SoDesuNe paves his road to Shodan

SoDesuNe · **#41**

After a little break I'm back on track.

3-kyu is stable, 2-kyu definitely in reach but for that I have to stop losing won games. Just now I lost a game, where I was like ten points ahead in late middlegame, beginning of yose. What did I do? Almost self-killed two groups (the one in the stupidest way mankind could ever imagine), losing every territory they once surrounded except for two points for eyes... Lost by over twenty points.

I feel like I could crush a Go stone between my thump and index finger :rambo:

SoDesuNe · **#42**

Some memorable and interesting problems I came across in my studies.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$B Black to life $$ ------------------ $$ | . X . . . . . . . $$ | . . O X . X . O . $$ | O . O X . X . O . $$ | . O X X X . . . . $$ | X O X . . O . O . $$ | . X O . O . . . . $$ | . X O . . . . . . $$ | . O . . . . . . . $$ | . . X . . . . . .[/go]

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$B Black to play the best local move $$ ------------------ $$ | . O X . . . . . . $$ | . O X . . . . . . $$ | . O X X . . . . . $$ | . O O X X . . . . $$ | . . X O X . . . . $$ | . . O O X . . . . $$ | . . . . . . . . . $$ |-----------------[/go]

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$B Black to play the best local move (imagine there are still other points on the board) $$ ------------------ $$ | . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . X . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . X X X X | $$ | . . . X X X O O O X | $$ | . . X X O O . . O O | $$ | . . X O O . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . | $$ |-----------------[/go]

Shaddy · **#43**

SoDesuNe wrote:

Some memorable and interesting problems I came across in my studies.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$B Black to life $$ ------------------ $$ | . X . . . . . . . $$ | . . O X . X . O . $$ | O . O X . X . O . $$ | . O X X X . . . . $$ | X O X . . O . O . $$ | . X O . O . . . . $$ | . X O . . . . . . $$ | . O . . . . . . . $$ | . . X . . . . . .[/go]

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$B Black to play the best local move $$ ------------------ $$ | . O X . . . . . . $$ | . O X . . . . . . $$ | . O X X . . . . . $$ | . O O X X . . . . $$ | . . X O X . . . . $$ | . . O O X . . . . $$ | . . . . . . . . . $$ |-----------------[/go]

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$B Black to play the best local move (imagine there are still other points on the board) $$ ------------------ $$ | . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . X . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . X X X X | $$ | . . . X X X O O O X | $$ | . . X X O O . . O O | $$ | . . X O O . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . | $$ |-----------------[/go]

Hmm, a problem I haven't seen. That's getting rarer and rarer these days.

SoDesuNe · **#44**

First one's right (it's one of the most beautiful problems I encountered so far =) ), the other two show locally inferior variations ; )

Marcus · **#45**

That first one is quite interesting. The final portion of the solution evaded me until I looked at Shaddy's answer. It's the type of solution I find difficult to read out, though I got most of the way there.

SoDesuNe · **#46**

Yep, the first move is kind of obvious but to figure out, why White can't take away the second eye is quite a challenge (was for me atleast ^^).

Chew Terr · **#47**

It's bad, but even after I saw Shaddy's answer, it took me a minute or so to know for sure that it worked. =)

Marcus · **#48**

Chew Terr wrote:

It's bad, but even after I saw Shaddy's answer, it took me a minute or so to know for sure that it worked. =)

I have a mental catalog of common tesuji that I can run through pretty quickly when I'm looking for critical points. I find that the hardest one to mentally keep track of, for me, is (hidden so as not to ruin the problem):

Shaddy · **#49**

I thought upon first looking at it that black would somehow make an eye in the corner (and got stuck on a ko for a few seconds) because white's kind of short on liberties, but it disappointed me. The actual solution was somewhat less cool.

SoDesuNe · **#50**

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$B Black to play the best local move $$ ------------------ $$ | . O X . . . . . . $$ | . O X . . . . . . $$ | . O X X . . . . . $$ | . O O X X . . . . $$ | . . X O X . . . . $$ | . . O O X . . . . $$ | . . . . . . . . . $$ |-----------------[/go]

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$B Black to play the best local move (imagine there are still other points on the board) $$ ------------------ $$ | . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . X . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . X X X X | $$ | . . . X X X O O O X | $$ | . . X X O O . . O O | $$ | . . X O O . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . | $$ |-----------------[/go]

SoDesuNe · **#51**

I get better, no doubt, but I still play unstable. Guess that's my reward for not playing enough games. Just checked, I only have 150 rated games on KGS in almost two years - kind of sad.

I severely lack experience in certain (a lot) situations, reading was once far better, too. I work on both things right now ("One Thousand and One Life-and-Death Problems" is a challenge right now and I'm only at problem #150).

Furthermore I ponder if I should buy "The 1971 Honinbo Tournament". I have "Invincible" but I don't know if something more modern would be better (though Josekis would still be outdated but at least there would be a few more "useful" ones. Taisha isn't something I can profit from). Dunno, perhaps it's just the urge to buy a new book ^^
I re-played games form "Invincible" one and half year ago but I didn't feel I could get anything out of it. And it was heavyly time consuming.
Maybe I should give it a new try before buying something "similiar".

Second thing on which I ponder is getting a teacher. I'm not sure about this, either. First there will be money with three digits involved, second it's also a matter of spending more time on Go. Naturally I lack both money and time.
Third, I have a two to three Dan friend, who plays kind of regulary with me and reviews a lot of my games. So, maybe a teacher isn't needed in the first place.

Guess, there is still more pondering to do and perhaps everything will right itself in the meanwhile ^^

SoDesuNe · **#52**

Okay, no replaying pro-games for me. I seriously lack time to do it. I follow the approach of playing as much as I can, therefor I shifted my habit of just playing longer games (25min) to almost only playing medium-long games (15min). And not rated : D
Yes, I take my rank too serious : ) But at least now I don't have a (mental) problem with giving handicap, which (I think) helps a lot to make me a stronger player in terms of attacking (not just overplaying), good endgame and using Aji.

And it works! I guess. I played 26 serious (10 rated, plus a couple of 13*13, 9*9 and fun blitz games, which I do not count) games this month, more than I ever have played before in this period of time ^^ (61,53% won [50% of the rated ones] :twisted:

)

Besides playing I'm doing "1001 Life-and-Death Problems" again (12 wrong out of 436 so far) and "Making Good Shape". The latter is actually more browsing through because I get at least 70% wrong and would have never played the right move on my own. So I look at the position, think a bit how I would play and then I try to figure out, why the solution is so much better ^^
Playing light and making Sabaki give me headaches... But well, I guess, when I'm finished with "Making Good Shape", I'll solve "Rescue and Capture" and then I'm going back to "Making Good Shape" to see how much I'll get right this time.

SoDesuNe · **#53**

Local Dan-player "praises" my game. Says, I've definitely become stronger. Oheeeey~!

(Just played one horrible game and one semi-horrible.)

SoDesuNe · **#54**

Worked through "Rescue and Capture": Highly educational book with very nice moves! Out of 80 I think I got like 20+ wrong, sometimes very stupidly ^^

"One Thousand and One Life-and-Death Problems": 712 solved of which 21 were wrong. Since starting the five-move-problems, I'm doing nine problems a day (on average).

I don't have the time to re-do "Making Good Shape" at the moment, so I'll do this when I finished 1001 Life-and-Death Problems.

As for games: I play very distracted at the moment. I don't really read and I certainly don't focus or judge the situation. I feel like I lost the bigger picture when I play a game, I just play - putting stones on the board.
On the other hand, I was able to beat the local Dan-player (who recently reached 3D on KGS) on 3H lately : D Although I have to say, he played too safe for a handicap game. He could make a big Ko out of a group of mine (whole corner, maybe 50 points) but decided to make a move first, which would supply Ko-threats. So I "saved" my group by playing there first.
But at least I already played 18 games this month (55% won :o)!

SoDesuNe · **#55**

"One Thousand and One Life-and-Death Problems": 836 solved of which ~25 were wrong.

I think, I should play rated games again because I think 3k is not accurate anymore. KGS Analytics shows that I'm winning 61,5% of my games right now (played 26 games until now this month).

Marcus · **#56**

I'm impressed with your tenacity. I have not been able to get enough time to study or play regularly. Accordingly, I believe my skill has slipped down quite a bit (I think I may be back to 4k range).

Keep up the good work, and good luck to you!

SoDesuNe · **#57**

Thank you, but I'm not all that tenacious (though I'm very much into Tenacious D). End of last year I stopped playing and studying Go completely (started chess ^^) and just started again March this year.

I have created a Sensei's Library page for me today, http://senseis.xmp.net/?SoDesuNe, with little info about me and a lot talk about how I would study Go, when I would be fresh to the game : )
I would enjoy feedback, if you find some! ; )

Toge · **#58**

I would put more emphasis on playing rated games (really, put it as your default...). Dan rank is not that hard to reach. One just needs to play in good form. While mastering shape like Carpenter's square is impressive, it has little tangible benefit against overly defensive players. On the other hand there are countless of mistakes that fly under the radar. Playing thank you moves, thinking they are forcing opponent, is something all kyu players are guilty of.

Playing games also helps to discover weaknesses. I recently rediscovered the joys of cutting and suddenly games started to become interesting again. Studying from books gives you that bookish style which kills creativity. It is not a faux pas to not play joseki.

SoDesuNe · **#59**

Toge wrote:

It is not a faux pas to not play joseki.

I would doubt that to a certain extend ^^

[sgf-full](;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]AP[CGoban:3]ST[2]
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]KM[6.50]TM[900]OT[5x30 byo-yomi]
PW[SoDesuNe]PB[kekekuns]WR[3k]BR[3k]DT[2011-05-23]PC[The KGS Go Server at http://www.gokgs.com/]RE[W+Resign]
;B[pd]BL[897.267]C[SoDesuNe [3k\]: good game
]
;W[dp]WL[897.199]C[kekekuns [3k\]: hi
]
;B[pp]BL[893.268]
;W[dc]WL[894.261]
;B[de]BL[891.461]
;W[cg]WL[874.877]
;B[cf]BL[869.915]
;W[dg]WL[855.926]
;B[cc]BL[866.39]
;W[cb]WL[838.666]
;B[bc]BL[839.286]
;W[dd]WL[827.177]
;B[cd]BL[796.895]
;W[ee]WL[795.105]
;B[bb]BL[791.742]
;W[df]WL[787.514]
;B[ce]BL[789.173]
;W[db]WL[783.987]
;B[bg]BL[787.186]
;W[bh]WL[781.534]
;B[af]BL[783.094]
;W[nc]WL[761.405]
;B[kd]BL[771.716]
;W[ne]WL[730.852]
;B[fc]BL[766.613]
;W[fd]WL[717.463]
;B[gc]BL[755.929]
;W[pf]WL[712.471]
;B[oc]BL[749.608]
;W[nb]WL[702.77]
;B[qf]BL[747.813]
;W[qg]WL[696.267]
;B[qe]BL[745.491]
;W[pg]WL[693.541]
;B[ob]BL[742.969]
;W[hd]WL[637.992]
;B[hc]BL[740.133]
;W[id]WL[634.581]
;B[ic]BL[731.375]
;W[jc]WL[615.013]
;B[jd]BL[727.358]
;W[kc]WL[613.855]
;B[lc]BL[725.931]
;W[lb]WL[612.16]
;B[gd]BL[698.152]
;W[ge]WL[609.957]
;B[ec]BL[689.122]
;W[ed]WL[605.625]
;B[mb]BL[667.812]
;W[ld]WL[548.965]
;B[je]BL[647.544]
;W[if]WL[524.47]
;B[kb]BL[639.879]
;W[mc]WL[477.003]
;B[jb]BL[636.265]
;W[lc]WL[475.215]
;B[eb]BL[633.092]
;W[ka]WL[441.302]
;B[ia]BL[589.475]
;W[la]WL[378.463]
;B[gb]BL[567.545]
;W[fp]WL[321.239]
;B[bp]BL[551.408]
;W[co]WL[290.023]
;B[cq]BL[535.072]
;W[bo]WL[286.941]
;B[er]BL[531.466]
;W[fr]WL[203.885]
;B[eq]BL[528.777]
;W[fq]WL[202.323]
;B[ep]BL[525.809]
;W[eo]WL[201.251]
;B[dq]BL[523.792]
;W[gn]WL[167.89]
;B[dn]BL[513.728]
;W[do]WL[158.274]
;B[di]BL[511.88]
;W[ci]WL[129.703]
;B[fn]BL[485.507]
;W[fo]WL[123.584]
;B[gm]BL[480.649]
;W[en]WL[109.554]
;B[fm]BL[476.613]
;W[em]WL[108.635]
;B[el]BL[474.572]
;W[fl]WL[52.262]
;B[gl]BL[466.247]
;W[fk]WL[50.912]
;B[gk]BL[464.846]
;W[fj]WL[49.672]
;B[hn]BL[462.341]
;W[go]WL[45.514]
;B[gj]BL[460.146]
;W[fi]WL[43.795]
;B[gi]BL[458.007]
;W[gh]WL[31.854]
;B[hh]BL[456.051]
;W[gg]WL[20.344]
;B[hg]BL[451.063]
;W[hf]WL[16.472]
;B[ho]BL[444.677]
;W[qn]WL[10.274]
;B[np]BL[438.484]
;W[pk]WL[5.811]
;B[qo]BL[435.459]
;W[pn]WL[1.116]
;B[rn]BL[428.176]
;W[rm]WL[30]OW[5]
;B[ro]BL[427.162]
;W[ql]WL[30]OW[5]
;B[kq]BL[425.741]
;W[ii]WL[30]OW[5]
;B[hi]BL[423.569]
;W[jh]WL[30]OW[5]
;B[hq]BL[412.344]
;W[il]WL[30]OW[5]
;B[im]BL[409.982]
;W[jl]WL[30]OW[5]
;B[jm]BL[406.816]
;W[km]WL[30]OW[5]
;B[kn]BL[356.947]
;W[lm]WL[30]OW[5]
;B[ln]BL[355.828]
;W[ja]WL[30]OW[5]
;B[ib]BL[351.647]
;W[oa]WL[30]OW[5]
;B[pa]BL[344.976]
;W[na]WL[30]OW[5]
;B[qb]BL[343.602]
;W[es]WL[30]OW[5]
;B[ds]BL[337.422]
;W[fs]WL[30]OW[5]
;B[ao]BL[332.896]
;W[an]WL[30]OW[5]
;B[ap]BL[331.644]
;W[bn]WL[30]OW[5]
;B[cr]BL[310.953]
;W[ir]WL[30]OW[5]
;B[hr]BL[306.823]
;W[hs]WL[30]OW[5]
;B[iq]BL[304.752]
;W[jr]WL[30]OW[5]
;B[kr]BL[302.646]
;W[mm]WL[30]OW[5]
;B[mn]BL[299.312]
;W[ah]WL[30]OW[5]
;B[jq]BL[293.433]
;W[ba]WL[30]OW[4]
;B[ab]BL[283.654]
;W[ad]WL[30]OW[4]
;B[ae]BL[232.097]
;W[bd]WL[30]OW[4]
;B[ag]BL[217.844]
;W[be]WL[30]OW[4]
;B[bf]BL[214.654]
;W[is]WL[30]OW[4]C[SoDesuNe [3k\]: Thank you
])[/sgf-full]

But yeah, I'm going to play rated games from now on, at least until I reach 2k ^^

dedroid · **#60**

even after b61, i think he can be killed up there

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Wcm1 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . 2 1 3 4 X . O O . . . . . . . | $$ | . X O O X . X . 5 X X O X O X . . . . | $$ | . X X O X X X X X O O O O O X . . . . | $$ | . . X O O O X O O , . O . . . X . . . | $$ | . . X X O . O . . . . . . O . . X . . | $$ | X . X O . . . . O . . . . . . O X . . | $$ | . X O O . . . . . . . . . . . O O . . | $$ | . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

i think this kills him

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Wcm1 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . 3 1 2 . X b O O . . . . . . . | $$ | . X O O X . X a . X X O X O X . . . . | $$ | . X X O X X X X X O O O O O X . . . . | $$ | . . X O O O X O O , . O . . . X . . . | $$ | . . X X O . O . . . . . . O . . X . . | $$ | X . X O . . . . O . . . . . . O X . . | $$ | . X O O . . . . . . . . . . . O O . . | $$ | . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

a and b are miai

SoDesuNe paves his road to Shodan

Who is online