I'm doing some research for a feature for Kaya regarding playing styles.

Definitely one assesses playing styles all the time : from people you watch to people you play. Its part of our identity as a player.

I wonder now, what kind of styles are possible, or interesting. I found a senseis page on it that was wildly comic-like, which is not what im looking for.

In general i find most style descriptors can go one way or another

Examples:
passive - agressive
influence-oriented - territory-oriented
creative - orthodox
knowledgeable(wisdomy?) - intuitive

I dont like descriptors like "Brilliant" or "exceptional". Id go for things that can be balanced (or tilt one way or another). But i can be persuaded

Also, i worry about descriptors with negative connotation, for example:

raw/brute/crass - elegant.
rush - patient

These are not styles, but a measure of ability

How would you like your own style to be defined?
What kind of style information would you like to read from another player?

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Founder of Kaya.gs

How about random style?

Whats the opposite of random?

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Founder of Kaya.gs

Random <> Boring (predictable)

lol.

Well, boring-"exciting" definitely has negative connotation, so its not a style.

Now, the opposite of predictable is just unpredictable . Doesnt look like an interesting descriptor.
Also predictable could be negative, as in "i know everything he is going to play". That usually means you are stronger.

We might be missing something like "cunning - transparent", which i dont know how to phrase to eliminate negative connotation.

Another:
Tactical - Strategical.

Also something that describes a usually attacking player to a sabaki-shinogi like player. Chochikun is resourceful, Kato masao is ?

Also, what about describing fuseki, fighting or yose preferences?

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Founder of Kaya.gs

A few more styles:

Moyo, Amashi, Territorial, Cosmic

Are you planning on finding quantitative tools for assigning these monikers?

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Tactics yes, Tact no...

There's already influence-oriented <=> territory-oriented.

Im certainly missing this sabaki-doer <=> attacker in the balance.

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Founder of Kaya.gs

Hm, maybe "solid - fast".
Solid would emphasize thickness, while fast emphasizes speed of development and creates more light stones.

I would change the terms to "Thick - Quick".... But that's just cause it makes me laugh for some reason

Too much connotation .

I like resourceful for players that usually like sabaki, but i dont have a word that is clearly opposite, for those that like to settle positions

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Founder of Kaya.gs

How do you measure these styles? I think style is tied to playing strength. Players tend to have the style that reflects the things they have learned about. Seeing the options is the pre-requisite to having a preference, but we can't know what the player saw.

Just thought I'd mention that when I watch NHK commentaries they call the opposite of attacker the person that "shinogi's".

Shinogi is not bad, but people wont know what it is. Still, what is the opposite of shinogi?

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Founder of Kaya.gs

I think shinogi is well known enough. I'd say the opposite is moyo-style. Who doesn't know the famous shinogi-vs-moyo games of Cho Chikun vs. Takemiya Masaki.

Funny, my understanding of shinogi is that it is the contrary of sabaki: one is die hard, live within, the other is play light and erode, given a situation, you may want or play one or the other. A simpler way of stating it is invade vs. reduce even if the meaning is not the same. Of course, it's not invade or reduce but some player would invade in positions where others would not.

Well, there is something like "daring" or "risk-taker" , and "careful" or "thoughtful"

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Founder of Kaya.gs

I agree with your recommendation : something like secure vs. daring.

By the way, I like a lot your idea of defining styles by scale. It looks like a Myers-Briggs of go players.

I do not think secure vs. daring can be mapped to shinogi. After all, attacks can be daring or secure (restrained).

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Occupy Babel!

kill <=> preserve

cut <=> connect

Those arent styles..they are actions.

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Founder of Kaya.gs