The biggest squirmer I've ever seen!

Talk about improving your game, resources you like, games you played, etc.
Post Reply
Ian Butler
Lives in gote
Posts: 646
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2016 4:09 pm
GD Posts: 0
Has thanked: 62 times
Been thanked: 116 times

The biggest squirmer I've ever seen!

Post by Ian Butler »

Some people are squirmers on the Goban.
You know those people I'm talking about.

I just played someone who's going between 6 kyu and 10 kyu, and playing him I was actually surprised by how well a squirmer can do in a Go game. Because, admittedly, he is just waiting for a mistake to happen.
I don't want to say anything about how he plays, that's up to him. But it does surprise me that those tactics actually get you up to 6-7 kyu. I'm not gonna say it's good play (because I do think at some level "decent" play overtakes squirming any day) but it's not as bad either, when done by a trained squirmer :lol:

For me it was a great test. I've played squirmers before when I was less confident of my play and I've lost against squirmers, disgusted by my own play.
Today was a good test. And I must say I've managed to stay very calm. I gave up some things calmly, not give him a lot of opening to use his skills. In the end (when all the dame was filled, he resigned :roll: ) I was cruising towards an easy victory, but there is some skill to what he does. I've also viewed other games he plays and he's just a squirmer, a fighter. No shape, no big points, no whatever. Just squirm and try to kill.

Happy I wasn't killed today, shows I've grown in my game ;-)

(though to he fair, my top right corner sh/could've died, or at least almost)

User avatar
EdLee
Honinbo
Posts: 8859
Joined: Sat Apr 24, 2010 6:49 pm
GD Posts: 312
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Has thanked: 349 times
Been thanked: 2070 times

Post by EdLee »

Ian Butler
Lives in gote
Posts: 646
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2016 4:09 pm
GD Posts: 0
Has thanked: 62 times
Been thanked: 116 times

Re:

Post by Ian Butler »

EdLee wrote:
Thanks for those variations!
Bill Spight
Honinbo
Posts: 10905
Joined: Wed Apr 21, 2010 1:24 pm
Has thanked: 3651 times
Been thanked: 3373 times

Re: The biggest squirmer I've ever seen!

Post by Bill Spight »



Too many small plays.

Too many defensive plays.

Not enough cuts.

Not enough sacrifices.

Edit: Added variations.

Also: Beware of damezumari, especially near the end of the game.
Last edited by Bill Spight on Sat May 19, 2018 4:41 pm, edited 2 times in total.
The Adkins Principle:
At some point, doesn't thinking have to go on?
— Winona Adkins

Visualize whirled peas.

Everything with love. Stay safe.
Ian Butler
Lives in gote
Posts: 646
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2016 4:09 pm
GD Posts: 0
Has thanked: 62 times
Been thanked: 116 times

Re: The biggest squirmer I've ever seen!

Post by Ian Butler »

Bill Spight wrote:

Too many small plays.

Too many defensive plays.

Not enough cuts.

Not enough sacrifices.
Interesting. Thank you Bill. Usually I am "good" at knowing when to sacrifice. In this game you show me some more interesting ways of looking at sacrifice!
Bill Spight
Honinbo
Posts: 10905
Joined: Wed Apr 21, 2010 1:24 pm
Has thanked: 3651 times
Been thanked: 3373 times

Re: The biggest squirmer I've ever seen!

Post by Bill Spight »

I have added a few more variations later in the game. :)
The Adkins Principle:
At some point, doesn't thinking have to go on?
— Winona Adkins

Visualize whirled peas.

Everything with love. Stay safe.
Post Reply