Here are 2 more games I played today. I actually decided to play against a bot for the first time because there were no open games...- and it turned out rather okay (No self-reviews for these because i was very busy)

Vs. Bot - I made a very bad knights move early in the bottom left and ended up having to deal with 2 horrendously weak groups simultaneously. I'm sure if it was against a person... I may not have been so fortunate with the result


Vs. Human - I was attacking through and through and made pretty good profit. Had a couple weak groups after I failed to kill my opponent's groups, but I was fairly dominant. Started changing up a bit, playing orthodox opening instead of the low chinese here.

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My Baduk Journey

1 more game from today. I'm feeling very very comfortable against 5ks now. I'm also starting to recognize some repeated shapes in my games, and whether its good or not. Maybe it has to do with all the games and problems i'm solving idk.


I haven't had a sweet kill like this in a while

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My Baduk Journey

A few comments:
- move 13: 'Punishment' might be a bit of a strong description. If white had played m3 (which is indeed soft) at k4, then after c5 he could think about d4 and cutting and fighting as k4 is a pincer. On this board c5 is good, but in some situations that fight would be promising for white so c5 would be a bit of an overplay, and the gentler d6 is more appropriate.
- move 15: This is mistake, you should d4 first. If white ataris you take the corner, a good trade for you. And if white defends it's a good exchanged to strengthen the outside.
- move 16: White should play d4 himself now to create a cutting point in your shape. It's a double sente.
- move 27: Up to here good in this corner, but I prefer this at f14 to grow left side. It's a common joseki for the Chinese opening.
- move 29: This one is small now as your group is strong and a big wall. Important point. Better would be r14 or q5 for example.
- move 30: Indeed, q5 would be better. And then k3 for q5 would be a good exchange for white.
- move 31: Too vague: top right is still not yours, white can come in easily, and doesn't threaten top left white much. r14 better.
- move 33: Good direction.
- move 37: A bit small, white is already alive in the corner. White might also push and cut. q13 would be safer. But I prefer tenuki, e.g. g13 to develop g10 area, and maybe harass white in the future (probably he can live in sente with j18).
- move 40 onwards, yes, but is cap best? Another idea: g13, if white does j18 answer once then tenuki (k17 cut doesn't work, just l18 clamp which is not so severe), and then m12 to make huge centre. In the game you chase white into your large potential territory and I would not be confident of killing it against a player of my own strength. It's a risky strategy. g8 should be g9. Your cut tesuji was small, you should kill the whole thing, and actually wasn't such a tesuji if white ataris the other way. g10 was a shape point (good that you got it later). You were fortunate you were playing a 5k who decided to play bad moves and do that nonsense at the top, but good job for allowing him to fulfil his death wish. As some pro said, "Oh, I can't kill that group, but you can die!".

Thank you for the review UberDude - I am not sure if I would be confident enough to carry out your strategy because i am very poor at dealing with moyos - but that opened my eyes up a bit! As always, going for kill is risky business.


As for today, 1 more win - I completely screwed up the bottom and the left in this one.. but led a nice counterattack that led to a Win. Even though this was a win - i didn't play too hot so any comments would be appreciated.



edit - Here's an even game I played against a 4k. Good win. He gave me too much influence.



Also for problems, I finished my 3rd runthrough of GSATesuji at a 87% accuracy overall.. I was slightly disappointed that i couldn't crack 90-95%. I will be doing a 4th runthrough of it, after I do GGPB Vol. 4 and LCH LD Vol. 3 again.

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My Baduk Journey

On kgs, i am literally teetering between promotion to 5k. I've had some poor games recently though - I'll upload them later for review.

In the meantime, I am still recycling problem sets (Now doing LCH L&D Vol. 3 - this somehow seems easier than Vol. 2). I plan on starting the Maeda L&D sets soon (maybe when i get to 5-4 kyu range) because my dad highly recommends them.

Lastly, I made an account on Tygem at 1D. So, I know I am not 1 dan level, but i actually managed to win my first game. I really don't care if i lose on this throwaway account - I just want to learn from stronger players and improve.


Edit - Here's my tygem game vs a 1 dan. I won - but it's probably because I made a good judgement of the ko fight AND because white made 1 huge mistake in the middlegame a few moves before he resigned. Before the Ko fight, i was feeling slightly overwhelmed. I want to play against these 1 dans and get better at 1) playing aggressive and dominating them and 2) get stronger at resisting so that I don't get myself into poor situations in game. I want to learn how to 'set' the board so that I can lead the game to my favor.

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My Baduk Journey

131: winning move
87: White is given an opportunity to cut the losses
85: good
46: missed chance for White, indeed
31: this is where your good fighting spirit becomes bad fighting spirit
27: lukewarm move, but difficult position
11: good fighting spirit, but I'd like to see an opening expert on what to do to avoid later issues in the upper right

See review

Been very very busy, but here's a little update -

Tygem 1 Dan imposter account - 3 wins 7 losses, but a few of those losses were very close, and 1 i remember losing due to a large endgame mistake. I am struggling to win, but still holding up a bit here.

KGS - Teetering on the verge of promotion to 5 kyu. I had a few rough days where I went 2W3L, 1W3L, but today i went 3W1L. Probs a bit nervy due to being to close to being promoted. Hopefully I'll get there soon and continue chugging on.

Problems - Finished recycling LCH LD Vol. 3 at 85% accuracy. Currently working through GGPB Vol. 4. I ordered GGPfD Vol. 2 (300 Tesuji for 3k-3dan) from kiseido to work on soon because I need more tesuji help.

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My Baduk Journey

Here's a game i just played on kgs. It was a thriller!!
Edit - this turned out to be my promo game. 5k now.

I made a few directional mistakes in the game that were rather costly. I managed to make up for it through ko fights, a liberty counting, and some sheer dumb luck.

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My Baduk Journey

even game against a 4k today and chalked up a W!

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My Baduk Journey

hi guys. 2 losses and 1 win today (3 losses 2 wins including free games). 4kyus are hard lol

Loss 1 - I got slaughtered in this one. It was a no contest. Any help would be appreciated.


Loss 2 - I think I could have won this one if I didn't give my opponent so much free territory in the middle game.


Win 1 - This was satisfying ^_^ (but it was a free game. rip)



I am planning on re-reading Reducing Territorial Frameworks (Shuko) and Enclosure Josekis (Takemiya) since I think I am strong enough to really appreciate those 2 books. I still need more practice at fighting and attacking - so maybe a runthrough of GSATesuji, Invading & Attacking, along with Attack and Defense soon.

Trying to stick to a 1.5 hour study regime is actually alot harder than it should be. haha. I plowed through 6k so hopefully I'll be able to plow through 5k soon

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My Baduk Journey

In game 3 When white played out the lost ladder at the top the game become hard for her.

In game 1, a major move for thickness of both groups occurs at B167. See the review. I've made a few minor comments up until then. Surely others have a better view on the opening.

But how to learn from 167? Recognizing the thick turn shape is one way. Recognizing the thinness of the hanging connection is another.



edit: just noticed white can still make another eye in the centre. Still, the point of 167 remains valid

well this is a fantastic start to the month of october - i got slaughtered 3 times today! 4 kyus are hard...
here are two of the games - feeling like this will take a bit to break down. maybe i need another epiphany or something!

This one i thought i was doing okay... and then lost it


This one was just hard


And thank you for the review knotwilg. I appreciate it very much.

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My Baduk Journey

It seems you work your way up playing only stronger players.
First, that is not nice.
Second, if you now play 6k withouten komi, you'll notice you have become stronger.

I think it is perfectly fine; don't attempt to publicly scold him like that. Would we hear this from you if he only played weaker players?

There have certainly been cases on this forum where people were told they needed to play stronger players or people instead of bots.

I disagree. hI782 has only been playing go for a few months. Do we criticize 4th grade students for not teaching 1st grade students? Yes, after he has been playing for a year or two it would be churlish not to play and teach weaker players, to repay the favor to the game. But right now by not playing weaker players he avoids picking up bad habits, which will make him a better player and teacher in the end.

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The Adkins Principle:
At some point, doesn't thinking have to go on?
— Winona Adkins

Visualize whirled peas.

Everything with love. Stay safe.

Sorry all for apparently being too harsh on our friend. I didn't mean it to sound so severe. And Bill is right: he's only been playing for a few months. It struck me as becoming somewhat of a bad habit but indeed it doesn't really matter all that much.

I apologize and retract. (maybe we can remove this subthread in his nice blog altogether?)

Quite the discussion we have going on. And no worries Knotwilg, no offense taken.

I only play against people above me because that's actually what my dad highly recommended. He said there's no point in me trying to play people of same level or weaker until I hit at least 3-5 dan.

The one thing i was concerned about playing people 1 level above me was that I was only playing as black but I realize that i can change the color of stones on kgs now when I challenge (Yes i had no idea i could do this....) so that should be okay ^_^


I'm also making this a rule for myself - If i lose 2 games in a day im not gonna play any more. If i win 2 games in a day im not gonna play anymore. If I win 1 and lose 1, then ill play 1 more. I want to make the quality of my games GOOD.

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My Baduk Journey

Hi everyone - a little update.

I am still getting used to playing against 4k level. I think I am winning about 45% of my games versus them. It is somewhat difficult but it doesn't feel impossible like the barrier I had when i was trying to get to 6k.

Attached are a few of my games

First, 2 losses- One was a classic ddk mistake costing a won game, and another was 2 mistakes, and a missed opportunity


The Win



Aside from this, I think I am going to go through GSATesuji again, and go through a quick rerun of LCH Tesuji Vol 1-4. Then.. I think I'll start the Segoe Tesuji Dictionary. By then, I feel that I will be more or so ready.

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My Baduk Journey