well i found a rival he's a student at the same school i named him jay-z because he's a big Jay-z fan and he is from new york
the first game we played was even i resigned mid game i was outclassed completely
the next game i took 5 stones i added comments on the sgf
[sgf-full](;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]AP[CGoban:3]ST[2]
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]HA[5]KM[0.50]
GN[Rival]PW[Jay-Z]PB[Me]DT[2010-12-08]
;B[dd]
;B[pd]
;B[dp]
;B[pp]
;B[jj]
;W[mp]
;B[pn]C[keeping it simple was going to do a two space jump or a large knights move but I want to play a very solid game so I played a one space jump
]
;W[fq]C[I see he is building a base at the bottom, he is there first so I'm not going to show up late for the fight and since its a knights approach I can play my favorite joseki number 1 and it will build symmetry.
]
;B[dn]
;W[ip]C[OK so he is securing territory he is probably going to attack next, I want to coordinate as many stones as possible right now but I don't want any approaches from the right side around r10 his stone is a little higher and he might go for the split up and there is enough room for a base over there so I'm going to play this area first]
;B[qk]
;W[qh]C[OK I'm thinking r14 for a weak shimari and a pincer to make territory while attacking]
;B[qf]
;W[pg]C[the shoulder hit, if i dont block he bends and i dont want to push behind his stones, but its ok for now it will kinda protect my upper coner and i plan to stop after i have 5 libererties if he contienues contact fighting]
;B[pf]
;W[nh]C[the knights move, he jumping ahead and he is already ahead in that area so no need to push from behind so im thinking large knights move to n17 and its kind of a extention from a wall too so i feel its double purpose im trying to cordinate my stones into bases right now ]
;B[mc]
;W[kc]C[alright a pincer, dont be scared think think think, if i pincer the pincer he will extened and connect, if i extend from n17 he makes a base maybe H17, im thinking 2 space jump to n14 to build moyo and aim at keeping the two groups sperated or i can go to c11 and call that corner area settled its a big point that i can coordninate with either left corner, i cant go for the pincer he coud pincer my pincer then i would be weak, i cant be greedy so if he wants that corner the extra moves he makes over there i can make up for it on the left side and then he will have to show up late for the fight]
;B[ci]
;W[ej]C[why there? c9 large knights move plus one space jum is that double purpose]
;B[ck]
;W[el]C[hmm maybe hes aiming at c8 for the split d8 keeps everything coordinated , i think maybe hes aiming at center influence for the midgame?]
;B[dl]
;W[eh]TR[cg][eh][ej][el]SQ[fn][ip][mp][fq]C[yeah he wants the center but he can cut me off and it takes less stones to settel the side i make make a corner extension to coordinate my cornder with my strong side, the sqares are his closes group to coordniate with the triangles, now that i look at the board like this im thinking g17 to extened but still play it safe and aim at a one space jump to the top pincer, if he pincers the left side and the upper corner it wont be as big as my profit up top, and g17 takes his base extension is that double purpose ]RG[mf][nh][pg][qh]MA[hc][kc]
;B[gc]
;W[ld]C[shoulder hit, its sente because i cant ignore it, but he might one space jump after and make good shape i think i should grab sape point with j17 if he plays n16 then i can play o17 but if he plays o17 i play p17 and take a small corner its better than nothin and he will waste a lot of moves attack my only weak group]
;B[ic]
;W[kf]C[ok so hes going for cordinateing the upper left side i will let him have it im going for the double wing he might 3-3 invasion after i knights move to c14 if not i might take my own 3-3 just cause the but he might f15 for graeat center influence]
;B[cf]
;W[qc]C[i really want to ignore this move but if i play a few more stones over here he will waste more stones attacking it and i can profit elsewhere ]
;B[qd]C[i think i have the best chance coordinating my center stone with the bottom right group so i will bait with the top right corner]
;W[pc]C[ok so i might as well hane he will defend because he is despreate for that corner he invested stones i should play c 17 since i know what he wants coners but i want to play o10 and then ill go over there]
;B[oc]
;W[ob]C[now o10]
;B[nj]C[now l 4 is a option but im thinking i should protect my wing in the upper left next it seems big]
;W[mj]C[im thinking respond to attachmeent with hane but i dont want the cut so i will extend for liberties]
;B[nk]C[i still want to play my double wing prtection move but i should see this fight out first its alot of open space around here]
;W[ll]TR[kf][eh][nh][ej][mj][el][ll][ip]C[nice i can live in the middle it will be diffuclut because im last to the fight in this area but i think o 7 is good shape here and that mabey i can push with late mid game]
;B[nm]C[i just one space jumped]
;W[nc]C[im thinking he can rob my corner with 3-3 invasiona at both bottoms so i want to settel at least on but im going to protect my wing first]
;B[cc]
;W[od]C[ok he got the corner so i will lettle my right corner better since the stone sites on the forth line and the left side jay z has a stone on the 3 line it just bigger p 2 aims at extending under his stones hopfully he will protect and i can take my corner with one more move]
;B[or]C[i got a funny feeling he will inaver right now after i put the stone down]
;W[cq]C[ok block]
;B[cp]C[now im aiming for the split here i just want to push to the center dpwn here]
;W[dq]
;B[fo]TR[el][ll][ip][mp]C[good shape i still want to secure the lower right but i cant let him link to easily with center here i need some center too]
;W[hm]
;B[qq]C[seem slow but i will snake my in the center if i have to i feel much better knowing im solid]
;W[rg]C[great another bite at the bait i can press for center territory]
;B[if]C[i want my center stone in the game this is my attempt]
;W[ih]
;B[gf]C[extend base to fight from protect invasion too, m6 nice capp cordinate with base]
;W[gh]
;B[ln]C[l4 opition to attack and build territory]
;W[mn]
;B[kp]C[i dont know proper invation etiquet but this seems fleible i could have been safe and been blocked in to easily from my reading so i want to try some light moves]
;W[lo]
;B[lq]C[fight thickness with thickness this also loosley conntects me underneath him something like the steal the wood from under the fire strategy]
;W[ko]
;B[jp]C[slowly eat easy side territory]
;W[jo]
;B[iq]C[still pushing getting points]
;W[hq]
;B[ir]C[protec from atari]
;W[hr]
;B[hp]C[sente and i can contect to the left side]
;W[io]
;B[gp]C[ no more brave stuff it would not be profitable now its time to settle and claim my areas]
;W[bp]
;B[bo]C[e 14 nice move g 6, s 11]
;W[pj]
;B[pk]C[hes doing the same thing as me pushing and claiming]
;W[is]
;B[js]C[basic instinct]
;W[jr]C[nice move its sente too]
;B[jq]
;W[ks]
;B[kr]
;W[js]
;B[ls]
;W[hs]
(;B[nq]
;W[lp]C[its dead i gotta get over it, i cannot win withouth my sacrifeced corner it will die and i would loose by a few points, one bad move o3 i should have played m4 i would have won by a nice margina but i feel 5 is a good handicap so far for my rival,
is there somthing i missed that a more experienced player can point out]
;B[kq]C[die with glory dont quit]
;W[mq]
;B[mr]C[another dumb move i shoukd have let him eat 4 stones instead of 7 i gotta realx after my mistakes so i dont make more]
;W[lr]
;B[nr]C[block, maybey i can win by 5 ppoints i was about to resign, b3 for extra points come on me lets pull through]
;W[qj]
;B[rj]C[push till its over with]
;W[ri]
;B[rk]
;W[ki]
;B[bq]
;W[br]
;B[ap]
;W[jb]
;B[ib]
;W[ef]
;B[fd]
;W[rc]
;B[mm]C[sente]
;W[lm]
;B[nn]
;W[fh]
;B[mo]C[maybey i can get center]
;W[np]
;B[oo]
;W[kj]
;B[gm]
;W[gn]
;B[fn]
;W[gl]
;B[fm]
;W[im]
;B[kn]
;W[fl]
;B[em]
;W[oj]
;B[jl]
;W[km]
;B[jn]
;W[jm]
;B[jh]
;W[jg]C[i can not win i resign
afterwards we decided on a 4 stone handicap from now on
even though i lost, i dont mind i welcome the challegne and the growth that comes with it.])
(;MN[1]FG[4353:dia 1]PM[1]
;B[lp]
;W[mq]
;B[mr]
;W[nr]
;B[ns]))[/sgf-full]
and the 3rd game I'm currently reviewing i need some help with it
[sgf-full](;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]AP[CGoban:3]ST[2]
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]HA[4]KM[0.50]
PW[Jay-Z]PB[ME]DT[2010-12-11]AB[dd][pd][dp][pp]VW[]
;W[nc]
;B[pf]
;W[ic]
;B[qi]
;W[dj]
;B[dg]
;W[dm]
;B[gp]
;W[eq]
;B[dq]
;W[lp]
;B[jq]
;W[jp]
;B[iq]
;W[pm]
;B[mp]
;W[mo]
;B[np]
;W[ep]
;B[eo]
;W[fo]
;B[do]
;W[kq]
;B[lo]
;W[ln]
;B[ko]
;W[kn]
;B[jo]
;W[io]
;B[jn]
;W[jm]
;B[in]
;W[im]
;B[hn]
;W[fn]
;B[fp]
;W[hm]
;B[gn]
;W[gm]
;B[go]
;W[er]
;B[br]
;W[cq]
;B[cr]
;W[cc]
;B[cd]
;W[dc]
;B[ed]
;W[pk]
;B[oi]
;W[pi]
;B[ph]
;W[bd]
;B[be]
;W[qq]
;B[pq]
;W[fg]
;B[bc]
;W[bb]
;B[ad]
;W[pc]
;B[rq]
;W[qd]
;B[qe]
;W[od]
;B[pe]
;W[qp]
;B[qr]
;W[rp]
;B[rr]
;W[nj]
;B[pj]
;W[ec]
;B[fd]
;W[fc]
;B[ci]
;W[mh]
;B[qn]
;W[qm]
;B[pn]
;W[rn]
;B[bl]
;W[cl]
;B[bk]
;W[rd]
;B[jj]
;W[jh]
;B[kl]
;W[km]
;B[hi]
;W[gi]
;B[hh]
;W[hg]
;B[gj]
;W[hj]
;B[hk]
;W[ij]
;B[jk]
;W[fj]
;B[gk]
;W[ik]
;B[il]
;W[ii]
;B[ih]
;W[ji]
;B[ig]
;W[gh]
;B[mn]
;W[mm]
;B[if]
;W[hf]
;B[kf]
;W[ng]
;B[nn]
;W[qk]
;B[me]
;W[ne]
;B[ie]
;W[gd]
;B[ki]
;W[kh]
;B[kg]
;W[lh]
;B[kd]
;W[rf]
;B[re]
;W[se]
;B[oj]
;W[nm]
;B[nk]
;W[ok]
;B[mk]
;W[ni]
;B[jg]
;W[rh])[/sgf-full]
its been a while since i did some go problems so I'm going to do 30 of them tonight on a actual board
and get back into reading

_________________
standing still means going backwards

[sgf-full](;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]AP[Ngf2SgfService:3]ST[2]
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]KM[0.5]
PW[dfshwiuf]PB[1986]WR[23K*]BR[24K*]DT[2010-12-11]RE[W+Resign]PC[www.cyberoro.com]
;B[pd]
;W[dp]
;B[pp]
;W[dd]
;B[qj]
;W[nc]
;B[pf]
;W[pb]
;B[qc]
;W[kc]
;B[fq]
;W[dn]
;B[ip]
;W[eq]
;B[fr]
;W[er]
;B[mq]
;W[qq]
;B[pq]
;W[qp]
;B[qo]
;W[pr]
;B[or]
;W[qr]
;B[nq]
;W[ro]
;B[qn]
;W[rn]
;B[qm]
;W[dj]
;B[cc]
;W[dc]
;B[cd]
;W[ce]
;B[be]
;W[cf]
;B[db]
;W[eb]
;B[cb]
;W[fc]
;B[bf]
;W[cg]
;B[jj]
;W[qb]
;B[rc]
;W[rb]
;B[nj]
;W[go]
;B[in]
;W[hq]
;B[hp]
;W[gp]
;B[gq]
;W[hr]
;B[iq]
;W[gr]
;B[fp]
;W[fo]
;B[ir]
;W[fs]
;B[ne]
;W[hm]
;B[im]
;W[il]
;B[jl]
;W[ik]
;B[jk]
;W[ij]
;B[mm]
;W[ji]
;B[li]
;W[ki]
;B[kj]
;W[lh]
;B[mi]
;W[mh]
;B[nh]
;W[ng]
;B[ii]
;W[kh]
;B[hi]
;W[hl]
;B[hg]
;W[ke]
;B[fg]
;W[gh]
;B[gg]
;W[hh]
;B[ih]
;W[ig]
;B[ge]
;W[gi]
;B[ee]
;W[de]
;B[jg]
;W[if]
;B[jf]
;W[ie]
;B[jh]
;W[mg]
;B[gj]
;W[fi]
;B[fj]
;W[ei]
;B[hj]
;W[ej]
;B[lf]
;W[kf]
;B[kg]
;W[lg]
;B[mf]
;W[oh]
;B[og]
;W[ni]
;B[nf]
;W[nh]
;B[ph]
;W[oi]
;B[oj]
;W[je]
;B[pi]
;W[fk]
;B[ld]
;W[le]
;B[md]
;W[mc]
;B[gk]
;W[fl]
;B[gl]
;W[gm]
;B[hc]
;W[gd]
;B[hd]
;W[he]
;B[gc]
;W[fd]
;B[fe]
;W[kd]
;B[rm]
;W[rp]
;B[dh]
;W[eg]
;B[dg]
;W[eh]
;B[bh]
;W[ch]
;B[ak]
;W[bg]
;B[ci]
;W[bi]
;B[bj]
;W[ah]
;B[cl]
;W[cj]
;B[ck]
;W[cm]
;B[bm]
;W[bn]
;B[dm]
;W[cn]
;B[em]
;W[fm]
;B[ek]
;W[el]
;B[dk]
;W[en]
;B[am]
;W[bl]
;B[ff]
;W[df]
)[/sgf-full]
I got punished online after a few days off I almost thought I lost it until I realized I was gettin punished before I took a break lol well I didn't win today but I think I learned alot of my opponents know joseki even though u are not suppose to memorize it it's like they know it any way I seen a post on here about punishing mistakes in joseki are joseki better than fuseki im weak in joseki i only know number 1 but i have been looking at fuseki would it be beneficial to learn or is it a waste of time like studying joseki?
Well time for tsumego

_________________
standing still means going backwards

In my opinion it's best to learn Josekis while reading "Direction of Play" and/or Whole Board Thinking in Joseki 1 and 2.

The point about the saying to not memorize Josekis is, that you generally don't know when to choose which Joseki. So the main point should lay in understanding, what the pro and cons are between the various variations.
Of course in the end you will not get around memorizing Josekis, but then you can hopefully put the sequences into a context, so that you'll apply them when they fit and not just because you happen to know the sequence.

Regarding Fuseki: Reading "Opening Theory Made Easy" and/or "In the Beginning" offer(s) you everything you need to know for the next douzen rank-ups.
If you are trying to learn popular opening strategies like the Low-Chinese, I would suggest to drop this completely for the time being. You might want to know the first five moves of the most popular openings but don't dig into the theory behind it, because I think neither you nor your opponent will really understand it and therefore just play something, which actually would be devastating according to the theory.

_________________
My "guide" to become stronger in Go

If you have a bad feeling about a special opening sequence look for it online, but don't worry about learning them for now. You will take up quite a lot that way til single digit kyu even if you don't try at all to learn them (Sensei's Library e.g. is fine enough to look them up -> http://senseis.xmp.net/?positionsearch=1)

Especially the handicap games give the feeling that you are way too much concerned about territory. The purpose of the handicap stones is to help you in fighting. All your tsumego study (with the improved reading it brings about) can show results only if you let it affect your game and of course you need enough time on the clock to read during the game. That means you have to fight, in handicap games right from the beginning. Don't grant a base too easily, split where possible, don't let him connect easily, keep him weak and use your strength to attack. (In the 5 stone game you unfortunately did the opposite from the second move on.) Just stick to the basics and see how far you can go.

last night my tsumego went pretty well 80% of the go grinder basic tsumego set but i got a question about this problem
what is better than this?

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$W Moves 1 to 3
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | O O O O O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | O X X X O . . . . , . . . . . , . . . |
$$ | X . . X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . X O X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | X 3 2 1 O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

IT LOOKS LIKE IT WORKS TO ME BUT IT COMES UP WRONG

_________________
standing still means going backwards

Your sequence is ko, the correct sequence is unconditional kill.

oh ok i see now thank u kindly, but it would still work in a real game wouldn't it?

_________________
standing still means going backwards

not if your opponent has more threats than you...

And even if that's not the case, in killing the group via a ko, you give your opponent 2 extra moves elsewhere on the board, compared to just 1 if you kill it unconditionally. That's why ko is always considered a worse outcome than unconditional life/death.

i learned a lot just going through the board and seeing what works for everybody else
its interesting to see how different people go about getting stronger at go...

i did 20 problems today i only got 4 wrong i played a few games n it just feels good to get the ball back rollin with my go
I'm in a good mood because i got two wins tonight i think I'm going to end my day with working through attack & defense and
finishing up lessons in fundamentals well see ya,

_________________
standing still means going backwards

Nice game against this "dfshwiuf"! Some comments:

Move 69 MUST be at either J11 or K11. This is a very important fundamental of pushing battles: when your opponent pushes you from behind, you virtually always have to play either hane or extend! For reference, just picture the position if you play 69 at K11 and in the game. With a stone at K11, your moyo is so much more imposing than in the game, and also his moyo looks so much weaker and easy to invade. Looking at the rest of the game, you seem to have grasped this idea quite well, but this is a rather costly mistake.

Nice capture at move 119! But move 121 is gote and unnecessary, and you are strong enough to figure that out if you take just a few seconds extra. It cannot hurt to rethink every move twice before playing, rather than just going with the flow, because it'll prevent this kind of mistake.

The monkey jump at 147 does not work... Monkey jump is nice, but when you have a cutting point in your position your opponent can sometimes cut it off (which he does); so you have to be a bit careful. B11 would have been correct here. Actually, if you would play there, I think you are slightly ahead because the capture at move 119 is so big.

Good luck

_________________
My name is Gijs, from Utrecht, NL.

When in doubt, play the most aggressive move

Yesterday was a good day in go I had 4 games only one game I was completely outclassed but for the most of the games I played good go I have no win technically but I learned alot yesterday and I can spot my mistakes so I feel like im improving. I didn't do any tsumego yesterday so I gotta get back into it today with graded go problems for beginners my apps are getting old and I'm putting the problems on board anyway.

_________________
standing still means going backwards

game of the day hands down!
[sgf-full](;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]AP[Ngf2SgfService:3]ST[2]
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]KM[0.5]HA[3]AB[dp][pd][dd]
PW[shunm]PB[1986]WR[3D*]BR[24K*]DT[2010-12-16]RE[B+Resign]PC[www.cyberoro.com]
;W[pp]
;B[jc]
;W[fq]
;B[dn]
;W[jp]
;B[ck]
;W[qf]
;B[nd]
;W[rd]
;B[qc]
;W[qi]
;B[gc]
;W[cf]
;B[bd]
;W[ci]
;B[ek]
;W[dr]
;B[cq]
;W[ef]
;B[fe]
;W[ee]
;B[ed]
;W[fo]
;B[fm]
;W[be]
;B[cd]
;W[ei]
;B[qq]
;W[pq]
;B[qp]
;W[qo]
;B[ro]
;W[qn]
;B[rn]
;W[qm]
;B[pr]
;W[or]
;B[qr]
;W[nq]
;B[rm]
;W[qk]
;B[of]
;W[kd]
;B[kc]
;W[ld]
;B[kf]
;W[lf]
;B[kg]
;W[lg]
;B[me]
;W[le]
;B[if]
;W[lc]
;B[jd]
;W[nb]
;B[oc]
;W[kh]
;B[jg]
;W[nh]
;B[ii]
;W[rc]
;B[rb]
;W[qd]
;B[pb]
;W[pe]
;B[oe]
;W[nc]
;B[gh]
;W[ob]
;B[kj]
;W[md]
;B[mf]
;W[nf]
;B[ng]
;W[mg]
;B[ne]
;W[pg]
;B[og]
;W[oh]
;B[hn]
;W[jn]
;B[io]
;W[ip]
;B[gp]
;W[fp]
;B[go]
;W[gq]
;B[jo]
;W[ko]
;B[kn]
;W[jm]
;B[lo]
;W[kp]
;B[ln]
;W[kl]
;B[ml]
;W[lk]
;B[ll]
;W[kk]
;B[km]
;W[il]
;B[hk]
;W[pf]
;B[lj]
;W[mk]
;B[mj]
;W[nj]
;B[jj]
;W[nl]
;B[mi]
;W[mh]
;B[nm]
;W[om]
;B[ol]
;W[nk]
;B[on]
;W[mm]
;B[pm]
;W[lm]
;B[mn]
;W[no]
;B[nn]
;W[oo]
;B[ql]
;W[rl]
;B[pl]
;W[po]
;B[rk]
;W[gm]
;B[fn]
;W[gn]
;B[hm]
;W[gl]
;B[hl]
;W[ho]
;B[hp]
;W[hq]
;B[ho]
)[/sgf-full]

I'm doing graded go problems volume 2 straight through from cover to cover instead of just doings different sets everyday so now i got a better system on my go problems

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standing still means going backwards

That guy is my buddy I meet playin online a 3 Dan in japan he speaks English and that's rare on Wbaduk and he reviews games I play with him that's even rarer in Wbaduk matter fact he is the only person to ever review a game with me on that site. it was a honor to finally win one.

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standing still means going backwards

the poor dan player! good work!

guess i should start doing more tsumego too. in the top right corner, however, white could still make a ko starting with s19 or t18. but black should have enough threats however to win this ko.

Wow, how can you still be 24k on there? Their rating system must be seriously broken, I think you play a *lot* stronger than that!

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My name is Gijs, from Utrecht, NL.

When in doubt, play the most aggressive move

i really don't know i thought it was because the ranking system is different than KGS

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standing still means going backwards

Graded go problems Vol.2 - I'm on section 3 defending positions so far the problems have been easy i got all of them right i think putting them on the board makes it easier to read then looking at a screen.

serious games - i won 4 games today and ranked up I'm 23 KYU

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standing still means going backwards

Congratulations! =)

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My "guide" to become stronger in Go

Graded go problems Vol 2 I gotta skip this one I have seen all of these problems before on smart go and many faces and even the igowin life app. Wow. No wonder I am getting them all right. Is the whole series of problems on those programs does anybody know. One thing all of these problems I can find on my programs if I look for them. I realized by section 7 this is way to familiar. I did some comparison and I am definitely right these exact problems are on smart go and most of them are on many faces and igowin which is basically the same program for the iphone.

So no I'm on Vol 3 they might be on my programs but they are not as familiar as Vol 2 here I go!
Well they are a lot more fun than VOL 2 I’m still getting them right but I don’t recognize them like before I even spend more time reading out variations. Tsumego is fun again. I’m going through middle game problems right now on Vol 3

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standing still means going backwards