Don't Take A Stone From The Bowl Until Your Move Is Decided

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Explanation to why it may be a bad idea to hold stones

It is often a good idea to wait until your move is decided before you take a stone from the bowl. There are two main reasons for this:

aLegendWai: Some players may just place their hands around their chests while they are holding the stones. Thus the problems relating to "blocking opponenet's view" will not occur.

Application to online play

SirLyric: This applies to online play as well. Many awful mistakes on Internet chess and Go servers have taught me never to place my hand on the mouse until I've decided on a move. When I fail to follow that rule, I immediately begin to rush my moves.

The mouse exists to be clicked. That's all it does. As long as you have your hand on it that's exactly what you'll do - click, not think.

How to prevent impulsive move

Tamsin Jones: A variation on this is to hold an object, say a squeeze ball, in your hand while thinking about the move. That way, you restrain the impulse to reach out and play the first move that comes to mind.

Scartol: One time, during a very close and tense match, I stood up and put the bowl on the next table, where I couldn't reach them.

Xrillo(5k): It's also a bad habit since the chance of dropping a stone onto the board increases from zero to something. :)

IronChefSakai: Haha, good point. :D


Holding stones is a non-preferred habit, not really a bad habit

aLegendWai: I don't call it as a bad habit. One reason why I don't think it is a bad habit is it doesn't really affect opponents by just holding the stones in your hands (Note: the word just). Unlike "hang over the board", it's a bad habit in my view since it blocks your opponent's view, and annoys it (I use "it" to specify sex-unspecific person).
aLegendWai: Rather I will call it as non-preferred habits. It is not really bad even if you don't get used to this habit.


I don't treat it as bad habits

Budget: I personally don't follow this at all. As soon as I play my move, I reach into the bowl and withdraw another stone. I don't dangle it in front of the board, and I don't flick it or play with it or anything. I just hold it in between my fingers, with my hand resting on the table. My opponents all do the same thing. I haven't noticed that I play my moves any quicker or without reading more than I do in online games or while solving problems. I don't see my actions as a bad habit at all.

blubb: ... whilst the chance of shifting stones with your sleeve or such, resulting from a moment of inattention, is higher when being concerned with the move you're going to commit. To me, the idle moment right after a play seems to be best for picking a new stone. ;) - I guess I concur with Budget here.

Warp: For some people it can be a bad habit. I personally don't take the stone until I have decided my move. If I take a stone and start doubting, I throw the stone back to the bowl. A stone in my hand actually distracts me, but that's naturally different for each individual person.

Budget: That's fair. After I finish reading and decide where I want to move, I just don't want to have to go and get a stone from the bowl. Of course, I can understand how having a stone in your hand might distract you, as well. I guess I'm just different.


Both approaches (ie not hold or DO hold stones) can be taken

aLegendWai: As said previously, "not taking stones" helps you concentrate. Otherwise you may risk taking impulsive moves once in a while. Note I say "you MAY RISK...". That means it is just a possibility.

aLegendWai: If players like Budget who doesn't affect by this risk at any extent, they may hold stones while playing. No problems at all.
aLegendWai: If players like Budget who DOES or may affect by this risk, they should not hold stones while playing as a safe side, unless you are too eager to hold stones with hands to make you happy :D.


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This is a copy of the living page "Don't Take A Stone From The Bowl Until Your Move Is Decided" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2005 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.
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