An unexpected journey

[singular]

A couple of nights ago I posted a 9k rated game request on KGS. I waited a while with no bites until a guest locked in. Of course the guest turned my rated request into a free one. I'm usually happy to play anybody, rated or free, but sometimes when a guest enters I'll think about whether this is something I want. Occasionally it concerns me when I post a rated game and someone comes in deliberately making it free, and you never know what you'll get with an unknown, unrated guest! Anyway, this time I took the plunge and was happy to play. I took white.

The game got off to a good start. The guest played a two-space high pincer, which I'm not familiar with, but I thought I got an OK result. I played a ladder-breaker against a ladder stone and made a move on the left side. The game started getting difficult, but the guest wasn't destroying me outright, and I felt I could see many viable counterattack options. I gave good thought to my moves and so did the guest, taking their time. I had no idea of the guest's strength only that they were stronger than me. After maybe 45-60 mins of game time I decided there was nothing more I could do and respectfully resigned.

The guest was an 8-dan. This blew my head off; the idea I just played an even game as white against an 8-dan. I was amazed that this player didn't just blitz my stones to death and bury their bodies, but slowly and tenderly suffocated them in an inevitable doom! They proceeded to offer a review and went over multiple variations on the two-space high pincer the depth of which scared me half to death. They told me my ladder breaker was aji-keshi and that it was slack of me not to take the ladder stone. They gave me a basic run-down on shape and good advice on where to go to improve my shape skills.

This player really opened my eyes. They stuck around for a long time and had an uncanny passion for the game's depth and beauty. This was really what made me happy, that this 8-dan would open the lid for me on the real beauty of the game.

Does anyone have any stories online or in real life about a vastly stronger player (the likes of which you'd thought you'd never get to play) who unexpectedly helped you or opened your eyes to go's possibilities?

[cyclops]

I don't want to spoil your nice journey so I hide this:

I tried to find your game on KGS. But there is no singular at KGS. Maybe another nick?

[hailthorn011]

A couple of nights ago I posted a 9k rated game request on KGS. I waited a while with no bites until a guest locked in. Of course the guest turned my rated request into a free one. I'm usually happy to play anybody, rated or free, but sometimes when a guest enters I'll think about whether this is something I want. Occasionally it concerns me when I post a rated game and someone comes in deliberately making it free, and you never know what you'll get with an unknown, unrated guest! Anyway, this time I took the plunge and was happy to play. I took white.

The game got off to a good start. The guest played a two-space high pincer, which I'm not familiar with, but I thought I got an OK result. I played a ladder-breaker against a ladder stone and made a move on the left side. The game started getting difficult, but the guest wasn't destroying me outright, and I felt I could see many viable counterattack options. I gave good thought to my moves and so did the guest, taking their time. I had no idea of the guest's strength only that they were stronger than me. After maybe 45-60 mins of game time I decided there was nothing more I could do and respectfully resigned.

The guest was an 8-dan. This blew my head off; the idea I just played an even game as white against an 8-dan. I was amazed that this player didn't just blitz my stones to death and bury their bodies, but slowly and tenderly suffocated them in an inevitable doom! They proceeded to offer a review and went over multiple variations on the two-space high pincer the depth of which scared me half to death. They told me my ladder breaker was aji-keshi and that it was slack of me not to take the ladder stone. They gave me a basic run-down on shape and good advice on where to go to improve my shape skills.

This player really opened my eyes. They stuck around for a long time and had an uncanny passion for the game's depth and beauty. This was really what made me happy, that this 8-dan would open the lid for me on the real beauty of the game.

Does anyone have any stories online or in real life about a vastly stronger player (the likes of which you'd thought you'd never get to play) who unexpectedly helped you or opened your eyes to go's possibilities?

I played a 5 Dan once in a tournament game and started off surprisingly well. I even ended up killing a group played by my opponent (but failed to capture later on because of stupidity). And of course things went south not too long after that. I'd still call that one of my more brilliant moments.

[singular]

I don't want to spoil your nice journey so I hide this:

I tried to find your game on KGS. But there is no singular at KGS. Maybe another nick?

Cyclops, I'm not sure I can parse what you mean by 'spoil'. What do you mean? You're right I do have another nick . . . because of internet sleuths checking out my sh*t. I am quite self-conscious and paranoid and stick a piece of paper over my webcam.

[cyclops]

@singular. oops, how to convince a paranoid? I don't mind whether your journey was a dream or reality. In the first case I didn't want to spoil your nice story and in the second case I wouldn't mind to have a look at the game. Not to have proof, again I don't mind if it was a dream or not, but to see how it could be possible that a low kyu and a high dan could play a reasonable game. Even if you don't want to share the game, for privacy reasons perhaps, I have no reason to complain or disbelief.

[Joaz Banbeck]

...
Does anyone have any stories online or in real life about a vastly stronger player (the likes of which you'd thought you'd never get to play) who unexpectedly helped you or opened your eyes to go's possibilities?

Back around 2009 I was in NY on a business trip. At the end of the day, I dropped by the club on 53rd. There was only one guy there: Chinese, looked in his early twenties. He invited me to play. I asked how strong he was and he said "Seven mumble". I asked "Kyu or dan?". He said "dan", with a slightly embarrassed look on his face.

He was Andy Liu. He spent over an hour reviewing a recent game. He taught me a lot.

[singular]

@singular. oops, how to convince a paranoid? I don't mind whether your journey was a dream or reality. In the first case I didn't want to spoil your nice story and in the second case I wouldn't mind to have a look at the game. Not to have proof, again I don't mind if it was a dream or not, but to see how it could be possible that a low kyu and a high dan could play a reasonable game. Even if you don't want to share the game, for privacy reasons perhaps, I have no reason to complain or disbelief.

I would rather fill the thread with positive discussion, but it bothers me you'd immediately cast aspersions rather than ask for the game if that's what you wanted. And why not come right out and say you didn't believe me, if that's what you were thinking? The game was 'reasonable' because the 8-dan was generous and respectful and knew I was vastly weaker. Ah well it doesn't matter, I was trying to present a nice anecdotal story for the sake of discussion on the boards.

Thanks hailthorn and Joaz! I really enjoyed those stories! I would love to hear more.

[Inkwolf]

I'm sure we'd all love to see the SGF, in any case, if you happen to feel like posting it, You ought to be able to remove your KGS nick from it with an SGF editor.

Awesome luck that such a high-level player chose to play you, and extra-awesome of them to give such a detailed review.

...but to see how it could be possible that a low kyu and a high dan could play a reasonable game.

I'm sure that any 8d who chose to play a 9k would hardly be planning to completely demolish them.

Wish I could get a teaching game without knowing the other's rank some time! I always seem to go into crazy adrenaline attack mode when playing a significantly higher rank, and then my brain TOTALLY burns out halfway through the game.

[singular]

Thanks inkwolf, I'm happy to post the sgf. Please be aware that reading isn't my strong point! But I'm working overtime to correct this so I can get to 8k. Anyway I'm sure it's not my play that's interesting.

In review the 8d said the game was over at move 28. I didn't see it was truly over until move 113, which is a testament to this strong player's patience and a lesson I need to see these things much earlier.

[Needo]

Thanks for sharing the game. This reminds me about the time I had my rear handed to me on a 9 stone handicap game a couple of years back.

[Joaz Banbeck]

Someday, you can tell your grandkids about the 8D that you played...who refused to risk playing a rated game against you. ("You youngsters think you're so strong. In my day, I could give black to an 8D" )

[cyclops]

........ it bothers me you'd immediately cast aspersions rather than ask for the game if that's what you wanted. And why not come right out and say you didn't believe me, if that's what you were thinking? ......

I didn't disbelief you and I didn't cast aspersions. No need to be aggressive. Better to relax and read properly.