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Complaint About Shape
    Keywords: Problem

Shape is a very complex notion that combines some aspects of other obscure notions like speed, safety, connections and efficiency of stones.

My knowledge of the shape is very limited. There are two proverbs: "TheEmptyTriangleIsBad" and "sake bottle shape is negative". There are also exceptions to these proverbs and more or less one learns to see them.

Isn't that The empty sake bottle shape is negative? ;-)

What I miss (and I believe many other people miss it too) is a skill to force opponent in a bad shape keepings one's shapes good.

Good players know about shape much more that those two proverbs. And it is rare that bits of that knowledge come to weaker players.

Consider an example

[Diagram]
Diag.: What is the correct answer to White's 1?

Stronger players know the answer, weaker players may consider it as a shape problem. I give the solution on a separate page AShapeComplaintSolution.

I learned the correct answer from professional's commentary to a 6k game. In fact I was amazed by the move that pro recommended (6k amateur made mistake, of course). After that I began to pay attension and soon some information came from the 5d* games I observed on IGS. In similar positions IGS 5d* players make the move that was recommended by the pro. I started to use it in my games. Of course, the opportunity comes not that often but I used it 5 or 6 times. Each time it turned out to be a success. Not immediate but eventually it gave results.

It is sad that this kind of knowledge does not come by itself. It is very difficult to invent that move. You have to read about it. This move is not something that you may read out while playing. You have to be experienced and actually you have to know.

Recently I observed a game on IGS between 4d* player and 4d player (that was actually the first game of 4d guy, perhaps he did not know what strength you have to be to claim 4d rank on IGS). 4d guy lost it big, 30+ points. And the position like on the diagram appeared. He answered wrong. That left very bad taste indeed. Come on! Even I know how to respond. Just a level indicator.

I think that pros know a lot of small secrets like that. And that knowledge is very difficult to collect. But each of them gives an extra point or two and eventually good shapes find their kill.

(references added -- Dieter)



Ok, i have my own complaint about shape (maybe because i've been losing a lot of games lately?). "Light" play is good, and "heavy" is bad; yet "thick" is good, and "thin" is bad. So we want to make light, thick plays? And avoid thin, heavy stones? Is this not a ShapeParadox?
-- TakeNGive 11k



This is a copy of the living page "Complaint About Shape" at Sensei's Library.
(C) the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.