Kirby's Study Journal

Kirby · **#1781**

I've been playing go and doing problems, but not posting here much. Yesterday, though, a coworker challenged me. I started a slack channel about go and started a go problem competition. This guy has been participating a lot, and wanted to play.

He said he's around 10k, and his OGS rank is 12k. Admittedly, I might have played pretty quickly and aggressively without thinking much because of judging him like this, and I even misread a ladder. But anyway, he won and I didn't ever feel like I had a strong chance of winning.

Here's the game:

The parts around the end I knew didn't work, but I was trying to make up for my point deficit...

So I guess I'm DDK now :scratch:

jlt · **#1782**

Your moves between :w60:

and

were pretty catastrophic, but I think your opponent is stronger than DDK.

Kirby · **#1783**

Yeah, 50 was pretty bad, too. And I thought nothing about the cut at N3. I think I probably should have been more focused. If we play again, I'm going to try harder. I should respect my opponent more, regardless of stated rank, I think.

Kirby · **#1784**

Maybe since I was a little frustrated with my loss, I decided to look back on my go career a little bit. If I count the time I absolutely first heard about go, I think it was around 2003ish? Hikaru no Go timeframe...

Rank is kind of hard to get solid data on (tournament games vs. internet games, etc.). But if I try to make an honest reflection of my progression in rank, I think I get a graph that looks something like this:

The y-axis is basically "rank + 30", where 0 is 30k, then 30 is around 1d, and 35 is around 5d. Here, I'm being generous, too, because while I think I can play around 2d - maybe 3d if I am super focused, sometimes I also play worse than that, e.g., around 2k. So we can think of this as an optimistic graph of my rank over time. I remember being around 5k when I went to grad school around 2007, and I got to KGS 1d around 2010ish. I think I have the capability to play above 1d level now - it doesn't always happen, but anyway, progress has been slow since 2010, even in this generous version of the graph.

This brings to mind the question, "What do I want to achieve?" in terms of go skill. Becoming something like a pro is out of the question. I have already hit the 1d milestone. Do I want to win tournaments? I won the US Open 1d section before. Do I want to win for a higher level section? What would be meaningful? 5d?

Let's say I pick 5d as a goal. That would be around 35 on this graph. It looks like the current rank is kind of close - but again, that's an optimistic rank. And even if I take it at face value, I'm somewhat flatlined here. Even if I'm in the middle of 1d and 5d right now, I got to 1d about 10 years ago. That means that with the same amount of effort, it'd take at least 10 years to make it the rest of the way there. And that's optimistic. The curve is generally sloped, and with age, I hear that it gets harder to read. Given that I'm 36 now, I'm looking at not being that level until I'm at least around 50. More realistically, maybe 55 or 60. That's if I can keep up the pace without declining. But age might also work against me. It could very well be a target that I never hit.

---

So if achieving a better rank or skill at go is my goal, it seems somewhat difficult. Now, it's true that I have not studied seriously all that often in go. Maybe that's my problem. But I don't know what would be different to make me change my behavior on that front - unless I *really* cared about getting to an arbitrary rank like 5d. And even then, I'd feel bad compared to the 6d and 7d.

What if I take the rank variable out of the picture? What other aspects are there?
- Intellectual pursuit. It's fun to concentrate on things like go problems and games.
- Go friends. I can meet up with them by going to tournaments and go events.
..

I can't really think of anything else. But I'd say that if "getting good" is not my goal anymore, then I can achieve these other goals without any sort of study at all - do go problems occasionally like I might do a crossword puzzle. And go to tournaments now and then to socialize with people.

It's a little painful to look at it this way, but if I compare this type of rank curve to the curve I might get by learning something entirely new... It's tempting to pick up a new hobby or interest. At my current age, it'd be nice to have an area in my life where the rank curve seems trending upward, rather than flat, at least...

I think I have to think about it more. The one thing that keeps coming back to me is that I never really tried seriously enough up until now in studying... But am I really going to change with that? To bring about change, I'd have to really want it. And for what? To be 5d instead of a lower dan player?

Maybe I'm just salty since I've been losing lately...

Kirby · **#1785**

After all of the philosophical musings from my last post, I had a plan: quit go at least for a little while, and focus on learning something else. I wanted to feel the beginning of the learning curve, again. I'm getting older so I don't have that much time left, so I want to optimize. And trying to optimize for go is basically optimizing for a fraction of a slope in the improvement line.

Anyway, then I get a group email from Inseong about the upcoming AYD league. What? I explicitly decided not to pay for another season. So I went and checked the record to tell Inseong that he made a mistake of including me. And then I realized that I had paid for 2 seasons back in the spring, so I actually *am* still a part of the league.

Oh well. Doesn't mean I have to study go. So I just played this game, listening to music. My opponent here usually beats me, so I was expecting to get behind early on. I think I kind of did, but then things started turning around:

It was a little complicated, but while he was thinking during the game, I thought I might be in trouble after this:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bc $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . . . | $$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . . . O O . . | $$ | . . X O . . . . . , . . . . X X X . . | $$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X O X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . W X O X O O O . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . O X X O X X O . | $$ | . . . , O . . . . , . X O O O X X X . | $$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . O X X . . X . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O X O X X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Notably, maybe this:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bc $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . . . | $$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . . . O O . . | $$ | . . X O . . . . . , . . . . X X X . . | $$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . 6 . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 5 . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 X O X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 O X . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . O X O X O O O . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . O X X O X X O . | $$ | . . . , O . . . . , . X O O O X X X . | $$ | . . . O . . . . . . . 7 O X X . . X . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O X O X X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

I think the original marked move might have been a mistake. But he acquiesced and gave me some stones... Game proceeded, and I started just getting a good feeling.

I wasn't aiming to really try hard for winning this game. It was kind of just playing out of obligation, because I'm signed up. But I started to enjoy myself a little bit more.

And I remembered thinking to myself, "Dang it, this game is gonna get me back interested in go, again. And then I'll be in that quandary about what to study, again. I won't be able to say no to go."

Then things fizzled in byo-yomi when I played this:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bc $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . X . X . . . . . . . X . . . X . | $$ | . . X O X . X . X X O O X . X X X O . | $$ | . . X O X . X X O X X O X X O O O O O | $$ | . . X O . X O O O O O X O O X X X O . | $$ | . X X O O X O O O X X X O . . . . O . | $$ | O X O O X O . O . X . X O X . . O . . | $$ | . O . O . . O O X . X O O O . . . . . | $$ | O . . O X X X O X . X X O X . . . O O | $$ | O O O O X O . O . X . X X O O O . O X | $$ | O X O O X O . O . , X . W O . X O O X | $$ | O X X X O X X O . . . . O X X X X X X | $$ | X X . O O . . O . O X X X O X O X . . | $$ | O . X O . O O . O . O . O O X O . X . | $$ | . X X O X X X O . . . O . O X O O O . | $$ | . . X X O O X O . X . O C . O X X O . | $$ | X X O , O X O O O X X X O O O X X X . | $$ | O X . O O X X X X X O O O X X . . X . | $$ | O O O . O O X . . X X X O X O X X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . X . X O O X . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

immediately, the marked move became visible, but it was too late. I lost the big group of stones and resigned. Before that, i think I might have been ahead...

So in the end it leaves me confused: kind of like go. Don't know if I should keep investing into it. Confused. Guess at least I'll play for AYD, again, next week. :-p

Kirby · **#1786**

Played another game on the AYD. Against my nemesis (actually just my friend :-p), boltar.

Here it is:

I won the game. During the game, I turned on some music, and enjoyed myself. I've been thinking a lot about my last two posts. I think I came up with an idea that gives me some sense of peace for now.

That is: it doesn't make sense for me to study go. Look at the graph - I won't get that much better at this rate unless I make a big change, and there are no huge goals that I have for go in the near future. But despite that, I love - and hate - the game. And sometimes, for things and people you love, you do things that don't make sense.

Onward...

Kirby · **#1787**

I've had a bit of a hiatus from the forum, but I haven't been stopping with go. I'm still in both BIBA and AYD. Not sure if it's really worth all of the money, when I could just play online, but I've still been having fun.

I have neglected to put games up for review, though, so I'll try to get back into it.

Here's a game that I lost. Blackie, from BIBA, reviewed it today.

Kirby · **#1788**

Highlights

Position 1

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bc $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X X X . . . . . . . . . X X O O . . | $$ | . O X O . X . . . . . X . O . X O . . | $$ | . O X O . . . X . , . . . . . X O . . | $$ | . O X O . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . X O X . O . . . . . . . . . W O . . | $$ | . O O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , O . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

My move above is big, but I guess it's too soon. I was worried about all of black's points on the top, but the bottom is still open for development!

Blackie pointed out that I don't need to be afraid:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bc $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X X X . . . . . . . . . X X O O . . | $$ | . O X O . X . . . . . X . O . X O . . | $$ | . O X O . . . X . , 2 . . . . X O . . | $$ | . O X O . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . X O X . O . . . . . . . . . . O . . | $$ | . O O . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , O . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Even if I play elsewhere, it's not like black gets something huge on the top.

So first lesson is: chill out.

Position 2

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bc $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X X X . . . . . . . . . X X O O . . | $$ | . O X O . X . . . . . X . O . X O . . | $$ | . O X O . . . X . , . . . X . X O . . | $$ | . O X O . . . . . . . . . . . X O . . | $$ | . X O X . O . . . . . O X X X O O . . | $$ | . O O . . . . . . . . O . O O X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . O X X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O X O . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . O X . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . | $$ | . . . , O . . . . , . . O X . X . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . O . W . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

This is just my fixed idea from double approach joseki. I didn't think very logically here, and just had the pattern in my head. Of course, black desires the right side more here in order to make use of his potential territory there. Therefore, I can grab more with the 3-3:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Wc $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X X X . . . . . . . . . X X O O . . | $$ | . O X O . X . . . . . X . O . X O . . | $$ | . O X O . . . X . , . . . X . X O . . | $$ | . O X O . . . . . . . . . . . X O . . | $$ | . X O X . O . . . . . O X X X O O . . | $$ | . O O . . . . . . . . O . O O X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . O X X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O X O . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . O X . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . | $$ | . . . , O . . . . , . . O X . X 2 . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . O . 3 1 . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

It's pretty logical when I think about it. But during the game, I just had that joseki sequence in my head.

So second lesson is: think about the specific situation - not only in "joseki chunks".

Position 3
Blackie didn't like my move here:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bc $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X X X . . . . . . . . . X X O O . . | $$ | . O X O . X . . . . . X . O . X O . . | $$ | . O X O . . . X . , . . . X . X O . . | $$ | . O X O . . . . . . . . . . . X O . . | $$ | . X O X . O . . . . . O X X X O O . . | $$ | . O O . . . . . . . . O . O O X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . O X X . O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O X O X O . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . O X . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . . X . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . W . . . . . . . O . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . O X . . . . . | $$ | . . . , O . . . X , . . O X . X X . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . O O O X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

My thought during the game was:
- Black has a lot of points
- I gotta make up those points
- I have potential in the center
- Capping gives me potential for more points in the center

Blackie's recommendation was this:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bc $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X X X . . . . . . . . . X X O O . . | $$ | . O X O . X . . . . . X . O . X O . . | $$ | . O X O . . . X . , . . . X . X O . . | $$ | . O X O . . . . . . . . . . . X O . . | $$ | . X O X . O . . . . . O X X X O O . . | $$ | . O O . . . . . . . . O . O O X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . O X X . O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O X O X O . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . O X . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . . X . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . O X . . . . . | $$ | . . . , O . . . X , . . O X . X X . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . . . W . . O O O X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

His point is to:
- Make points by attacking
- Defend my weakpoint

So maybe my assessment of point-making potential is wrong here. Lesson is: weak group may be more of a liability than I'm inclined to think.

Still, this mistake is a bit harder to understand than the others I've mentioned here so far.

Position 4

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bc $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X X X . . . . . . . . . X X O O . . | $$ | . O X O . X . . . . . X . O . X O . . | $$ | . O X O . . . X . , . . . X . X O . . | $$ | . O X O . . . . . . . . . . . X O . . | $$ | . X O X . O . . . . . O X X X O O . . | $$ | . O O . . . . . . . . O . O O X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . O X X . O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O X O X O . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . O X . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . . X . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X O . . . . O . . . . . . . O . . | $$ | . . X . . O O . . . . . O X . . . . . | $$ | . . . , O X O X X , . . O X . X X . . | $$ | . . . O W X X O X . X . . O O O X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

I played the move above to capture the black stones. Nice that I could capture them. But not ideal. Both Blackie and AI recommend this:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Wc $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X X X . . . . . . . . . X X O O . . | $$ | . O X O . X . . . . . X . O . X O . . | $$ | . O X O . . . X . , . . . X . X O . . | $$ | . O X O . . . . . . . . . . . X O . . | $$ | . X O X . O . . . . . O X X X O O . . | $$ | . O O . . . . . . . . O . O O X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . O X X . O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O X O X O . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . O X . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . . X . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X O . . . . O . . . . . . . O . . | $$ | . . X . . O O . . . . . O X . . . . . | $$ | . . . , O X O X X , . . O X . X X . . | $$ | . . . O . X X O X . X . . O O O X . . | $$ | . . . . . 3 . O 1 2 . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Why didn't I play that? I guess my inclination was that the exchange at the bottom gives black good shape. Maybe I missed the point that in the game, black has the first line sente move. So that's maybe even better shape for black and more effective for living. And also, the way I played in the game gets fewer points.

I guess the lesson is: think more about what the opponent can do with your own weaknesses.

---

So today's lessons are:
1. chill out
2. think about the specific situation - not only in "joseki chunks"
3. weak group may be more of a liability than I'm inclined to think
4. think more about what the opponent can do with your own weaknesses

Kirby · **#1789**

And here is where I got lucky in the AYD just now...

Kirby · **#1790**

Some highlights...

Position 1

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bc $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X X O . . | $$ | . . . . B O X . . . . . . X . X O X . | $$ | . . . O . . O . . , . . . O X O X . . | $$ | . O O . . . . . . . . . X X X O X . . | $$ | . X X X . . . . . . . . . O O O X X . | $$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . O O X . | $$ | . . O X O X . . . . . . . . . O X O . | $$ | . X X O X X O . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X O O O O X X . , . . . . . , O . . | $$ | . X X O . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . O X O X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | O . O X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . O . X O . . . . . . . . . . O O . . | $$ | X X X X X O . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . O O , X O . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . O O O . . . . X . . X . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

The marked move was a really interesting move by black. I don't really understand it, but it seemed somehow effective in this game.

Position 2

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bc $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X . X W . . . . . . . X X O . . | $$ | . . . . X O X . . . . . . X . X O X . | $$ | . . . O O O O . . , . . . O X O X . . | $$ | . O O . . . . . . . . . X X X O X . . | $$ | . X X X . . . . . . . . . O O O X X . | $$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . O O X . | $$ | . . O X O X . . . . . . . . . O X O . | $$ | . X X O X X O . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X O O O O X X . , . . . . . , O . . | $$ | . X X O . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . O X O X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | O . O X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . O . X O . . . . . . . . . . O O . . | $$ | X X X X X O . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . O O , X O . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . O O O . . . . X . . X . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

The marked move was a lot riskier than I expected. I figured I'd eat the top territory and keep my cake.

I almost starved without crumbs.

Position 3

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bc $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | X . . X . O X . . W . . . X . . . . . | $$ | X . . X X X O O O . . . O . X X O . . | $$ | X X X O X O X X X O O O X X . X O X . | $$ | O . . O O O O . X X O . . O X O X . . | $$ | . O O . . . . . X . X . X X X O X . . | $$ | . X X X . X O . X X . . . O O O X X . | $$ | . . . X X O O O O . . . . . . O O X . | $$ | . . O X . X X X O O . . . . . O X O . | $$ | . X X O X X O . X . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X O O O O X X . , . . . . . , O . . | $$ | . X X O . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . O X O X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | O . O X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . O . X O . . . . . . . . . . O O . . | $$ | X X X X X O . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . O O , X O . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . O O O . . . . X . . X . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

I think the marked move was a bad choice in this capturing race. Instead, I think expanding eyespace is better:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bc $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | X . . X . O X . . . . . W X . . . . . | $$ | X . . X X X O O O . . . O . X X O . . | $$ | X X X O X O X X X O O O X X . X O X . | $$ | O . . O O O O . X X O . . O X O X . . | $$ | . O O . . . . . X . X . X X X O X . . | $$ | . X X X . X O . X X . . . O O O X X . | $$ | . . . X X O O O O . . . . . . O O X . | $$ | . . O X . X X X O O . . . . . O X O . | $$ | . X X O X X O . X . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X O O O O X X . , . . . . . , O . . | $$ | . X X O . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . O X O X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | O . O X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . O . X O . . . . . . . . . . O O . . | $$ | X X X X X O . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . O O , X O . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . O O O . . . . X . . X . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

In contrast to the last game I shared here, this game really seemed mostly like a life and death problem. So the best lesson I can take is to increase my reading ability...

Maybe I should also be careful when I think I'm ahead.

Kirby · **#1791**

A couple of comments from Inseong:

1.) My idea to expand wasn't ideal:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bc $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | X . . X . O C 4 . 2 1 . W X . . . . . | $$ | X . . X X X O O O 5 3 . O . X X O . . | $$ | X X X O X O X X X O O O X X . X O X . | $$ | O . . O O O O . X X O . . O X O X . . | $$ | . O O . . . . . X . X . X X X O X . . | $$ | . X X X . X O . X X . . . O O O X X . | $$ | . . . X X O O O O . . . . . . O O X . | $$ | . . O X . X X X O O . . . . . O X O . | $$ | . X X O X X O . X . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X O O O O X X . , . . . . . , O . . | $$ | . X X O . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . O X O X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | O . O X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . O . X O . . . . . . . . . . O O . . | $$ | X X X X X O . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . O O , X O . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . O O O . . . . X . . X . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

So it was a little more nuanced than I thought.

2.) One of the more interesting comments from Inseong was that my choice here wasn't ideal:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bc $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . O . . . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . . W . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , O . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O O . . | $$ | . . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . O , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . O . O . . . . . . . X . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

The AI thought that, too, but Inseong gave a reason: white already has a position on the right side. So after the sequence we played out, the marked stone here isn't efficient:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bc $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X X O . . | $$ | . . . . . O . . . . . . . X . X O . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . O X O X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . X X X O X . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . O O O X X . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O O X . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , W . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O O . . | $$ | . . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . O , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . O . O . . . . . . . X . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

I think it makes sense, in retrospect. How should this be encapsulated into a lesson? I guess I should keep in mind that empty areas are more important than ones that are already occupied.

Kirby · **#1792**

I played another AYD game today. It was a fun game, but I lost.

Reviewing with KataGo briefly, I went down to about a 30% winrate early on, and then made a comeback, getting to about a 96% winrate by move 106... Then I died and threw it away :-D

Here's the game.

Kirby · **#1793**

Looking at the major turning points with KataGo, I really fell quite a bit behind with this move:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bc $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . B . b . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X O . X . . . . . . . X . . X O . | $$ | . . . O . . . . . O . . . . . X O O . | $$ | . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . X X O . | $$ | . . X O O . . . . . . . . . . X O . . | $$ | . . O X . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . | $$ | . . a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . X . . . . . . . X . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

In the game, I was a little arrogant and thought that white had made a mistake. My move, I reasoned, let me have 'a' and 'b' in miai. I didn't really think about white's response, which was good, and put me really far behind:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bc $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X . C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X O . X . . . . . . . X . . X O . | $$ | . . W O . . . . . O . . . . . X O O . | $$ | . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . X X O . | $$ | . . X O O . . . . . . . . . . X O . . | $$ | . . O X . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . X . . . . . . . X . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

I naively figured white would descend at the marked point, above.

Anyway, things were looking bad for me according to KataGo until here:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bc $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X . X O O . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . X X O . X . . . . . . . X . . X O . | $$ | . X O O . . O . . O . . . . . X O O . | $$ | . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . X X O . | $$ | . . X O O . . . . . . . . . . X O . . | $$ | . . O X . . . . . . . . . O . O O . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B . . O . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . O . O . O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X X . | $$ | . . . O O O . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . O X O X X . . . . . . X . . . . . | $$ | . . X X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

After that fiasco on the right, my win rate started to rise a lot.

And around here, my win rate is listed around 96%:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bc $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X . X O O . . O X . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . X X O . X . . . O X . X X . . X O . | $$ | . X O O . . O . . O X . O . . X O O . | $$ | . X . . . . . . . . O . . . . X X O . | $$ | . . X O O O . . . . . . . . . X O . . | $$ | . . O X X . . . . . . . . O . O O . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . B . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O X . . . . B , . O . B . , . . . | $$ | . O . X . . . . O B B . B O O O . . . | $$ | . O X . . . . . O O B . B O O X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . O O O X X O . O . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . O X . O X O O O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . X X X . X X . | $$ | . . C O O O . . . , . . . X . X . . . | $$ | . . O X O X X . . . . . . X . . . . . | $$ | . . X X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

But then, I arrogantly took the corner with the marked move, ignoring the center group... Which ultimately died.

I think sometimes I feel that, if my group has a tiger's mark shape, it's invincible. But tiger's mouth is not two eyes. Still, it feels invincible.

Maybe I just like tigers, too much.

So in the end, I'd say the overall theme to learn here is: Don't be arrogant

And on that note, in order to humble myself a little bit, I'll share an embarrassing video my family and I made on youtube:

Next time, when I'm getting to full of myself, I'll remember what it's like to wear a yellow wig, look at the board, and try to really figure out for sure... "What's going on?!?"

Kirby · **#1794**

Played another AYD game today.

Here it is:

I won by 3.5, which is unusual for me - I don't usually have close games like that. Interestingly enough, checking with KataGo, there were a few swings in the endgame.

Per KataGo, I was leading the game, albeit close, until here:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bc $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . O X X . . . | $$ | . X . X O X O . . . . . . . O X . . . | $$ | X . X X X O O . . . . . . O O X X . . | $$ | . X O O O X O X . , . . . O X O X . . | $$ | . O . . . X X O O . . . . . X O X . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . O O . . . | $$ | . . . . X X X O . O . . O O O X X . . | $$ | . O O O O . . O . . . . O X X O X . . | $$ | . X O . O X X X . X O W . . . O X . . | $$ | . X X O . O O X . , X . . O O , . . . | $$ | . . X O O O . O X . . . X . . X X X . | $$ | . X . X X O . O X . . . X O O . O . . | $$ | . . . X O X O O X . . . . X O X . O . | $$ | . X X X O X . X . . . . . . X X O . . | $$ | . O O O O O . . . . . . . . X O . O . | $$ | . . . O O . . . . , X . . . X O O O . | $$ | . . . . . O . X . . . . . . . X X X . | $$ | . . . . . . O X . X . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . O O X . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

I thought that move was big, but more important was this move on top, which is reverse sente:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bc $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . W . . . . . . . O X X . . . | $$ | . X . X O C O . . . . . . . O X . . . | $$ | X . X X X O O . . . . . . O O X X . . | $$ | . X O O O X O X . , . . . O X O X . . | $$ | . O . . . X X O O . . . . . X O X . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . O O . . . | $$ | . . . . X X X O . O . . O O O X X . . | $$ | . O O O O . . O . . . . O X X O X . . | $$ | . X O . O X X X . X O . . . . O X . . | $$ | . X X O . O O X . , X . . O O , . . . | $$ | . . X O O O . O X . . . X . . X X X . | $$ | . X . X X O . O X . . . X O O . O . . | $$ | . . . X O X O O X . . . . X O X . O . | $$ | . X X X O X . X . . . . . . X X O . . | $$ | . O O O O O . . . . . . . . X O . O . | $$ | . . . O O . . . . , X . . . X O O O . | $$ | . . . . . O . X . . . . . . . X X X . | $$ | . . . . . . O X . X . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . O O X . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

If I do that, KataGo says I maintain the lead. But since I played the lower value gote endgame move, black caught up. Additionally, I made a mistake with this capture, which I thought was good:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bc $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . X . O . . . . . . O X X . . . | $$ | . X . X . X O . . . . . . . O X . . . | $$ | X . X X X O O . . . . . . O O X X . . | $$ | . X O O O X O X . , . . . O X O X . . | $$ | . O . . . X X O O . . . . . X O X . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . O O . . . | $$ | . . . . X X X O . O . . O O O X X . . | $$ | . O O O O . . O . . . . O X X O X . . | $$ | . X O . O X X X . X O O . . . O X . . | $$ | . X X O . O O X . , X X . O O , . . . | $$ | . . X O O O . O X . . . X . . X X X . | $$ | . X . X X O . O X . . . X O O . O . . | $$ | . . . X O C O O X . . . . X O X . O . | $$ | X X X X O C W X . . . . . . X X O . . | $$ | X O O O O O . . . . . . . . X O . O . | $$ | O . . O O . . . . , X . . . X O O O . | $$ | . O . . . O X X . . . . . . . X X X . | $$ | . . . . . O O X . X . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . O O X . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

I figured it was sente capture and good. But KataGo pointed out this better move:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bc $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . X . O . . . . . . O X X . . . | $$ | . X . X . X O . . . . . . . O X . . . | $$ | X . X X X O O . . . . . . O O X X . . | $$ | . X O O O X O X . , . . . O X O X . . | $$ | . O . . . X X O O . . . . . X O X . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . O O . . . | $$ | . . . . X X X O . O . . O O O X X . . | $$ | . O O O O . . O . . . . O X X O X . . | $$ | . X O . O X X X . X O O . . . O X . . | $$ | . X X O . O O X . , X X . O O , . . . | $$ | . . X O O O . O X . . . X . . X X X . | $$ | . X . X X O . O X . . . X O O . O . . | $$ | . . . X O X O O X . . . . X O X . O . | $$ | X X X X O X . X . . . . . . X X O . . | $$ | X O O O O O . W . . . . . . X O . O . | $$ | O . . O O . . . . , X . . . X O O O . | $$ | . O . . . O X X . . . . . . . X X X . | $$ | . . . . . O O X . X . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . O O X . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

When I didn't play there, KataGo finally put the game in favor of black. That is, until he answered me here:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bc $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . X . O . . . . . . O X X . . . | $$ | . X . X . X O . . . . . . . O X . . . | $$ | X . X X X O O . . . . . . O O X X . . | $$ | X X O O O X O X . , . . . O X O X . . | $$ | X O . . . X X O O . . . . . X O X . . | $$ | O . O . . . . . . . . . . . O O O X . | $$ | . . . . X X X O . O . . O O O X X . . | $$ | . O O O O . . O . O . . O . . O X . . | $$ | . X O . O X X X C X O O . O O O X . . | $$ | . X X O . O O X . , X X X O O X . B X | $$ | . . X O O O . O X . . . X . . X X X O | $$ | . X . X X O . O X . . . X O O X O O O | $$ | . . . X O . O O X . . . . X O X . O . | $$ | X X X X O . O X . . . . . . X X O . . | $$ | X O O O O O . X . . . . . . X O . O . | $$ | O . . O O . . . . , X . . . X O O O O | $$ | . O . . . O X X . . . . . . . X X X O | $$ | . . . . . O O X . X . . . . . . X . X | $$ | . . . . . . O O X . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

After white got the marked intersection, white got the lead again, I guess.

So overall, I think this was a close game and it showed that we both had weaknesses in our endgame. I'm glad that I was in a lead when the endgame started, but that small lead went away due to poor endgame. But I got it back, which was lucky for me.

I don't have many close games like this, relatively speaking, and it shows some of my weak points, particularly in evaluating what's biggest.

jlt · **#1795**

Quote:

I'll remember what it's like to wear a yellow wig, look at the board, and try to really figure out for sure... "What's going on?!?"

A yellow wig? This is supposed to be sung by non-blondes.

Kirby · **#1796**

Haha, yeah... That He-man parody has been around for awhile, and I was always amused by how weird it was. So we decided to make our own rendition. I guess it’s how we deal with being bored during quarantine.

I think the whole thing is a very specific type of humor that isn’t funny to everybody. But somehow, I always laugh.

Kirby · **#1797**

Last AYD game of the month, against DuguYue, who's a friend of mine I've met in person:

Haven't gotten review from Inseong, yet, but I did a brief rundown using KataGo...

Basically, game was a little even in the opening (I'm a little behind, maybe), but then my win rate started to plummet with the sequence here:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bc $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X O . . O . . . . . . . X . . . . . | $$ | . X X O . . . . . O . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . X O O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . | $$ | . . . X . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . O . . | $$ | . . X X . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O , X . . W . , . . . O X X X O . | $$ | . . . O O O . . . . . . X X O O O O O | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . X O X X X O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

KataGo wants me to just jump out with my weak group, which is a simple idea:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bc $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X O . . O . . . . . . . X . . . . . | $$ | . X X O . . . . . O . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . X O O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . | $$ | . . . X . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . . O . W . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . O . . | $$ | . . X X . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O , X . . . . , . . . O X X X O . | $$ | . . . O O O . . . . . . X X O O O O O | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . X O X X X O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

The group is weak, so strengthen it. Why did I play the way I did in the game? Because I was hung up on a very specific sequence:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Wc $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X O . . O . . . . . . . X . . . . . | $$ | . X X O . . . . . O . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . X O O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . | $$ | . . . X . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . 4 8 X . . O . . | $$ | . . X X . . X . . . 6 5 3 . . . . . . | $$ | . . O , X . . W . , 7 2 1 O X X X O . | $$ | . . . O O O . . . . . 9 X X O O O O O | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . X O X X X O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

And I thought the bottom stone would help me. But even ignoring the left white stones, this sequence isn't even that good, probably. Black gets strength from squeezing white, so it's not like I have some super sequence I'm preparing there.

Anyway, I was way behind for almost the entire game, until DuguYue played here:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bc $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X O X O . . . . . . . . X X O . . . | $$ | . X O X . O X X X X X X . X O X O . . | $$ | . X X O . O X O O O O O O O O X X . . | $$ | . X O O . O O O . . . . . . O O X X . | $$ | . . X O . X X . . . . . . X O X X . . | $$ | . . X X . . . . . . . . B . X O . . . | $$ | . . . X X X O . . . . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . O X . X O X X . . . . . . . . O . . | $$ | . . O X O O . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . O . O . O X . . . . . O O . . . . . | $$ | . . . O . X X . . . . O X X . O . . . | $$ | . . . . O . . . . . X O . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . O . O X X . X O . . | $$ | . . X X . . X X X O O O . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O , X . X O O O X O X O X X X O . | $$ | . . . O O O O X X O X O X X O O O O O | $$ | . . . . . . . O X X X X X O X X X O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

That gave me a target to attack, which turned the game around. KataGo immediately says the game is reversed, now.

As a side note, I thought for a little while here, but was stupid with this play, earlier in the game:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bc $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X O X O . . . . . . . . . X . . . . | $$ | . X O X . O X X X X X X . X O . O . . | $$ | . X X O . O X O O O O O O . W X . . . | $$ | . X O O . O O O . . . . . . . . . X . | $$ | . . X O . X X . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X X X O . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . O X . X O X X . . . . . . . . O . . | $$ | . . O X O O . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . O . O . O X . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . O . X X . . . . O . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . . O . . . . . X O . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . O . O X X . X O . . | $$ | . . X X . . X X X O O O . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O , X . X O O O X O X O X X X O . | $$ | . . . O O O O X X O X O X X O O O O O | $$ | . . . . . . . O X X X X X O X X X O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

I guess my reading was foggy. I wanted to play here, but I didn't think it worked:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bc $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X O X O . . . . . . . . . X . . . . | $$ | . X O X . O X X X X X X . X O W O . . | $$ | . X X O . O X O O O O O O . C X . . . | $$ | . X O O . O O O . . . . . . . . . X . | $$ | . . X O . X X . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X X X O . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . O X . X O X X . . . . . . . . O . . | $$ | . . O X O O . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . O . O . O X . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . O . X X . . . . O . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . . O . . . . . X O . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . O . O X X . X O . . | $$ | . . X X . . X X X O O O . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O , X . X O O O X O X O X X X O . | $$ | . . . O O O O X X O X O X X O O O O O | $$ | . . . . . . . O X X X X X O X X X O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

I was afraid of black's block on top. But I was thinking too linearly:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Bc $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X O X O . . . . . . . 2 . X . . . . | $$ | . X O X . O X X X X X X . X O O O . . | $$ | . X X O . O X O O O O O O . 1 X . . . | $$ | . X O O . O O O . . . . . . . . . X . | $$ | . . X O . X X . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X X X O . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . O X . X O X X . . . . . . . . O . . | $$ | . . O X O O . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . O . O . O X . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . O . X X . . . . O . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . . O . . . . . X O . . . O . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . O . O X X . X O . . | $$ | . . X X . . X X X O O O . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O , X . X O O O X O X O X X X O . | $$ | . . . O O O O X X O X O X X O O O O O | $$ | . . . . . . . O X X X X X O X X X O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Since that move works, there's no real problem here. I didn't let it run too long, but I think that was another *potential* turning point in the game.

So my opponent gave me at least two big chances after I fell way behind. I struck out on the first pitch, but made a hit on the second, so I guess that's what brought me the win.

Kirby · **#1798**

Long time no see. I quit the forum for awhile - a few months back? I don't even remember.

I've been too busy at work. I put in a lot of hours, and sometimes stay up late - last Monday/Tuesday, I stayed up working on something until about 3am. I finished it, but I don't think it was worth it. I've been trying to balance my time outside of work a little better.

Outside of work, I started trying to learn the ukulele. It was cheaper to buy than a guitar, and I didn't know I'd be committed to learning. I play with it now and then.

What I haven't been doing is studying go. Except for my AYD games. Every Tuesday, I play a game of go. I don't go to Inseong's lectures, I don't review, and I don't do go problems. So that's my life now. Mostly work. Some family time. Some ukulele. I guess I exercise, too.

But a weird thing has been happening. I've been having a winning streak. Maybe it's a fluke - maybe now that I mentioned it, I'll stop winning. But whatever the case, I've won the last 7 games in the AYD. I don't really know why.

There's one thing I've been doing differently than before. And as weird as it is to say it, it's "not caring". Before, I'd get somewhat tense before games - get all uptight, and try to play the best move. Maybe it's rude to say it, but these days, during the opening, I just watch YouTube. I'm not trying to be rude to my opponent or anything. It's just that I'm exhausted from work, and playing a game of go each week kind of gives me a break.

Weirdly enough, it seems to help my games. Maybe it's just a coincidence. Anyway, I usually start watching YouTube (some random recommendation), and play through the opening of the game. After 20 or 30 moves, it starts to get complicated, and I feel inclined to pause YouTube and start thinking. Then I go.

I'm sure I've gotten lucky at times. But anyway, it's weird that this is the only variable that seems to be different in my games.

As a result, I've achieved the highest AYD game I ever have in all of the years I've played in the AYD:

And I won several games. Here are the games from my streak.

I'm sure there are lots of mistakes in these games. And my opponents probably had lots of chances to win. I actually couldn't really tell you, because I never bother to review games these days.

But anyway, since it's such a weird experience for me, I decided to share.

I guess I'll go watch YouTube more.

ez4u · **#1799**

Welcome back Kirby!

Unfortunately, now that you have started thinking about your streak enough to post it here, you have stopped "not caring". :shock:

I predict that your streak will end now. But no worries! You can post about the end of your streak too. I'll look forward to it. ;-)

jlt · **#1800**

Does saying that you stopped caring means that you stopped not caring?

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