Would you say that any one portion of your new routine is helping particularly a lot or is doing particularly little? Or is it too hard to tell what's causing your improvement?

_________________
Someday I want to be strong enough to earn KGS[-].

I think "Get Strong at Tesuji" is improving my game for the most part. These tiny, yet powerful moves which give you a better result locally, wether to become thick or get a descent shape, this radiates throughout the board : D

"Tesuji" by James Davies on the other hand offers a lot of really useful stuff, but is harder to grasp. In the games I played, I managed to miss some of the Tesujis I just learnt. So, this definitely needs a re-read/further study.

"1001 Life-and-Death-Problems" is mere artificial reading and vital point spotting practice.

"Opening Theory Made Easy" is very useful to remember some very basic approaches in the opening. Forget about Chinese or Kobayashi, here you will learn the basics, which you might have forgotten due to imitating Pro openings : D Definitely helps to have a clearer mind, when looking on the board.


So, I think all this together helps me playing a better game. At least when studying constantly so that ideas and moves become second nature and are still fresh in the mind. For instance, I have noticed, that when I actually find a Tesuji in my game, I will not forget it so easily. But, well, playing is very important so that you can use your new knowledge. If your head is full of theory, you end up with don't knowing where to go first because you lack the practical approach (my experience : D).

_________________
My "guide" to become stronger in Go

Good luck!

So how's ur level now? 5k ?

_________________
长考出臭棋.

Thank you!

On KGS I'm rock-solid 6k at the moment, but I should be able to make 5k quite easily, if I'd go for it.
Karaklis interfered a bit, because I lost to him as he was rated 10k - nasty sandbagger! =D But this is not much of a problem, as long as I'm satisfied with my play. After Thursday I have more time to play a few games, so maybe I will manage to rank up then.

_________________
My "guide" to become stronger in Go

My play is very volatile, and so is my rank. Once I was called a sandbagger when I was able to beat a 6k, and on the other hand I have regular slumps down to 10k. So I am somewhere between 5k and 10k I guess, depending on my current mental/physical state...

Uhh, I'm getting sloppy here.

Day 12-14 out of 29:
27 Tsumego (? wrong) from “1001 Life-and-Death Problems” - check!
87 Tesujis (? wrong) from “Get Strong at Tesuji” - check!

3 Principles from “Opening Theory Made Easy” - check!
1 Chapter from “Tesuji” - check!

_________________
My "guide" to become stronger in Go

I think, I lost track =o

I finished "1001 Life-and-Death Problems" yesterday, so I'm approx. two weeks ahead schedule. Tomorrow I'll finish "Get Strong at Tesuji", again approx. two weeks ahead schedule.
I have five chapters left from "Tesuji", that's right on time. I have nine principles left from "Opening Theory Made Easy", right on time, too.
Sadly, I didn't read a chapter from "Attack and Defense", yet. So here I'm six days off. And I didn't look into "38 Basic Joseki" any further.

So, to set things straight: "Tesuji" and "Opening Theory Made Easy" will be read as planned. I'm going to catch up on "Attack and Defense" and I will at least have a decent look into pincer Josekis from "38 Basic Josekis". Furthermore I'm going to borrow "Graded Go Problems For Beginners Vol. 4" on Wednesday since I can't survive without a problem book =(

Concerning my rank: I managed to become a 5 Kyu without playing; my reputation precedes me =D


Stay tuned!

_________________
My "guide" to become stronger in Go

The key is to ask strong players to help you in direction of play and power of stones, i went from 5 kyu to 3 kyu in 8 days

So, the guy currently eating Tsumego for breakfast is also the guy I play next in the L19 title tournament.

Hmm.

Maybe I can make a study recommendation as you prepare for our match.

Yeah, I always ask a Shodan to review my games and play like three games with him each week (on 4 stones). Else, I don't know any stronger player, so I take what I get =D


rubin427
I'm more into inventing principles but well, what's the difference? : D I hope we manage to play a thrilling game and I don't immediately blunder in the first corner ; )

_________________
My "guide" to become stronger in Go

magic, only by reviewing the game with strong players?

_________________
长考出臭棋.

yes review moves not teaching games plus asking few questions of direction, and to know that the most points are in the center

Hi, thx for this interesting thread. I'm thinking of having a go following it myself. I was wondering though - when you say "2 josekis", what sort of study method are you doing?

_________________
I am John. John-I-Am.

Well, at a quick glance I can tell that I at least "saw" 3/4 of the Josekis from "38 Basic Josekis", so the method is more a remembering than a real studying. And yeah, I didn't really learn Josekis right now, since I never lost a game because of a bad Joseki choice so far.

I think, the approach of playing a game and let a stronger player review it to get to know where you could have played better is far more beneficial. That way one might learn a new Joseki in a context and thus can remember it more easily.

_________________
My "guide" to become stronger in Go

ok, thanks. Maybe if I embark on my own "month of pain" I wouldn't put too much focus on the Josekis. Consistent reviews by a stronger player will have to wait until I can afford to pay someone

edit: hmm maybe I can afford a strong amateur player..

_________________
I am John. John-I-Am.

Oh, I love "Graded Go Problems for Beginners Volume 4"! I did the first 36 problems so far and they have just the right difficulty. Maybe I'll finally learn to go with a structured approach, otherwise the important move tends to slip my mind, occasionally ^^

"Tesuji" and "Opening Theory Made Easy" is still on plan. "Attack and Defense", hm, yeah... ney.


One week to go!

_________________
My "guide" to become stronger in Go

You can always do the go teaching ladder. The quality of the reviews varies, but it's free and you can certainly get quite a few reviews done.

_________________
1k KGS

So have you noticed yourself being much stronger? Any indication as far as progress towards your goal beyond problems done and books read?

_________________
1k KGS

I became stronger, there's no doubt about that. "Much" is hard to value; realistically I don't think I can make it to 3 Kyu in one week, but I might be able to reach 4 Kyu on KGS.
Since I have a strong friend who helps me reviewing my games, the most important thing for me now is to play a lot of games to get the knack of direction of play, positional judgment and so on. This way, I can also try to apply all the Tesujis I learned : D


Sadly, I can't figure out what your second sentence says : /

_________________
My "guide" to become stronger in Go

He was saying have you played any strong player and beaten them or done anything like that to indicate you have improved toward your goal.

_________________
“I’m here to play go and chew bubble gum, and I’m all out of gum”- misquoted duke nukem