Hey everybody, I've been stuck at 3k for quite a while now and I want to escape the kyu realm. I was thinking of getting "Graded Go Problems for Dan Players: Life and Death" (probably the tesuji one too) and working through that, and starting an account with a hidden rank so I can play without rank stress. Any advice?

play someone strong. that is the best medicine.

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"The more we think we know about
The greater the unknown"
Words by neil peart, music by geddy lee and alex lifeson

Definitely. Also, review your games with stronger players.

I do not think that turning off the rank feature will help. Just focus on improving your game, not your rank.

If you want to do Go problems, another ideae is to try to do ALL the easy (30k-5k) problems on http://www.goproblems.com. I did this just to improve my problem completion percentage, but doing all those easy problems definitely helped me. Also, the "solutions" are sometimes wrong or incomplete, especially on new problems, so you have to read thoroughly and accept your own judgment.

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I am Tartuffe from GoDiscussions.com

So that's all it took for you guys to reach dan? Everybody makes it sound so simple after they achieve it

it is simple. if you know basic shape and etc etc.. you will be 1dan.
it took me only 1 year to get to reach 1dan. since then 20 years later i am only 4dan.

1) memorize basic joseky (also think about each move and what it means)
2) play game and review. (preferably dan level strong player)
3) study Life and Death problem. (this is very important because it will teach you basic shape)
4) play more game and review.

i am sure you can reach sdk in few month. (possibly low sdk)

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"The more we think we know about
The greater the unknown"
Words by neil peart, music by geddy lee and alex lifeson

While I generally agree with you on this point, i think you make it sound too simplistic.
Its like a pro could probably say 'Get a good understanding of the basics, and you will be 1P. Easy.'

Didn't Kageyama said something to that effect? That the difference between pros and amas was deeper understanding of the basics? It has been years since I looked at all the books, lol...

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- Bantari
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WARNING: This post might contain Opinions!!

play someone strong, probably translates in don't avoid handicap games.

what else i found useful:

try not to rely on tricks and traps in the opening (as specially prepared openings etc.), but to learn each game.

from all the books i read the last years, fujisawa shuko tesuji dictionary (i have only the first part) was the only book which really made itself felt instantly. while improving reading skills is all fine, this book gave me an idea what sequences i can look out for. and i was stuck at about the same level for some years.

don't start an account with a hidden rank but play only rated games (and get used to being demoted once in a while.)

good luck
tapir

ps @magicwand "i am sure you can reach sdk in few month. (possibly low sdk)" is probably not very encouraging for a 3kyu isn't it?

If you've plateaued (and there does seem to be a common plateau at 3/4 kyu from stats I've seen of strength distribution) it probably means there's something fundamental about the game you still don't understand or apply well. There's also supposed to be a plateau around 6k or so, and from what I can tell playing online, it probably has to do with learning basic strategy pitfalls to avoid. eg: don't let yourself get enclosed, don't create more than 1 weak group, don't invade when a reduction will do so you can keep sente, etc.

I'm obviously not the person to ask about the 3k barrier, but I think I heard once for many people it involves properly understanding when to keep sente and when to take a large gote point. Like every time you take gote when you could have taken sente it's half a handicap stone.

That said, I think it's possible to get to 1 Dan just being awesome at tactical fighting and life and death (witness Monte Carlo go playing programs), so if that's what you enjoy, go for it that way.

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1k KGS

Also being stuck at 3k, I have the same questions. About playing someone strong though, does it still count if it's with handicap stones? It's certainly more fun that way!

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"There are no limits. There are plateaus, but you must not stay there, you must go beyond them. If it kills you, it kills you. A man must constantly exceed his level." -- Bruce Lee

i didnt say not to play handycapped game. i just said to play someone strong.
reason why you want to play someone strong is that they will usually play a move that is correct and logical and not an over play.
they will attack you correctly. they will defend their weak group(or attack you first to defend themselves). they will wait till they get strong. and more.

which means you will learn from him how to attack, defend, vital points, end game, ect.
weak players do not have such characteristic.

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"The more we think we know about
The greater the unknown"
Words by neil peart, music by geddy lee and alex lifeson

hah, thanks for all the input everybody

Good luck with that! When you reach 40, calls us with your result

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Stefany, web programmer