Hello all. I just recently started playing go (about a month ago) and even more recently started playing against human opponents on KGS as my schedule allows and would like some advice about what I should be working on as I attempt to improve and get a better understanding of the game. Attached is a game I played yesterday, it's probably only my 4th or 5th game on kgs and I know there are still a lot of mistakes I made, the most notable perhaps being not noticing the large dead group in the middle. I won the game but I still feel it was sloppy overall and may not have been a win if kgs had made it an even game. Any input is much appreciated, thank you for being a community focused on helping.

You played well for your rank, so I don't have many comments. I'd focus on playing more, or on doing life and death problems, whichever you like more.

Also, posting a game where you lost might be more productive.

_________________
a1h1 [1d]: You just need to curse the gods and defend.
Good Go = Shape.
Associação Portuguesa de Go

You are in the enviable position that anything that you work on will help. Find something that you can enjoy working on for at least one hour.

Welcome to the world of go!

Good luck!

_________________
The Adkins Principle:
At some point, doesn't thinking have to go on?
— Winona Adkins

Visualize whirled peas.

Everything with love. Stay safe.

Agree with what everyone else said - you're a vigorous young sprout, many different ways to blossom, choose some balance of {games, life and death problems, tesuji problems} that you find most fun, or even crack open a book if the spirit moves you.

But reviewing games is a good habit to get into - even if at this point maybe you can learn more just playing.

Also - I think L19ers don't flog this enough - we have a collection of great posts for beginners, mostly written by Joaz: viewtopic.php?f=11&t=667

I was actually looking at that thread because I was hoping Ed had a canonical presentation of the concept of broken shape enshrined there, but I didn't find it.

BTW: I didn't add a review of my own because Phelan did a great job, but you deserve praise for never outright capturing F9. That was gutsy and aggressive, but very strong play. I'm not saying you did everything exactly right in that area, but the basic idea that his F9 group is just dead weight encircled by strong black groups, and pulling it out hurts White more than it helps him, is very hard for most beginners to grasp.

Actually I'm surprised to see you as 27k, the only thing you need to take care of at the moment is to learn about "eyes"!
After that I recommend basic life & death problems (about 20 is enough) like this one:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$W White to play and kill Black
$$ ---------------
$$ - . . X O . . .
$$ - . X X O . . .
$$ - X X O . O . .
$$ - O O O . . . .
$$ - . . . . . . .
$$ - . . . . . . .[/go]

If you have done that (should only take about 30-60 minutes) you should have no problem to go to 20k, so start right now .
For basic life & death problems there is a site GoChild, there you can find easy problems.
Oh and try to prevent moves like 260, you should understand why - good look!