Tyro has a lot to learn

[Tyro]

Hello!

I've been lurking around this forum for a month or so, taking advantage of your beginner tips. They, and all of the other wonderful resources on the internet have helped me a lot! (Thanks everyone.) I really like the idea of holding myself accountable and being able to get input from other go players also looking to improve.

My goals are not particularly solid. Honestly, I'd just like to get better. Oh, and to address some of my weaknesses in the near future, but we'll get to that.

I have a much more solid plan. I know to improve I need to play games where I think a lot and have them reviewed by stronger players. Luckily for me I'm weak so there are lots of stronger players who can review for me! (I usually play on KGS and take my games to the KTL for reviews. Everyone is so nice. I've seen some of you around there, thank you for the reviews!)

I also want to do lots of tsumego. I take a long time to play a game (usually an hour) so on days I that I have lots of work I'm not usually able to play more than one or two games. (Don't forget review time!) I actually really enjoy doing tsumego as I get a small sense of accomplishment from each completed problem. (Simple minds, simple pleasures.) I also find that I frequently am hesitant to play a move because I cannot read it out enough to tell if it will "work". I know more reading will fix this! (The goal is to start and finish Graded Go Problem Vol 4 before Monday.)

I have a few major problems that I'm looking to address in the near future though. The first is anxiousness and nervousness. I sometimes find that I won't even play a game because of how worried I become. Once I'm playing I feel much better and I'm really not sure what this nervousness is about! I'm going to set a goal of playing at least one game a day, as I feel this will help me overcome these fears.

I also have a very weak opening. I'm, as a beginner, pretty much weak all over, but I think my opening is definitely something I can break down and try and understand more. I'm currently working my way through 501 opening problems and the Fundamental Principles of Go (this book was recommended to me for helping my opening by another player). If you have other recommendations for what could help me with my opening, please tell me!

Finally, my fighting is very weak. I've managed, probably due to the less aggressive nature of KGS players, to encounter very little fighting in my games. As I never use it, I'm quite weak! I would like to read "Attack and Defense" and again, other suggestions for books, tsumego, or other web resources for improving my fighting would be very welcome.

I think that is all for now! (Sorry for the wall of text.) As a poor uni student, I again cannot thank you all enough for creating so many free and accessible resources. I'm having a lot of fun! Thank you all!

Tl;Dr: Wanting to improve, please help me along my journey! Thank you for all the help you have already unknowingly given me by having so many resources around here. ^^

[Boidhre]

Books:

Opening:

Opening Theory Made Easy (great book)

Fighting:

Get Strong at Tesuji (You'll love it if you enjoy tsumego!)
Tesuji by Davies (more dense but has every tesuji you need as a kyu player I believe)



I think the best fight training I get is by playing even games with much stronger players. I get ripped to pieces but afterwards usually one or two new things have stuck in my head.


Oh, and welcome to the forum.

[EdLee]

Welcome! Post your serious games here, in addition to KTL, for reviews.

I take a long time to play a game (usually an hour)

Too fast for me.

[topazg]

Welcome, nice to see you on here having played you earlier this month

Attack and defense is very good, particularly around your strength. Get graded go problems for beginners vols 3 and 4, and probably Yilun Yang's fundamental principles of Go. I think Kageyama's lessons in the fundamentals of go is excellent (although some people really seem to dislike his style), and Cho Hun-hyeon's Lectures in Go Techniques (vols 1 and 2) will probably both really help with some of your fighting / contact techniques.

Other than that, playing games of the length you say you do and reviewing them both by yourself and with stronger players sounds like an excellent road to improvement - good luck!

[Tyro]

Hello all! I was expecting awesomeness, but it's so nice to wake up to so many replies and constructive advice!

@Boidhre: I've read Opening Theory Made Easy once, but I really want to give it another pass to absorb more of the information. (Although I find it's more of a general guidelines to playing that just proverbs for the opening.)

I'm also working on Tesuji (the elementary go series book) and I just realized I have access to Get Strong at Tesuji! I'll add these to to the to do list . Thanks for the advice and welcome!

@EdLee: Yeah, I often find my opponent giving me extra time or I end up playing the last 100 moves in byo-yomi. Also, at my level, all the games are serious . I'll definitely post them here too though, if people are willing to look over them! More help is always awesome!

@Topazg: I've actually completed Graded Vol 3 twice, but I think going over it again won't hurt ^^. 4 is significantly harder though! (Or maybe I'm just "doing it wrong".) I have also read some of Kageyama's Lessons and I really enjoy it, but it makes a note that I should not try more than one chapter a day, so I'm sticking to that. I'll look into Cho Hun-Hyeon's Lectures (to see if I can't get my hands on it) and I'm excited to get started on Yilun Yang's Fundamentals today! And I remember our ASR game, I'm pretty sure I've improved a bit since then, but still a long way to go. ^^

On a more general note, if I have questions about some books/concepts can I ask them here? For example, someone recommended Direction of Play, but it was over my head after a few chapters, but if I could discuss it with someone it might make more sense! (Although I'm not going to read Direction of Play until I get a bit stronger, I feel this might apply to even attack and defense.) You guys might not have read these books or looked over them recently, but I still think you could help me ^^.

Finally, an updated to do list:

Today!
Chapter 1 Fundamentals Principles of Go
Look into Cho Hun-Hyeon's Lectures (see if I can get my hands on them)
Maybe some attack and defense!
Play a game >:D

Before Monday
Graded Vol 3
Graded Vol 4
Chapter 6 & 7 Lessons in the Fundamentals

Off to work, thank you all again!

P.S.: Who is this Bonobo who likes everyone? Hello to you too ^^.

[topazg]

On a more general note, if I have questions about some books/concepts can I ask them here?

By all means

For example, someone recommended Direction of Play, but it was over my head after a few chapters, but if I could discuss it with someone it might make more sense! (Although I'm not going to read Direction of Play until I get a bit stronger, I feel this might apply to even attack and defense.)

My recommendation would be 4k-8k to make the most of Attack and Defense, and 1d-4k to make the most of Direction of Play (I own both and feel qualified to comment, but everyone's experience varies obviously )

[Bonobo]

[..]

P.S.: Who is this Bonobo who likes everyone? Hello to you too ^^.

Hehe, you know, that’s how Bonobos do it still hoping for world peace

Name’s Tom, and … I don’t simply like everyone, but I try to click “like” on all posts I like b/c it’s a nice and unobtrusive way of saying thanks. But I guess that’s no news to you


Greetings from Germany, Tom

[DJLLAP]

Hi Tyro, welcome!

Since we are about the same strength, would you like to play a serious game, then post it for review? I have an account on just about every server except wbaduk.

[Tyro]

Hello!

Well, today has been relatively productive since I got out of work. I played game, had KTL review it (but I'll post it here anyway) and got in the first few chapters of Fundamentals of Go. I'm also up to page 70 in Tesuji, and will hopefully get further tonight. I want to hit up a few chapters of Attack and Defense, but I'm not sure how much free time I'll have tonight.

@topazg: I'll definitely be asking you questions about Attack and Defense. And then there's also the gap between understanding and being able to put concepts into practice...

@Bonobo: World peace would be nice... I fear that only simple things like improving my go are within my reach currently.

@DJLLAP: I'd love to play a game against you! I'm Tyro on KGS, and I should be on tomorrow afternoonish and during the weekend.

Here is my game, first time winning against a 6k, yay! On the other hand, I did plenty of bad thing like help my opponent solidfy their moyo, playing in the wrong direction in places, and playing unnecessary killing moves. If you have free time feel free to review it, but as I said, I already threw it around the KTL. I would love more input/advice on proper invasion positions (when I attempt to invade the top rightish area) as I'm really unsure of where are common invasions/ways to find good spots to jump in! (Also I'm not sure if I should post the already reviewed game or the original game? Please give advice!)

http://files.gokgs.com/games/2012/7/26/Tyro-DreamC.sgf

Anyway thanks again everyone for the feedback. ^^

[Tyro]

Another ASR league game today! This time I'll post the review, so that if anyone has any points they don't have to worry that they've already been covered ^^. I made lots of fun mistakes, learnt about the clamp tesuji, and will try and play less bad moves in the future!

http://lifein19x19.com/forum/download/file.php?id=1884

This game also means I might be able to move on to move up in the ASR league (KGS league that has been helping me get a lot better!) so I'm quite excited!

Unfortunately I did not accomplish as much reading as I would have liked. Work and then the Olympic distraction were strong, so I'm only on page 100 of Tesuji. I'll try and fit in some more before bed.

I'm also able to go to the local go club tomorrow, and I think I'm going to bring my laptop and record my games. I'm the weakest at the local go club by far (everyone else is at least 3 dan) so I have been having a lot of fun with handicap games, but I realize I'm not really learning anything if I'm not reviewing my games.

I realize it's not particularly appropriate for someone of my rank, but I'd actually like to add a bit of joseki study to my to do list. I realized I know about four josekis, and although I realize I should be playing in the right direction/area of the board, sans joseki, I'd feel a bit more comfortable learning and understanding a few more.

I'll throw up my club games here and on KTL tomorrow. ^^ Good night thread. XD

[Tyro]

I had such a lazy Sunday... Pretty lazy weekend in general .

I am almost done with Tesuji, although I must admit, near the end I am having quite a bit of trouble with the problems. Which is good, as it means I'm pushing myself.

Unfortunately I did not do as much as I would have liked this weekend. I did play two games today, one that ended pretty badly (evil Stalkor ) and another that was... odd and over very soon. I'm very happy though, because I might be able to move up in the ASR league, and have more hard opponents!

Finally, still need to go through vol 4 of Graded Go Problems. So hard... But my reading really needs it!

Hopefully much more success tomorrow .

[Tyro]

Done with Tesuji! 70 problems down in volume four!

I'm really excited because I moved up to beta in the ASR league, and a lot of people in my group are dans! I will be able to learn heaps!

I'm not sure what it is about go, but I find that I really don't want to vocalize my goals, other than the non specific "improve as much as I can". I do have a rank based goal for this month, but I'm not sure what use it is. I probably could have worked harder whether I reach my goal or not XD.

I really do believe I need to do more go problems. I can redo all the graded books, hit up goproblems.com more, and I remember seeing a website with tsumego collections... I'm sure there is enough to last me a long time.

So, actual to do (since I slacked off last week): Finish vol 4 by Thursday night
Get vol 3 done on Friday
Read another two chapters of Fundamental Principes sometime before Saturday
ASR games . Take advantage of those dans.

Also, I have some extra odd motivation. Someone called beating me their goal, and that makes me want to really not lose to them. Apparently they have even been "training to beat me". So I'll just work hard to make sure I don't lose .

Good night!

[Tyro]

Hello,

Not nearly as far along as I would like XD. My reading is getting better though? Maybe...

Either way, I'm definitely getting closer to clearing all variations when I do tsumego. I really enjoy being able to get these little things right .

Played an ASR game today, lost by lots! I had it semi reviewed afterwards. I definitely should have just settled along the right in the opening, but I mistakenly though I would be the only one with weak groups, when black was not that strong in that area either. I also had a major misread (I did not actually know the joseki there and though I could capture all along! Turns out it's ko or something XD). I'd definitely love comments on how to use thickness though, if you can call what I got that XD. I'm really not sure...

http://files.gokgs.com/games/2012/8/2/Tyro-Koyou.sgf

I'll try and play another tonight! And more reading problems, since they're more fun anyway.

[Tyro]

Whoo!

I need more reading practice but I'm happy because I finally managed a win at 3 stones! (Context: Local go club player.)

Afterwards he said I've improved, and then pointed out that I really should improve more. XD

I also got to play one of the really good players with a four stone handicap, who then told me about a mistake I made within the first four moves. ^^ Said player also pointed out that I should do more reading. So I'll get on that.

I've finally decided to commit to adding joseki to my ... routine? I'll be slowly working through 38 joseki's book, trying to really read what the books says as opposed to blindly memorizing.

And finally, fighting. If anyone knows of some fighting like problems? I really want to improve there, but it does not always show up in my games. (I don't force fights unless they're necessary/don't always realize they're necessary XD.) Although it's starting to show up more in my games, some problems would really help. I'm still on my way through Attack and Defense though, so maybe there are more problems in there somewhere.

[Tyro]

I really need to play more games. Still a bit scared of them, still a bit "gosh so tired after work, let's just do some brain teasers/tsumego". Hopefully tsumego will keep me from losing skill.