What one thing do you wish you had known when starting?

NPW · Post by **NPW** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 2:45 pm

When you become good at something you sometimes look back and realise that there were certain things you wished you had known or appreciated right from the beginning. If you had known this you might have made progress much quicker or much easier. Is there anything like this which experienced players can pass on to us new players that might help us?

xed_over · Post by **xed_over** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 2:50 pm

to not feel shy, embarrassed or afraid to lose about playing with a stronger player when he offers to play you anytime.

many stronger players really enjoy playing with/teaching weaker players.

I would have been much stronger much sooner. He moved away and I lost my opportunity.

EdLee · Post by **EdLee** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 2:59 pm

NPW, similar to xed_over's feelings, I wish I had a good pro teacher from the very beginning --
would've saved me around 3-6 years of undoing my bad habits.

Boidhre · Post by **Boidhre** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 3:08 pm

I'm not experienced or strong but:

What I wish I'd known at 20k:

1) Tenuki is always an option. Following your opponent around the board is an easy way to lose. Conversely, there are times when you *have* to respond locally.

2) Sometimes it's best to leave some stones die in order to get the initiative somewhere else on the board. Trying to save every stone is a bad, bad thing.

3) Counting is generally a good idea, especially in the endgame.

4) Read out situations on the board when it's your opponent's turn. Read out situations when watching the games of others. Always be reading.

SoDesuNe · Post by **SoDesuNe** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 3:09 pm

A comprehensive book list of what to read at what level. Would have saved me a lot of money (for useless books) and time.

snorri · Post by **snorri** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 3:11 pm

I wish I knew go existed when I was a child, and where to play.

Uberdude · Post by **Uberdude** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 3:14 pm

That Go is highly addictive and will take over your life.

badukJr · Post by **badukJr** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 3:55 pm

Uberdude wrote:That Go is highly addictive and will take over your life.

I wish this were true. Then we wouldn't have a player crisis.

I wish I'd known that of all the people I introduced the game to in the club and taught up to 10k-15k would suddenly stop playing go.

Phoenix · Post by **Phoenix** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 4:10 pm

badukJr wrote:
Uberdude wrote:That Go is highly addictive and will take over your life.

I wish this were true. Then we wouldn't have a player crisis.

I wish I'd known that of all the people I introduced the game to in the club and taught up to 10k-15k would suddenly stop playing go.

There's a part of learning Go that is like a trial. You can learn everything about the rules and techniques you want, but putting it together on a board against an opponent is difficult and unrewarding at first. I've felt like giving up Go more than once. Now giving up Go would be a horrible, cruel punishment. It's this part that pushes away so many potential new players.

Chess has this advantage: that you can learn how the pieces move, how to capture and that the point is to checkmate the king. From that point on there's a learning curve, but you can always put pieces on a board and play with no real confusion or sense of overwhelming despair.

In preparation for when I get my club started (coming early 2013!), I'm going through the development of a game and trying to figure out the simplest, most explanatory way of guiding newcomers through them. Lay stones on a board in public or make neat flyers, and you have newbies. Make the introduction fun and you have prospective new players. Player retention in the next stage is what's hardest after that. :sad:

Back to the topic at hand! The one thing I wish I would have learned is how important and enjoyable tsumego are. It's been years! I'd be mid-dan by now! :shock:

Boidhre · Post by **Boidhre** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 4:38 pm

Phoenix wrote:Chess has this advantage: that you can learn how the pieces move, how to capture and that the point is to checkmate the king. From that point on there's a learning curve, but you can always put pieces on a board and play with no real confusion or sense of overwhelming despair.

Very few people who learn how to play chess take it up as a hobby. In this country anyway.

Phoenix · Post by **Phoenix** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 6:06 pm

Boidhre wrote:Very few people who learn how to play chess take it up as a hobby. In this country anyway.

That's a good point. Does anyone have percentages regarding the ratio of active Go and Chess players in different countries? A quick search has revealed nothing for me. :-?

Post by **Joaz Banbeck** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 8:16 pm

I wish that I had known that having five stones in a row did not make a difference.

Twitchy Go · Post by **Twitchy Go** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 11:07 pm

I can't really say this is something I wish I'd known. But it is what I have been doing and except for a period of time in the summer where I had no time to play Go I've been improving at a decent(I think) rate since I began in January.
1.Tsuemego are fun! Do them. Reading is your bread and butter.
2a. Play a lot of games. You can't get strong in secret, get out there, get your nose bloodied and try your whimsical ideas. Have fun!
2b. Review these games. Be mindful of how much time went into the game. I don't play anything shorter then 25 5X30 time settings so it's not an issue for me. But reviewing a blitz game seems silly to me ;-)

3.Stronger players don't bite. Ask for reviews, ask for teaching games, and of course remember to pay it forward when your have the chance.

TheBigH · Post by **TheBigH** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 11:30 pm

I wish I'd known about go 15 years ago.

daal · Post by **daal** » Thu Dec 13, 2012 12:38 am

I wish I had known when starting that I would someday achieve professional strength.

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