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I'm rather new to Go, I still play on a 9x9 board. I play dozens of games on Yahoo each day, and I always ask for advice when I lose a game.
However, much of the advice I have received has been contradictory. For example, some players tell me that I shoud play along the corners and edges, on the third line. Others tell me that in 9x9 Go, it is more effective to begin play by "owning the center", taking a large chunk of territory in the center while forcing the other player to spread out along 3 edges.
Can someone clarify this? How should I play in 9x9 Go? Besides general opening strategy, any other advice? I could use recommendations for how to study Go and what books to read.
Thanks!
Bob McGuigan: I don't think any of the standard opening moves are a mistake in 9x9 go. One interesting point is that playing on the midpoint of a side on the third line is playing mokuhazushi (3-5 point) in two corners at once, hence a very efficient territorial start.
In 9x9 the center is the key, if you can fight. If your fighting is weak then you will have to avoid the big fight, but usually playing so passively will result in predictable games of dividing the center in half.
I find 9x9 is great for handicap games, even with equal players as trying to win a 9x9 with a handicap is like trying to invade a moyo on a 19x19 without the luxury of connecting to the center.
I prefer one point off of the center. It feels as if I'm a little more stable by the midpoint and then can reduce my opponent's territory to win.