So, my earliest games were against a number of friends in high school when we picked up the game and taught ourselves to play ... I was "really good" by the end of it.
We played maybe 25 games each over the course of 3 years or so, against one another, then stopped playing (except when I found someone to play ... happened VERY rarely). 5 years later, I found KGS. Here's first 19x19 game record there that I can find. Note that my first game was against a true beginner. I offered to play him anytime and help him learn.
Felt pretty good about that, but was quickly shown just how "good" I really was.
Of course, I also quickly found my first mentor (Warfreak2) ... I love teaching games on KGS, here's the first one I ever got:
(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]AP[CGoban:3]ST[2]
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]HA[9]KM[0.50]TM[1800]OT[5x30 byo-yomi]
PW[Warfreak2]PB[Marcus316]WR[1k]BR[17k]DT[2007-04-20]PC[The KGS Go Server at http://www.gokgs.com/]AB[dd][jd][pd][dj][jj][pj][dp][jp][pp]RE[W+157.50]
;W[qf]WL[1798.375]C[Warfreak2 [1k]: good luck
Marcus316 [17k]: hiya
Marcus316 [17k]: I'll need it

Warfreak2 [1k]: i certainly hope so

]
;B[mc]BL[1782.239]
;W[qj]WL[1792.241]
;B[qi]BL[1779.651]
;W[pi]WL[1790.949]C[Warfreak2 [1k]: ok
Marcus316 [17k]: ok
Warfreak2 [1k]: there is a proverb, "from a crosscut, extend"
Warfreak2 [1k]: obviously like all proverbs you should understand it so you know when to use it and when to ignore it
Warfreak2 [1k]: so i'll explain this one
Marcus316 [17k]: yeah
Warfreak2 [1k]: the idea is, each player will have two groups, involved in a complicated fight
Warfreak2 [1k]: four groups is a lot to be fighting with
Warfreak2 [1k]: so liberties matter a lot
Warfreak2 [1k]: when you extend
Warfreak2 [1k]: you go from two liberties
]
(;B[qk]CR[oj][pk]BL[1776.914]C[Warfreak2 [1k]: when you play the atari, you force your opponent to extend
Warfreak2 [1k]: so it is your opponent who is getting liberties, not you
Marcus316 [17k]: I don't have enough liberties on r11 to do this, though
Warfreak2 [1k]: yes
Warfreak2 [1k]: exactly
Warfreak2 [1k]: when you play the atari your stones are not connected, there is a cutting point, and you still only have two liberties with your original stone
]
;W[rj]WL[1789.686]
;B[qh]BL[1775.849]
;W[rk]WL[1784.631]C[Marcus316 [17k]: and now you've escaped
Warfreak2 [1k]: this takes advantage of liberties because you can't play s8
]
;B[ql]BL[1771.96]
;W[ph]WL[1778.963]C[Warfreak2 [1k]: and because you played the atari instead of the extension, i get to take advantage of your lack of liberties
Warfreak2 [1k]: and i can now take r12 because it has few liberties
]
;B[pg]BL[1769.749]
;W[qg]WL[1771.092]
;B[og]BL[1766]
;W[oj]WL[1768.803]
;B[pk]BL[1764.237]
;W[ni]WL[1764.997]
;B[mg]BL[1761.942]
;W[qc]WL[1756.878]
(;B[pc]BL[1758.713]C[Warfreak2 [1k]: this is submissive, you let white connect up easily and make maximum profit
]
;W[qd]WL[1754.48]TR[ra][sa][rb][sb][rc][sc][rd][sd][re][se][rf][sf][rg][sg]
;B[pe]BL[1755.854]
;W[nq]WL[1748.271]
;B[qn]BL[1746.028]
(;W[qr]WL[1727.066]C[Warfreak2 [1k]: i played here to see what you would do
Warfreak2 [1k]:

]
(;B[lq]BL[1717.756]
;W[qp]WL[1724.88]
(;B[qo]BL[1715.975]
;W[pq]WL[1723.625]C[Marcus316 [17k]: okay
Warfreak2 [1k]: this connection too good for w, again
]
;B[op]BL[1712.022]
;W[np]WL[1719.425]
(;B[nn]BL[1707.728]
;W[no]WL[1713.959]
;B[on]BL[1702.097]
;W[mn]WL[1706.33]
;B[mm]BL[1698.947]
;W[oo]WL[1700.689]
;B[po]BL[1697.296]TR[nn][on]C[Warfreak2 [1k]: this way w has forced b into an empty triangle
Warfreak2 [1k]: and
Warfreak2 [1k]: these two stones low on liberties
Warfreak2 [1k]: so i can try the cut
]
;W[nm]WL[1699.43]
;B[ml]BL[1691.027]
;W[om]WL[1697.33]
;B[pn]BL[1689.759]
;W[ok]WL[1692.789]C[Warfreak2 [1k]: and w connects up
Marcus316 [17k]: yeah
]
(;B[rp]BL[1675.126]
;W[qq]WL[1687.465]
;B[rl]BL[1673.768]
;W[rq]WL[1674.239]
(;B[sp]BL[1666.684]TR[ro]C[Warfreak2 [1k]: this
Warfreak2 [1k]: this kind of move is why i can win handicap games
Marcus316 [17k]: fail
Warfreak2 [1k]: it's this cutting point that lets me kill
Warfreak2 [1k]: even if i don't have to cut there to do the killing
Marcus316 [17k]: yeah I noticed
Warfreak2 [1k]: with a white stone near, i have the threat to cut, and that gives you the one extra thing you have to worry about
]
;W[sn]WL[1665.232]
;B[mo]BL[1640.725]
;W[ln]WL[1663.346]
;B[oq]BL[1627.859]
;W[or]WL[1661.633]
;B[ol]BL[1575.054]
;W[nl]WL[1659.358]
;B[nk]BL[1573.769]
;W[pl]WL[1658.298]
;B[pm]BL[1572.293]
;W[ol]WL[1653.566]C[Marcus316 [17k]: Anyways, I have to cut this short. I have work in 15 minutes.

Otherwise I'd play the whole night.

Warfreak2 [1k]: heh
Warfreak2 [1k]: ok
Marcus316 [17k]: I'll get better and beat you (with a handicap anyways) some time! heh
]
(;B[nj]BL[1571.049]
;W[oi]WL[1650.587]
;B[mi]BL[1569.82]
;W[rh]WL[1647.971]
;B[mq]BL[1555.414]
;W[nr]WL[1637.133]
;B[lo]BL[1545.98]
;W[kn]WL[1633.232]
;B[jo]BL[1538.209]
;W[kl]WL[1621.515]
;B[lj]BL[1523.889]
;W[mk]WL[1616.292]
;B[mj]BL[1522.07]
;W[lk]WL[1614.926]
;B[jk]BL[1519.038]
;W[fq]WL[1609.792]
;B[nh]BL[1513.428]
;W[ri]WL[1607.763]
;B[hq]BL[1510.858]
;W[cp]WL[1602.371]
;B[co]BL[1507.778]
;W[dq]WL[1601.142]
;B[cq]BL[1504.407]
;W[bp]WL[1598.951]
;B[bo]BL[1487.296]
;W[ep]WL[1595.925]
;B[do]BL[1483.81]
;W[bq]WL[1594.715]
;B[cr]BL[1482.753]
;W[br]WL[1593.519]
;B[cf]BL[1470.288]
;W[eo]WL[1589.621]
;B[dm]BL[1467.714]
;W[jn]WL[1587.561]
;B[in]BL[1465.934]
;W[im]WL[1578.241]
;B[hm]BL[1460.27]
;W[hn]WL[1576.282]
;B[io]BL[1459.295]
;W[gn]WL[1570.937]
;B[gm]BL[1452.848]
;W[fm]WL[1562.517]
;B[fl]BL[1445.42]
;W[gr]WL[1545.563]
;B[hr]BL[1428.4]
;W[mp]WL[1539.797]
;B[lp]BL[1426.566]
;W[jr]WL[1532.958]
;B[fn]BL[1384.231]
;W[fo]WL[1509.404]
;B[go]BL[1382.633]
;W[en]WL[1506.827]
;B[ho]BL[1381.706]
;W[fn]WL[1505.038]
;B[gp]BL[1380.768]
;W[ir]WL[1499.117]
;B[hs]BL[1359.762]
;W[ks]WL[1488.971]
;B[lr]BL[1333.758]
;W[ls]WL[1484.128]
;B[ko]BL[1323.985]
;W[il]WL[1480.087]
;B[gk]BL[1313.536]
;W[iq]WL[1462.973]
;B[kr]BL[1271.478]
;W[js]WL[1439.111]
;B[ip]BL[1237.526]
;W[gq]WL[1431.375]
;B[jq]BL[1225.248]
;W[ms]WL[1428.907]C[Marcus316 [17k]: well, that sucks
Warfreak2 [1k]: of course it does, you're on *that* side of the board

]
;B[fc]BL[1154.908]
;W[cc]WL[1426.347]
;B[cd]BL[1153.15]
;W[dc]WL[1424.278]
;B[ec]BL[1151.923]
;W[bd]WL[1423.178]
;B[be]BL[1150.807]
;W[bb]WL[1419.718]
;B[db]BL[1148.883]
;W[cb]WL[1417.818]
;B[eb]BL[1147.08]
;W[ac]WL[1415.782]
;B[ch]BL[1139.317]
;W[dn]WL[1410.209]
;B[cn]BL[1137.628]
;W[cm]WL[1409.195]
;B[bm]BL[1136.57]
;W[cl]WL[1408.156]
;B[bl]BL[1135.681]
;W[ao]WL[1406.28]
;B[bn]BL[1133.653]
;W[ck]WL[1404.739]
;B[bk]BL[1132.594]
;W[cj]WL[1402.015]
;B[bj]BL[1131.62]
;W[ci]WL[1399.462]
;B[bi]BL[1130.336]
;W[di]WL[1398.338]
;B[eh]BL[1125.86]
;W[dh]WL[1394.646]
;B[dg]BL[1124.796]
;W[ei]WL[1393.412]
;B[fh]BL[1121.123]
;W[fi]WL[1390.621]
;B[gi]BL[1119.346]
;W[hk]WL[1377.039]
;B[gl]BL[1100.966]C[Marcus316 [17k]: no snapback
]
;W[gj]WL[1352.308]
;B[hj]BL[1099.021]
;W[fj]WL[1350.308]
;B[ik]BL[1083.351]
;W[hl]WL[1344.785]
;B[jl]BL[1047.914]
;W[jm]WL[1343.055]
;B[lm]BL[1046.406]
;W[km]WL[1340.716]
;B[kk]BL[1040.561]
;W[ll]WL[1339.205]
;B[mm]BL[1039.351]
;W[hi]WL[1335.193]
;B[ij]BL[1037.707]
;W[gh]WL[1332.452]
;B[gg]BL[1036.8]
;W[hg]WL[1330.224]
;B[gf]BL[1032.573]
;W[hf]WL[1326.933]C[ketchup [-]: playing so fast lol
]
;B[ii]BL[1026.592]
;W[ge]WL[1322.658]
;B[fe]BL[1024.091]
;W[jf]WL[1305.397]
;B[fg]BL[1017.401]
;W[kd]WL[1294.358]
;B[kc]BL[1015.016]
;W[ld]WL[1292.035]
;B[lc]BL[1013.995]
;W[je]WL[1285.955]
;B[ke]BL[1009.096]
;W[ki]WL[1257.08]
;B[kj]BL[1006.611]
;W[lh]WL[1250.884]
;B[mh]BL[1004.732]
;W[pf]WL[1246.762]
;B[of]BL[1002.941]
;W[ne]WL[1245.689]
;B[me]BL[986.767]
;W[le]WL[1241.057]
;B[kf]BL[985.031]
;W[lf]WL[1234.863]
;B[lg]BL[975.714]
;W[kg]WL[1231.181]
;B[mf]BL[974.245]
;W[md]WL[1226.9]
;B[nd]BL[973.126]
;W[nc]WL[1212.916]
;B[od]BL[969.231]
;W[nb]WL[1210.779]
;B[mb]BL[967.792]
;W[jc]WL[1197.943]
;B[ob]BL[959.997]
;W[kb]WL[1190.059]
;B[na]BL[951.074]
;W[lb]WL[1185.361]
;B[oc]BL[948.067]
;W[id]WL[1180.316]
;B[rm]BL[908.505]
;W[ro]WL[1170.673]
;B[rn]BL[902.807]
;W[sq]WL[1168.882]
;B[so]BL[891.382]
;W[ro]WL[1167.443]C[Marcus316 [17k]: ah ... there's the snapback
]
;B[qb]BL[869.575]
;W[rb]WL[1163.241]
;B[qe]BL[861.417]
;W[re]WL[1161.631]
;B[rc]BL[859.954]
;W[rd]WL[1160.409]
;B[sc]BL[859.025]
;W[qa]WL[1158.288]
;B[pb]BL[852.242]
;W[sd]WL[1141.129]
;B[pa]BL[847.227]
;W[ra]WL[1137.085]
;B[hb]BL[839.735]
;W[gd]WL[1132.394]
;B[gc]BL[838.394]
;W[fd]WL[1129.935]
;B[ed]BL[837.293]
;W[ih]WL[1112.716]
;B[jh]BL[812.794]
;W[ji]WL[1108.734]
;B[ig]BL[806.544]
;W[hh]WL[1107.527]
;B[if]BL[791.143]
;W[ie]WL[1090.329]
;B[li]BL[784.093]
;W[kh]WL[1088.741]
;B[hd]BL[770.987]
;W[he]WL[1087.205]
;B[hc]BL[769.826]
;W[bg]WL[1071.175]
;B[cg]BL[760.388]
;W[ae]WL[1057.012]
;B[af]BL[757.255]
;W[bf]WL[1044.461]
;B[ad]BL[755.038]
;W[oh]WL[1028.675]
;B[nf]BL[736.459]
;W[ae]WL[1026.055]
;B[so]BL[713.84]
;W[ce]WL[1009.539]
;B[de]BL[692.572]
;W[sp]WL[1007.583]
;B[be]BL[689.528]
;W[ag]WL[1006.363]
;B[bh]BL[680.558]
;W[ce]WL[1003.581]
;B[dr]BL[644.644]
;W[eq]WL[997.063]
;B[be]BL[630.284]
;W[ad]WL[995.105]
;B[ce]BL[628.162]
;W[ib]WL[984.76]
;B[ia]BL[625.896]
;W[ja]WL[981.214]
;B[ha]BL[620.742]
;W[la]WL[964.119]
;B[ma]BL[615.974]
;W[da]WL[960.58]
;B[ea]BL[614.233]
;W[ca]WL[958.683]
;B[ah]BL[607.956]
;W[af]WL[957.118]
;B[an]BL[600.889]
;W[er]WL[955.74]
;B[ap]BL[586.538]
;W[cs]WL[945.168]
;B[aq]BL[582.253]
;W[ar]WL[941.816]
;B[ao]BL[580.279]
;W[ic]WL[934.046]
;B[kf]BL[564.591]
;W[jg]WL[931.532]
;B[]BL[564.591]
;W[]WL[931.532]TW[aa][ba][ka][sa][ab][jb][sb][bc][rc][sc][jd][ke][se][if][kf][rf][sf][ig][rg][sg][jh][qh][sh][gi][qi][si][dj][ej][pj][sj][dk][ek][fk][gk][pk][qk][sk][dl][el][fl][gl][ml][ql][rl][sl][dm][em][gm][hm][lm][mm][pm][qm][rm][sm][in][nn][on][pn][qn][rn][go][ho][io][jo][ko][lo][mo][po][qo][so][fp][gp][hp][ip][jp][kp][lp][op][pp][rp][cq][hq][jq][kq][lq][mq][oq][cr][dr][fr][hr][kr][lr][mr][pr][rr][sr][as][bs][ds][es][fs][gs][hs][is][ns][os][ps][qs][rs][ss]TB[fa][ga][oa][fb][gb][nb][nc][ee][ne][oe][df][ef][ff][eg][ng][ai][aj][ak][al][am]C[Warfreak2 [1k]: thank you for the game
Marcus316 [17k]: 157
Marcus316 [17k]: thanks
Warfreak2 [1k]:

])
(;B[sk]C[Warfreak2 [1k]: oh yes, b has this in sente
]
;W[rh]
;B[rn]C[Marcus316 [17k]: take care
Warfreak2 [1k]: ok
]))
(;B[so]C[Warfreak2 [1k]: here, and you are alive
]
;W[rn]
(;B[rm])
(;B[pm]
;W[ol]
;B[rm])))
(;B[pm]
;W[ol]
;B[rp]
;W[qq]
;B[rl]C[Warfreak2 [1k]: alive as far as i can tell
Warfreak2 [1k]: this group definitely could have lived
]))
(;B[on]TR[on][qn][qo][op][pp]C[Warfreak2 [1k]: this is a good shape point
Marcus316 [17k]: good shape
Warfreak2 [1k]: yes
Warfreak2 [1k]: pretty much certain for b to make an eye here, and w can't cut at all
]))
(;B[pq]TR[qq][pr]C[Warfreak2 [1k]: here, splitting is pretty much mandatory
Warfreak2 [1k]: miai
Warfreak2 [1k]: taking advantage of white's weak shape
]
(;W[pr]
;B[qq])
(;W[qq]
;B[pr])))
(;B[pr]C[Marcus316 [17k]: corner is then contained
Warfreak2 [1k]: this second line block, that is a one point jump from a fourth line stone, is a common powerful move
Warfreak2 [1k]: yes
]
;W[pq]
;B[oq]
;W[qq]
;B[op]C[Marcus316 [17k]: I didn't know how to attack it
]
;W[or]
;B[nr]
;W[ps]
;B[mq]C[Warfreak2 [1k]: black could give up the corner this way for example
Warfreak2 [1k]: w corner is enclosed
Warfreak2 [1k]: good for b
])
(;B[qq]
;W[pr]
;B[rr]C[Warfreak2 [1k]: alternatively this way
Warfreak2 [1k]: and it just looks like
]))
(;W[pr]
;B[qq]
;W[qr]C[Warfreak2 [1k]: this
Warfreak2 [1k]: so b is back with a sequence he knows
]))
(;B[qd]C[Warfreak2 [1k]: if you block here first
]
;W[pc]
;B[oc]
;W[rd]
;B[re]
;W[rc]
;B[qe]
;W[ob]
;B[nc]TR[qd][qe][re]C[Warfreak2 [1k]: white is split and has considerably fewer points
]))
(;B[qh]C[Marcus316 [17k]: to 4
Warfreak2 [1k]: to four liberties
Warfreak2 [1k]: yes
Warfreak2 [1k]: here, this is a particularly good move because it is a double threat
Warfreak2 [1k]: you threaten to capture q11 in a ladder
Warfreak2 [1k]: and also you can capture r10 by driving it to the edge
Warfreak2 [1k]: so extending here would be a brilliant move
]
;W[oi]
;B[qk]
;W[rj]
;B[rk]
;W[ri]
;B[rh]))