Yeah, I am still around. In the 12 kyu range on OGS. I haven't played on KGS in so long my account expired and so did the graph posted here...
But I am still playing and making slow progress. I do have a few things to share - hopefully get to them soon!
1. Attach - Bend - Retreat - Protect
2. Watching Thecaptain, 4-corner tsumego, reading and the path to progress
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Malkovich games
How do you learn? What is the quickest method for you to see how your thinking is flawed and then fix it? If you had a brain dump of exactly what you were thinking during a Go game, you could replay it and see where you missed things, where you valued areas too highly and where you assumed your groups were safe when they weren't.
Normal Go commentary can't really do this. Adding comments to a game record after it is complete is like rereading a book when you already know the ending. It does add enjoyment to replaying a game, but I don't think it helps as much as it could as a training aid.
Recently on GoDiscussions.com an effort to capture player's thinking while a game is progressing has started gaining momentum. The term "Malkovich game" has been coined which refers to the movie where people are somehow inside John Malkovich's brain (Being John Malkovich). To find threads about this go to GoDiscussions and search for - you guessed it - "Malkovich".
I think having players capture their thoughts as they make each move helps reveal what they think is going on, without any real guess of how the game will progress or end. It presents a more rounded version of all their concerns at each move and will capture flaws in their thinking. Once the game is complete, going back and reviewing those original comments is like having a brain dump! The players should be able to clearly see the flaws in their thinking and make real improvement in their games. Including some post-game additions/corrections to the game file could help other players see how they can avoid the same false thinking as the player in the game.
I really think this is a valuable method of learning. It is tough to use in a real-time game, but with a little discipline, it is easy to do in a turn-based game. Before you make each move, write down why you decided that was the best play. Once the game is complete, go back and review your thinking. Get others to take a look at your game and do some post game analysis. Seeing moves where you made "bad" decisions and your reasoning behind them will help you be alert to your faulty thinking in the future.
Doing a "1-man Malkovich" where you are the only one doing your in-game comments seems valuable. I believe that you will get the most out of your own comments - seeing other player's in-game comments will help you see how they think, but it isn't the same as analyzing your own brain dump.
Having both players making in-game comments seems potentially even more exciting. So, find a buddy and see if you can convince them do play a turn-based Malkovich game with you. When the game is over, trade notes and see what your opponent was thinking, and how you could have done better!
These "2-person Malkovich" games are exactly what the players on GoDiscussions are trying. Here are the first 2 games:
Vap vs Joaz
Joaz vs Sol
Enjoy!
Normal Go commentary can't really do this. Adding comments to a game record after it is complete is like rereading a book when you already know the ending. It does add enjoyment to replaying a game, but I don't think it helps as much as it could as a training aid.
Recently on GoDiscussions.com an effort to capture player's thinking while a game is progressing has started gaining momentum. The term "Malkovich game" has been coined which refers to the movie where people are somehow inside John Malkovich's brain (Being John Malkovich). To find threads about this go to GoDiscussions and search for - you guessed it - "Malkovich".
I think having players capture their thoughts as they make each move helps reveal what they think is going on, without any real guess of how the game will progress or end. It presents a more rounded version of all their concerns at each move and will capture flaws in their thinking. Once the game is complete, going back and reviewing those original comments is like having a brain dump! The players should be able to clearly see the flaws in their thinking and make real improvement in their games. Including some post-game additions/corrections to the game file could help other players see how they can avoid the same false thinking as the player in the game.
I really think this is a valuable method of learning. It is tough to use in a real-time game, but with a little discipline, it is easy to do in a turn-based game. Before you make each move, write down why you decided that was the best play. Once the game is complete, go back and review your thinking. Get others to take a look at your game and do some post game analysis. Seeing moves where you made "bad" decisions and your reasoning behind them will help you be alert to your faulty thinking in the future.
Doing a "1-man Malkovich" where you are the only one doing your in-game comments seems valuable. I believe that you will get the most out of your own comments - seeing other player's in-game comments will help you see how they think, but it isn't the same as analyzing your own brain dump.
Having both players making in-game comments seems potentially even more exciting. So, find a buddy and see if you can convince them do play a turn-based Malkovich game with you. When the game is over, trade notes and see what your opponent was thinking, and how you could have done better!
These "2-person Malkovich" games are exactly what the players on GoDiscussions are trying. Here are the first 2 games:
Vap vs Joaz
Joaz vs Sol
Enjoy!
Review of posted material
I just went back and reread the whole list of posts. I think most of the postings are pretty good - even though I am no master, they are generally accurate.
For a quick recap, here are the most important points I think I have touched on:
1. Resign a lost game. (Or ask your opponent if it is okay to play it out.)
2. Claim the same screen name on all the online servers when you start.
3. Don't play "hope Go". (Assume your opponent sees everything you do.)
4. 30 kyu starter kit:
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
First off, go through this tutorial: The Interactive Way to GO
If that all makes sense do some life or death problems here: GoProblems.com
1. Click the button in the top middle that says Problems.
2. Set "How Many" to 50 or so.
3. Set the difficulty from 30kyu (easiest) to 25kyu (a bit harder).
4. Click the "Get Problems" button.
5. You will see a list of problems, click the top one.
6. Try to solve it, retry, etc. until you understand it (or just want to move on).
7. Click the "Next in Set" button.
Next, download IGoWin. (Only works on a Windows PC.) It is a 9x9 GO player that remembers your strength. It will give you handicap stones to try to make the game even. As you improve, it will give you less and less handicap stones until you are giving the computer the handicap!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
5. Don't attach when attacking.
6. Basic moves (Extend, Diagonal, 1-Space Jump, Keima).
7. Ranks (30kyu - 9P, each server/organization is internally consistent, but ranks may differ across different bodies).
8. Rulesets (don't sweat the details until you start joining tournaments).
9. Resist spending extra stones to kill a nearly dead group.
10. Sent and Gote
11. Go Terms
12. Ladders
13. Center vs. Edge
14. Killing eyes
15. Playing online (KGS)
16. Urgent before big.
17. Bases, Moyos (I screwed this post up. Bases are not Moyos.)
18. Ripped shapes
19. No posing on Ko (I am still avoiding Ko battles in my games.)
20. the Clamp
21. Extending from walls
22. CORNERS!!! SIDES! center...
23. Shape
24. Nose Tesuji
25. Online Go Anxiety
26. OGS Issues
27. 4-4 Opening
28. Tsumego
29. Traditional 1st move
30 Stronger Opponents
31. OGS Ladder
32. Play - Review - Tsumego - Books
Having these line items all in one place will help me remember what I haven't talked about that might be worth discussing. So, if you are new here, and some of these topics look like they could be helpful - try to go back and read the blog in order. (I just did to make this list, and it isn't really designed to be read in chronological order...) :P
For a quick recap, here are the most important points I think I have touched on:
1. Resign a lost game. (Or ask your opponent if it is okay to play it out.)
2. Claim the same screen name on all the online servers when you start.
3. Don't play "hope Go". (Assume your opponent sees everything you do.)
4. 30 kyu starter kit:
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
First off, go through this tutorial: The Interactive Way to GO
If that all makes sense do some life or death problems here: GoProblems.com
1. Click the button in the top middle that says Problems.
2. Set "How Many" to 50 or so.
3. Set the difficulty from 30kyu (easiest) to 25kyu (a bit harder).
4. Click the "Get Problems" button.
5. You will see a list of problems, click the top one.
6. Try to solve it, retry, etc. until you understand it (or just want to move on).
7. Click the "Next in Set" button.
Next, download IGoWin. (Only works on a Windows PC.) It is a 9x9 GO player that remembers your strength. It will give you handicap stones to try to make the game even. As you improve, it will give you less and less handicap stones until you are giving the computer the handicap!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
5. Don't attach when attacking.
6. Basic moves (Extend, Diagonal, 1-Space Jump, Keima).
7. Ranks (30kyu - 9P, each server/organization is internally consistent, but ranks may differ across different bodies).
8. Rulesets (don't sweat the details until you start joining tournaments).
9. Resist spending extra stones to kill a nearly dead group.
10. Sent and Gote
11. Go Terms
12. Ladders
13. Center vs. Edge
14. Killing eyes
15. Playing online (KGS)
16. Urgent before big.
17. Bases, Moyos (I screwed this post up. Bases are not Moyos.)
18. Ripped shapes
19. No posing on Ko (I am still avoiding Ko battles in my games.)
20. the Clamp
21. Extending from walls
22. CORNERS!!! SIDES! center...
23. Shape
24. Nose Tesuji
25. Online Go Anxiety
26. OGS Issues
27. 4-4 Opening
28. Tsumego
29. Traditional 1st move
30 Stronger Opponents
31. OGS Ladder
32. Play - Review - Tsumego - Books
Having these line items all in one place will help me remember what I haven't talked about that might be worth discussing. So, if you are new here, and some of these topics look like they could be helpful - try to go back and read the blog in order. (I just did to make this list, and it isn't really designed to be read in chronological order...) :P
The better you get, the more you realize you don't know
My original intent on this site was to play Go and improve. As I improved I wanted to analyze that growth and capture the critical things I learned. Then I wanted to share what I learned to help others ramp up faster.
So, a couple things are slowing me down. First, I have not improved much in the last few months! It is a lot of things combined: Go gets harder as you improve, I haven't been playing a lot, I haven't been studying books or doing much tsumego. There is also some level of unexplainable effort. When I play now, I strain to make the best move, but I can't explain why I select a lot of moves - they just feel like the biggest plays. Finally, there is the realization that what you thought was rock solid fact ("empty triangles are bad") turns gray ("empty triangles are usually bad") and then loses the feel of a rule at all ("empty triangles are often inefficient, but should be used whenever appropriate").
So, it is tough to act like a fountain of knowledge for others when I am questioning everything I have used to get this far.
So, a couple things are slowing me down. First, I have not improved much in the last few months! It is a lot of things combined: Go gets harder as you improve, I haven't been playing a lot, I haven't been studying books or doing much tsumego. There is also some level of unexplainable effort. When I play now, I strain to make the best move, but I can't explain why I select a lot of moves - they just feel like the biggest plays. Finally, there is the realization that what you thought was rock solid fact ("empty triangles are bad") turns gray ("empty triangles are usually bad") and then loses the feel of a rule at all ("empty triangles are often inefficient, but should be used whenever appropriate").
So, it is tough to act like a fountain of knowledge for others when I am questioning everything I have used to get this far.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Lots of distractions
Sorry I haven't updated the site recently! I haven't made a ton of progress lately, and life has been pretty hectic. Hopefully I will have time for a few new posts soon. Since I don't have anything wildly original to say, I'll leave you with the proven wisdom of the ages:
Play games. (and review them/have them reviewed)
Do tsumego. (then do some more tsumego)
Repeat.
Play games. (and review them/have them reviewed)
Do tsumego. (then do some more tsumego)
Repeat.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Driving toward SDK
My most recent OGS ladder and OGS tournament games have matched me up with a 15k, a 9k, a 19k and a 12k. I won all 4 of those games! Woot! My rank is up to 11.9k. I went 4-2 in the 1st round of the tourney and I've jumped 112 rungs up the ladder to 76th place!
It feels good, but I think I am due for a butt kicking or 2 soon. I wouldn't be surprised to see my rank fall a bit, but I really think I am on a good path to help me improve.
I may just have to comment up the game I won against the 9k. It was a lot of fun. So was the 12k game. It sure would be nice to have some face to face games as well...
It feels good, but I think I am due for a butt kicking or 2 soon. I wouldn't be surprised to see my rank fall a bit, but I really think I am on a good path to help me improve.
I may just have to comment up the game I won against the 9k. It was a lot of fun. So was the 12k game. It sure would be nice to have some face to face games as well...
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Playing opponents that outrank you
For a long time I was intimidated to play against players with a better ranking than I had. I wasn't super-confident that my own 15k-ish rank was accurate and I didn't want to "waste the time" of higher ranked folks. I didn't want to waste their time or get slaughtered by them.
It feels like there are a lot of 15 kyu players that have this attitude and are all looking for an even 15k game that they have a chance of winning. Now I am wondering if this isn't a bit of a trap. My theory now is that 15k is too soon to start settling and assuming you have hit a plateau.
I started playing against SDKs (Single Digit Kyu) when I attended the Go Club. I have continued sort of by chance in a few different spots. On KGS I played a few robots and got a (9k?) rating. That seems way too high, but it got me a game against a player I knew from GoDiscussions. He was an 11k so he asked for 2 stones! Also on OGS I have joined a tournament which has me playing against players up to 8 kyu.
Third area, also on OGS is the OGS 19x19 Ladder Competition. This is a ladder for all skill levels, and I made up my mind to challenge the highest player up the ladder that I could each time I finish an old ladder game. This decision could have me playing even games against Dan players, depending on where they are on the ladder!
I have only played a few of these "stretch" games so far, but I think they are important. It just reminds me of the old saying that if you want to improve in a competitive field you need to play against other players stronger than you.
For a long time I think I was pretty happy to be able to say I was a 15 kyu. I was humbled by all the things I realized I didn't know and was just happy to have mastered a little. But now I am starting to feel that the SDK ranks don't seem that far away. I have a sense that by playing SDKs I will be forced to stretch myself to play like an SDK. Time will tell.
BOTTOM LINE: I truly think that having some mechanism built into my training schedule that forces me to play stronger players will help me improve faster. I would suggest the OGS Ladder trick to anyone that wants to try this.
++++++++++
Vultur's OGS Ladder Ritual:
Step 1: Join the OGS 19x19 Ladder
Step 2: Challenge the top 3 players available to you on the ladder. (The way things are set up, you won't start out with access to challenging people at the very TOP of the ladder, but you will be able to challenge people 50 or 100 spots higher than you.) Don't worry about their rank - it may be below yours, the same or above - it doesn't matter. Your goal is to climb the ladder!
Step 3: As you complete a game, challenge the player at highest available spot on the ladder.
Repeat step 3 until you are in Ladder position #1 !!! :)
Use the results of these games as "review and improve" material.
++++++++++
If nothing else, playing against stronger players should help reduce the intimidation factor of people rated higher than you. It has helped me see that I am not stuck on some 15k plateau with an unclimbable cliff leading up to higher ranks. The slope up to 8 or 9k seems achievable now.
It feels like there are a lot of 15 kyu players that have this attitude and are all looking for an even 15k game that they have a chance of winning. Now I am wondering if this isn't a bit of a trap. My theory now is that 15k is too soon to start settling and assuming you have hit a plateau.
I started playing against SDKs (Single Digit Kyu) when I attended the Go Club. I have continued sort of by chance in a few different spots. On KGS I played a few robots and got a (9k?) rating. That seems way too high, but it got me a game against a player I knew from GoDiscussions. He was an 11k so he asked for 2 stones! Also on OGS I have joined a tournament which has me playing against players up to 8 kyu.
Third area, also on OGS is the OGS 19x19 Ladder Competition. This is a ladder for all skill levels, and I made up my mind to challenge the highest player up the ladder that I could each time I finish an old ladder game. This decision could have me playing even games against Dan players, depending on where they are on the ladder!
I have only played a few of these "stretch" games so far, but I think they are important. It just reminds me of the old saying that if you want to improve in a competitive field you need to play against other players stronger than you.
For a long time I think I was pretty happy to be able to say I was a 15 kyu. I was humbled by all the things I realized I didn't know and was just happy to have mastered a little. But now I am starting to feel that the SDK ranks don't seem that far away. I have a sense that by playing SDKs I will be forced to stretch myself to play like an SDK. Time will tell.
BOTTOM LINE: I truly think that having some mechanism built into my training schedule that forces me to play stronger players will help me improve faster. I would suggest the OGS Ladder trick to anyone that wants to try this.
++++++++++
Vultur's OGS Ladder Ritual:
Step 1: Join the OGS 19x19 Ladder
Step 2: Challenge the top 3 players available to you on the ladder. (The way things are set up, you won't start out with access to challenging people at the very TOP of the ladder, but you will be able to challenge people 50 or 100 spots higher than you.) Don't worry about their rank - it may be below yours, the same or above - it doesn't matter. Your goal is to climb the ladder!
Step 3: As you complete a game, challenge the player at highest available spot on the ladder.
Repeat step 3 until you are in Ladder position #1 !!! :)
Use the results of these games as "review and improve" material.
++++++++++
If nothing else, playing against stronger players should help reduce the intimidation factor of people rated higher than you. It has helped me see that I am not stuck on some 15k plateau with an unclimbable cliff leading up to higher ranks. The slope up to 8 or 9k seems achievable now.
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