Just who is this guy?
My name is Miguel Carrion Alvarez, and I am a graduate student in mathematical physics and passionate go player. When my work and study schedule allows, I can be found on KGS. I used to prefer NNGS to IGS, but since I discovered KGS I played less and less on the other two. I became a single-digit-kyu on KGS in June/July of 2003, and then became too busy to play for a whole year. I'm back, though, but I don't play nearly as often.
Once upon a time I had a Japanese friend who had spent an extended period of time in Italy and spoke Italian with a Tuscany accent. I was slightly disappointed that he was not a better go player (I have since learnt that go is not as popular among young people in Japan as I thought), but that's not the point.
The point is that he had a cousin (or something) who was married to a Spaniard and their child was called Migeru. I have come to adopt that name for all purposes Japanese.
Another reason I don't play go so often any more is family life. However, I recently started teaching Go to my girlfriend's child. Jonathan.
Go style
I find myself playing for influence rather than territory, and large moyos, even when I set out not to. I think this has to do with my choice of josekis and my instinctive replies to probes. I think I need to start studying Takemiya's games.
I think for my rank I am good at building thickness and exploiting it. I am proud of my ability to chase weak groups and eliminate their eyespace (what I call throwing a stone in your opponent's eye?). I gained several stones mostly through improvements in fuseki and yose, so my life-and-death is not on a par with my opponents'. I also don't know a lot of joseki, I try to play by intuition and general principles.
Areas for improvement:
Rating information So you know how seriously to take my contributions to SL.
In July 2003 I was 16k* on IGS, 11k on NNGS and 9k on KGS. My AGA rank was 11k. Currently I am 11k on KGS.
Go books I have read:
Now reading:
On my shopping list:
I've been told this is too advanced for my level:
Migeru's Question 1
Migeru's Question 2
Migeru's Question 3
10sai - I thought I remember seeing this name somewhere online. I played you the last round in the SF tournament, glad to see you on sensei's as well :)
Alex Weldon: Responding to your message on my page re: playing a game on Sensei's. You say your IGS rating is not reliable. How strong do you feel? I'm 6k* right now, so our ratings would suggest 6 stone handicap. I'm not great at playing against a handicap, though (or with a handicap, for that matter). Anyway, I don't know what handicap will make the game as even as possible either, so you're free to choose whatever you feel comfortable with, balancing your chances of winning with the pride you'll feel if you do. :) Once you've made up your mind, set up a game page and we'll start.