DDK handicap game, what persistent mistakes do I make?

Signifier · #1

Hi all,
This is a 3 stone handicap game against a 10 kyu opponent. I'm currently trying to get over a 13-14 kyu wall.

Just wondering what small (or large) mistakes or underplays (or overplays) you see me consistently making?

I know that obviously, for instance, I made a mistake at B168 and let his group live in the corner, which was simply a gross misread or outright error. I'm wondering about the more subtle stuff I don't have the "eyes" to obviously see as bad mojo.

Thank you for helping me grow stronger!

daniel_the_smith · #2

1. Tactical problems (16, 24, 32, 34, 40, 44, 48, 50, 72, 90, 120).
2. Misjudging which stones are valuable (18, 32, 36, 42).
3. Following the opponent around (6, 58).

Advice:

1. Do some tesuji or L+D problems.
2. Do some tesuji problems, play more games.
3. Never answer a move until you've decided what the consequences are if you don't answer, and you've looked elsewhere to try and find another move that is bigger.

(Edited to add examples)

Joaz Banbeck · #3

4: This is way too passive and too territorial.
I say too passive because as black - especially in handicap games - you outnumber white early on, and you should use that advantage to push white around. With your 3-stone handicap, after one move you have a 4 to 1 ratio. After 100 moves you have 104 to 101 ratio, which is virtually 1 to 1. So make big, aggressive, pushy moves early. Try something like C13 or Q10.
I say too territorial because your 4-4 stone is high. It is not a territorial stone, it is an influence stone, but you are trying to use it like a territorial stone. ( Go to Sensei's Library and look up the words 'high' and 'low' )

6+8: Much better!

14: You're trying to get territorial with a 4-4 stone again. You must play E4. With 4-4 stone, think about power and influence; about crushing hapless white stones against the side of the board. Think world domination!!

16: Way too loose. Again, E4. Go crush something!!!

Oh dear, I'm hyperventilating. I get carried away sometimes. I gotta quit and calm down for a while. Go read sensei's library.

daniel_the_smith · #4

Interesting that Joaz hates 4 and likes 6, but I think 4 is only a slight underplay and 6 is awful (doesn't take territory and is not in a large area of the board).

snorri · #5

A quick review follows. Aside from tactics, I really think you are playing a lot of forcing moves where you are hoping that you opponent will not see the threat and will play elsewhere. But these are in places where I don't think that even at your level you can expect your opponent to misread. Janice Kim calls this out as one of her seven dangers, "irrationality." There is a flurry of such moves from 42 to 50, for example. (Actually, a couple of those moves would be total gote against an even stronger opponent, but since he responded, we'll call them sente. Your luck on your opponent answering everywhere will run out soon, though.

) The problem with this is that if your opponent answers correctly, the resulting exchange is bad for you. You can't expect your opponent, especially a stronger one, to misread things you can read easily. Please, leave these moves unplayed. You can use your dead stones as ko threats later, or get truly useful forcing moves as the game develops. If you settle a lost position too early, you lose all those options.

daniel_the_smith · #6

snorri wrote:

... I really think you are playing a lot of forcing moves where you are hoping that you opponent will not see the threat and will play elsewhere. But these are in places where I don't think that even at your level you can expect your opponent to misread. Janice Kim calls this out as one of her seven dangers, "irrationality." There is a flurry of such moves from 42 to 50, for example. The problem with this is that if your opponent answers correctly, the resulting exchange is bad for you. You can't expect your opponent, especially a stronger one, to misread things you can read easily. Please, leave these moves unplayed.

I was counting those as tactical errors, but snorri's classification is better.

In general: if you know how your opponent will respond to a move, *don't play it* without deciding what you will do next (and sometimes, still don't play it). Never play a move just because it will get a response. Especially never play a move like those hoping for your opponent to have a brain fart-- that thinking is incredibly harmful for your go.

Joaz Banbeck · #7

daniel_the_smith wrote:

Interesting that Joaz hates 4 and likes 6, but I think 4 is only a slight underplay and 6 is awful (doesn't take territory and is not in a large area of the board).

It is not so much the absolute value of the move that concerns me, but the spirit that motivates it. True, there may be better moves, but 6 harrasses white early. It shows fighting spirit that is consistent with having handicap stones. It is not passively territorial like 4.
One of the things that a DDK must learn to become an SDK is that hoshi stones are fighting stones.

DDK handicap game, what persistent mistakes do I make?

Who is online