Beginner's Mistakes

  Difficulty: Beginner  

On this page I show some situations where beginners very commonly make mistakes. Most of these are undoubtedly described elsewhere on SL as well; this is just my personal collection. They are loosely in order of difficulty.

Table of contents Table of diagrams
The black stone cannot escape.
From Chad Miller / Stupid Mistakes
3 will be at a and doom will follow...
Editted from a KGS game
Nastiness
Protecting against the cuts...

1. Attempting to save stone on 2nd line.

(known as the Chapel)

[Diagram]

The black stone cannot escape.


2. Blocking on the 1st line, when you shouldn't.

Many variations on this, here are a few:

[Diagram]

3 will be at a and doom will follow...


3. Beware of the stairs

[Diagram]

Editted from a KGS game

The three diagonal stones (BS and B2) are now very weak, and they are easily cut, often leading to double ataris and other nastiness.

[Diagram]

Nastiness

BC or BS will die.


Note however, that if it's your turn the stairs are easily and elegantly protected:

[Diagram]

Protecting against the cuts...

B4 protects against the cut at both a and b!

Warp: Note however, that the double hane, resulting in something very similar to this, is not always wrong. For instance, some josekis use it (offering one stone as sacrifice in this way can have beneficial consequences in another place).

Also note that while B4 nicely protects both cutting points, it leaves two possibe peeps which, if both are answered, can make the shape quite overconcentrated.


iopq: The most common mistake for a beginner would be to keep playing in the same area. At some point the shape is more or less settled and further moves in the area don't add many points. In fact, letting your opponent take some stones while you tenuki might be an advantageous exchange for you.


This is a copy of the living page "Beginner's Mistakes" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2005 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.
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