Life In 19x19

Hey,

On tygem everybody is always sandbagging.
And I really like this because I get to play strong players even.

Howhever lately I have created a 5D acount on tygem to learn more.

Do you guys think it moral to reverse sandbag like that given that people sandbag the other way around also on this server ?

Cause of course I don't want to piss of stronger players

Cheers,
Otenki

I think it'd be very annoying for stronger players expecting a good even game.

I think a lot of players would find it rude. If I play a 5d, I woud quite like to be playing a 5d

Imagine if you played 15 other 5d players who were your strength because they'd done the same thing? a) It wouldn't do what you wanted, and b) it rather defeats the point of the rating system, no?

I second what Boidhre and Topazg said. It's something I've also been tempted to do but I resist. If I thought they'd want to play me I'd be challenging them to games with my regular account, so I figure the need to create another account is proof that I shouldn't.

Edit: Does anyone know if they have some kind of system to stop this happening? I imagine they could block IPs that do it regularly, but I'm not sure how they'd identify them.

PS I may not be a Tygem 5d, but I'm still more than happy to play anyone that thinks it would be worth it if you see me online...

I have from time to time created a 3 dan account on wbaduk to challenge myself when I am realistically only 2 dan there. Nevertheless, the step up is not so much that I can't win a game.

Going from 9 kyu to 5 dan is a bit silly though, I doubt you will even learn as much as you think you will.

It's no more rude than the usual sandbagging imo. Having a positive attitude towards the usual is fine but I don't see how either is more justified. When I play a 8k I'm looking forward to an honest game too

I think it's not right to deceive people for your own benefit. The culture of Go is one of honour and quiet dignity, and reverse sandbagging (can we call it "helium ballooning"?) is as much an affront to that as regular sandbagging. If you want to learn from a 5D, ask one for an even teaching game.

CnP wrote:It's no more rude than the usual sandbagging imo. Having a positive attitude towards the usual is fine but I don't see how either is more justified. When I play a 8k I'm looking forward to an honest game too

With regular sandbagging the person being sandbagged has a chance to learn something. With reverse sandbagging this is highly unlikely. This makes it far more rude in my opinion.

I don't approve of this at all, for the same reasons as Boidhre states.

And by the way Otenki, when you have the connections it can't be hard to find an (even) game with a stronger player can it? Lifein19x19, connections, hmmm... Seems to be some connection there.

I agree, but anyone who thinks they're doing me a favour with that sort of behaviour is off the mark. The extent I learn from those games is a) feel like an idiot and get depressed b) my reading sucks. I didn't ask for the lesson so the deceit is the key thing that defines the rudeness for me.

Contrary to most responses above, I actually don't see a major issue with it as long as you play reasonably quickly and resign when you can see the game is lost. Some opponents might even appreciate it as they will have an easier time to keep their rank/go to next rank.

I would add such a person to ignore list after the game for sure. I value my time, and such person would waste it, so I wouldn't want to have anything to do with him/her ever again.

Slightly off topic, but I think there must be a problem with tygem's ranking system if a kyu player can maintain a 5d ranking for any amount of time. How many losses does it take for your account to drop ranks?

In your last 20 games, you need 15 wins to rank up. 15 losses to go down. If you rank up, your last 20 games are cleared. I think if you win like 19 times in a row or lose a certain number of times in a row you can go up or down 2 ranks.