Played a game last night a little bit slower than normal. I found that turning off the sound helps. Be patient with me I have developed a habit that will take a while to break. I won by a little and was vary calm during the game.

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“I’m here to play go and chew bubble gum, and I’m all out of gum”- misquoted duke nukem

I put some thoughts about the beginning, take it all with a grain of salt

thanks emerald I agree with you on every point you made. I really appreciate your review.

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“I’m here to play go and chew bubble gum, and I’m all out of gum”- misquoted duke nukem

I have not fully broken the blitz habit yet. The important thing is to make sure you read thoroughly on every move.



A short summary- both of you played quite a few moves that did nothing but sit there and look pretty (ugly?) Every move you play like that in a game is like giving up at least half a handicap stone. If you're building territory out of thickness, something went wrong somewhere. Thickness is for frameworks and/or attacking. Also, move 43 is a pass move and should cut instead of saving two junk stones.

Some comments from SDK wishing to be a dan someday...

found a wrong comment on your file Tsuyoku 3 stones up equals 4 spaces over which is what I played.

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“I’m here to play go and chew bubble gum, and I’m all out of gum”- misquoted duke nukem

Rules like that are only rules of thumb, and actually when you get to 3 stones that rule doesn't really work anymore imo. While hane is best in that situation, if it were not, I would jump to the center star pt with that wall (and dare white to invade)

I can't find anywhere where I said "3 stones up" so I don't know where my mistake would be. But I do want to know if I got something wrong.

What move was it?

it is in the opening when I jump 4 spaces from a 3 high wall you said I jumped one to far.

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“I’m here to play go and chew bubble gum, and I’m all out of gum”- misquoted duke nukem

Ah. That does look like a real mistake.

For this game you can forget about any other move and just stare at the board at move 11. You must realize that the hane at R6 was the only move. Its not a matter of getting greedy or careful, that is simply the biggest, most urgent move on the board. You must feel it in your bones how wrong not playing R6 was. Every fiber of your body should be screaming with pain at not playing that move.

Recognizing the value of this kind of basic shape move is totally necessary if you wish to improve more from your current rank. You have previously stated that you think you your playing speed is the main reason you don't improve. Thats not true. Its this kind of move like not haneing that is the reason. That is the kind of move you should recognize and play immediately without thinking.

You make theories about why I don't improve, but I have started improving alot from being home. A friend of mine is teaching me the one concept of Go I have trouble with, strategy. My shapes supports my playing style which is fighting, but I'm playing fast because my fighting is tied into my instinct, and my strategy sucks. I have made major improvements from the lessons I'm being taught, and when I play him I'm starting to slow down and look for the good moves across the board, and not just local plays that start fights. The only reason I win games is because either my opponent lacks in strategy and tactics or just tactics. I'm now thinking about after this week of strategy training is over playing on the korean server on wbaduk. I wish to get slaughtered and learn from people that live in one of the strongest Go playing countries in the world. I finally took breakfast rank test which says 12 kyu european, and it equal to 7kyu kgs, but that test doesn't matter to me I will challenge stronger players to improve. Thankyou for your comments.

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“I’m here to play go and chew bubble gum, and I’m all out of gum”- misquoted duke nukem

Though it is possible aph is wrong that you are not improving, he's got a good point. Moves like that hane he mentioned need to be seen immediately and played. You have to have the feeling that it will HURT if your opponent gets a move like that. This is the kind of instinct that makes all the difference.

Balmung, I am not trying to attack you. But why ask for advice when you are so stubborn? FWIW, when I look at your games what jumps out to me isn't a fixation on local fights. A lot of players far stronger than you have that problem. What jumps out to me is your (bad) shapes in a local situation. You play moves locally that a stronger player would dismiss immediately without even thinking, and I suggest that you examine that more critically. That, together with your mis-diagnosis of your relative strengths, is what is holding you back.

I dont agree with you I respect your opinion, but I have had sdks try to tell me what is holding me back which has never helped, and I might agree with you if you were a dan, but still far more people who are stronger have told and showed me my problem is strategy and playing too fast, and fixation on local fights is a part of my lack of strategic planning.

Reading out every play accurately is also reading out moves that accomplish a part of your strategy. So I agree wth topaz I need to read out all of my logical plays and find the best sequence.

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“I’m here to play go and chew bubble gum, and I’m all out of gum”- misquoted duke nukem

Shaddy is a dan player.

Edit: I can't believe you are pulling this rank argument on me.

I have started reading the heart of Go series which is pure strategy. My stronger friends have showed me strategy is my problem. The person who out thinks rather than out fight is often times the winner. Understand that you don't have a rank that surpasses my friends so I will trust them, and the professionals in the books I'm reading clearly contradict what you are saying.

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“I’m here to play go and chew bubble gum, and I’m all out of gum”- misquoted duke nukem

I am curious, what ranks are your friends? Also, I generally win by outfighting people.

edit. Expanding on what I said, I believe that strategy is emphasized a bit too much. You can be great at strategy, but if you can't fight well, you'll get ripped apart by people who can.

I completely agree with the above statement. When it comes down to it go is not a strategy game it is a fighting game.

"Next Location: Kinkerdijk! Round 1, fight!"

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Someday I want to be strong enough to earn KGS[-].