Playing white in handicap games

[1986]

i never really got to be white on wbaduk i was ranked so low

but now on wbaduk i get alot more challenges from lower ranks and i decline because i am so nervous

apart of me wants to play only even games because thats the usual
but that sounded stupid right after i said that i need all the experience i can get

im thinking taking handicap improves your reading because white is not playing with u

and i think giving handicap improves your go because you cant play around
you gotta put those stones to work

i remember on Hikaru Sai said something like when you are white in handicap games
you learn how to play better because you learn how to make comebacks in actual games
thats what got me thinking about this thread

i think it would be a great way to improve my go but
i wanted to get some tips before i just jump out there

i seldom played white and i want to start playing the lower ranks with proper handicap more often
but i don't know where to start

i checked out sensei library

not much there i got about 3 points
1-it says don't worry if the handicap is correct black makes enough mistakes to make it a even game with overplaying and using special strategy-
2-also it says play lightly and use sabaki -
3- pick on weak groups for profit-

im going to research light play and sabaki
in the meantime
any books, sites, videos, lectures recommendations

any help is appreciated and i thank you in advance

[cdybeijing]

What does your post have to do with your poll?

[1986]

Nothing really lol just wondering what fun games people played with go

[BaghwanB]

The three points you mentioned above are really about it. Here are some corollaries from my experience:

1) Don't get too hung up on any one part of the board in the opening. You'll want to try to get in at least a little bit on most parts of the board.
2) In the opening, keep sente even if it costs you a little bit locally.
3) Stay flexible.
4) Don't expect mistakes but wait for them and then pounce.
5) Tenuki and cut as much as you reasonably can.

And if you lose, compliment you opponent by saying that he's obviously better than he thought he was

My fun game with go is go.

Bruce "Mismatch" Young

[emeraldemon]

There are quite a few handicap malkovich games on the forum, you can look over them and read how white thinks about a situation, it may give you some good ideas.

Here's one where Laman gives me 3 stones:
http://www.lifein19x19.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=1724

Here's one where magicwand gave fwiffo 6 stones:
http://www.lifein19x19.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=850

Here's Magicwand vs. Jedo w/ 4 stones:
http://www.lifein19x19.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=2595

You'll find many more on that forum.

[Dusk Eagle]

When I play white in high handicap games, I can often rely on my opponents giving me a *lot* of points in the large endgame stage, so I don't resign even if I'm twenty or thirty points down as the game wears on. Also, at my club, a lot of the time the weaker player would rather play with a handicap that makes it a challenge for them to win rather than a 50/50 shot at winning, so white often ends up winning anyway. Though since you're talking about online, that last point probably does not apply. But I tend to avoid high handicap games online as it's a lot less fun to play someone who's a lot worse than you if they're an absolute stranger (IMO). Small handicaps are fine by me though.

[Magicwand]

my philosophy of handycap game:
1. because of the handycap stones white need to be not heavy and not get attacked early.
2. give black many choices to choose from instead of oneway street variation.
they will usually choose wrong path.
3. you must understand what they are thinking. if you know what is in their mind you can take advantage of them.
4. my philosophy is "play to win"
i often overplay and select the move that is not right to get a chance to win.
5. understand your opponent's style. i play different style for different players.
some dont like to fight so i have to force them to fight. some loves to fight so i wait for their mistake.

[xed_over]

4. my philosophy is "play to win"
i often overplay and select the move that is not right to get a chance to win.

I think this is a mistake, and may be why many players don't like handicap games.

Never overplay. I feel this leads to overplaying unnecessarily (against evenly matched opponents)

If you can't win without overplaying, then the handicap is too large and should be reduced.
You should be able to have a chance of winning a handicap game with resorting to overplays.

[Magicwand]

4. my philosophy is "play to win"
i often overplay and select the move that is not right to get a chance to win.

I think this is a mistake, and may be why many players don't like handicap games.

Never overplay. I feel this leads to overplaying unnecessarily (against evenly matched opponents)

If you can't win without overplaying, then the handicap is too large and should be reduced.
You should be able to have a chance of winning a handicap game with resorting to overplays.

if you see my current game against Araban you will notice that i didnt play any overplay.
it is because i know that my opponent read everything i read. (for the most parts)

if the handycap stone is as you discribe..i will have 100% winning for all my handycap game.

[quantumf]

4. my philosophy is "play to win"
i often overplay and select the move that is not right to get a chance to win.

I think this is a mistake, and may be why many players don't like handicap games.

Never overplay. I feel this leads to overplaying unnecessarily (against evenly matched opponents)

If you can't win without overplaying, then the handicap is too large and should be reduced.
You should be able to have a chance of winning a handicap game with resorting to overplays.

I'm not sure this is correct, or perhaps its a matter of definition. In a 9 stone, it could be argued that your first move is an overplay. You have to play in places you would prefer not to play. I would say avoid dishonest moves (e.g. ignoring a necessary safety move in an otherwise dead group)

[yinyang1]

When it comes to handi stones of 2 and 3 i would typically play d16, then they would most likely play q4 (happens in most games i play when i am white) then i would play k3, and then they would either pressure the stone and i would jump 2 spaces over, or they would go after my stone on d16 and i would try to make it so i stay alive in the corner (if they dont do either of these, which is not likely, they are probably making so you dont play r10)if they play r10 then you should play k17 or c10 (whichever is in your favor) this way you have a good moyo (depending on if you played well) and blacks moyo is drastically decreased. major thing to remember, someone one told me this so i shall share what they taught me. THIRD LINE IS THE LINE OF TERRITORY AND FOURTH LINE IS THE LINE OF INFLUENCE. if you do this the game most likely ends up you winning or coming very close