Bill,

Thanks for the disambiguation!


Now, on to the next question: more reading!

As mentioned earlier I have: Go! More Than a Game" and "So You Want to Play Go? Level 1." But I am wanting a few more books. I don't have an on-hand instructor (but do appreciate so much of the online help I'm getting here and on KGS from kind players who take of their time. Here's what I'm looking at:

Learn to play go: 1-3
In the Beginning (Elementary go Vol 1)

Here are two things that are REALLY killing me right now, and am hoping these will help me with.

1) My opening, setting up a good moyo, breaking up an opponents moyo. Generally I am doing HORRIBLY after the about stone 8 or 10 (or earlier.) I know corners-sides-center. But after that, nothing.

2) Joseki, I don't always play Go, but when I do, I wish I played Joseki's. When my corners get attacked (and lets face it, in what game don't they get attacked) I don't have a clue how to really respond. I understand the "don't just memorize Joseki" concept. But I don't have ANY concept right now. So I'm getting bloodied quite badly.

So are these books good? Are they redundant? Will they they help me get the theory I need to grow on? Are there other books I should get instead? Will Lassie get help before little Timmy drowns in the well?

Thanks again for sharing your time and giant heap of Go knowledge!

God bless,
Adam

Neither of these two things are killing you right now. I can tell you with 90% confidence without even looking at your games: your reading is your weakest link. If you want confirmation, post a game in the review section of the forum, so the stronger players can help you decide what to work on, but if I had to recommend a book I'd recommend "graded go problems for beginners" volume 1 or 2.

Any recommendation on where to buy those. Amazon has the more advanced books at purchasable prices. Vol 1-3 or so are crazy expensive for some reason!

Thanks and God bless,
Adam

Adam, like many kyu players and other beginners (including myself, for a long time),
you think your opening is a big problem. It's not.

What's really killing you now is your complete lack of fundamentals ("basics"):
basic shapes, basic tesuji, basic life-and-death, etc. -- which is also normal, for all beginners.

(Unfortunately, experience has shown there's no way to convince you of either;
you just have to find out over time, by yourself or with the help of others, from, well, experience. )

As emeraldemon suggested, post a game and get some feedback.

Try "The Second Book of Go" by Richard Bozulich-- http://www.kiseido.com/Begin2.htm#K31

Oh, and you're not allowed to play a stone on the second line before turn 50 unless it's a matter of life and death, and no stones on the first (again, unless similarly dire) until almost endgame. You and your opponent both liked first-line stones too much in that game I saw.

edit: I'm exaggerating, of course. This is just one of those guidelines that's meant as a generality.

_________________
Someday I want to be strong enough to earn KGS[-].

For Adam and Chew Terr:

Chew,

Thanks for the info. Are you trying to tell me I can't use my 1-1 / 1-19 opener. I thought that was a good one. No way they're cutting into my corner!

Anyhow, in a more serious vein, I guess I'll have to try and remember that. Judging by the low Kyu games I play in (mostly due to my skill level) I think I'll have to continue playing there for a bit, but we'll see! Thanks!


God bless,
Adam

I'm not sure if I like your principle, Chew, but can I still offer a friendly amendment?

You are not allowed to play on the first line for the purpose of making or taking territory during the first 50 moves. That is almost true.

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Occupy Babel!

Hi Adam,

Wow! In 3 4 days, you improved 9 11 stones to 21k 19k! Congrats!

Cheers
tezza

Tezza,

Thanks, I've a feeling that things will slow down a bit now. I got a lot to learn! The forums are a big help. I look forward to establishing residence as an SDK one day. See you there!


God bless,
Adam

Don't believe him.

Via extrapolation we can arrive at triple sente -- a play so big that not only will the opponent respond regardless of who plays first, but those in the peanut gallery will be unable to resist commenting on how large it was (=

I guess to properly complete the chain the play must also be such that should a commenter inadvertently mention the area within earshot of the competitors, the next player will immediately play it...

You should take advantage of the community and play a few games in the L19 room. We're a friendly lot! Really!

The main interface for KGS is rather intimidating and quite confusing. Is there a way to log into and bookmark the L19 room there?

_________________
Assertion without proof takes up little time; misrepresentation is always beautifully brief. –John Stuart Mill

I live in a city with a large Chinese immigrant population. You should see the old men play after a few rounds of what I imagine is some Chinese sake.

_________________
"Hell if you understand everything I said, you’d be me." ~ Miles Davis ~

It saves the rooms you join automatically assuming you registered and didn't log in as a guest.

Ah. Excellent, thank you.

_________________
Assertion without proof takes up little time; misrepresentation is always beautifully brief. –John Stuart Mill

Good morning folks.

I hope I will not be too boring.

I "play" Go for 3-4 years and I'm around 15k EGF (10k KGS). As many 30's I have a job, a wonderful wife and others activities. I love Go very much but I could have also the OGA sydrom. I have lots of books I never opened.

I was in EGC in Bordeaux last year and I subscribe to EGC 2012 in Bonn. My level didn' change that much ... and I didn't play that much too. I watched Baduk TV every morning on my Tablet and I felt so good watching. But when it is about playing online I'm not so motivated. Local club meet every Thursday but I can't go every week and I play 9x9 against newbies what could be beneficial to me.

Do anybody had the same problem ? Do I need a coach or friendly go-friends to play against ? I tried ASD League but I could "force" me to play at least 4 times a month (just incredible).

You would probably say to solve tsumegos, tesujis, ...

I can discuss about that here, MP, mail, KGS, ....

Thanks alot for your help.

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“I am easily satisfied with the very best.” Winston Churchill

KGS | EGF | GMT+1

I find tsumego easier to fit into life than real time games with a wife and kids. Your mileage may vary though. For instance now, I'm minding a 5 year old (if it was just him I could fit a game in as he likes to watch me play) but my 2 year old daughter could wake at any time so I can't play anything. So I'll do a few tsumego instead this morning and might try to get a game in later when my wife is minding the kids. I've a pretty understanding wife though who doesn't mind me going off for an hour to play a game of go.

At the club, well to improve you have to get games in against stronger players as well as giving the beginners a game. If you just play beginners in 9x9 all the time your 19x19 game is going to suffer compared to if you're playing sdks in 19x19 and watching what they do and why they beat you.