Go?

[funkyj]

Originally Posted by Neil S

These came today. They seem nice. Big, clear diagrams with more space given to the answer and its discussion than the problem. You don't need lengthy discussions for your typical life/death or tactical problems, but for the opening the why is more important than the how. So I'm expecting good results from studying these.

You can take private lessons with the author of those books. If you have money to burn then a few lessons to really get you pointed in the right direction are well worth the cost. Yang is an excellent teacher.

[chiachu]

Ive always been curious how much private go lessons cost. Im guessing it will range quite a bit based on strength, but could you give some ballpark figures?

[Neil S]

Well Alexander Dinerchtein's cost $40-$45 for a 90 minute lesson.

I can't find any indication of how much Yang's cost. :-)

[chiachu]

I can see myself possibly be willing to pay 45$ for a lesson in person... but probably not online. Granted i have alot to learn on my own still . Let me know how those books turn out for you, Neil. I might pick them up if you like them.

[funkyj]

Originally Posted by Neil S

Well Alexander Dinerchtein's cost $40-$45 for a 90 minute lesson.

I can't find any indication of how much Yang's cost. :-)

Email him and ask if you are interested. He is (or used to be) in the LA/OC county area so if you are down there an "in person" lesson now and then is possible.

In any event, a few lessons with a good teacher is very +EV for a game.

[Neil S]

Originally Posted by Neil S

These came today. They seem nice. Big, clear diagrams with more space given to the answer and its discussion than the problem. You don't need lengthy discussions for your typical life/death or tactical problems, but for the opening the why is more important than the how. So I'm expecting good results from studying these.

The first 20 pages of Whole Board Thinking in Joseki, Volume 1 have impressed upon me some principles and ways of thinking about the opening. It's amazing. I love it.

[Neil S]

Wow. Played my second game against a human in quite some time. Even game as black with 6.5 compensation to white against another 11k+ on IGS.

It was amazing. I felt actually ok with my plays early, instead of worried and having to defend weaknesses or desperately erode big frameworks. In fact I found myself on the attack the entire game. It was almost a total wipeout in my favor, too, but he got a ko (or I let him get one, I may have to review) for a big group late. And ultimately there was no way I could come up with enough threats for that.

It was about the third group of his I had under severe pressure. He tried to attack a couple of mine, but time and again I'd left my self opportunities in the opening that I could live every time, and in fact use the strength I got defending the attacks to hit him even harder once I got the initiative back.

8.5 point win.

Thanks to those books on the opening, I feel so good about how I'm playing. I need to work further through them!

[funkyj]

Originally Posted by Neil S

Thanks to those books on the opening, I feel so good about how I'm playing. I need to work further through them!

yeah, for the opening those are by far and away my favorite books. I'm glad to hear you like them.

[Neil S]

Originally Posted by funkyj

yeah, for the opening those are by far and away my favorite books. I'm glad to hear you like them.

Thank you for the advice. I'm so jazzed right now.

[chiachu]

Just bought them both off of slate & shell. Its too bad theres no 3rd book on the 4-4 point... and based on the publication dates it doesnt seem like there ever will be

[chiachu]

Originally Posted by Neil S

Wow. Played my second game against a human in quite some time. Even game as black with 6.5 compensation to white against another 11k+ on IGS.

It was amazing. I felt actually ok with my plays early, instead of worried and having to defend weaknesses or desperately erode big frameworks. In fact I found myself on the attack the entire game. It was almost a total wipeout in my favor, too, but he got a ko (or I let him get one, I may have to review) for a big group late. And ultimately there was no way I could come up with enough threats for that.

It was about the third group of his I had under severe pressure. He tried to attack a couple of mine, but time and again I'd left my self opportunities in the opening that I could live every time, and in fact use the strength I got defending the attacks to hit him even harder once I got the initiative back.

8.5 point win.

Thanks to those books on the opening, I feel so good about how I'm playing. I need to work further through them!

Im about to sleep, but thought id take a quick look at the opening of the game. It looks to me like the top right turned out pretty bad for you. If white didnt play 36, and played around the O12 area, its looks like alot trouble.

I wonder if 15 was the right response, but i dont have any better ideas . 21 seems very wrong. I probably would have played R12, and looked towards peep-push-cutting at P16. If white defended against it by playing there himself, id look to mess up the moyo he just built. Maybe by peeping at N16 then following up with M12 or something.

Maybe funkyj could chime in here, since it seems like hes much more qualified to speak about this.

[Neil S]

Going to bed myself. I'll get humbled and read tomorrow :-)

[icepick]

I am icepick, 5k on KGS.

Originally Posted by Yojimgari

7. What should be the first five books to read on Go and in what order?

I'd read the Janice Kim Learn to Play Go series. 5 books. Teaches the rules and basic strategy.

Your next book should be The Second Book of Go.. This is an amazing book, which covers all of the questions and ideas that will occur to you after reading the Kim series, and playing 20 or 30 games.

Those, and alot of games, should be enough to get you to 10-12 kyu.

9. What videos for coaching should I watch on Go?

Guo Jan (5 dan pro) runs the Internet Go School. It has video lectures on a ton of topics and many courses. 1 euro per lesson.

Thanks, basically I want to know how to go about learning Go in the most complete way possible.

Prepare yourself for a lifetime of effort.

Originally Posted by Neil S

By the way, if anyone can recommend to me a good book on the opening for the 15k-5k range, I'd be grateful.

Opening Theroy Made Easy

Originally Posted by chiachu

Oh, and there was a thread in OOT about go a while back. There were atleast a couple of dan players here on 2+2...

I created that.

Ask Me About Playing Go

[Neil S]

Originally Posted by chiachu

Im about to sleep, but thought id take a quick look at the opening of the game. It looks to me like the top right turned out pretty bad for you. If white didnt play 36, and played around the O12 area, its looks like alot trouble.

I wonder if 15 was the right response, but i dont have any better ideas . 21 seems very wrong. I probably would have played R12, and looked towards peep-push-cutting at P16. If white defended against it by playing there himself, id look to mess up the moyo he just built. Maybe by peeping at N16 then following up with M12 or something.

Maybe funkyj could chime in here, since it seems like hes much more qualified to speak about this.

I liked 21 because I thought he'd have to defend O18. Guess not. :-)

15 seemed standard to me. I didn't get what I wanted up there though, that's for sure. ButI clearly had plenty of room to live, and my right side could stand the out come (though I'm sure you're right that he could have hit me harder there afterward).

[funkyj]

Here are a few comments. Please discuss and add your own comments.

If you have the SGF, Sensei's library includes a "convert SGF to wiki" function -- that is what I used to generate these diagrams.