What to buy for christmas?

[oren]

Have you studied your copy of Invincible from start to finish? If not, I'd recommend getting an iPad mini instead of 6 months of Baduk TV, and learn everything you need from the SmartGo Books version of Invincible. But of course, I'm biased.

Once it's on the Nexus 7, I would agree!

[NoSkill]

I have an Ipod and im interested in the smartgobooks. Ive read the previews for all the books and such, but the major drawback for me is simply that is on an ipod.

I dont replay progames even on kgs if i can avoid it, only in real life. So a real hardbook is better for those. Problem books like tesuji i carry with me.

Idea/conceptual books i read in .pdf.

So I really dont have a use for using it on an ipod, but if I didnt have a tesuji set already I would consider doing L&D on the ipod ^^

[gogameguru]

Baduk TV has reached the point now where we can afford to offer some other payment options for people who don't want, or can't afford the monthly subscription. We're going to trial day passes for example, so you might prefer to use that and only buy the monhly subscription during school holidays. This should be available before Christmas.

Also, if you're already a dan level player, there are many more videos than just the subtitled ones that should still be easy for you to follow and learn from.

I think we discussed problem books before in another thread and you said you weren't that keen on them? If you really want to get strong, I'd still recommend getting some of the classical problem collections and a dictionary of fundamental life and death shapes to work through. I can explain in detail why if you want me to.

The Shumyo should be a good one for you to start with if you want to.

Unfortunately, most of the really good problem collections still aren't available (or in print) in English, but Yellow Mountain has some books in Chinese and we're looking at setting up a special import service for some of the best problem books. If not by Christmas, we'll have this available early in 2013.

You already have Invincible, so you have plenty of material in terms of pro games. Baduk TV or Lee Sedol would give you a better understanding of the modern game, but Invincible contains the important fundamentals.

My own path from about 1d to 5d (online) consisted mainly of playing games (and reviewing most of them) solving problems (learning reading and techniques) and playing through Invincible (more than 5 times, and more times for the best games). After that I had lessons with pros who helped to me to better understand the modern game and improved about two more stones.

But your way might be different and you should be wary whenever someone prescribes their own autobiography (like I just did ). There should be a more efficient way than what I did...

Anyway, it might sound like I'm trying to talk myself out of some sales here, but I'm just trying to provide some general advice.

[p2501]

Unfortunately, most of the really good problem collections still aren't available (or in print) in English, but Yellow Mountain has some books in Chinese and we're looking at setting up a special import service for some of the best problem books. If not by Christmas, we'll have this available early in 2013.

Wohooo!

[NoSkill]

Thanks david, can you say any specific videos I should look at even if I don't know korean?

I bought the full trial for a week thing yesterday.

Also is there any chance in the future the english baduk TV will be able to be bought seperately or would this be kinda pointless?

Like just the english part.

[gogameguru]

Thanks david, can you say any specific videos I should look at even if I don't know korean?

I think Searching for Exquisite Games is the best series we've added so far, because they analyze really interesting games in quite a bit of detail, but it can be quite high level at times.

It's easier to follow than some of the similar commentaries (even without subtitles) because they show a smaller board with the moves from the real game in one part of the screen, so you always know what was actually played and what's just a variation.

A lot of players find that it's not that hard to follow other, similar commentaries that are done over a Go board (without subtitles or the split screen), but those who do have trouble with that format told me that they prefer the live game commentaries or game reviews that use a computer board, because both of these formats also make it very clear when something is just a variation. Personally I'm less of a fan of the ones done solely on computer, because I prefer to see a real board, but some people like these ones best.

So maybe focus mainly on the 'exquisite games' series and if you've had your fill of commentaries, have a look at the video Go lessons section.

Kim Seongryong's 007 Lessons deals mainly with how to respond to trick plays or strange moves (with a review of an amateur game at the end of each episode), whereas Becoming 5 Kyu focuses on the fundamentals.

Whenever you're looking through the video library, you'll see that there's a list of categories at the bottom of the summary for each video, which should give you a better idea of what the format and content is like. When you find a video that you like, click on one of those category links just below it to find more, similar videos.

Also, the search function, in the top right, works for Baduk TV too. So if you wanted to watch only videos of Lee Sedol's games, for example, you could search for "baduk tv lee sedol" to find them.

Anyway, if it were me, I'd watch the 'exquisite games' first. From memory, there are 45 videos in that series and about 30 of them are already available, a lot of them with subtitles. But you might find that you prefer another format, so use the navigation.

Also is there any chance in the future the english baduk TV will be able to be bought seperately or would this be kinda pointless?

Probably not, because the single biggest ongoing cost is doing translations, followed by licensing. The price is really to pay for those two and we include the rest of the videos and live stream just because we can.

Pulling the extra features out of Baduk TV English, wouldn't really make it cheaper, it would just mean that customers have fewer options, like being able to watch live games, for example.

If we ever get to a point where we could lower the price, we'd probably just lower it for the existing plan and keep the current features bundled with it.

[Redbeard]

If I had $100.00 to spend on Go books, I would get the Go World Archive on DVD. It would make a great Christmas gift *hint* *hint*

[NoSkill]

Thanks david, can you say any specific videos I should look at even if I don't know korean?

I think Searching for Exquisite Games is the best series we've added so far, because they analyze really interesting games in quite a bit of detail, but it can be quite high level at times.

It's easier to follow than some of the similar commentaries (even without subtitles) because they show a smaller board with the moves from the real game in one part of the screen, so you always know what was actually played and what's just a variation.

A lot of players find that it's not that hard to follow other, similar commentaries that are done over a Go board (without subtitles or the split screen), but those who do have trouble with that format told me that they prefer the live game commentaries or game reviews that use a computer board, because both of these formats also make it very clear when something is just a variation. Personally I'm less of a fan of the ones done solely on computer, because I prefer to see a real board, but some people like these ones best.

So maybe focus mainly on the 'exquisite games' series and if you've had your fill of commentaries, have a look at the video Go lessons section.

Kim Seongryong's 007 Lessons deals mainly with how to respond to trick plays or strange moves (with a review of an amateur game at the end of each episode), whereas Becoming 5 Kyu focuses on the fundamentals.

Whenever you're looking through the video library, you'll see that there's a list of categories at the bottom of the summary for each video, which should give you a better idea of what the format and content is like. When you find a video that you like, click on one of those category links just below it to find more, similar videos.

Also, the search function, in the top right, works for Baduk TV too. So if you wanted to watch only videos of Lee Sedol's games, for example, you could search for "baduk tv lee sedol" to find them.

Anyway, if it were me, I'd watch the 'exquisite games' first. From memory, there are 45 videos in that series and about 30 of them are already available, a lot of them with subtitles. But you might find that you prefer another format, so use the navigation.

Also is there any chance in the future the english baduk TV will be able to be bought seperately or would this be kinda pointless?

Probably not, because the single biggest ongoing cost is doing translations, followed by licensing. The price is really to pay for those two and we include the rest of the videos and live stream just because we can.

Pulling the extra features out of Baduk TV English, wouldn't really make it cheaper, it would just mean that customers have fewer options, like being able to watch live games, for example.

If we ever get to a point where we could lower the price, we'd probably just lower it for the existing plan and keep the current features bundled with it.

Alright thanks, I can understand about why it costs so much too . Personally the package that fits me best is probably just the live baduk tv, so maybe I will buy that for a year or so with christmas money .

Thanks for pointing out the search feature as well

[otenki]

Since christmas still is not there I would like to give you one more hint for a book.

- Weiqi Life and Death 1000 Problems ( 围棋死活 1000 題 )

I bought it some time ago and obviously lots of the problems are way too hard for me (although I could solve like the first 100 ) but I think they should be right for your level. The fact that this book is in chinese is great because you cannot read the hints. You have to read it all out which is great for progress.

That is ofcourse if you would like a problem book.

Anway good luck and have a happy christmas.

Otenki

[bogiesan]

I get around 500-600$ for christmas.

A good start on a savings program to attend the next Go Congress.