Well I know I just posted some thing just seconds ago but that was just idle curiosity. Here be my game. I AM BLACK. Help me understand how to improve myself. I did it on the dreded 9x9 board because I was uncertain if anyone would take the time to analyze a newbs 19x19 game.

HERE BE MY LOSS:



This is one of my lucky wins (or just a really weak opponent. I DONT KNOW)



Can anyone help me improve on this through some intense merciless criticism please? Ill post a longer game if needed.

Edit: I changed the tittle because it sounded really very needy.

These both look like pretty good games for a beginner. In the first one, I would question Either you defend what you've got (play c5) or threaten to take more in the large area on the right side. In your second game, your offers white a nice opportunity to push through the gap and create cutting points - not good. I'd like to see one of your games on a 19x19 board.

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Patience, grasshopper.

Well Here is a 19x19 I lost because it was just so hard I couldn't help but to forfeit. My brain was going to implode upon itself. I am BLACK>

NOTE: It may looks short but this game took nearly 1 hour because of how slow my responses are and white was slow too. IT was fun. It was a painful. I hope I get better soon so I can respond more quickly. Help me see what I could have done better; how it may have gone if I continued. Actually help with anything you feel you can help with; I like to learn. FSDLJFLSDFJSDFSDFSFSF

I did my best... I guess.

You seem really discouraged and hard on yourself. Don't be. You're new to a very deep game, of course it's hard. Relax a little and enjoy playing it.

9x9 also isn't dreaded; I quite enjoy playing the occasional game on 9x9 as a change of pace.

Here's a review of your 19x19 game to help you out.



Edit: Also, I don't know if you noticed, but you had killed the G5 stones by the end of the game. You weren't doing badly at all.

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We don't know who we are; we don't know where we are.
Each of us woke up one moment and here we were in the darkness.
We're nameless things with no memory; no knowledge of what went before,
No understanding of what is now, no knowledge of what will be.

Wow. I didnt even realize I did that odd shape as much as I do. Most of my play is instinctual because I cant predict very far. It is a very weird shape thanks for pointing it out.

VerdeICe, those are examples of bad "broken shapes" -- quite common at your levels.

See also about toothpaste shape

Thank you for all your help, I think I understand a little bit better now. You see, like most casual players I have learned how to play through self training. Most of what I know comes from constant losses, books, or analysis of other more experienced plays. I feel like that is still not enough though because I have seem to be unable to move forward from where Im at.

Im only a beginner I think. I mean only 4 months of on and off play qualifies as such perhaps. I have a question for those whom care to answer: What should I focus on to improve? What should I practice to improve? Is there anything I can do to better myself?

If you need more of my games to better gauge my lvl please ask. If you want to play me please to see my low and depressing lvl first hand please ask. I am more than happy to take any one on any number of times, their lvl is of no matter. I dont know why I want to get better.... I just enjoy the game so much I cant seem to help it. OH MAN Im such a nerd lawls.

EDIT: Never mind. Though any suggestions would still be nice. I came to the conclusion that I cant get any better because I am just as good as I am, getting better is for the smart. Some people just are not any good at things. OH WELL.Ill just keep playing for the hell of it LOL>

All good questions. If you go through different sections of this forum,
you'll see these questions asked many times, in many different variations,
by many people, with many different ideas and responses.

If you give up, it's highly unlikely (I wouldn't say "impossible") that you'll improve.

But if you continue to strive, there's always a chance you'll improve (still no guarantee, sorry).

Yi Ch'ang-Ho, arguably one of the greatest players from the late 20th to the early 21th century, did not know how to tie his own shoelaces even into his young adult years. Although this might say nothing about his smartness, the same is true regarding any relation between smartness and being a better Go player.

I still say: The more work you put into something, the better you will get. You will get better faster when you find the right study regime for you, though.
I encountered four basic types of Go studying so far: Mainly solving problems (Tesuji/Tsumego etc.), mainly playing games (mostly faster games) and mainly reading theory books. On a much higher level I encoutered players mainly studying professional records.

The usual advice to be found in guides on Sensei's Library and from stronger players in general (my experience) is mainly solving problems, especially in the beginning. I followed this (still do) and I would also recommend this without doubt. You can check the link in my signature for more information about what I would recommend. Just know that I'm just a measly 1-dan amateur, so everything I have written could be completely or partly wrong : )

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My "guide" to become stronger in Go

Apparently, neither do many others.

TED Talk -- Terry Moore: How to tie your shoes

Wow. The reply's are really encouraging. Here I was being all derpy. Sorry about that I get discouraged easily.

Besides that after all that encouragement I decided to try something I didn't try before, Replying old games by pro's on a real board. It some how helped me see the what I think I would call the 'feel' of shape and timing maybe.I don't know if that made sense but yea I think I got past some mental block.

I'm still not very good... but I think my game has matured a little by like maybe 3%. All of the encouragement really helped so thanks.

Here is a simple quick game I played just a few minutes ago on a tiny board. I never got someone to submit before. Though my opponent was really weak I guess it was still a first for me. Can you tell me how I could have done better? I am again... I don't know why I get so often... I can play on a bigger board too but.... Some how I have after my small growth they started to look really scary heh..hehah.... ha...

VerdeICe, White to play -- kill the Black's group lower left.

I didn't notice that. Move 17 what was I thinking?

VerdeICe, no, at the end of the SGF, at , W to play and kill lower left B group.

I see. Well Im a big dope.