Scratching my head as I don't understand why my opponent (the Go Droid app) kept on passing after this move:


I played with a 5 stone handicap. Why didn't white play anything in the top left or upper part of the board? If you were white, what might be a good place to play?

I've studied up to 37-kyu page on the Interactive Way to Go and just started reading about 'fuseki'...Wonder if it's related to this.

Anyway, any help much appreciated!

Because Black could kill any white stone in that area. There is no moe interesting move on the board for White, so White passes.

Hmmm okay. I can sort of see it now - thank you. I didn't think it would be possible to win like this without filling up the whole board!

Take a look at some of the smallest alive groups at https://senseis.xmp.net/?SmallestGroupWithTwoEyes and then think where White could have space to make one of those if he played 6-10 moves in a row whilst black passed. Not so easy is it? Now imagine black doesn't pass but tries to stop White living. Much harder. In fact black can pass a few times and still White can't live. Without weaknesses of your opponent to exploit you need a LOT of space to live. It is not so easy for black to live in this 17×17 space if white tries to kill.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

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$$ | O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O |
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$$ | O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O |
$$ | O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

@Uberdude
Thanks. Yeah, the explanations at Sensei's library really made the answer clear.
Apologies for this very reply. This is my first weekend where I've been able to sit down and check the forum! Extraordinary times.

Welcome to the wide world of go!

And congratulations on a nice win.

Yes, these are extraordinary times. But maybe playing go can be a silver lining.

Since you are learning, may I suggest that you adjust the handicap against Go Droid frequently? Since you won at 5 stones, take 4 stones next time. You will probably win at that handicap, too, in which case take 3 stones next. If you lose at 3 stones, go back to 4. Etc.

Back before the internet where servers give people ratings, humans typically changed handicaps when one player won three games in a row. But that is too slow for beginners, who advance rapidly.

Good luck!

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