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Strategy for beginners - 4 questions
  Difficulty: Introductory   Keywords: Strategy

These 4 questions here are only one checklist, hence remote from anything comprehensive.

Presumably, this checklist could also be a NON-comprehensive guide to the things a mid-kyu player must learn to improve at go.

Nevertheless it has proven very useful with mid-kyu players (the range was 20-15kyu) to raise the level of play by about several grades in one game!

TDerz


4 questions to decide your strategy

Do you have a weak group?
If yes, reinforce it.
Does your opponent have a weak group?
If yes, plan to attack it.
Can you make a big territorial move?
If yes, do it.
Could your opponent make a big territorial move or does s/he have a big territory?
Try to prevent, destroy or reduce it with appropriate measures.

Go through these questions in that order (it teaches already "urgent before big points").

The very good characteristic of this list is its clear- & conciseness. It provides maximum effect for a small effort!

(NB: The idea for this 4 questions comes from Gerald Westhoff, 6 dan (EUR). He deserves much credit for constantly teaching children classes and other beginners)


It would be interesting to check after 1, 3 and 6 months, and/or 1, 5 and 10 games what the experience of a kyu player with this list is?

I think it gives the biggest benefit to DDK aka "Double Digit Kyu", avoiding the most common mistakes. (Thanks, bocephus)

It could avoid further fiddling around (no matter at which relative skill, 15k or 1d) in local situations, with no (fewer) weak groups around laying the basis for an easier game.


This page could be referenced to:

  • Go proverbs: Proverbs providing heuristics are of a great source and help for playing a game. However, the step from simply memorizing the words to understanding and applying the concepts is long, but will make anyone stronger.
  • Mistakes: What everyone wants to avoid , are mistakes.
  • GoodPlay: Rather, you'd like to display good play.
  • Basic Instinct: If you really are in a hurry and have no time to think, just let prevail the basic instincts (on local level).
  • Priority: Related prioritizing the moves.

See also:



This is a copy of the living page "Strategy for beginners - 4 questions" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2004 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.