Life In 19x19

Phelan wrote:I don't have much knowledge of woods, I'm just here saying that those images are huge, and stretch the thread layout. You could use hide tags to avoid that.

I can't hide them, they are attachments...

I purchased this goban at a local store which has hundreds of them for $500, discounted because I'm local. Many of the fine Gobans on eBay are sold by this dealer here in Portland.

I'm wondering if you can tell me what kind of wood it is, and possibly how old it is.

Pics attached.

More pics in ...

Well, so far I'm not doing to great. I've started reading In The Opening and have started playing against many faces with the goal of not always stopping them from getting territory but keeping my stones connected. Seems to be working.

My wife just had ankle surgery so my likelihood of playing a ...

Hi there!

My name is Jeff, and I'm a solid 17kyu right now on KGS. I know this because I can't beat a 16kyu player, and I beat a 13kyu w/4 handicap stones by 2.5pts.

I'd like to come up with a study plan beyond "Study life and death problems" that will REALLY help me improve. I'd like to at least ...

Here they are inline...

(;GM[1]FF[4]SZ[9]AP[SmartGo Kifu:1.5.1]
GN[2012-05-31b]
PW[SmartGo]
PB[Jeff]
DT[2012-05-31]
HA[2]
KM[0.5]
RE[W+6.5]
RU[AGA (Area)]
AB[gc][cg]
PL[W]AU[8 + +];W[dd];B[ff];W[gd];B[fd];W[fc];B[ge];W[hd];B[he];W[ed];B[ec]
;W[fe];B[ee];W[fd];B[ce];W[de];B[df];W[bd];B[cd];W[cc];B ...

Here are a few games.

I understand life and death (although I can't always see it until it's too late), I understand sente and counting liberties, but I continue to lose when I have less than 2 handicap stones. I know I should be playing on a larger board, but I'm overwhelmed by the prospect of being beaten on a 19x19 ...