Kirby's Study Journal

Kirby · **#581**

Last Year's Vacation

A little over a year ago now, I visited Korea again to visit my in-laws. Our second son was born about a year and a half ago, so we thought our family over there would appreciate seeing the kids.

A lot of people in Korea live in Seoul - there's over 10 million people living there, after all. But my in-laws are from a smaller town called Daegu (with only about two and a half million people). Here's where we're talking about:

It's a nice city. Compared to Seoul, there's not much pollution - probably since there are fewer people living there.

As beautiful as it is, there was something different this time. I've been to Daegu several times before, and there were always interesting sites to see. But, again, something was different. Well, what was different? The answer... we were travelling with kids this time. And when travelling with young kids, there's one thing to do when you go outside. And only one thing:

And as fun as that thing is, I've gotta admit... It's pretty much the same in Korea as it is in America. I mean, c'mon! Did we travel over 5000 miles to do what we could do in our back yard? Well, yes, it's true - we were mainly there to visit in-laws. But I like to explore and enjoy things unique to Korea while I'm there.

Perhaps my wife observed this. Or perhaps she was just feeling generous. In any case, arrangements were made for me to take some classes at 하늘바둑교실 - "Sky Baduk School". Basically, it was a go school for little kids. But a teacher there - maybe about 5d on KGS - gave me a few lessons.

During my time there, I noticed a sign hanging on the wall. It looked similar to this:

Some may already be familiar with what these are. On Senseis Library, these are known as the "10 Golden Rules" of go (http://senseis.xmp.net/?TheTenGoldenRulesList). Some of these are quite easy to translate and match those on Senseis Library. Others don't seem to fit with the English translations there that well.

So that we're on the same page, I'll give some translations that I think are appropriate:

1. 부득탐승: If I'm greedy for the win, I cannot win.

2. 입계의완: When entering my opponent's influence, don't go in too deep.

3. 공피고아: Before attacking my opponent, first take a look at my own defects and my own ability.

4. 기자갱선: Give up unimportant stones to take sente.

5. 사소취대: Don't go for the small profit I see before my eyes; instead, look broadly and go for what's important.

6. 봉위수기: When in danger, I've got to know how to sacrifice.

7. 신물경속: Don't be hasty or rash; exercise caution.

8. 동수상응: If my opponent moves, move together with him; If my opponent stops, stop together with him.

9. 피강가보: In the event that my opponent is strong, plan for the safety of my own stones.

10. 제고취화: When fighting with my opponent and my stones are lonely, choose peace as the first option.

-------------------

It was quite some time ago that I saw this sign - over a year ago at the Sky Baduk School. At the time, I thought the sign was novel, but I didn't think much of it. But after a game like today - one that was so sloppy, and which I cannot be that proud of... I think it's time to revisit these rules.

Every game I review, I want to evaluate these rules, and use that as a basis for evaluating the game. These "Golden Rules" are quite old, and have stood the test of time. I think it's time to try to apply them to my own go.

Looking at this last game, there are clearly rules that I broke. Let's take a look at a few:

#7: Don't be hasty or rash; exercise caution.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Exercising Caution? $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . O . . . . X X O O O . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . X . . . . X X X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . X . X X . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . O . O . O . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X . . . . . X O . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . X O O . . . . X . X . | $$ | . . . . . . . . X O . O X X . O X O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . X O X X O . . O . X . | $$ | . . X X . . . . W X X O O . . . O . . | $$ | . . O X . . . . . . O . . . O O . . . | $$ | . . O , . . . . . , . O . X X X O O . | $$ | . . . O . O . . . . . . X O . . X O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . X . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Clearly, my cut here does not exercise caution. It looks like I'm saying, "Screw caution. Let's party!" Reading just 3 moves ahead, I would see that it's futile to try to cut these stones. There's no way I can get a good result.

Obviously, this cut was rash.

---

#5: Don't go for the small profit I see before my eyes; instead, look broadly and go for what's important.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 26 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . O . . . . X X O O O . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . X . . . . X X X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . W . . | $$ | . . O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O , . . . . . , . . . X . X . . . | $$ | . . . O . O . . . . . . . O . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Is area in which I just played really the most important area? Clearly, I can get more points by invading the 3-3. And furthermore, the black potential in the center, top, and right is much bigger. Why do I want to fight in such a small area?

I looked at the small profit before my eyes.

---

These are just a couple of examples, but I think that there are many more I can find in my games. I will try harder to find violations of these rules in my games.

Okay. That's enough of that rant. Thanks for reading :salute:

Kirby · **#582**

I played another game today against KGS 1d. I lost, and I deserved it. I maybe had a chance to get lucky, but it would have been just luck.

I primarily contribute the loss to ignoring one of the rules I mentioned from yesterday:

Kirby from Yesterday wrote:

9. 피강가보: In the event that my opponent is strong, plan for the safety of my own stones.

I clearly ignored this rule this game. And I paid for it dearly. I tried to remember these proverbs, and remembered at certain points, especially during the opening. But eventually, I forgot.

Here is my review.

Shaddy · **#583**

I could make more comments, but I want to point out 56. It's common in KGS low dan games, we love to start reductions with peeps like that. It feels good, and it's usually dead wrong (aji keshi).

Kirby · **#584**

Problem Areas

Position 1

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 28 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . O . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . O . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O X . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . W . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X X X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . O X X O X X . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . O O O O O . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

I played the marked move, but given black's central influence, maybe it's not the best strategy.

Perhaps I can approach this way:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 28 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . O . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . O . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O X . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . W . . | $$ | . X X X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . O X X O X X . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . O O O O O . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Position 2

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 48 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . O . O . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . O . O . . O X . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . X . X O O O . | $$ | . . O X . . . . . . . . . . X X X O X | $$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . X X . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . X . O . O O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X X X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . O X X O X X . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . O O O O O . . . . . . . W . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

I approached on the bottom here, but I should be more concerned with black's center. It's a loss locally, but perhaps I can approach high in this case:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 48 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . O . O . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . O . O . . O X . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . X . X O O O . | $$ | . . O X . . . . . . . . . . X X X O X | $$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . X X . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . X . O . O O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X X X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . O X X O X X . . , . . . W . X . . . | $$ | . O O O O O . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

If it continues as expected, black gets points, but I already have some points, too:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 48 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . O . O . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . O . O . . O X . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . X . X O O O . | $$ | . . O X . . . . . . . . . . X X X O X | $$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . X X . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . X . O . O O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . . . | $$ | . X X X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . O X X O X X . . , 6 . . O . X . . . | $$ | . O O O O O . . . . . . . . 4 2 3 . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Something like this?

I'm not quite sure.

Position 3

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 66 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . O . O . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . O . O . . O X . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . X . X O O O W | $$ | . . O X . . . . . . . . . . X X X O X | $$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . X X . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . X . O . O O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . X X . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . X O O . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . X . . . X . O . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . O . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . O . . . . . . | $$ | . X X X X . . . . . . X X X . . . . . | $$ | . O X X O X X . . , . . . . . X X X . | $$ | . O O O O O . . . . . . O O . O O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

BIG mistake. As I said, I ignored the proverb about thinking of the safety of my group.

I should play here:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 66 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . . . . . . O . O . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . O . O . . O X . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . X . X O O O . | $$ | . . O X . . . . . . . . . . X X X O X | $$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . X X . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . X . O . O O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . X X . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . X O O . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . X . . . X . O . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . O . W . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . O . . . . . . | $$ | . X X X X . . . . . . X X X . . . . . | $$ | . O X X O X X . . , . . . . . X X X . | $$ | . O O O O O . . . . . . O O . O O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

It was a huge mistake not to help my group.

---

These are only three positions, but I think they are big issues in terms of strategy, and really affected the flow of the game. Maybe I could have lived, or maybe not after Position 3.

But it doesn't matter. I ignored a big rule, and let my group get attacked. The corner profit wasn't worth it.

I don't know why my mind switched to that area.

So from this game, I really want to remember the rule: PLAN FOR SAFETY FIRST WHEN THE OPPONENT IS STRONG.

Kirby · **#585**

Shaddy wrote:

I could make more comments, but I want to point out 56. It's common in KGS low dan games, we love to start reductions with peeps like that. It feels good, and it's usually dead wrong (aji keshi).

Good point, I didn't think about that much.

I did think a little about the peep before playing it, but I didn't see a way to use the aji in another way.

But I think you are probably correct. The extra white stone doesn't do much, and black has a solid wall after the peep.

seigenblues · **#586**

Really love your translations of the Golden Rules, i think they're very very good.

One thing i noticed when reading up on translations from the chinese was the "don't be hasty" proverb was that it was with respect to taking sente to quickly move around the board. Supposedly it had shades of "don't rush take sente everywhere, leaving yourself thin," i.e., sometimes it's ok to play the slow, gote move that gives you a thick strong shape.

Anyway, great to read these posts!

Kirby · **#587**

seigenblues wrote:

Really love your translations of the Golden Rules, i think they're very very good.

One thing i noticed when reading up on translations from the chinese was the "don't be hasty" proverb was that it was with respect to taking sente to quickly move around the board. Supposedly it had shades of "don't rush take sente everywhere, leaving yourself thin," i.e., sometimes it's ok to play the slow, gote move that gives you a thick strong shape.

Anyway, great to read these posts!

Thanks, seigenblues. It's pretty funny that you mention this one in particular, because I had a long discussion about this with my wife before posting the translation here about this precise rule.

When I read Korean translations, either from Tygem, or from the image here, the descriptions were always about playing thought out moves, rather than "playing hasty". However, the translation on Senseis Library directly makes reference to making "thick shape". This bothered me, because I assume that the person making the translation must have had a reason for bringing up thick play. Yet no Korean description I could find had any mention of thick play vs. thin play. Someone that speaks Chinese can correct me if I'm wrong, but from my knowledge of the Chinese characters that are used, there is nothing here that explicitly says anything about playing "thick".

The conclusion I have come to is that proverbs are often ambiguous, because it can make them widely applicable.

In English, if I look at someone playing go and say, "You play fast", it's ambiguous. I could be saying that they play quickly across the board. Or I could be saying that they don't use any of the time on their clock. All I've really said is that they play fast.

I think the same is true from this rule. The rule says not to play too fast. Does it mean that you should play in a "thick" way? I don't know. SL says so, but that's the only thing I have to base it on so far.

Regardless, I still think that playing in a thick way is good, so whatever the original author's intent was, it can't hurt to keep in mind.

Kirby · **#588**

Now that there's been more discussion about #7, I was more curious about it (i.e., it bothered me :-)

).

So I asked a couple of different friends at my work who are native Chinese speakers and go players, too. I received slightly different responses.

A: "Hmm, my understanding is think more before making the move"

B: "it’s somehow telling you 'not to win the game quickly'. It’s even less about thin/thick, territory/potential. It’s the subtle choice that you make that leads the game. If you make choices that reflect 'I want to win this game in this round', then it’s 'too fast'."

My feeling is that these ideas are closely related. The general idea I personally get is that this is about being patient, prudent, uneager to win the game quickly... This kind of feeling.

Perhaps playing in a thick way can be related to this.

Kirby · **#589**

And perhaps the reason that I have a difficult time fully comprehending the extent of the meaning to #7, is that it is something that I don't know how to put into practice very well.

Certainly, when I play, I am eager to have more points than my opponent. :-)

Bill Spight · **#590**

Kirby wrote:

Looking at this last game, there are clearly rules that I broke. Let's take a look at a few:

#7: Don't be hasty or rash; exercise caution.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Exercising Caution? $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . O . . . . X X O O O . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . X . . . . X X X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . X . X X . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . O . O . O . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X . . . . . X O . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . X O O . . . . X . X . | $$ | . . . . . . . . X O . O X X . O X O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . X O X X O . . O . X . | $$ | . . X X . . . . W X X O O . . . O . . | $$ | . . O X . . . . . . O . . . O O . . . | $$ | . . O , . . . . . , . O . X X X O O . | $$ | . . . O . O . . . . . . X O . . X O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . X . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Clearly, my cut here does not exercise caution. It looks like I'm saying, "Screw caution. Let's party!" Reading just 3 moves ahead, I would see that it's futile to try to cut these stones. There's no way I can get a good result.

Obviously, this cut was rash.

First, I am not at all sure that the proverb applies here. White needs to make something happen, or resign. Caution is hardly called for.

Second, why the criticism of this play, when it was earlier plays that got White into this pickle?

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$Wc $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . O . . . . X X O O O . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . X . . . . X X X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . O . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O . . X . X X . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . W . W . W . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . X . . . . . 2 . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . 1 . . . . X . X . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . X X . O X O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . B B O . . O . X . | $$ | . . X X . . . . . . B O O . . . O . . | $$ | . . O X . . . . . . O . . . O O . . . | $$ | . . O , . . . . . , . O . X X X O O . | $$ | . . . O . O . . . . . . X O . . X O . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . X . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Ever since this exchange, it seems like White has been intent to prove that :b2:

was a mistake, by trading the :wc:

stones for the :bc:

stones. The cut in question is the only play consistent with that plan. A better plan might have been to sacrifice :w1:

in order to strengthen the :wc:

stones, but White added five stones to :w1:

, making a big, heavy shape.

Kirby · **#591**

I've been thinking of that proverb that was discussed here yesterday, and how I don't understand it well. I often play fast and spread myself out across the board. Why is that?

I think it's because I value territory. I don't know how to measure "thickness" well, or even influence. So when I try to estimate the score, I count up definite territory - that's my metric. Therefore, my strategy is always based on definite territory (when I am thinking enough to have a strategy). As a side note, yesterday during my commute home, I decided to try to read more of that "Attack and Defense" book. It's a really popular English go book, but I never read it completely. It's interesting, but I can't get myself to finish it. So I tried again to make progress yesterday.

What stuck out to me was the description of the balance between territory and power. Typically, I am primarily only focused on the former.

So my resolution was this: I need to get a better understanding of "power". In the last few games, I was the one being attacked, even though I had lots of cash in the bank. So instead, I'd like to turn it around. I want to be the attacker, so I can learn more of the value of power.

With these thoughts in mind, I played a game on KGS today. I started out with the intention of being the attacker. I played two 3-5 points as white, ready to attack my opponent. Be that as it may, I reverted to my usual self - I just went for territory, and ended up being attacked.

To top things off, I even made two weak groups this game. So my goal of being the attacker hasn't yet been fulfilled. I will try again next game.

Anyway, here's my review.

--

I guess from this game I can learn, "just opening with a couple of 3-5 points doesn't make me an attacker". The best I can say now is that I'm an attacker wannabe.

Kirby · **#592**

Garr. I accidentally closed the window on my diagrams... I'll try one more time.

Some Highlights

Position 1

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 12 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . . . . X . O . . O . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . O . . . . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

This is OK, probably, but not the way for an attacker wannabe to play! I think I should play this way to go with my strategy:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$W Position at move 12 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . O . . . . 3 . . X . O . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . . 1 . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . O . . . . . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Can't be that bad.

Position 2

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 44 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . O X X . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . B O . O O O O X X | $$ | . . . O . . W . . . B B O O X O O O X | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . X X X X . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , O . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . O , . . . . . , . . . X . , O . . | $$ | . . . . O . . . . . . . . . . X O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

I think this is the wrong area, given black's position on top. The bottom seems much bigger:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 44 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . O X X . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . X O . O O O O X X | $$ | . . . O . . . . . . X X O O X O O O X | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . X X X X . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , O . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . O , . . . . . , . . . X . , O . . | $$ | . . . . O . . W . . . . . . . X O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Position 3

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 66 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . O X X . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . X O . O O O O X X | $$ | . . . O . . O . . . X X O O X O O O X | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . X X X X . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , O . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . | $$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . O . X . . . . . | $$ | . . . . O . X . . O O . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . O , . . . . . O . O . X . , O . . | $$ | . . . . O . X . X O . O . . . X O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . X W X X . X . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Seems slow. I think it's good to help the group, but the center seems more interesting:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 66 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . O X X . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . X O . O O O O X X | $$ | . . . O . . O . . . X X O O X O O O X | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . X X X X . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , O . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . W . . . . . . O . . | $$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . O . X . . . . . | $$ | . . . . O . X . . O O . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . O , . . . . . O X O . X . , O . . | $$ | . . . . O . X . X O X O . . . X O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . X . X X . X . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Position 4

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 68 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . O X X . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . X O . O O O O X X | $$ | . . . O . . O . . . X X O O X O O O X | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . X X X X . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . W X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , O . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . | $$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . O . X . . . . . | $$ | . . . . O . X . . O O . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . O , . . . . . O . O . X . , O . . | $$ | . . . . O . X . X O . O . . . X O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . X O X X . X . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

This is too much. I made a mistake, I think. I should just take it easy - he's overconcentrated, anyway:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 68 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . O X X . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . X O . O O O O X X | $$ | . . . O . . O . . . X X O O X O O O X | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . X X X X . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . W . . . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , O . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . | $$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . O . X . . . . . | $$ | . . . . O . X . . O O . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . O , . . . . . O . O . X . , O . . | $$ | . . . . O . X . X O . O . . . X O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . X O X X . X . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Position 5

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 72 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . O X X . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . X O . O O O O X X | $$ | . . . O . . O . . . X X O O X O O O X | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . X X X X . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . W X X . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . O O . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . | $$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . O . X . . . . . | $$ | . . . . O . X . . O O . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . O , . . . . . O . O . X . , O . . | $$ | . . . . O . X . X O . O . . . X O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . X O X X . X . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

This is a good example of my stubbornness. Yes, I made a mistake. But I shouldn't amplify it. The move above just doesn't give up.

Instead, I should take the loss:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 72 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . O X X . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . X O . O O O O X X | $$ | . . . O . . O . . . X X O O X O O O X | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . X X X X . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X X . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . W O O . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . | $$ | . . X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . O . X . . . . . | $$ | . . . . O . X . . O O . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . O , . . . . . O . O . X . , O . . | $$ | . . . . O . X . X O . O . . . X O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . X O X X . X . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Black gained points - but he should, because I made a mistake. I don't need to amplify it. Acknowledge that he should get more points now, because I screwed up. Acknowledge it.

Position 6

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 126 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . O X X . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . X O . O O O O X X | $$ | . . . O . . O . . . X X O O X O O O X | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . X X X X . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . X . . . . X O | $$ | . . . . . . . . X X X X O O . . X . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . O O O . . . . O X . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O . O O X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . O . O . O . O X X . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . X O X X O O . . | $$ | . . X . . . . X X X X X O O X . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . O X O O O X X X X . O . . | $$ | . . X O . O . O . . . . O . X O . . . | $$ | . . X . O X . . . . . O . X . . . . . | $$ | . . . . O . X X O O O . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . O W . . . O X O . O . X . , O . . | $$ | . . . X O . X . X O X O . . . X O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . X . X X . X . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

This move is too hasty. I think this is a stronger defense:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 126 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . O X X . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . X O . O O O O X X | $$ | . . . O . . O . . . X X O O X O O O X | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . X X X X . | $$ | . . O . . . . . . . . . X . . . . X O | $$ | . . . . . . . . X X X X O O . . X . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . O O O . . . . O X . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . O . O O X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . O . O . O . O X X . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . X O X X O O . . | $$ | . . X . . . . X X X X X O O X . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . O X O O O X X X X . O . . | $$ | . . X O . O . O . . . . O . X O . . . | $$ | . . X . O X . . . . . O . X . . . . . | $$ | . . . . O . X X O O O . . . . O . . . | $$ | . . O . . . . O X O . O . X . , O . . | $$ | . . W X O . X . X O X O . . . X O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . X . X X . X . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

I think I assumed too quickly that he had no good moves, and I overlooked the Ko.

---

I somehow managed to win this game, but I think that it shouldn't have been that way. I think there are two big mistakes:
1. Playing on the bottom was bigger than the top, as mentioned above.

2. Making two weak groups was no good. And I should have admitted when I made a mistake.

---

I think it's hard for me to admit when I've made a mistake on the board. Then I try to justify it - but it just amplifies the mistake. The truth is the truth - if I've made a mistake, I owe my opponent points.

I should give him those points and move on. Otherwise, it gets bigger as time goes on.

Shaddy · **#593**

48 is aji keshi, 50 should be M16 to be consistent with the earlier extension on top. The 50 in the game has no effect on his stones.

Kirby · **#594**

Shaddy wrote:

48 is aji keshi, 50 should be M16 to be consistent with the earlier extension on top. The 50 in the game has no effect on his stones.

Your suggestion of 50 is very interesting. I think it must be good, but it is the kind of move that I would never think of playing in this situation.

When I look at the board, I think, "Uh oh, black has potential for big territory on the bottom", and that's where my focus is.

Maybe that blinds me from looking for any sort of weaknesses on top.

Kirby · **#595**

For the first time this week, I'm able to actually sit down and study. I think I'm having an epiphany or something. Maybe I'm just tired. But I want to write it down here so that I don't forget.

I think I'm making studying go too complicated. It's simple. Just do it.

Doesn't seem that useful, but anyway, feels important right now.

OK, back to my book.

Bye.

Bill Spight · **#596**

Some comments on the opening.

Black's slow play did not give you much scope for attacking, but you missed your opportunities.

Charles Matthews · **#597**

Kirby wrote:

I played another game today against KGS 1d. I lost, and I deserved it. I maybe had a chance to get lucky, but it would have been just luck.

I primarily contribute the loss to ignoring one of the rules I mentioned from yesterday:

Kirby from Yesterday wrote:

9. 피강가보: In the event that my opponent is strong, plan for the safety of my own stones.

I think

is too early. Who knows how the fighting will go?

:w28:

at R9 looks better to me. Slow things down, settle one group at a time. :w32:

is OK.

- if you just want to live, play R10.

Kirby · **#598**

I lost against a KGS 4k today. Here is my review.

Kirby · **#599**

Highlights

Position 1

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 23 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . . . . | $$ | . . . X . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . W . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . X X . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . O X . X . . | $$ | . . . X . O . . . O . . O . O X . . . | $$ | . . . . X O . . . . . . . O O X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

I can understand why I played the marked move. But as an end result, he really solidified the right side as territory.

It might be too soon.

Maybe I should just let it be for now, and play again on the top right.

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 23 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . W . . . . . . . O . . . . . | $$ | . . . X . . . . . , . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . | $$ | . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . X X . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . O X . X . . | $$ | . . . X . O . . . O . . O . O X . . . | $$ | . . . . X O . . . . . . . O O X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

The aji is still there, and there's more chance I can do something on the right side later, when it's bigger.

Position 2

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 91 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . W . X O . . . . . . . O O X . . . | $$ | . . . X . O . . . O . O O X X X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . O O . . O X X O . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . O X X X X X O X O X . X . | $$ | . . X . . O O O X O X O O O O O X . X | $$ | . . . . . . O O O O O X X O . . O X . | $$ | . . . . . . . O X X X O X O X . X . . | $$ | . . . X . . . . . , . . X X . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . X . X X . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . O X . X . . | $$ | . . . X . O . . . O . . O . O X . . . | $$ | . . . . X O . . . . . . . O O X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Invading the 3-3 is big, and makes sense since I am strong on the outside, I think. But I can't help but feel that I ignored the potential that he was building up on the right side.

Should I to make something happen there first?

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 91 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . X O . . . . . . . O O X . . . | $$ | . . . X . O . . . O . O O X X X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . O O . . O X X O . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . O X X X X X O X O X . X . | $$ | . . X . . O O O X O X O O O O O X . X | $$ | . . . . . . O O O O O X X O . . O X . | $$ | . . . . . . . O X X X O X O X . X . . | $$ | . . . X . . . . . , . . X X . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . W . . . . . O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . X . X X . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . O X . X . . | $$ | . . . X . O . . . O . . O . O X . . . | $$ | . . . . X O . . . . . . . O O X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

I dunno. Maybe the 3-3 is bigger.

Or maybe I should start on the bottom:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 91 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . X O . . . . . . . O O X . . . | $$ | . . . X . O . . . O . O O X X X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . O O . . O X X O . X . . | $$ | . . . . . . O X X X X X O X O X . X . | $$ | . . X . . O O O X O X O O O O O X . X | $$ | . . . . . . O O O O O X X O . . O X . | $$ | . . . . . . . O X X X O X O X . X . . | $$ | . . . X . . . . . , . . X X . , . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . X . X X . . . . | $$ | . . W . . . . . . . . . . O X . X . . | $$ | . . . X . O . . . O . . O . O X . . . | $$ | . . . . X O . . . . . . . O O X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Somehow I feel that what I played wasn't biggest, but I don't know what's best.

Position 3

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 119 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O O X O . . . . . . . O O X . . . | $$ | . . X X X O . . . O . O O X X X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . O O . . O X X O . X . . | $$ | . O X . . . O X X X X X O X O X . X . | $$ | . . X . . O O O X O X O O O O O X . X | $$ | . . . . . . O O O O O X X O . . O X . | $$ | . . W O . . . O X X X O X O X . X . . | $$ | . . O X O . . . . , . . X X . , . . . | $$ | . . X X . . . . X . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . | $$ | . . . X . . . . . . . X . X X . . . . | $$ | . . O O X . . . . . . . . O X . X . . | $$ | . . O X . O . . . O . . O . O X . . . | $$ | . O X . X O . . . . . . . O O X . . . | $$ | . X . . X X O . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

I played this without much thought.

But maybe this pressures his group more:

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 119 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O X O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O O X O . . . . . . . O O X . . . | $$ | . . X X X O . . . O . O O X X X . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . O O . . O X X O . X . . | $$ | . O X . . . O X X X X X O X O X . X . | $$ | . . X . . O O O X O X O O O O O X . X | $$ | . . W . . . O O O O O X X O . . O X . | $$ | . . . O . . . O X X X O X O X . X . . | $$ | . . O X O . . . . , . . X X . , . . . | $$ | . . X X . . . . X . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . | $$ | . . . X . . . . . . . X . X X . . . . | $$ | . . O O X . . . . . . . . O X . X . . | $$ | . . O X . O . . . O . . O . O X . . . | $$ | . O X . X O . . . . . . . O O X . . . | $$ | . X . . X X O . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

If I could kill his group, it would even the score a bit.

Position 4

Click Here To Show Diagram Code: [go]$$ Position at move 131 $$ --------------------------------------- $$ | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . . O X O . . . . . . . . . . b . . . | $$ | . O O O X O . . . . . . . O O X . . . | $$ | . . X X X O . . . O . O O X X X . . . | $$ | . X . . . . . O O . . O X X O . X . . | $$ | . O X . X . O X X X X X O X O X . X . | $$ | . X X . . O O O X O X O O O O O X . X | $$ | . O . . . . O O O O O X X O . . O X . | $$ | . . O O . . . O X X X O X O X . X . . | $$ | . . O X O . . . . , . . X X . , . . . | $$ | . . X X . . . . X . . . . . . X . . . | $$ | . . O X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . X X . . . . . . . . . . . . . O . . | $$ | . . . X . . . . . W . X . X X . . . . | $$ | . X O O X . . . . . . . . O X . X . . | $$ | . X O X . O . . . O . . O . O X . . . | $$ | . O X X X O a . . . . . . O O X . . . | $$ | O . O . X X O . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ | . O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | $$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

I'd say I'm losing by a little bit, so I played the marked move to reduce more... But with the weakness at 'a', I think it's too much.

I should either protect 'a', or play 'b', which is a lot of points. Then, hope for the best.

This far into the game, I shouldn't introduce so much risk - I just need to wait for a chance.

---

I guess that's it. I should probably see more problems with this game, because it feels like I should have done better. Maybe I'm still a bit sick from the weekend.

Anyway, let's keep moving forward.

Kirby · **#600**

As a side note, I recently watched the latest review Inseong did of one of my different games.

One part, which I found interesting, was that he mentioned that one of my big weaknesses is that, when there are "tight" areas in the game - local life and death situation, practical fighting, and other areas where there is a lot of pressure/importance, I fail at reading and play a bad move.

I think I need to be more precise in these types of situations.

Right now in such situations, when I read, I can feel the point where I leave things up to intuition. I read, "black, white, black, white... OK... I don't know exactly all possibilities, but it'll probably be OK."

That level of reading has me at 1d on KGS (maybe 1k or 2k, sometimes)... If I want to increase and move to a higher rank, then I think it's necessary that this level of reading must also be increased.

If I currently read, "black, white, black, white...", then I need to change this to read, "black, white, black, white, black, white..." just a little bit more before leaving to intuition. Or perhaps, "black (alternative 1), white (alternative 1), black (alternative 1), white (alternative 1)"... You get the picture, maybe.

Anyway, if I want to have a higher rank, I think it won't just come automatically. I think I should start by consciously aiming to play at a higher level.

And this means more precision.

Kirby's Study Journal

Who is online