldmine, and I am happy to be a part of it. What else... hailing from Finland, in my 30s... that's about it.

And a little bit of GO history. I pretty much played my first game not more than a year ago. And got damn addicted until I seriously burned out, this can be a very, VERY frustrating game. Two months and hundreds of games later, I got from zero to 8 kyu in KGS, but it wasn't fun anymore and didn't play a single game for... KGS accounts are deleted now, so, that would make it over six months I guess.

Started a new account on Tygem today, and chose 12k as my starting level, to ease myself into y'know, to get to single digits quick enough again, to shake the rust off. But I have been slaughtered by Chinese and Koreans like you wouldn't believe! It sure seems a lot tougher than I remember from KGS days, they must play differently, my stones just keep on dying, 50-60 point losses during my first few games. Must be a different kind of breed those Asians. Double digits weren't supposed to be so tough! Six losses straight, embarrassing, I did not have any problems with 12 kuys before, but now... sheesh!

I tend to prattle a lot, pardon. Got demoted to 13k , to be expected, but at least during the last four games I was starting to put on some resistance, even won two games, there is always hope. I will climb up.

Very nice to be here.

Howdy GW. Good to have you here.

Hi GW,

I started an account on Tygem not too long ago and picked 11 kyu as my rank. I think almost every game I have got on automatch has been against someone considerably stronger than 11 kyu even though that is what their rank shows as. I have seen on other posts people saying that in the kyu range on Tygem, especially the DDK range, there are many sandbaggers. You should try playing on KGS again as I find that my opponents ranks seem like they are true to their strength.

Actually Dazz, your issue is more that 11kyu kgs is not the same as 11kyu Tygem. Once you find your actual rank on Tygem it will be better (although not perfect).

Thanks for the clarification. I realize my post makes it sound like the ranking system is the same on both servers. I am aware Tygem is different but from the sounds of it even those who have started off with an 18 kyu rank on Tygem have encountered a lot of sandbaggers. I know other posters have said that Tygem dan ranks are a bit weaker than KGS but I don't really know how the kyu rankings would translate from one server to the other.

The kyu ranks are much stronger on Tygem than on KGS even without sandbaggers (I have a 15kyu account and I am only a little underated).

I haven't played there much now, but when I played on WBaduk I never made it to single digit, so don't feel bad. lots of sandbaggers on the eastern servers.

Also, welcome!

Thanks for all the welcomes.

Good to hear that Tygem ranks are tougher, and I have to say, I like that aggressive style better than the usual stuff I experienced in KGS. Fighting is exactly what gets my blood pumping, and that is also a crash course towards learning how to defend, which is grand. No more complacency for me. When they invade: Defend from afar and then cut, cut, cut.