At what strength would a Komi start to　become relevant? I`m only a 12k and was thinking, between 2 beginner players, they will　play an even match, without thinking "white has 5.5 points." Since a beginner playing black will not know how to make the best of moving first, the Komi seems like more of a problem for beginners. Is there any truth to this thinking?

I had a separate　question I was going to ask also but for the life of me I can`t think of what it is...

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professional players played without komi for centuries.

for us amateurs, we usually win or lose by more than komi would make up for anyway.

Ok, I looked at the games I've played online in 2012, and 4/65 ended with W+6.5 or less. This isn't a perfect measure, because some of those games a player may have realized they are behind by komi and resigned, but it gives at least some idea.

Two beginners should probably use a komi of 2.5. It probably won't matter, but who knows?

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There's no magical cutoff point, but from what I can tell, the stronger you get, the better you are at keeping the game close. Aside from blowout victories because of a dead group, which also gets rarer, margins of victory go down as you move up the ranks, so it becomes more and more relevant with strength.

It also depends a great deal on whether one or both of the players count, and how good they are at counting.

just to add another thought to my post...

I find it simplest to just play and score what's on the board and leave it at that.

"but what about at least adding the .5, or who wins ties?", someone might ask. What's wrong with a jigo every now and again? Or just say, white wins ties and leave it at that (Ing rules say black wins tie, if I recall correctly). But why complicate the math and introduce such an artificial element to such already simple rules.

unless you're playing in a tournament, or there's money on the line, then what does it really matter?

I once played a casual game where at the end I was ahead on the board, and to my surprise my opponent quickly declared victory -- we had not discussed komi at the start, and if not discussed initially, then I just assume none. So I won and lost the same game. Big deal.

It has no meaning nor much impact up to the moment when you become able to count to a degree of precision < komi.

In old japan playing black was considered a handicap. I don't know about ancient china though.

I'd say still play with 6.5 on a full-sized board so you don't feel like things have changed when you do play with komi (like on most online games). As noted, it probably won't change many game results and if the players are especially sensitive to it, work it like doubles, playing 2 games and switching colors.

Bruce "K-K-Komi Breaker!" Young

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