I think that makes sense.

If you're near weak groups you can play thick so you can counter attack.

but if you are near thicknesses being thick doesn't help you because there is nothing to fight.
and you can't expect to save anything in good style.

I think this could add a dimension to my game.

I don't know that I've ever anticipated an attack and not tried to defend myself.
But maybe now I can anticipate an attack and think of my options if I don't defend myself.

Certainly another part of it is that you can sacrifice some of the light group to save the rest without giving your opponent an advantage greater than his original strength, while a heavy group is one you can't afford to let go.

It's a complicated and nuanced classification though, to be sure, and one I am sure I don't understand completely.

Regarding anticipating an attack, you definitely have to evaluate the expected attack vs. the gain of your tenuki, which can be difficult. It sort of leads into the subject of exchanges as well.

Hmmm I don't know how but I'll try to figure out how to get into those situations so I can understand it better.

That's one of the frustrating things about this game. You can try to learn something but it's hard to force an issue to come up so that you can practice.

When I was learning to play I played against bots exclusively.

There was a program that used to suggest moves for you and I would just play that way for abit.

Later I started abusing undo move a lot when I'd get a result that was no good.


Anyways it seemed like an okay way to learn to play.
But now I'm thinking of trying it with one of those low dan programs.

One of the benefits of playing against a computer is you can go back 5 or 6 moves to find out what the right direction would have been.

Also they say you should invade a moyo one move before it becomes solid territory.

A computer doesn't mind going back 12 moves and replaying a situation.

Of course there is the danger of developing bad habits.
But if I develop the bad habit of playing like a 6 dan bot I don't mind.

Just another thought I had for improving.
Of course I haven't had much time to act on these.
But now that classes are finally over I'm sure I'll start one of my many study ideas.

And stuff



The net breaker was very fascinating for me.

The kosumi thing I had seen before but I noticed it again in a kifu.

The pincer thing is something I hadn't thought of really.
Until I heard the double approach reffered to as a pinch.

not as much time as i thought i would have this week.

not really applying new concepts.

Still just looking for simple moves and playing what feels right.

I suppose i'm a really intuitive player.

And also a lucky one.

but yeah here's a game hopefully i play a lot more.
Hopefully i get more involved in this l19 league

Semestre grades came in. 3.325!

My hard class was a B+
I was going to be pissed if it was a B because I fought hard for an A.
But i think the B+ will be good enough.

Dropped the ball on an easier class... only got a C... but hey that's what happpens.

still super stoked, this is my highest gpa yet.

Not go related. But maybe the morale will boost me. :]

Almost summer?

Yes! it's actually the first week of summer break right now. :]

Time to relax and play beer games. (And get a summer job)

Made time for a game
he left but I think i was losing.

I think I started to lose because I attacked too much.
I saw a lot of spots where I could back off and protect myself but instead I got greedy.


I had a chance to play my new shape but that was no good. I was too weak to keep black separated.
Comments would be greatly appreciated.
If my corrections are completely off base or if I'm on the right track.

Played handicap against 1kyu
he caught up almost all the way.

Handicap games feel strange like that.
I need to do more tsumego...

If I can't stop myself from blundering, I need at least make blunders that earn points for me.



Excited for the baduk republic league to start.
Hailthorn and I are in the same bracket. Let's see who gets promoted first!

Read Hikaru No Go again and became curious of teaching moves. How do I find them... But I suppose every move I make is a teaching move since I'm not making any perfect plays.

Life begins where your comfort zone ends.
Someone posted that.
My games I find myself uncomfortable in the joseki.

Therefore.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BxToud-Wek

low approach

and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sXaUNluIpU

high approach

I disagree with some of what he says but that makes me think.

He's probably the one who's right anyways.

So i've started attacking my opponents potential. Maybe not attacking it very well, but i've become aware of it.

Now I need to notice my own groups potential and when it can be shut down.

I've learned some pretty basic 3-4 low approach joseki. After watching the videos I would try having black or white skip a move and see how severely that could be punished.

it's given me a chance to play with that "tsume-go" technique of visualizing the board. It's really hard accounting for the edge of the board...

I build a gigantic center and my opponent spills and then explodes inside.

I feel I was winning by a lot but my opponent played an amazing combination with all the aji i left behind.



edit: And another one that I win despite a few blunders.

Nothing terribly interesting. Just posting it so I feel better about losing

Not a handicap game but I fall behind HUGE and learn a lot about catching up.

I might have lost but this game gave me a very good idea of how to think about negating a stones purpose.

My first 20 moves are wasted and by move 50 I have a useless noodle and my opponent has territory and a big wall.

Even after negating the wall I just end up giving him another big territory on the side. But I'm able to put his stone in an awkward place.

I don't know if I can do the same thing when I'm not behind. A lot of my moves felt like vulgar overplays.




I've been posting a lot of games lately... I need to be posting more stuff.

Surprised me hwo long S4 stood there open in early late game.

I think it was a psychological thing. Since I didn't take it my opponent must have thought it wasn't that big.

But it was definitely bigger than W164 for example.

Lost a game against twitchy. I hate corners and forcing moves ]:<
I'll post that later when i get some comments on to it.

Played another game and won with a nose tesuji :]
So that felt good.

I tried transcribing a Nick Sibicky Video considering I watch it so many times.
But I'm finding it really hard to put into sgf format... I'll figure something out then be a 10kyu master at 3-4 low approach joseki.

Going to a go club for the first time. Finally.
It's 30 minutes out but it'll be fun to play in person.

I've decided to take my biggest win in an even game, 70 points on 2 handicap vs 5kyu. Which equals 7 stones. Meaning I was playing at 5d level obviously.

And i'll play like that for all my games knowing that I'm 5d equivalent.

It's normal for me to do this after every match hehe.
When I lose by 20 I wonder how long I can keep up the facade of a 3kyu.

Haven't really been logging in.
Sometimes I watch Sibicky vids in my idle time. It's strange that these vids are for ddk yet I seem to be learning amazing things every time.... Making me wonder how I got to 3kyu.

Really enjoyed visiting the Go Club last week and am looking forward to the tournament on saturday!

But other then that I've been distracted from go.
I've been spending the last week or so on internet games and AC 3: America.

Had a few games i wanted to upload but it seems the time has passed.

Tomorrow is the tournament!
And to prepare i've played like 1 game in the last week lol.
Also I'm staying up late and probably waking up tired.

Not the best preparation I suppose. But it should be fun anyways.

I don't know where all the motivation went.
When I was busy with homework I wanted to play 10 games a day.
But now that i have all this free time, I just loaf around.

Curious.

Anyways I'll try to remember some games tomorrow. I'm surprised how much of the game sticks to memory. The hardest part is the opening moves. The first 15-20. But after that it's pretty easy until the endgame.