Yesterday, Yamashita Keigo finished off Hane Naoki in an overwhelming 4-0. (Best out of seven finals series) When I went to bed last night, the outcome of the game wasn't certain yet, so I was happy to wake up to a win for Yamashita. Please welcome Yamashita, the new Kisei.
We have studied the second Kisei final game at club, but I haven't really studied the other games from the series yet. Guess that will be on my study program for the next few days. Today I have done 20 of the 'Get Strong at Handicap Go' problems, reviewed some shygost lectures, want to start transcribing one of his lectures, and want to do a bunch of 'Get Strong at Attacking' problems. Maybe after that I'll start looking at the Kisei games. So much to study, so little time ^^
Yesterday was go club, always fun. We had nine players show up, not bad at all. I played two slow and serious games. Made a bunch of bad mistakes, but learned a lot. I am more and more leaning towards playing only one or two games a day, but take them really serious and spent quite some time reviewing later. I haven't even touched my Rated KGS accts in ages, which might be good because they tend to be the 'plunk and pray' type of games. I am much more apt to play seriously with my Nanny account.
The more I play, the less important my rank seems to be anyway. The only time when it seems to count is in tournament play, because I don't really want to sandbag or to enter at a too high rank. But apart from that, I couldn't care less.
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Monday, February 20, 2006
Fundamentals
I am rereading 'Lessons in the Fundamentals of Go' by Kageyama. I am only on chapter 2, I have decided to limit myself to one chapter a day, so that I can really think about what I am reading. That's the nice thing about rereading, I don't feel like I want to read and read and can't stop, because I HAVE to know what's in the rest of the book. This time I can savor it slowly, and enjoy his wit and his stories.
This chapter was on cutting and connecting and will make me more aware of those issues again, which hopefully will improve my game. It also makes me even more aware of the importance of fundamentals, especially quotes like "You have to soak up the fundamentals as you practice on your own, studying them until they become a part of your very being. If the fundamentals do not operate subconsciously when you sit down to play, you have not mastered them yet."
So will pay more attention to the fundamentals in my games, I have been trying to play more simple and basic moves. I like shygost's playing style, a simple style, mostly just following the fundamentals, which he says the koreans call 'flower go'. Meant as an insult, but it got him to 6d, so it can't be too bad, right? :) Good style to experiment with.
So much to study, so little time.
This chapter was on cutting and connecting and will make me more aware of those issues again, which hopefully will improve my game. It also makes me even more aware of the importance of fundamentals, especially quotes like "You have to soak up the fundamentals as you practice on your own, studying them until they become a part of your very being. If the fundamentals do not operate subconsciously when you sit down to play, you have not mastered them yet."
So will pay more attention to the fundamentals in my games, I have been trying to play more simple and basic moves. I like shygost's playing style, a simple style, mostly just following the fundamentals, which he says the koreans call 'flower go'. Meant as an insult, but it got him to 6d, so it can't be too bad, right? :) Good style to experiment with.
So much to study, so little time.
Sunday, February 19, 2006
Forcing Moves Revisited
I have been more aware of forcing moves and how to reply or not reply to them, have kept an eye open for how pros handle these issues. Very interesting. Sometimes I even remember to apply it in my own games, or I do play the obvious move, but not till reading out every possible variation. (at least, every possible variation I see with my measly kyu reading). I am working on that aspect of them.
I slowly am starting to realize that the other direction is important too. When to play forcing moves, and how not to overdo it. When is sente a good sente to play, and when is a sente move bad or crude?
In one of shygost's lectures, snakeeater mentioned the proverb "If you play every sente move, you lose." Shy agreed with him. "Yeah! I've never heard that proverb, but I totally agree with it. I remember when I was 6k. I thought 'Oh sente!' I was so psyched about sente, I'd just play sente all over the place. And then I would lose all my games. I said 'Wait??? What's going on here?'"
Then there is the issue of crude moves. The moves which are aji keshi, and often help your opponent. I should get rid of all of them. Just need to focus on that while playing. I am more aware, but still have lots of room for improvement.
Today was go club, eight players showed up, quite good for a Saturday afternoon. We looked at a pro game (Chen Yaoye 5p vs Lee Sedol 9p), and played a bunch of games. I played anti chinese against a chinese opening, and it took me till move 18 before I made a game losing move. Farther into the game than usual ^^. And it wasn't even a forcing move, I must be improving!
With every move I will keep this advice in mind 'Nanny wasted all the aji. If nanny wants to be a shodan, she must learn how to use the aji'.
I slowly am starting to realize that the other direction is important too. When to play forcing moves, and how not to overdo it. When is sente a good sente to play, and when is a sente move bad or crude?
In one of shygost's lectures, snakeeater mentioned the proverb "If you play every sente move, you lose." Shy agreed with him. "Yeah! I've never heard that proverb, but I totally agree with it. I remember when I was 6k. I thought 'Oh sente!' I was so psyched about sente, I'd just play sente all over the place. And then I would lose all my games. I said 'Wait??? What's going on here?'"
Then there is the issue of crude moves. The moves which are aji keshi, and often help your opponent. I should get rid of all of them. Just need to focus on that while playing. I am more aware, but still have lots of room for improvement.
Today was go club, eight players showed up, quite good for a Saturday afternoon. We looked at a pro game (Chen Yaoye 5p vs Lee Sedol 9p), and played a bunch of games. I played anti chinese against a chinese opening, and it took me till move 18 before I made a game losing move. Farther into the game than usual ^^. And it wasn't even a forcing move, I must be improving!
With every move I will keep this advice in mind 'Nanny wasted all the aji. If nanny wants to be a shodan, she must learn how to use the aji'.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Forcing Moves
A few weeks ago, I played a fun game against snip. We both made our share of mistakes, which got pointed out to me by ivosf. But the big thing I got out of the review was a new sense of the importance of resisting forcing moves. Here's an example from the game.
W had just played M11, and I replied too hastily with M12. I did exactly what W wanted me to do. How disgusting! Ivo showed me that L14 was a way better move here, and I shamefacedly have to admit that I hadn't even considered that one.
But of course, it is not about the actual moves. It is about the attitude. This review stressed a bunch of things for me which I had been getting slack at, or which hadn't sunk in yet. The biggest one being the way I should reply to forcing moves, doing my uttermost best not to give my opponent what he wants. My pro game study will help with that, since they are usually very good at this.
When someone plays a sente move against me, I will triple check whether it really is sente. I will reply so that things get better for me and worse for him. Even more so than I have done before. And I will only make the move he wants as a very last resort and very reluctantly so. Heck, maybe I should resign instead of making a painful or submissive move.
W had just played M11, and I replied too hastily with M12. I did exactly what W wanted me to do. How disgusting! Ivo showed me that L14 was a way better move here, and I shamefacedly have to admit that I hadn't even considered that one.
But of course, it is not about the actual moves. It is about the attitude. This review stressed a bunch of things for me which I had been getting slack at, or which hadn't sunk in yet. The biggest one being the way I should reply to forcing moves, doing my uttermost best not to give my opponent what he wants. My pro game study will help with that, since they are usually very good at this.
When someone plays a sente move against me, I will triple check whether it really is sente. I will reply so that things get better for me and worse for him. Even more so than I have done before. And I will only make the move he wants as a very last resort and very reluctantly so. Heck, maybe I should resign instead of making a painful or submissive move.
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Go, Yamashita, Go!
Over the last few weeks, three Japanese Kisei title matches have been played on, Yamashita Keigo is challenging Hane Naoki. Yamashita is one of my favorite players, so I have been rooting for him. This title is a 'best out of seven' series of matches, and so far, Yamashita has won three of them. Very good chance that he will end up being the next Kisei.
The first game was played in Germany, Yamashita won by resignation. The second game is the game we will be studying at go club on Saturday, so it's on my list of games to look at today. Yamashita took W this time, and won by 6.5. The third game was finished yesterday and was another win (B+1.5) for Yamashita. Only one more win needed!
Those games take two days, so it's interesting to watch them live, lots of time for discussion and thinking about options. Of course, they often end up doing something totally different from what we were thinking ^^
The first game was played in Germany, Yamashita won by resignation. The second game is the game we will be studying at go club on Saturday, so it's on my list of games to look at today. Yamashita took W this time, and won by 6.5. The third game was finished yesterday and was another win (B+1.5) for Yamashita. Only one more win needed!
Those games take two days, so it's interesting to watch them live, lots of time for discussion and thinking about options. Of course, they often end up doing something totally different from what we were thinking ^^
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Annoying Invasions
Just venting about a game I played last night, on one of my mess-up accounts. I played a 12k on KGS and things went ok until he started a bunch of unreasonable invasions in my corners. The first one, I thought he just had misread, even although it seemed far fetched. After that, it just got annoying. I felt that he was hoping for mistakes from my side, because there was no reasonable way that any of his invasions could work. Very annoying.
And of course, there are the times when an annoying invasion like that does work, because I do screw up. On the other hand, then I usually see it as a learning opportunity to play the whole game.
Last night wasn't one of them though, I ended up winning the game by almost 60 points, some of which he had given to me for free.
Good reminder for me to only invade when it is reasonable, since those senseless invasions are just rude.
And of course, there are the times when an annoying invasion like that does work, because I do screw up. On the other hand, then I usually see it as a learning opportunity to play the whole game.
Last night wasn't one of them though, I ended up winning the game by almost 60 points, some of which he had given to me for free.
Good reminder for me to only invade when it is reasonable, since those senseless invasions are just rude.
Monday, January 23, 2006
Consistency
Consistency seems to be my biggest issues in games at the moment. I feel that I can play anywhere from 3k to 23k in one game, mostly good moves, but once in a while a really bad move to make up for the good ones. Half of the time I forget about my new playing style. Another half of the time I go for experimenting instead of for the win. And the last half of the time I just plunk instead of think, often too fast. Yes, I know those are three halves, just wanted to stress the frustrations I am feeling over all this.
One reason could be that I am experimenting with a more territory oriented style. I always have been more of an influence player, so this is quite new to me. I guess the only thing I can do is plodding on and hoping for the best. Once in a while I do have a good game which gives me hope, but they are still too rare.
I am really enjoying my new study plan though. I am studying pro games almost every day, and learning a lot from it. Which makes me experiment more too, so it might be a mixed blessing. Still doing problems too, but not as many as I used to do. Pro games is my focus for now.
I guess I should work on my consistency, but not sure how to work on it. Maybe it all comes back to focus yet again, and maybe I should just accept that experimenting might mess up my games in the short run, even if it makes me stronger in the long run.
One reason could be that I am experimenting with a more territory oriented style. I always have been more of an influence player, so this is quite new to me. I guess the only thing I can do is plodding on and hoping for the best. Once in a while I do have a good game which gives me hope, but they are still too rare.
I am really enjoying my new study plan though. I am studying pro games almost every day, and learning a lot from it. Which makes me experiment more too, so it might be a mixed blessing. Still doing problems too, but not as many as I used to do. Pro games is my focus for now.
I guess I should work on my consistency, but not sure how to work on it. Maybe it all comes back to focus yet again, and maybe I should just accept that experimenting might mess up my games in the short run, even if it makes me stronger in the long run.
Sunday, January 15, 2006
2005 Statistics
Generated by the KGS statistics page.
Player 'nannyogg'. All games.
From 2005-01-01 to 2005-12-31 (365 days).
Number of games played: 650
Number of unfinished games: 6
Number of forfeited games: 0
Number of wins: 272
Number of losses: 378
Average number of games per day: 1.78
Win ratio: 41.85 %
Number of games played as white: 241 (win ratio: 54.36 %)
Number of games played as black: 409 (win ratio: 34.47 %)
Number of different opponents: 262
Random remarks:
I wish I was at the MGA tournament or the OZA instead of stuck at home, cleaning things I didn't particularly want to clean, but which are staring me in the face now.
Player 'nannyogg'. All games.
From 2005-01-01 to 2005-12-31 (365 days).
Number of games played: 650
Number of unfinished games: 6
Number of forfeited games: 0
Number of wins: 272
Number of losses: 378
Average number of games per day: 1.78
Win ratio: 41.85 %
Number of games played as white: 241 (win ratio: 54.36 %)
Number of games played as black: 409 (win ratio: 34.47 %)
Number of different opponents: 262
Random remarks:
- I didn't play enough games, less than two per day!
- I do a lot better as W than I do as B (ok, makes perfect sense anyway, but fun to see it in numbers)
- More different opponents than I had realized.
- The top five of people I have played most frequently are shygost, FlameBlade, hurkle, Kipawa, and GoChild.
- I was too lazy to actually include my Rated accounts, but it's not like I have played a lot on those anyway, would add maybe 20 or 30 games at the most. Some day I might feel organized enough to include them, but not today.
- Didn't include turn based either, but that is almost a different kind of game, I do both better and worse on turn based (better because I can think longer, worse because I sometimes forget about things like fighting a ko when making a move hastily.
- Didn't include real life games either, so maybe that would add another fifty or so.
I wish I was at the MGA tournament or the OZA instead of stuck at home, cleaning things I didn't particularly want to clean, but which are staring me in the face now.
Pesky Weather
"... Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect from 1 am to 4 PM
EST Sunday...
A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect from 1 am to 4 PM EST
Sunday.
Expect 3 to 6 inches of snow. Also strong northwest winds will
also cause any snow to drift and could suddenly reduce
visibilities for motorists. The quick cool down will also cause
any ponded water to freeze... making roads and walkways very
slippery late tonight and Sunday."
Since it's a two hours drive to the MGA tournament in good weather, and the weather doesn't seem to be particularly good today, I have decided not to go to the tournament. This sucks. But somehow it seems too much to drive five or six hours through weather like this, just to play a few games. Well, at least that is what I am trying to convince myself of.
EST Sunday...
A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect from 1 am to 4 PM EST
Sunday.
Expect 3 to 6 inches of snow. Also strong northwest winds will
also cause any snow to drift and could suddenly reduce
visibilities for motorists. The quick cool down will also cause
any ponded water to freeze... making roads and walkways very
slippery late tonight and Sunday."
Since it's a two hours drive to the MGA tournament in good weather, and the weather doesn't seem to be particularly good today, I have decided not to go to the tournament. This sucks. But somehow it seems too much to drive five or six hours through weather like this, just to play a few games. Well, at least that is what I am trying to convince myself of.
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Luo, King of Ko
He did it!! He did it!!! Luo Xihe defeated the nr 1 player in the world, Lee Changho. Heck, he also defeated nr 2, 3, and 4 before he beat Lee.
This was yet another spectacular game. Complicated ko fighting, in the end resulting in a 5.5 points win for Luo. His new nickname by the Chinese team is 'King of Ko'. The game lasted 360 moves, I wonder whether that's a record for a pro game.
Some pictures have been posted on go4go.net.
Luo rocks!!!
This was yet another spectacular game. Complicated ko fighting, in the end resulting in a 5.5 points win for Luo. His new nickname by the Chinese team is 'King of Ko'. The game lasted 360 moves, I wonder whether that's a record for a pro game.
Some pictures have been posted on go4go.net.
Luo rocks!!!
Thursday, January 12, 2006
New Study Plan
Yet another change in the making. I have decided that I will focus more on reviewing pro games and less on doing problems. This is after Janice Kim's article on getting stronger in the Jan 2nd AGA Ejournal. She says that study time should be spent on game records and tsumego problems, in a time ratio of about 2 or 3 to 1. My current studying is more like 1:10, I do way more problems than studying pro games.
My new study plan will be to use about 2/3 of my time on pro games, and 1/3 on problems. The first pro I want to study is Yamashita Keigo, because I like his style, but the last few days I have been distracted by Luo Xihe games, because of the Samsung finals. He lost his game last night, by 3.5 :( Tonight will be the deciding game, he'd better beat Lee Changho!
Sunday will be the MGA tournament. We will go there with three members of our go club. Looking forward to a serious day of playing. I have decided to just enter at 5k and see whether I can get my rank up by playing. I have no idea what would be a good number otherwise anyway, so can as well use my official rating. Now I just need to win all my games :)
My new study plan will be to use about 2/3 of my time on pro games, and 1/3 on problems. The first pro I want to study is Yamashita Keigo, because I like his style, but the last few days I have been distracted by Luo Xihe games, because of the Samsung finals. He lost his game last night, by 3.5 :( Tonight will be the deciding game, he'd better beat Lee Changho!
Sunday will be the MGA tournament. We will go there with three members of our go club. Looking forward to a serious day of playing. I have decided to just enter at 5k and see whether I can get my rank up by playing. I have no idea what would be a good number otherwise anyway, so can as well use my official rating. Now I just need to win all my games :)
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Go, Luo, Go!!!
Last night was the first game in the Samsung finals between Luo Xihe and Lee Changho. It was yet another amazing game for Luo. He seemed ahead from almost the start, but at some point things didn't seem too good for him. Lee managed to create a disadvantageous ko for Luo. Luo turned it all around with another ko and managed to win the game by resignation.
Amazing!
Only one more game to win!
Amazing!
Only one more game to win!
Monday, January 09, 2006
Wings League King Tournament
Let's say that I still have room for improvement in my tournament play. I managed to play 0-3. Impressive, huh?
Actually, it wasn't that bad. I did lose all my games, but felt I mostly played well. I lost on a few big mistakes as opposed to lousy play throughout. Things like throwing away a won game and such. A friend desribed it very well. 'Your moves were like strong - strong - strong - strong - weak and the weak ones negated the strong ones.' So I just have to get rid of the weak moves and I'll be fine :p
Every single game I made one or two big mistakes to lose the game. Oh well, I had fun anyway. And as always, I learned a lot when we reviewed the games later.
I think part of the problem was that these were daytime games, so lack of focus was an issue. Hard to focus when baby has to go to the potty for the 54th time in 30 minutes. Or when fights had to be mediated. Or when some one wants yet another sandwich. I even missed an obvious atari, which is a bad sign. One of those 'where did my stones go???' ones :)
Still feel good about my games, since I mostly played well. Just have to get rid of those few weak moves. And it was just fun to play in this tournament, who cares about winning or losing anyway.
Next weekend is the Boston tournament. Let's see whether I can do better in a real life games setting, without my kids to distract me.
Actually, it wasn't that bad. I did lose all my games, but felt I mostly played well. I lost on a few big mistakes as opposed to lousy play throughout. Things like throwing away a won game and such. A friend desribed it very well. 'Your moves were like strong - strong - strong - strong - weak and the weak ones negated the strong ones.' So I just have to get rid of the weak moves and I'll be fine :p
Every single game I made one or two big mistakes to lose the game. Oh well, I had fun anyway. And as always, I learned a lot when we reviewed the games later.
I think part of the problem was that these were daytime games, so lack of focus was an issue. Hard to focus when baby has to go to the potty for the 54th time in 30 minutes. Or when fights had to be mediated. Or when some one wants yet another sandwich. I even missed an obvious atari, which is a bad sign. One of those 'where did my stones go???' ones :)
Still feel good about my games, since I mostly played well. Just have to get rid of those few weak moves. And it was just fun to play in this tournament, who cares about winning or losing anyway.
Next weekend is the Boston tournament. Let's see whether I can do better in a real life games setting, without my kids to distract me.
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Utter Failure
After the good game against sarge, I managed to play a bad game against kongkaroo. It started out ok, but I focused way too much on territory, couldn't find a balance. Heck, didn't even try seriously for a balance. Got a bit hyperfocused on territory instead.
He got a massive moyo, which I helped him convert into territory. I did get a tengen stone in there in time, but then failed to connect to it, because I was too busy making territory. It's all about balance.
I got properly yelled at afterwards, and now see how my joseki choices and other factors lead to my demise. So I learned a lot and this will never again happen to me! (yes, you can stop laughing now)
Today is Wings League Kings Tournament, for the winners of the monthly leagues. Let's see whether I can play my new and improved style and not fail utterly this time.
He got a massive moyo, which I helped him convert into territory. I did get a tengen stone in there in time, but then failed to connect to it, because I was too busy making territory. It's all about balance.
I got properly yelled at afterwards, and now see how my joseki choices and other factors lead to my demise. So I learned a lot and this will never again happen to me! (yes, you can stop laughing now)
Today is Wings League Kings Tournament, for the winners of the monthly leagues. Let's see whether I can play my new and improved style and not fail utterly this time.
Saturday, January 07, 2006
New Playing Style
Writing the post on playing down to weaker players, and reading other people's thoughts on it has helped me to figure out the problem. At least I hope so. I just do too many overplays and silliness against weaker players, I am going to get rid of it. My new plan is to play any opponent as if he is firebolt (KGS 5d) or shygost (AGA 6d). They are the strongest players I play, and somehow they don't let me get away with anything. I should assume that everyone plays that way, even if they don't, so that I'll play the right move. And resist the temptation of pushing just a bit more than I should, or invading just a tad deeper than is reasonable.
Sounds good, right? Sounds very reasonable. The hard thing is to actually do it. Last night was the first game I seriously tried it. Since I was experimenting anyway, I decided to also go for territory instead of my normal influence based games.
The whole game I kept these three things in mind:
Sounds good, right? Sounds very reasonable. The hard thing is to actually do it. Last night was the first game I seriously tried it. Since I was experimenting anyway, I decided to also go for territory instead of my normal influence based games.
The whole game I kept these three things in mind:
- Territory
- Strong moves
- Calmness
I resisted playing so many more fun moves. I never jumped into places I would usually have jumped into. My play felt soooooooooooooo slow. But somehow, I managed to win anyway. I calmly took territory, split two groups, surrounded them, and killed them. Or maybe he killed them himself, since he was defending things he shouldn't have, while he was running. Whatever the case, I felt very good about my game, I hope I can keep this up.
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Playing Down to Weaker Players
I have noticed an interesting phenomena in my games, when I play on my ranked accounts on KGS. Because I usually only play on them when tired, or dealing with a lot of interruptions, they tend to be a bit underranked. Sometimes the game goes just fine, but I have too many instances when I start playing weaker when I play a weaker opponent. Making bad moves and bad decisions. I have been thinking why this is the case, but haven't come up with the perfect explanation yet. If only I understand it, I can fix it, right?
I seem to try out more unreasonable things on weaker opponents, which is not a good way to play, playing the opponent instead of the board. I kind of count on them not being able to punish correctly, and get an ok result. Sometimes they do punish correctly anyway. So part of it might be underestimating my opponent.
The opposite is true too, they do things which I know shouldn't work, or are bad moves, but I am not always able to prove that to them, and they still get a good result.
Another thing which was brought up by a strong player 'When I play a game of go, I play with my opponent. When weak players play go, they play against their opponent' This was an interesting way of looking at it. I sometimes feel that I not only play against my opponent, but also against myself, losing the game all by myself, without my opponent having to do anything.
And of course, there is the obvious fact that I usually only play on these accounts when I am tired, so it could very well be a lack of focus. A few nights ago i played games in which i missed basic atari's. Very very bad.
Maybe I should stop playing when I am tired, but it is nice relaxation. And at that point, I am usually too tired to study too, so playing always seems attractive. But I also am interested in figuring out what I can do to start playing more strongly against weaker opponents, since some of my games have been ridiculous.
I seem to try out more unreasonable things on weaker opponents, which is not a good way to play, playing the opponent instead of the board. I kind of count on them not being able to punish correctly, and get an ok result. Sometimes they do punish correctly anyway. So part of it might be underestimating my opponent.
The opposite is true too, they do things which I know shouldn't work, or are bad moves, but I am not always able to prove that to them, and they still get a good result.
Another thing which was brought up by a strong player 'When I play a game of go, I play with my opponent. When weak players play go, they play against their opponent' This was an interesting way of looking at it. I sometimes feel that I not only play against my opponent, but also against myself, losing the game all by myself, without my opponent having to do anything.
And of course, there is the obvious fact that I usually only play on these accounts when I am tired, so it could very well be a lack of focus. A few nights ago i played games in which i missed basic atari's. Very very bad.
Maybe I should stop playing when I am tired, but it is nice relaxation. And at that point, I am usually too tired to study too, so playing always seems attractive. But I also am interested in figuring out what I can do to start playing more strongly against weaker opponents, since some of my games have been ridiculous.
Monday, December 26, 2005
Favorite Player
Thanks to jwaytogo, I have been watching a lot of pro games live this year. Even although it sometimes seems slow (especially the two days matches) it is really interesting to see the game develop and to discuss variations and possibilities before they are played. Of course, often proven wrong by the pros, who play something totally unexpected instead.
For a while, my favorite player was Yamashita Keigo, after he played jabberwocks in the Oza challengers final against Nakaonoda Tomomi (Aug 2005). This was another game we watched live. I remember watching the start of the game, and going out for dinner, and there were only a few moves played during the whole time we took to eat our meals. Luckily there was an intermittent wireless connection in the restaurant, so we didn't have to totally miss out on the match while eating :)
I still like Yamashita, but after seeing the Samsung semi finals, Luo Xihe is at the top of my list of favorites. All three of his games against Choi Cheolhan were good, but the last one was just brilliant. Every single of those three games involved a dragon. Choi and Luo both had won one game, so the third game was going to be the deciding match. Luo ended up with yet another dragon, and things looked pretty bleak for a while. Suddenly, a triple ko appeared, very rare, but this would give him a draw instead of a loss, so we all were happy for him. Nobody expected him to just give up this triple ko and his huge dragon though, and find compensation elsewhere. Adequate compensation even. He ended up winning the match by 7.5 points. Amazing! Go4go.net posted a story about it.
I am definitely going to root for Luo Xihe in the Samsung finals. He will play Lee Changho, so it's not going to be easy.
For a while, my favorite player was Yamashita Keigo, after he played jabberwocks in the Oza challengers final against Nakaonoda Tomomi (Aug 2005). This was another game we watched live. I remember watching the start of the game, and going out for dinner, and there were only a few moves played during the whole time we took to eat our meals. Luckily there was an intermittent wireless connection in the restaurant, so we didn't have to totally miss out on the match while eating :)
I still like Yamashita, but after seeing the Samsung semi finals, Luo Xihe is at the top of my list of favorites. All three of his games against Choi Cheolhan were good, but the last one was just brilliant. Every single of those three games involved a dragon. Choi and Luo both had won one game, so the third game was going to be the deciding match. Luo ended up with yet another dragon, and things looked pretty bleak for a while. Suddenly, a triple ko appeared, very rare, but this would give him a draw instead of a loss, so we all were happy for him. Nobody expected him to just give up this triple ko and his huge dragon though, and find compensation elsewhere. Adequate compensation even. He ended up winning the match by 7.5 points. Amazing! Go4go.net posted a story about it.
I am definitely going to root for Luo Xihe in the Samsung finals. He will play Lee Changho, so it's not going to be easy.
Saturday, December 24, 2005
Blast From the Past
A while ago, I found an old, handwritten kifu, from a game I played in 1991. It said that I was 12k, but looking at the game, I am not so sure. I played my husband, giving him 5H. We look more like 40k and 45k.
Fun to see though, and to realize that I did improve some since then. All my moves look clumsy. I am looking forward to reviewing my current games one or two years from now, and see the same relative clumsiness.
One thing about go, is that the more I play, the more I enjoy it. The game seems to get deeper and deeper, and there are always new things to be discovered. And the more I study, the more I want to know, and of course, the more I realize how totally ignorant I still am, and will stay.
I can give my husband 7H now and win, we will have to try 8 or 9 next time. He doesn't like losing, so one of my ultimate goals is to give him 9H and let him win by 0.5 points every single time. I guess I do need to improve my counting before I can do that.
Fun to see though, and to realize that I did improve some since then. All my moves look clumsy. I am looking forward to reviewing my current games one or two years from now, and see the same relative clumsiness.
One thing about go, is that the more I play, the more I enjoy it. The game seems to get deeper and deeper, and there are always new things to be discovered. And the more I study, the more I want to know, and of course, the more I realize how totally ignorant I still am, and will stay.
I can give my husband 7H now and win, we will have to try 8 or 9 next time. He doesn't like losing, so one of my ultimate goals is to give him 9H and let him win by 0.5 points every single time. I guess I do need to improve my counting before I can do that.
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Beware of Bad Yose
Time to focus somewhat more on yose. A few days ago, I played a game against a good friend, and beat him for the very first time ever. He was playing simul though, so I can't count it as a real win, but it does mean I am getting closer to his level. (At least, that's what I like to think it means) This game did make me realize it's time to work on yose though, especially when an observer started out with telling us, 'Both of you missed lots of chances in yose' and 'I think the lead changed hands in yose a few times' Later, he got less diplomatic about it 'Yose scared me to death. In a close game like this, bad yose always scares me...'
Yes, I managed to get well ahead, only to give away most of it again in yose. Some of it were just cowardly and unneeded moves, and backing off where I should stood my ground. Others were pure laziness, playing too fast (in an untimed game, mind you), refusing to read too deeply, and loss of focus. I would like to blame the fact that it was a daytime game, and that the kids interrupted, but I will have to be honest and admit that it was me losing focus, and holding off too much, when I should have been pushing to win my won game. I ended up winning by a few points, but looking back, that was pure luck. My yose sucked.
The final stinger came when my teacher sendol reviewed the game. He showed correct endplay, and every variation he showed, Black ended up with a 20 or 30 points win. How embarrassing to win by only a few points instead... Heck, I should have lost the game, that would have been an even more convincing lesson.
Conclusion: my yose needs work. Or maybe it's more an issue of playing the whole game. It's not even that I not know what to play in yose, I just don't take the time and energy to figure it out. This will have to change, going to work on it.
Yes, I managed to get well ahead, only to give away most of it again in yose. Some of it were just cowardly and unneeded moves, and backing off where I should stood my ground. Others were pure laziness, playing too fast (in an untimed game, mind you), refusing to read too deeply, and loss of focus. I would like to blame the fact that it was a daytime game, and that the kids interrupted, but I will have to be honest and admit that it was me losing focus, and holding off too much, when I should have been pushing to win my won game. I ended up winning by a few points, but looking back, that was pure luck. My yose sucked.
The final stinger came when my teacher sendol reviewed the game. He showed correct endplay, and every variation he showed, Black ended up with a 20 or 30 points win. How embarrassing to win by only a few points instead... Heck, I should have lost the game, that would have been an even more convincing lesson.
Conclusion: my yose needs work. Or maybe it's more an issue of playing the whole game. It's not even that I not know what to play in yose, I just don't take the time and energy to figure it out. This will have to change, going to work on it.
Friday, December 09, 2005
Five Stones To Go!
The official AGA ratings are in. I managed to get myself to -5.06752 with a sigma of 0.8 so looks like I can call myself 5k now. Which I knew, but it's still nice to be official. Only five more stones to go, and then the fun can start.
I really wanted to be 5k anyway, because I wanted to enter in the official AGA shodan challenge again. Yes, again I say, since I entered in January this year, when I was around 16-18k and thought I could easily reach shodan by August... I was wrong :)
The closer I got to August, the more I realized what an impossible task I had set myself, at least impossible for me. I did get myself to 7k, which wasn't bad, but nowhere close to shodan. I can either see that as a failure, because I didn't reach shodan, or just be happy about having improved nine stones in seven months.
I decided to enter the shodan challenge again, and this time actually make it. This year, the AGA did split up the challenge though. The Challenge now has five Divisions: the 20-kyu Challenge, for beginners; the 10-kyu Challenge for 11-20k players; the 5-kyu Challenge for 6-10k players, the Shodan Challenge for 5-1k players and the 5d Challenge for 1-4d players. Since I was only 7k, this meant I would be trying to reach 5k by next August. Didn't seem like enough of a challenge to me. So I desperately tried to get to 5k before the sign up deadline. I did. I signed up November 30th (deadline was Dec 1st) and proved my 5k rank this weekend during the tournament.
Now the big question is "Will I be able to make shodan by next August?". I'd like to be confident about it, but who knows? Only one way to find out.
I really wanted to be 5k anyway, because I wanted to enter in the official AGA shodan challenge again. Yes, again I say, since I entered in January this year, when I was around 16-18k and thought I could easily reach shodan by August... I was wrong :)
The closer I got to August, the more I realized what an impossible task I had set myself, at least impossible for me. I did get myself to 7k, which wasn't bad, but nowhere close to shodan. I can either see that as a failure, because I didn't reach shodan, or just be happy about having improved nine stones in seven months.
I decided to enter the shodan challenge again, and this time actually make it. This year, the AGA did split up the challenge though. The Challenge now has five Divisions: the 20-kyu Challenge, for beginners; the 10-kyu Challenge for 11-20k players; the 5-kyu Challenge for 6-10k players, the Shodan Challenge for 5-1k players and the 5d Challenge for 1-4d players. Since I was only 7k, this meant I would be trying to reach 5k by next August. Didn't seem like enough of a challenge to me. So I desperately tried to get to 5k before the sign up deadline. I did. I signed up November 30th (deadline was Dec 1st) and proved my 5k rank this weekend during the tournament.
Now the big question is "Will I be able to make shodan by next August?". I'd like to be confident about it, but who knows? Only one way to find out.
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