I'm not sure what it is. I can beat 5 kyu and play right along with single digit kyus on KGS but when I go to Tygem I can't even beat a 15 kyu. The games are so frustrating to play as well because all they do is touch, attach and hane everything. I don't know what I'm doing wrong on Tygem compared to when I play on KGS. Half the time the plays are so inane that I see that I don't even know how to deal with them :\ Any advice?

In my experience, sdk tygem is more oriented toward reading than joseki and theory. You can get a lead by knowing some joseki, but to maintain it, you need reading.

Advice is to do go problems. When you can read out the crazy plays, your theory knowledge will pay off, and your rank will jump up.

_________________
be immersed

Keep fighting the good fight. When i was new (about a year ago) i foolishly made an 18k account on Tygem, not knowing is was full of sandbaggers. Despite being able to move up the ladder on kgs a bit, I was stuck at 18k for a long time on Tygem. Eventually you'll have a breakthrough from all the beatdowns. Some of the sandbaggers are even nice enough to refight you over and over. I had one guy who rematched me about 5 times and passes his first few turn to give me handicap. Treat thing as an oportunity to learn.

Hi leonprimrose, you are not doing anything "wrong" on Tygem. (Because you're doing the same thing on KGS.)
You're doing the same thing on both servers and anywhere else, because that is your Level.

Your level is your Level. Don't get it mixed up with your different ratings on different servers or systems.

The results you experience reflect your Level -- they are what they are because of your level.

If your Level is truly about 5k on a particular server or system, then by definition you'll win/lose about 50/50 to other 5k's on that server or system.And you cannot handle them? If so, then based on this, it seems you cannot fight.
There are at least two potential reasons for this: reading mistakes, and basics problems (e.g. shape problems, etc.).Your basics. Work on your basics. Study your basics. Find out what's wrong with your basics. Improve your basics.

Instead of looking at your different ratings, look at your basics. For example, post games here for some reviews.
People may point out what you're doing wrong with your moves and problems in your basics.It's your basics. 95% certainty. Post games here for review, then we find out for sure.

I had the same problem, i was 7k on KGS and cant beat anyone on tygem. I think it happends because people on KGS at least on 6-10k play to passive, but people on tygem overplay a lot and without reading i cant handle them. I read 2 problems books (Graded Go Problems For Beginners vol 2 and 3) 3 times and it helps a lot. And now i dont want to play KGS anymore, i think games on tygem are more exciting and interesting.

This is probably true, but is obviously not related to the OP's problem. My observation is that there is no significant difference in average playing strength in the Tygem 18k-2k range (the playing strength variance may be a bit broader in the Tygem-DDK area). Once you have made it to around KGS 2k, you should be able to compete with Tygem 1k-1d.

Another option would be to register at Tygem 2k and then see where the train goes.

I recently started playing Tygem, in addition to IGS, I found the strengths in the 5kyu and 4kyu range to be very comparable, I did notice that there is quite a bit of difference in style of play between the servers, both in timing rules, and in general play. I found that on tygem especially the Korean servers, that there was more variation in fuseki, fewer of my games started with my opponent plopping down the ol' hoshi stones, and that people tended to play the joseki more rigidly, which was refreshing. One other casual observation about Tygem, is just how far down I have to scroll to get past the dan level players to my humble rank vs. how little I have to scroll to get to my rank from the bottom.

Once you understand that their overplays are actualy gifts then you can register as 1d tygem around 3-4k kgs.
Untill then, try to find ways to defeat their overplays.

That you do by NOT overplaying yourself and making very stable groups in the opening.
Don't care that you are maybe 10 points behind in opening/beginning of midgame. You will make it up in the oncoming fights which come from their overplays

Best of luck,
Otenki

I agree with this statement completely. Just play solid (but not passive) and come middle-game, they'll have 5 weak groups being split apart by your thick positions and lose something, or connect everything on dame. Their overplays punish themselves. This does require some insight into how to invade or split them due to their thinness, though, and when to do it.

Just bear in mind that weak groups need to be split, and that you shouldn't strengthen one by attaching unnecessarily, unless it's part of a broader strategy, like leaning to kill another group. These games are also a great way to learn how to use thickness and influence to attack or reduce your opponent, because they certainly won't let you make territory from it.

Myself, I find these games can be very motivating if I lose them, because I know they're playing poorly, and it's on me to show them why.

And here I am thinking that the people over at Tygem with their Korean "KILL EVERYTHING" style is really great. (They still outmatch me.) I guess playing at Tygem would teach you how to fight and keep solid, strong groups if you get it right.