Life In 19x19

Posted: **Tue Oct 27, 2015 10:21 am**

Kirby wrote:Any tips for maintaining respect for your opponent - throughout the entire game, even when they make mistakes?

Imagine your opponent is actually Cho Chikun, but really drunk.

Posted: **Tue Oct 27, 2015 11:35 am**

Kirby wrote:Any tips for maintaining respect for your opponent - throughout the entire game, even when they make mistakes?

I don't think that disrespect is the right word. You're just playing with fire. Did you never lose a game that you played that way? Would have taught me a lesson.

Your opponent probably doesn't feel disrespected but merely tested. And if he fails to answer your moves properly he has some great studying material.

Happened to me once: a teacher (former insei, way above my head) played inside my corner and I knew that he won't be able to live (I read it in a book), but of course I turned it into a ko. Won't happen again

As for maintaining respect, as you call it, positional judgement should be able to remedy it. Which in turn means: don't rush. Hands off the bowls/mouse etc.

Posted: **Tue Oct 27, 2015 4:56 pm**

A good move does well against any opponent no matter what.
A move that might work against your opponent because of his tendencies depends on too much.

Play the good move.

Posted: **Thu Oct 29, 2015 7:49 am**

Kirby wrote:Sometimes, I feel myself getting trapped into the mindset of my opponent.

For example, when I play someone random on the Internet for the first time, I'm strongly affected by how they play in the opening. If my opponent plays in a way that I think is wrong, I feel myself start to judge the opponent. This judgment continues throughout the game. In such cases, my assessment from the start of the game is, "this guy is weaker than me". This is problematic, because as the game continues, I feel inclined to play moves based on this judgment. I will sometimes overplay, because I think to myself, "Well, this is wrong. But it's right against this guy - I mean, look how he played in the opening".

I feel this is partially due to my own arrogance, and partially due to a lack of respect for my opponent.

Any tips for maintaining respect for your opponent - throughout the entire game, even when they make mistakes?

Go clearly has a psychological element, and being able to read your opponent's mental state can give you an advantage. Perhaps it is worth reminding yourself that wounded animals are particularly dangerous.

I think it is perfectly natural to judge your opponents based on how they play, but the probability that you are missing part of the picture and judging erroneously is quite high. Someone can make bad moves for any number of reasons (phone call, playing while drunk, experimenting with new ideas etc., so yes, losing respect for them is arrogant.

Your concern about the matter seems to stem from the fact that losing respect increases the likelihood of losing. Isn't that enough motivation for you?

Life In 19x19

Respecting your opponent?

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