Life In 19x19

Violence wrote:I recommend sitting back and playing with a Go stone in your hand, don't hover the mouse over anywhere on the board, and make moves by placing the stone onto the table, grabbing your mouse, and deliberately moving to where you want to click, clicking, and moving the mouse off the board again, grabbing your stone off the table.

I love it. Finally something to do with those stones! And for tsumego, you can use a white stone and a black stone.

Mivo wrote:It's very common. You could always try to make it a rule not to play a move before x seconds have passed, even if it's a totally obvious move. Or sit on your hands. (I'm serious!)

I tried sitting on my hands once, and my uncle walked in my room right at that moment. He looked at me like I was doing something strange, and then left.

I never did it again.

One of the strong Amateur players that I know enjoys predicting where his opponent will play, and clicking in rapid succession on his next move. I've seen him make the most idiotic plays doing this.

Still, he's 9d on KGS.
You're doing something right, Jarrod

My solution has always been water. If I'm playing seriously online, I always keep a cup in hand. (I do it in tournaments too, since I have a tendency to carry my impulsiveness to the board irl. Too much blitz chess has made my arm fast like a ninja)

Before I move, stop, take a sip, savor, then play.

Personally though, I see nothing wrong with online play being impulsive. IMO, Most people run into a wall precisely because they avoid impulsive play (read: Blunder-filled) by playing longer games.

You need to get your weaknesses out in the open to improve, not hide them behind a veneer of calculation.

Good idea, shapenaji, I shall try that until the bladder bursts

A friend of mine told me that, before you make your move, you have to be ABSOLUTELY sure that you can live with your choice...for then to stand up and take a 360 turn before clicking/settling the stone - the standing up and sitting down ritual is often followed by even more thinking before the player moves, at least in my personal tryout.

shapenaji wrote:You need to get your weaknesses out in the open to improve, not hide them behind a veneer of calculation.

Hi, do you think you can elaborate on this? I ask because I always play at least 30 min (slow to some), but I think it's because I'm a slow reader (slow to some). Maybe, it's because I hide my weaknesses behind a veneer, although I can't see it if I am. I'm kind of trying to wrap my head around the idea; it might be true.

Although I'm also not a fast calculator, the main reason I used to be so slow was that I was simply overwhelmed by the possibilities for each move, and had no idea what to prioritize. Now that I've gotten some experience under my belt, I've developed a (semi-unconscious) set of priorities, and it's much easier for me to find a move. I no longer feel overwhelmed and instead usually have an idea of what I think is important. Basically, I've played enough games so that I don't need to agonize over every move. On the flip side however, I have also learned to make the same mistakes again and again.

Why? Because my priorities were probably good enough to get me where I am, but not any further. Now when I calculate, it's because I'm trying to find the best way to do what I want to do. I still need to improve my calculating, but who doesn't. The real problem is that I have developed some bad habits, but strategical ones and tactical ones.

What I suspect Shapenaji is getting at, is that now I've given myself the chance to develop these bad habits, it's probably easier for a stronger player to recognize what these false assumptions of mine are. So, the flaws of my game are now out in the open - I just need someone to point them out to me.

This is how I read shapenaji's comment:

You might succeed in avoiding those blunders by thinking carefully, which is good.

However, by making (and accepting, see bantari's comment) those blunders, you have the chance to learn from them. By taking a good long look at the situation after the game, chances are that you will not make the same mistake so easily next time. Or maybe better sense the aji in a certain position, so that you will instinctively slow down and play carefully.

Feeling the pain from those blunder-moves should actually help the learning process.