Contradictory Information

    Keywords: MiddleGame

Imagine having two math teachers; one who tells you to solve word problems in your head, one who tells you to solve them on paper. Each time you did one, the other would chew you out.

This is how I often feel about Go. I get advice from six hundred different people, all of whom seem to be giving me contradictory advice on how to play -- especially during fuseki. For instance, I've been hearing over and over that I'm not aggressive enough during the opening. So I've been more aggressive, and I've been losing.

So I go to KGS and this 1-dan offers to help me. Lo and behold -- the problem is that I'm being too aggressive.

Ultimately, I know the secret lies in finding the balance, but it's very infuriating to have six different people tell me six different things about what I'm doing wrong. I wish I had just one sensei who would train me all the time..

-- Scartol


For what it's worth, AvatarDJFlux says:

I can see two cases:

  • Your six teachers are "weak" players (no offence intended) so the spread of data is due to their need to learn some more... ;-)
  • Your six teachers are "strong" players (no flattery intended) so this demonstrates the depth of Go: you can be strong and still play in many different styles...

Just find your way, or in other words the style you feel most at ease with... I personally have shifted from overaggressiveness (playing Chinese or sanrensei fuseki) to oversteadiness (playing komoku and san-san with Black!). I won some, I lost some, I win some, I lose some...
But I always enjoy attacking in a steady game, or making territory in an aggressive game, whatever!
As the great Takemiya said, always play moves that give you pleasure. Remember also: the proverb says that it takes 1000 games to get to shodan, and I would add: you have to lose 1000 games...

Your game on KGS I saw being commented by a shodan last night (July 29th) had many bad-shape moves: you cannot be aggressive with a bad shape, as chances are that your opponent will counter-attack and slice through your holes...
If I can give you the n-th advice, try to absorb the concept of good shape: it is of the utmost importance (it is one of my main difficulties too) and it allows you to attack and defend properly.
In addition to the usual books to read, I would advice you to subscribe to Go World, and play through pro games: you won't understand much at the beginning, but try to feel how their play flows, which are the shape points, and so on.

Good luck!


"For instance, I've been hearing over and over that I'm not aggressive enough during the opening. So I've been more aggressive, and I've been losing."

This isn't necessarily a contradiction. When your play is stuck at a particular level, you will need to try new things. When you first start trying new things, you will get it wrong most of the time -- and thus you'll lose more often, until you learn to use the new method better and make it part of your play.

-- Bignose

"Ultimately, I know the secret lies in finding the balance, but it's very infuriating to have six different people tell me six different things about what I'm doing wrong. I wish I had just one sensei who would train me all the time.."

So choose one!

--

It seems to me that "you're not aggressive enough during the opening" should be read "learn more about how to play aggressively during the opening and then apply your new knowledge". Don't just translate "aggressively" as "risky", which would result in moves that you don't understand in-depth.


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