What to do as a beginner to learn go.

[judicata]

I had a bad losing streak against people that were my kyu level or a bit lower that were wiping the floor with me. When I face people around my level I tend to get a bit more competitive, but for now I'll just focus on learning. Also I suppose this means that I'm not quite a 21k yet even if that's my current ranking.

If you have only been playing a few weeks you are closer to 35 kyu. Forget ratings until you have been playing regularly for a year. They don't mean much until then, and they don't mean much, anyway.

Also, based on my observations at least, OGS ranks in particular are a bit funky in the 20k-beginner range. It is a new server--the rankings will normalize eventually. Bill's advice is still valid, though.

[Bill Spight]

- tsuke

$$B
$$ . . . .
$$ . X X .
$$ . . . .

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$B
$$ . . . .
$$ . X X .
$$ . . . .[/go]

That is not a tsuke. A tsuke is an attachment to an opponent's stone. That is a narabi, but it also has other names, depending on the context. Stretch is an English term. Also see http://senseis.xmp.net/?BillSpight%2FStep

[Bill Spight]

@ Uberdude

You have enough examples for a small book!

[oca]

- tsuke

$$B
$$ . . . .
$$ . X X .
$$ . . . .

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$B
$$ . . . .
$$ . X X .
$$ . . . .[/go]

That is not a tsuke. A tsuke is an attachment to an opponent's stone. That is a narabi, but it also has other names, depending on the context. Stretch is an English term. Also see http://senseis.xmp.net/?BillSpight%2FStep

sure... that's nobi that I wanted to write (but narabi is even better, thank you for mentioning it, I didn't know that one before... )

[paK0]

- tsuke

$$B
$$ . . . .
$$ . X X .
$$ . . . .

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$B
$$ . . . .
$$ . X X .
$$ . . . .[/go]

That is not a tsuke. A tsuke is an attachment to an opponent's stone. That is a narabi, but it also has other names, depending on the context. Stretch is an English term. Also see http://senseis.xmp.net/?BillSpight%2FStep

Huh, I only knew nobi, not that there are even more variations of stretches. Also I only knew one joseki thats called tsuke-nobi, but apparently there are more. Go is not the least bit confusing

[RobertJasiek]

When the thing creates thick shape, call it 'thick extension'.

[Charles Matthews]

I would say my biggest problem is what to do in the beginning and how to respond to attacks properly. I though about studying fuseki and joseki, but other people told me to hold that off until I'm at least a double digit kyu.

Can't believe you are in three digits! (But I also don't believe ratings are irrelevant: in a well-run club they aren't.)

In the opening, don't play too close; and don't ignore contact plays.

I'm honestly tired of getting murdered by strangers on the net. I don't mind losing, but I hate losing when its by over 100 points.

In fighting, you need to stay connected. Don't allow your groups to get shut in, and if they do, you need to be aware of the basics about two eyes. Those are the fundamentals.

If you are forever being cut, and running out of liberties, you are probably playing too close (see above).

Tactics begin at cutting points. So you need to see how cutting points arise.

[Zalor]

Wow so many responses, I feel bad for not responding back sooner. While there is a bit too much to respond to, I did read all of your posts and I really appreciate all of them. Also Uberdude, thanks for all the examples and diagrams.

Can't believe you are in three digits!

No, I meant that I'm above a 20kyu. I thought double digit kyu generally meant people that were 19kyu or better. I did not mean to imply that I'm a 100kyu or something, even I'm better than that.

I'm currently following the advice of playing on 9x9 games. I've played several so far, and its definitely easier to learn basic stuff on a smaller board. I suppose once I get good at 9x9 I should promote to 13x13, and than after that play 19x19. In terms of studying I plan on reading what Oca linked to here:

Then try to find broken shapes or bad shape in your play
for exmaple :

The ripped keima
The ripped Tobi
see (http://senseis.xmp.net/?LameDuGo#toc3)

I've noticed that I always fail at preventing people from invading so I think understanding the strengths and weaknesses of positions could help me alot.

Thanks for everyone's replies I really appreciate it.

[joellercoaster]

Zalor, I've sent you an unranked 9x9 challenge on OGS. I'm only 10k (on a good day!) so you couldn't really regard it as a teaching game, but it will help with the 'play a lot to get a feel for how stuff works' goal! (Trust me, you'll be helping both of us.)