Learning Go (Slowly)

Posting from school

2011-12-12T13:08:00.001+02:00

Hello!

Looks like I haven't posted anything in a while. Maybe I should start doing so again, so here's an update.

Some interesting news

Last summer I was eventually admitted to a school, and started studying in August. I'm to become a model builder/designer. Here are some of my early school assignments:

A butter knife

Bluetooth headset

A shovel handle

scrap metal robot

Go-stone themed stool

Horse

Although they do not exactly fit within the context of this blog, I decided to list them here anyway, just to give a glance at what I've been doing with my time lately. Now that that's said, what do you think about the go chair/stool? I designed it with my 5 and 1 year old sons in mind, so it measures about 22 cm high and 30 cm wide. I plan to make two of them, one black and other white (this particular one is built in 1:2 scale). I have yet to decide if I should make the inside into a small training goban, or perhaps carve it into a small compartment for toys.

In another news, I've been on and off playing on the ASR League, I even managed to rise to class Gamma III for a month, to drop to Delta again in the beginning of this one. I've been in a small slump as it is right now, so I decided not to play on the league, unless for keeping myself listed there, for a little while. With only a slight slowness on DGS I've been able to keep up with my ~15 games. All this studying, playing and all the added holiday stuff, stress is already getting to me. And to top it all, I've been working to set up that local go club I've mentioned.

The Go club

It is almost finalised by now, I was contacted by a local 1dan some months ago and we've been playing at a local club (almost) every monday night since. I've also gotten a green light from my school to set up a club here, so I guess by the start of the spring we'll be having an official school club too. Definitely something to wait for, especially if you live in Lahti, Finland!

With these news, I bid you all amazing holiday times, and we'll be seeing with another blog post soon. (I'll just have to arrange the time for it, right?)

See ya! ^^ gg

Guess who joined the ASR League again!

2011-01-09T15:38:00.002+02:00

Yes! After an excruciating two months of not playing on the league (or even KGS for that matter) I decided it was time for me to join again.
From the start of this year I will be playing in the Epsilon VII class. Starting from the bottom again, but at least I can play again. I wasn't fully satisfied with the slow pace of DGS and frankly felt like there was a hole in my life when I couldn't find time for the league. Also, my KGS rank has apparently drifted from 12k to 9k all on its own. I wonder if my play has improved at all during this time.

I've been playing (and losing) in the league for the couple of past days, but already I feel like I'm learning something new in each game.

I'm totally in awe about the recent growth of the league. ~~Only~~ Starting this month there's ~~been~~ over 400 ~~new~~ members ~~joining~~ playing in the league. (Update: Oops! I was a bit too excited there. Fixed now.) I think that's pretty amazing development! It makes it all the more so interesting now because there really are many more motivated players around.

Speaking about motivation, my son Leo has recently become pretty motivated too, he challenges me to a game almost daily, so to keep his enthusiasm going I created him a KGS account so he can play against other people too. I know his skill is still lacking, but he is really making progress. Strength-wise I believe he's somewhere in the 30k - 25k range. It's truly a slow learning for him, but one can't expect a three to four year old be attentive enough to teach them everything at once. Slowly does it. I wonder if his little brother becomes a go player too. (Hmm... To those who were puzzled about Leo's games, yes I did drop him some clues when he was playing. I just couldn't watch him get slaughtered, that's all.)

I've been idling on the leather boards I made before the holidays. Not really progressed much, but I still plan to make the cups for the stones before my trainee period is over, that is before the 25th day of the month.

The Go-club hasn't progressed either, but at least I've now got three potential places where to invite people to play games. Maybe I'll make a small poster with my email ad for those who are interested to contact and put it up on different bulletin boards. Of course if you are living in the Lahti area here in Finland, you might want to send me comments too.

But hmm... I guess I'll go design some cups for the stones which I noticed have to be at least 21.5 mm of diameter to look good on those boards. So I will have to make the cups big enough to fit those bigger stones. I'll be posting pictures when they are ready.

And if you haven't joined the league, do it now! It's really fun! ^^ See ya! /gg

An ASR League game reviewed by topazg82.

2010-12-17T23:11:00.003+02:00

topazg 1d reviewed an October ASR League game between me and Turpa 5k. It's pretty amazing although it does have some sound issues. Here's the review:

Watch live streaming video from topazg at livestream.com

Sadly, I'm not playing on ASR League, or KGS for that matter anymore. Not until I get my time issues sorted out. Parenting to two small boys is very time consuming, so I'll have to wait this out, and maybe I can take part in upcoming 2011 ASR Tournament starting February 1st. In the meantime I'll play with the somewhat more relaxed timing modes of the Dragon Go Server. So if you want a game, send me a challenge there! ^^ See you later! /gg

Leather is sexy, especially with polka dots!

2010-12-09T23:51:00.001+02:00

As I'm working as an intern in a little workshop that prints and binds calendars and presses many different things from many different materials I got an opportunity to use a silk press to print some leather gobans for the go club I plan to set up. Now all I need is some stones.

I used Inkscape to create the print (hint: use Inkscape to view it!) on the leather board, you can download the design and freely use it with your own goban. I printed the board on six transparencies, that I taped together and used as a film to develop a template for the silk press. I was originally going for six goban, but ended up with ten of them.


The leather before being cut. This wasn't the only one.

This was the template used to create the prints on the boards.

The finished boards look actually very nice. Leather is pretty good material for creating something like a portable goban. I'll need to take a picture of one in daylight so it captures the whole beauty of them. Here's one I took with my phone when they were out from print and drying up:

The finished boards. The polka dots really cheer them up.

Actually, these are not the first boards I have made, I also did some smaller practice boards few months ago from plywood, laser printed paper gobans, glue and water.

See you later! ^^ /gg

Teaching game at the chess club.

2010-10-12T01:02:00.003+03:00

I went to the chess club today, hoping that I might possibly be able to perhaps play a game, or even get some new people interested in go too. I was delighted to find out that the kid I had played against last week was totally in for a new game. This time he wanted to play on the 13x13 board. At first we took a quick match of atari-go and he owned me in just a few moves. I thought it would be a good time to start playing for real, so I told him to place the handicap, so he did, all five of them. And the game took off... In the end I kind of messed up the score because there was some distraction, so after I got home, ate dinner and had a beer I decided to recreate the game as an SGF and get it scored right. And here it is:

(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]AP[CGoban:3]ST[2]RU[Japanese]SZ[13]HA[5]KM[0.50]GN[teaching game at the chess club]PW[AmbyR00]PB[Go beginner]AB[dd][jd][gg][dj][jj]RE[W+38.50]
;W[cc]
;B[dc]
;W[cd]
(;B[db]
;W[de]
(;B[da]
;W[kc]
(;B[jc]
;W[kd]
(;B[je]
;W[ke]
;B[jf]
;W[kf]C[White is building a great wall and securing territory. There's a slight danger of getting closed in, but white is already "peeking" around the corner on the other side.]
;B[jb]
;W[ck]
;B[kg]
;W[lg]
;B[mg]C[White is happy and thanks for the prisoner.]
;W[lf]
;B[mf]C[Yum yum.]
;W[mh]
;B[jg]
;W[li]
;B[kj]
(;W[lj]C[White moves too small, it's easy to block and secure.]
;B[lk]
;W[mk]
;B[ml]
;W[mj]
;B[ll]
;W[dk]C[These kinds of moves can not go un-answered.]
(;B[hg]
;W[cj]
;B[ej]
;W[ed]
(;B[di]
;W[ci]
(;B[ig]C[A bit too small. Should go for bigger points.]
;W[dh]
(;B[ij]C[Small, again.]
(;W[fe]
(;B[ja]C[Small move.]
;W[ek]
;B[fj]
;W[fk]
;B[gk]
;W[gj]
(;B[gl]
;W[fi]
;B[hj]
;W[gi]
;B[hi]
;W[fc]
;B[gh]
;W[gd]C[White is playing very small.]
(;B[fh]
;W[ei]
;B[gm]
;W[hc]C[White is dancing in blacks area in small steps. And D11 is almost dead. Last chance for black to make a saving move.]
(;B[ff]
;W[ib]C[Black D11 died here.]
;B[id]
;W[eb]
;B[lb]C[After some discussion, black decided to take my advice and try reducing by invasion.]
;W[kb]
;B[ka]
;W[lc]
(;B[ma]
;W[mc]
(;B[la]
;W[kh]
;B[jh]
;W[ki]
;B[ji]
;W[gf]
;B[dm]
(;W[fl]C[White made a mistake. Black is sure to exploit. Not bad!]
;B[fm]
;W[el]
;B[em]
;W[cl]
;B[cm]
;W[bl]
;B[bm]
;W[al]
;B[ga]C[This came as a suggestion from a chess player who was watching the game. As having never played go before, he had no idea this move would really work, but it was a good idea anyway.]
(;W[ea]
;B[ia]
;W[gb]
;B[ha]
;W[cb]
;B[fg]
;W[ef]
;B[eg]
;W[dg]
;B[hf]
;W[ge]
;B[he]
;W[hd]
;B[hb]
;W[ic]
;B[fa]
;W[fb]
;B[]C[The end. The game was practically over, and moreover it was abruptly stopped by a phonecall from my wife. We had run out of wok veggies. I ended up going to the grocery.]
;W[ca]
;B[]
;W[]TW[aa][ba][da][ab][bb][db][ac][bc][dc][ec][gc][ad][bd][dd][fd][ld][md][ae][be][ce][ee][le][me][af][bf][cf][df][mf][ag][bg][cg][mg][ah][bh][ch][lh][ai][bi][di][mi][aj][bj][dj][ej][fj][ak][bk]TB[ie][if][hh][ih][ii][hk][ik][jk][kk][hl][il][jl][kl][hm][im][jm][km][lm][mm]C[White: 47 territory + 10 captures + 0.5 komi = 57.5
Black: 19 territory + 0 captures = 19.0

White wins by 38.5])
(;W[ia]C[This would have foiled the plan. I showed the both outcomes, and we decided to continue from E13.]))
(;W[cl]))
(;B[df]
(;W[cf]
;B[dg]
;W[cg]
;B[eh]
;W[ef]
;B[eg]
;W[ee]
;B[he]
;W[gf]
;B[fg]
;W[ge]
;B[hf])
(;W[mb]
;B[la]
;W[eg]
;B[ef]
;W[cf]
;B[dg]
;W[cg]
;B[fg]
;W[eh]
;B[ee]
;W[ce]
;B[ge]
;W[fd]
;B[hd])))
(;B[mb]
;W[mc]
;B[la]))
(;B[ga]))
(;B[ga]
;W[fb]
;B[fa]
;W[gb]
;B[ha]
;W[hb]
;B[ia]
;W[ea]
;B[eb]))
(;B[gi]C[Only move.]))
(;B[gc]C[Still time to connect.]
;W[ec]
;B[eb]
;W[fc]
;B[fb]
;W[gd]
;B[hc]
;W[hd]
;B[id]))
(;W[ec]C[White could go for kill here. Getting late, and D11 can prove problematic.]
;B[eb]
;W[fb]
;B[fa]
;W[ga]
;B[ea]
;W[gb]))
(;B[eh]
;W[dg]
;B[eg]
;W[ef]
;B[ff]
;W[fe]
;B[ge]
;W[gd]C[Small moves, but effective for white. If black were to take C6 the tables are turned.])
(;B[ee]
;W[fe]
;B[ef]
;W[df]
;B[eg]
(;W[dg]
;B[eh]C[Might possibly work.])
(;W[eh]
;B[fh]
;W[dg]
;B[fd]
;W[ec]
;B[fc]
;W[eb]
;B[fb]
;W[ea])))
(;B[gc]C[Bigger points.]
(;W[ec]
;B[eb]
;W[fb]
;B[fc]
;W[gb]
;B[hb]
;W[cb]
;B[fa]C[Like this...])
(;W[eb]
;B[ec]
;W[fb]
;B[fc]
;W[gb]
;B[hb]
;W[hc]
;B[hd]C[Like this...]))
(;B[lb]C[Bigger points.]
;W[kb]
;B[ka]
;W[lc]
;B[mb]
;W[mc]
;B[la]C[Reduction.])
(;B[ch]
;W[bh]
;B[cg]
;W[bg]
;B[cf]
;W[bf]
;B[ce]C[I think MASSIVE points here.]
(;W[ee]
;B[gc])
(;W[ee]
(;B[bd]
(;W[bc]
;B[be]
;W[fb]
;B[ac]
;W[ab]
;B[ad])
(;W[cb]
;B[bc]
;W[ca]
;B[bb]))
(;B[bd]
;W[be]
;B[bc]
;W[cb]
;B[bb]
;W[ca]))))
(;B[gb]C[Should secure some territory and saves the D11 group. G11 could work too, giving more points.]))
(;B[ek]
;W[ej]
;B[di]
;W[fk]
;B[el]
;W[fj]
;B[fl]
;W[gl]
;B[gk]
;W[hl]
;B[dl]
;W[hj]C[The fight is fierce.]))
(;W[lk]
;B[lj]
;W[mj]
;B[kk]
;W[ll]
;B[kl]
;W[km]
;B[jm]
;W[lm]
;B[il]C[Compared to M4, here white reduced 7 more points from black and gained 3. M3 would have gained white 10 more points.]))
(;B[ke]
;W[le]
;B[kf]
;W[lf]
;B[kg]
;W[jb]
;B[ib]
;W[kb]
;B[hc]C[Joseki... But could be better to make it horizontal.]))
(;B[kd]
;W[jc]
;B[ic]
;W[ib]
;B[hc]
;W[hb]
;B[gc]
;W[ld]
;B[le]
;W[lc]
;B[kf]C[Maybe even like this.]))
(;B[gc]C[Extend & secure territory.]))
(;B[ce]
;W[be]
;B[cf]
;W[bf]
;B[cg]
;W[db]
;B[eb]
;W[cb]
;B[fc]C[3-3 Joseki]))

Argh. I can't seem to get Eidogo to show the variations. Something wrong with the SGF perhaps. Anyone know what could be the problem here? I posted the SGF on pastebin if someone is able and wants to make corrections. It'd be nice if it worked though. I'm a bit too tired to work on it now because it's already way over midnight here. But hey, I hope you like the game!

There was this one thing on my mind... Oh yes. I was checking out twitter and my new followers, and I discovered one of them, RazorBrain, has his own blog: RazorBrain's Go Journal. Looks nice, and has a lot of neat problems for all the beginners out there, with explanatory videos to accompany them. Check the site out!

But, habitually yours is going to take a short nap before taking his son to the daycare. (Damn, is it 1am again???) Ohh... btw. I was told I should be eating 10k's for breakfast, or something like that. I'll see how that goes, after all, I'm only 12k because of rank drift. Of course, if a 4dan tells you something like that there must be some truth to it. Maybe I'm not bad after all. ^^ See you soon, and have great games (gg) while waiting for the next update. Hopefully I can play soon too! Good night!

Update: The problem corrected itself over-night.

Playing go at the chess club, part 2

2010-10-04T21:10:00.002+03:00

As I was given permission to show the game, I took three self-made practice boards with me and introduced a couple of people to the fascinating world of Go. (I actually have four of those, but I had stones only for three. Looks like I need to buy more of them.)

It was basicly a success. I spent one hour teaching the basics of Go to one teenager (and a couple of others watching) at the Lahti Chess Club. That's all I really had time for before we left. But I could see he had really checked the game out, and even practiced it a bit before playing against me. We played on the 9x9 board with a 3 stone handicap. At the end count White beat the game by 21 moku. He showed great interest in the game so I told him to check out KGS. I hope I will be seeing him there one day.

Leo was with me and while we were waiting for people to show up we played our own little game. He's quite good already on the 9x9 board, although often times he loses concentration just before the endgame. This time he won by 10 moku, playing with a 4 stone handi. I'm so proud. Oh, and this was actually the second game today. The previous game we played was at noon in the childrens' play park near our home. I drew the board in the gravel and we used different leaves as our "stones". As it was quite a windy day, our "stones" wanted to fly away so we had to secure them with some sand. But it was a great game, and in the end Leo lost only by 11 moku. (I played the last three moves myself that time since he had troubles concentrating at the end.)

At the chess club, there was some more talk about setting up our own go club, and whether or not it would be a good idea to create it directly under the chess club or having it as its own separate entity. It would probably be a good thing to be able to use the same facilities as the chess club does though. But as a matter of fact, I'm not entirely sure how a club is started. I must have a look into it.

Oh, and as a side note. You might have noticed I haven't been playing in the ASR League or in a matter of fact anywhere the whole last month. It just happened that the course I took was a bit heavier I had thought, and I was tired all the time (maybe coming down with a flu or something). As an icing on the cake, my wife gave birth to a beautiful baby boy on September 21st, and after that everything has more or less been one big hassle after another. These are the joys of parenthood, again.

So, I'm probably still going to ask Stalkor to keep me on the league. after all there are people I want to play against on Gamma, and of course, I still want to reach 1k(/d?) sometime next year. I can only wish there's enough time to play though. ^^ But I will be seeing you soon, that's a promise! /gg

Went to visit the local chess club today.

2010-09-20T22:36:00.001+03:00

I just came back from a quick visit to the Lahti chess club. It was interesting. I hadn't planned on playing any games there, but I was soon invited to play in the ongoing tournament. I had only time for two games and I have to say the young guy who was scheduled to play me next was quite disappointed when I had to leave. I loved his (and the other players') enthusiasm though, it was a lot like with people who play go. Also found another fellow go player there. We exchanged email addresses and I promised to bring the board with me the next time I visit the club. Maybe I can spur some interest in the game there. I hope. There was even some talk of starting up a go club.

I haven't been playing go lately though, since I've been busy studying and as a trainee in a coffee shop. I'm hoping to catch up in the league though. Sadly I'm having second thoughts about starting up my own theme café, it looks like there's just too much legalities, paperwork, tax issues and general bureaucracy in the way of setting up a nice quiet place where people could just play, and where I could participate too. Now it seems I would probably get so drenched in other work that even the mere serving coffee or tea would suffer, not to mention trying to show or teach the rules of the game to those who'd like to learn it. I shudder even thinking of how it would affect my own games.

I'm thinking of changing strategy. If anyone has ideas or suggestions, please feel free to comment here. ^^ /gg

Chasing dreams and finding life between games.

2010-08-26T21:48:00.001+03:00

A lot has happened since my last post. I haven't played a lot of go these few weeks since I found myself studying Japanese again.

And boy do I have a lot of catching up to do
since I had last been on Smart.fm. I had almost forgotten the service, till I got an email telling me ardesh had started following me there. Btw. ardesh and I have lately been building up a vocabulary, a study goal for go terms there, it's called Go terminology. Smart.fm is a sort of a web-based social flashcard study app, somewhat similar to anki, a desktop app which I also have on my computer, and on my phone too. Japanese is a fun language, if you are interested in learning a new one I suggest try Japanese. Smart.fm and anki/ankidroid can prove useful in studying many languages and other interesting knowledge too. ^^

I also just took the hygiene card course that's required if you want to work in a cafeteria, or to run one. Passed it with flying colors too and thus attained a permit to work in food industry. But still, it sort of raised some questions and doubts about me fitting in with that kind of work. Health issues mainly. I hadn't thought how much it would require dealing with strong detergents and almost constant hand washing. This makes me worry about my skin for it's almost certain to dry up and crack. Well, if it starts acting up I will need to find something else to go on about, right? ;)

So I've been away from KGS and the ASR League for a while. I might still be able to keep myself in the top 14 of Gamma II until stalkor splits the rest into Delta again. Whenever I've been on KGS lately, although being very fond of the chinese fuseki, I've been trying out new stuff. Still have some ideas on my mind I'd like to try. Hmm... I also installed the anDGS client for the Dragon Go Server on my phone a while ago, but I am still a bit hesitant about trying it out online. I think that's a weird feeling but I just can't shake it.

Anyway, tomorrow is another busy day, and I have an appointment for an interview for another course, this time it's a hotel and catering course that should have something to give me insight and knowhow for establishing the café. I think I also need a place to get some practice from. So now that I'm licensed to work in café's I'll most likely begin asking places for a trainee's spot too.

So it seems that I still need to learn things, on and off the goban. This is life after all. Now, I think I'm a bit too tired today to try playing a game, but maybe tomorrow, when all the dust has settled will I play again. I hope I can see you then! ^^ Have nice games!

Humility in a game.

2010-08-08T12:14:00.001+03:00

First I would like to apologize to JachUGAN for being such a spoil sport, presumptuous in my play and in my attitude last night. I could hardly sleep last night because I had to reflect on our last game. It was supposed to be a friendly game, but turned out I was not being friendly enough. I was perhaps feeling too strong for my own good. Smugness overcame me and I forgot to watch the game, instead I started boasting with my insufficient skills. I should have known better. Most of my game till that point was decided by luck, not skill, and it should have rang some bells to be extra cautious instead of being so cocky.

"Ninja skills" was the term Jach described my intrusion. I take it as a compliment, but I guess it was strategically badly implemented. I should have waited for a few moves, maybe secure the lower board before attacking. Doing so without proper backup is just arrogant and stupid. I have no excuse.

After the blunder I was desperately trying to rescue what I could. But the game was already set. All the power I felt I had, had slipped from my fingers. And I started making awful, awful mistakes which I had to undo time and time again. Thank goodness it was not a league, tournament or a ranked game.

Otherwise, it was a pretty good game, my understanding of the initial fuseki is getting better, and I can already give some good fight to 10kyu players. Maybe I'll be SDK soon.

Here's the game, this time unedited so you can see all my mistakes, stupidity and arrogance in full:

(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]AP[CGoban:3]ST[2]
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]KM[6.50]TM[900]OT[5x60 byo-yomi]
PW[JachUGAN]PB[AmbyR00]WR[11k]BR[13k]DT[2010-08-07]PC[The KGS Go Server at http://www.gokgs.com/]C[JachUGAN [11k\]: gl hf =)
JachUGAN [11k\]: i'll do my best
AmbyR00 [13k\]: ok... have a nice game
]RE[W+43.50]
;B[qd]BL[870.311]
;W[dp]WL[889.055]
;B[pq]BL[864.28]
;W[cd]WL[882.308]C[AmbyR00 [13k\]: doesn't look right :)
]
;B[ec]BL[838.697]C[JachUGAN [11k\]: laaal
JachUGAN [11k\]: i'm hesitating
JachUGAN [11k\]: joseki or not
AmbyR00 [13k\]: please do hesitate :)
JachUGAN [11k\]: xD
]
;W[gc]WL[786.793]C[JachUGAN [11k\]: i never played g17 before, i usually play something else
]
;B[ic]BL[771.137]C[AmbyR00 [13k\]: hmm...
AmbyR00 [13k\]: I'm thinking I might have misjudged something but I don't know what it is yet ;)
JachUGAN [11k\]: bah
JachUGAN [11k\]: don't really now the best answer here
AmbyR00 [13k\]: and this is probably turning into a fighting game too
JachUGAN [11k\]: hahahaha
]
;W[ed]WL[709.856]C[JachUGAN [11k\]: as long as we learn somthing =)
]
;B[cc]BL[715.433]
;W[bd]WL[681.889]C[AmbyR00 [13k\]: you know I suck in joseki ;)
]
;B[fd]BL[695.71]C[JachUGAN [11k\]: that's not a joseki
AmbyR00 [13k\]: I know
AmbyR00 [13k\]: that's why I suck in it
]
;W[ee]WL[642.288]
;B[ge]BL[581.181]
;W[di]WL[623.089]
;B[pl]BL[542.363]C[JachUGAN [11k\]: good =D
JachUGAN [11k\]: i was gonna attack there
AmbyR00 [13k\]: I know
]
;W[od]WL[549.289]C[AmbyR00 [13k\]: hmm... now what kind of attack is this :) looks scary
JachUGAN [11k\]: nah it's just experimentations
JachUGAN [11k\]: i don't usually play P16 with such little space
]
;B[mc]BL[357.495]C[JachUGAN [11k\]: well that's smthg i didn't think about
AmbyR00 [13k\]: ah... the time is not looking good for me
AmbyR00 [13k\]: I think too much
JachUGAN [11k\]: i'll add u time later
]
;W[qj]WL[512.234]
;B[qh]BL[293.676]
;W[rl]WL[487.692]
;B[pj]BL[280.833]
;W[pm]WL[434.253]
;B[qm]BL[247.311]
;W[ql]WL[429.438]
;B[qn]BL[239.709]
;W[pk]WL[427.318]
;B[ol]BL[222.618]
;W[ok]WL[425.591]
;B[nk]BL[397.342]C[JachUGAN [11k\]: i added 5min =)
]
;W[oj]WL[419.377]C[AmbyR00 [13k\]: oh... thanks :)
JachUGAN [11k\]: np =)
]
;B[nm]BL[370.275]
;W[pi]WL[401.02]
;B[rj]BL[313.143]
;W[ri]WL[388.35]
;B[rk]BL[302.092]
;W[sk]WL[376.153]
;B[sj]BL[282.384]
;W[si]WL[340.053]C[AmbyR00 [13k\]: ok... that was a mistake
JachUGAN [11k\]: =)
]
;B[fq]BL[215.147]
;W[dn]WL[301.21]
;B[ip]BL[207.48]C[JachUGAN [11k\]: trying to secrue territory =)
]
;W[in]WL[251.708]
;B[fo]BL[129.858]
;W[fm]WL[232.792]
;B[ef]BL[117.877]
;W[fe]WL[227.268]
;B[gd]BL[387.952]
;W[ff]WL[218.848]
;B[eh]BL[369.618]
;W[eg]WL[192.059]
;B[dg]BL[361.552]
;W[df]WL[189.535]
;B[ch]BL[355.348]
;W[dh]WL[186.02]
;B[cg]BL[341.91]
;W[cf]WL[160.641]
;B[ci]BL[325.153]
;W[ei]WL[138.67]
;B[dk]BL[295.851]
;W[cj]WL[111.978]
;B[dj]BL[277.686]
;W[ck]WL[109.478]
;B[cl]BL[269.377]
;W[dl]WL[68.81]
;B[bj]BL[255.467]
;W[cm]WL[38.063]
;B[bl]BL[248.402]
;W[bm]WL[28.733]
;B[el]BL[237.331]
;W[em]WL[60]OW[5]
;B[fl]BL[198.924]
;W[gm]WL[60]OW[5]
;B[gl]BL[189.852]
;W[fh]WL[60]OW[5]
;B[il]BL[148.03]C[AmbyR00 [13k\]: here's five
JachUGAN [11k\]: oh thx =)
JachUGAN [11k\]: i forgot the time =)
AmbyR00 [13k\]: it's ok :)
]
;W[dr]WL[200.379]
;B[cq]BL[96.105]
;W[dq]WL[194.747]
;B[co]BL[94.432]
;W[cp]WL[188.12]C[JachUGAN [11k\]: the dans have taught u some vicious techniques =D
AmbyR00 [13k\]: aha :)
]
;B[dm]BL[54.112]
;W[cn]WL[179.79]
;B[en]BL[50.952]
;W[dl]WL[174.459]
;B[do]BL[43.497]
;W[eo]WL[166.745]
;B[ep]BL[37.242]C[JachUGAN [11k\]: lol
JachUGAN [11k\]: absolute lol
AmbyR00 [13k\]: like it? :)
JachUGAN [11k\]: xD XD XD XD XD
AmbyR00 [13k\]: it was pretty fun :)
JachUGAN [11k\]: hahahaha
JachUGAN [11k\]: that was no comment
JachUGAN [11k\]: omg
]
;W[bo]WL[122.407]
;B[eo]BL[17.683]
;W[dm]WL[116.381]C[JachUGAN [11k\]: you're kicking my ass =)
]
;B[bp]BL[60]OB[5]
;W[bq]WL[110.49]C[AmbyR00 [13k\]: ok, that was a mistake, got a bit careless :)
JachUGAN [11k\]: bah
JachUGAN [11k\]: what about my atari
JachUGAN [11k\]: that's was historical
JachUGAN [11k\]: even 50 kyu don't do that xD
AmbyR00 [13k\]: that double atari? :)
AmbyR00 [13k\]: uh... time
JachUGAN [11k\]: i gave u more
AmbyR00 [13k\]: thanks :)
JachUGAN [11k\]: np
]
;B[oc]BL[208.873]C[JachUGAN [11k\]: oh
JachUGAN [11k\]: >_

All that said, I think I've learned a valuable lesson here. Go teaches humility in a way I really didn't envision. Very educational stuff, and I bet it could be beneficial to all mankind if this game was introduced to as many kids as possible, just to teach them this same lesson.

Now that I got this off my heart, I am looking forward for more games against JachUGAN. Good game!

Fatherly duties await, so I'll be off now. See you soon! ^^ /gg

A different game. Longest I've ever played.

2010-08-07T14:03:00.000+03:00

Last night ardesh and I played what can be called fun, weird and long friendly game. Actually it was the longest one either of us have ever played. The game I had with JachUGAN a couple nights ago was also long, but I don't think it lasted this long, can't really remember. We were just too tired then and that turned out pretty weird.

But here's a game I can actually be somewhat proud of. Weirdness comes from the fact it was a reverse colour, reverse komi match. So we had to take away 13 points from my score when finished. But as it was a free game it didn't matter that much anyway. We also played without time limit. First move is a pass for black.

Below is the cleaned up version of the game for you enjoyment:

(;GM[1]FF[4]
CA[UTF-8]
AP[Quarry:0.2.0]
SZ[19]
ST[2]
PC[The KGS Go Server at http://www.gokgs.com/]
DT[2010-08-06]
RU[Japanese]
KM[6.5]
PB[ardesh]
BR[10k]
PW[AmbyR00]
WR[13k]
RE[W+22.5]
;C[ardesh [10k\]: lets continue here :D
ardesh [10k\]: have fun :D
AmbyR00 [13k\]: I was hoping I'd get black stones ;)
AmbyR00 [13k\]: haha
ardesh [10k\]: hehe :D
ardesh [10k\]: thats what nigiri is for :D
ardesh [10k\]: your strategy was based oin being black?
AmbyR00 [13k\]: I can try it being white, but I don't know if I succeed\
:)
ardesh [10k\]: okay i ll passs then]
;B[];W[cp];B[pd];W[dc];B[pp];W[nq];B[eq]C[AmbyR00 [13k\]: ok, you \
changed the game ;)
ardesh [10k\]: i know :D
ardesh [10k\]: i think you were expecting r6 or q6
AmbyR00 [13k\]: that would probably be the common answer
ardesh [10k\]: yes
ardesh [10k\]: but u can decide to tenuki]
;W[hq]C[AmbyR00 [13k\]: ok... maybe I can work this];B[en]
;W[ep];B[fp];W[eo];B[fo];W[cn];B[kq]C[AmbyR00 [13k\]: doesn't look much\
what I learned ;)
ardesh [10k\]: hehe :D
ardesh [10k\]: its okay
ardesh [10k\]: i m still very vulnerable
AmbyR00 [13k\]: thinking...
AmbyR00 [13k\]: damn I have no idea what to do]
;W[ho]C[ardesh [10k\]: good move :D];B[ko];W[fr];B[er];W[jr]
;B[kr];W[fq];B[cq];W[cr];B[dp];W[do];B[bp];W[dq]C[ardesh [10k\]: i \
think i killed myself there :/]
;B[pr];W[no];B[pn];W[nm];B[pl];W[jn];B[oq];W[mr];B[mn];W[nn]
;B[km];W[kn]C[ardesh [10k\]: doesnt look good for me now :D]
;B[ln];W[lo];B[mp];W[mo];B[np];W[lp];B[mq];W[lq];B[nr];W[lr]
;B[nk];W[lm]C[AmbyR00 [13k\]: well you've got a pretty impressive \
territory on the right]
;B[df]C[AmbyR00 [13k\]: and a strong wall too :)
ardesh [10k\]: ya... and much territory at the lower side
ardesh [10k\]: i think you lead with at least 30 points]
;W[dh];B[fd];W[ee];B[ff];W[ef];B[fe]C[AmbyR00 [13k\]: so now that linux\
"just works" I've become somewhat lazy about that nerd thing... geek \
is a title that actually suits me better now :)
ardesh [10k\]: hehe
AmbyR00 [13k\]: I just hate walls
AmbyR00 [13k\]: maybe I should've cut to the right
ardesh [10k\]: i like them... but i cant use them properly :/]
;W[gc];B[ic];W[hd];B[id];W[ie];B[he];W[hc];B[je];W[jc];B[ib]
;W[ge];B[hf];W[gf];B[gd];W[gg]C[AmbyR00 [13k\]: nasty fight]
;B[fc];W[if]C[ardesh [10k\]: yes
ardesh [10k\]: and game deciding :D];B[hg];W[jd];B[eg];W[dg]
;B[ed];W[de];B[dd];W[ce];B[gh];W[cd]C[AmbyR00 [13k\]: oh... here I was \
thinking that you already decided the game ;)]
;B[ei]C[ardesh [10k\]: no
ardesh [10k\]: its almost even now
ardesh [10k\]: ure still leading
ardesh [10k\]: but that fight is really complicated :];W[ig]
;B[hh];W[pf];B[ph];W[nc];B[ld]C[ardesh [10k\]: that was what i feared \
all the time :D]
;W[lc];B[ke]C[ardesh [10k\]: the fighting in our game somehow looks \
like korean
ardesh [10k\]: all those alternating black white patterns :D
ardesh [10k\]: and this aggressive cutting :D]
;W[jb];B[gb];W[kg];B[md];W[mc];B[kf];W[lg];B[jg];W[ih];B[di]
;W[hj];B[ii];W[jh];B[jj];W[kd];B[kb];W[ia];B[hb];W[ka];B[ob]
;W[nd];B[mf]C[ardesh [10k\]: mhh
ardesh [10k\]: i havent got a game with fighting that fierce for a long\
time
ardesh [10k\]: i think we should play more often
ardesh [10k\]: :)
AmbyR00 [13k\]: heh...
AmbyR00 [13k\]: I'm not reading far enough
ardesh [10k\]: hehe
AmbyR00 [13k\]: I just can't see what will happen
ardesh [10k\]: i have trouble too :D
ardesh [10k\]: its too complicated
AmbyR00 [13k\]: I could get two stones, but what will I win with that?
ardesh [10k\]: O_o
AmbyR00 [13k\]: can't see
ardesh [10k\]: u cant get two stones :D
ardesh [10k\]: u mean m and n 16?
AmbyR00 [13k\]: of course I can
AmbyR00 [13k\]: two is logical
ardesh [10k\]: mhhh
AmbyR00 [13k\]: you wouldn't give me four
ardesh [10k\]: ah now i see it
ardesh [10k\]: havent thought of that move :D]
;W[mg];B[la];W[ma];B[ja];W[kc];B[me];W[ng];B[kh];W[jf];B[of]
;W[oe];B[pe];W[og];B[qf];W[pg];B[qg];W[qh];B[qi];W[rh];B[ri]
;W[rg];B[rf];W[pi];B[sh];W[oh]C[ardesh [10k\]: nice :)];B[sg]
C[ardesh [10k\]: didnt see that :D];W[qj];B[ph];W[oj];B[ll]
;W[mm]C[ardesh [10k\]: i think you won :)];B[nl]C[AmbyR00 [13k\]: oh
AmbyR00 [13k\]: I can't count points yet
ardesh [10k\]: mhh just try :D
ardesh [10k\]: we can practice together after that match :)
AmbyR00 [13k\]: you just want me to relax so that you can win when I'm \
not paying attention ;)
AmbyR00 [13k\]: haha
ardesh [10k\]: nope
ardesh [10k\]: you are really leading :D
AmbyR00 [13k\]: well... let's see...
ardesh [10k\]: by about 10 or 20 points
ardesh [10k\]: cant say yet
ardesh [10k\]: theres still too much open
ardesh [10k\]: and my yose is quite strong
ardesh [10k\]: so i suppose it will be a close result :D
AmbyR00 [13k\]: heh
AmbyR00 [13k\]: ok
ardesh [10k\]: but you re playing well as far as i can tell :)]
;W[ql];B[qm];W[rl];B[pk];W[pj];B[ni];W[nj];B[mj];W[mi];B[li]
;W[mh];B[cl];W[bm];B[dm];W[bl];B[bk];W[ck];B[dk];W[cj];B[bj]
;W[ci];B[ch];W[bh];B[cg];W[cf];B[eh];W[df];B[gn];W[gp];B[hn]
;W[in];B[im];W[kl];B[jm];W[mk];B[lk];W[lj];B[kj];W[mj];B[ir]
;W[iq];B[io]C[ardesh [10k\]: mhhh
ardesh [10k\]: much aji left in this stones :D];W[jo];B[go]
;W[ip];B[dj];W[bg];B[db];W[cb];B[eb];W[lb];B[na];W[ka];B[od]
;W[ne];B[qk];W[rj];B[rk];W[sk];B[rm];W[sl];B[oo];W[ol];B[ok]
;W[om];B[pm];W[sm];B[sn];W[sj];B[ro]C[ardesh [10k\]: mhh]
;W[oc]C[ardesh [10k\]: i need to kill something big :/
ardesh [10k\]: youre leading by a few points];B[pc];W[hi]
;B[ij];W[gi];B[hk];W[hm];B[gm];W[kk];B[ml];W[hl];B[il];W[nb]
;B[pb]C[ardesh [10k\]: mhh youre leading with >10 points
ardesh [10k\]: more like 20
ardesh [10k\]: unless i forgot to count :D something
AmbyR00 [13k\]: I'm just thinking where is the elusive sente
ardesh [10k\]: yes
ardesh [10k\]: i m thinking about that as well
ardesh [10k\]: and i ve my plans ready... :D
AmbyR00 [13k\]: argh... there's only one small one
ardesh [10k\]: hehe :D
ardesh [10k\]: if you think so :D
AmbyR00 [13k\]: ok, two
ardesh [10k\]: i see around 5-7 :D
AmbyR00 [13k\]: that's you
AmbyR00 [13k\]: can you see my sente's?
ardesh [10k\]: yes :D
ardesh [10k\]: but which 2 :D
AmbyR00 [13k\]: you have so many
ardesh [10k\]: yes :D
ardesh [10k\]: okay.. i can see 4 for you now];W[cm]C[romanwahoo [-\]: \
why don't i see that many sente?
ardesh [10k\]: yes :D]
;B[ec]C[ttat [11k\]: meh that's not really sente];W[ca];B[cc]
;W[bc];B[el]C[ardesh [10k\]: lets fight ko :D
ardesh [10k\]: do you remember when we started playing?
ardesh [10k\]: feels like 2 hours :D
AmbyR00 [13k\]: remember?
AmbyR00 [13k\]: it might be two hours already
AmbyR00 [13k\]: hmm... I wonder if I'm even interested in ko ;)]
;W[qh]C[AmbyR00 [13k\]: ok, let's make it triple];B[da]C[ardesh [10k\]:\
hehe]
;W[dc]C[ardesh [10k\]: i think i might have more threats than you :D
AmbyR00 [13k\]: of course you do];B[ji];W[jg];B[cc];W[fh]
;B[fg];W[dc];B[ms];W[ks];B[cc];W[ik];B[jk];W[dc];B[js]C[ttat [11k\]: ko\
for 1 pt -_-]
;W[jq];B[ls]C[ardesh [10k\]: O_o
ardesh [10k\]: bad decision :D];W[kp];B[ks]C[ardesh [10k\]: might have \
turned the tide again :)]
;W[hr];B[ha];W[rh];B[si];W[ph];B[rg];W[dl];B[is];W[hs];B[ns]
;W[lh];B[cc];W[dn];B[em];W[dc];B[ja];W[oa];B[cc];W[qe];B[re]
;W[dc];B[qd];W[pa];B[qa];W[na];B[rb];W[ia]C[ardesh [10k\]: i lost \
points there :/]
;B[cc]C[AmbyR00 [13k\]: um... where?
ardesh [10k\]: upper right
ardesh [10k\]: i shouldve let u have this ko];W[ra];B[qb]
;W[dc];B[cl]C[AmbyR00 [13k\]: and yet you want to fight
ardesh [10k\]: sure
ardesh [10k\]: i still have enough threats :D
ardesh [10k\]: and i think that u got a few more points than i got...
ardesh [10k\]: because of the reverse komi
AmbyR00 [13k\]: reverse komi?
ardesh [10k\]: yes
ardesh [10k\]: i passed the first move
AmbyR00 [13k\]: oh... you mean the pass
ardesh [10k\]: that gives you the first move +6.5 points
AmbyR00 [13k\]: that sucks
ardesh [10k\]: hehe... doesnt matter :D
ardesh [10k\]: the game itsself is all that counts now :D]
;W[gk]C[ardesh [10k\]: lol 2:30 already
ardesh [10k\]: err i mean were playing for 2 and a half hour now :D]
;B[gl]C[AmbyR00 [13k\]: heh
AmbyR00 [13k\]: lots of thinking
ardesh [10k\]: we started 2313];W[ki];B[cc];W[hl]C[ardesh [10k\]: its \
the longest game i ever played :D]
;B[hm];W[dc];B[bi]C[AmbyR00 [13k\]: could've been a 37x37 ;)
ardesh [10k\]: yes :D
ardesh [10k\]: but a fast one :D];W[ch];B[cc]C[ardesh [10k\]: i think \
you ran out of threats now :D]
;W[bb]C[AmbyR00 [13k\]: I did];B[br];W[bo];B[bq]C[ardesh [10k\]: now \
alittle life and death practice :D
ardesh [10k\]: but i dont see real chances for me to life there :D]
;W[es];B[cs];W[dr]C[AmbyR00 [13k\]: heh];B[ap];W[ar]C[ardesh [10k\]: \
well done :D]
;B[dc];W[dl];B[ja];W[cl];B[ia]C[ardesh [10k\]: thats it :D
AmbyR00 [13k\]: yea
ardesh [10k\]: i think you won :)];W[]C[ardesh [10k\]: by.. say 15 \
points
AmbyR00 [13k\]: ok, let's count then]
;B[]C[AmbyR00 [13k\]: and let's minus that 6.5 komi from my result ;)
ardesh [10k\]: and add 6.5 to mine :D
AmbyR00 [13k\]: hmm
ardesh [10k\]: okay.. you won by 10 points then :D
AmbyR00 [13k\]: 9.5 points
ardesh [10k\]: ah.. this halt point doesnt matter :D
ardesh [10k\]: but i really enjoyed that game :D
AmbyR00 [13k\]: me too... it was nice
AmbyR00 [13k\]: I wonder if anyone is awake to review :)]
TB[ea:ga][ra:sa][fb][sb][gc:hc][qc:sc][hd][rd:sd][qe][se:sf]
[ge:gg][fh:fi][gi:hi][ej:hj][ek:gk][ik][kk][hl][jl:kl][fl:fn]
[qn:rn][po:qo][so][op][qp:sp][nq][pq:sq][qr:sr][or:os][ps:ss]
TW[aa:ba][la][kb][mb][ld:md][je:me][bd:bf][kf:of][cg][kh]
[li][nh:ni][oi][bi:bk][bn][ln:mn][co][io][ko][dp][hp][jp]
[ab:aq][cq][bp:br][eq:er][gq:gr][as:ds][fs:gs]
)

(There were some misclicks in the original so I cut them out, you can see the SGF linked earlier for the dirty original.)

I'm really glad I could share that. I did like this game and I think ardesh is a plenty strong player, I wish I can play against him many more times.

Now I think I'm going to relax and take my son out to the park. See ya! ^^ /gg

ASR League starts afresh. July games are over.

2010-08-01T21:49:00.003+03:00

It was kind of surprised to see how much the league had changed when I logged on to KGS this morning. The whole Delta league was dropped because of not enough players, and now the Gamma classes are huge again. This looks promising, as there will likely be more games per class.

The one gripe I have with these changes is the new class is now full of pretty much unknown people, and that I've now been separated from those whom I considered rivals. Well I don't think things are so bleak, after all I have a chance of playing a couple of winning games too, instead of losing every game like in the previous two months I've been on the league. And hopefully, if there are more participants next month, the Delta league might get re-instated.

I might be able to play a bit more games starting monday though. I am looking forward to it.

Some changes in this blog too. I added a blogroll. If anyone has a go blog, please send me a message or a comment here and I'll gladly add yours.

About that ASR League though. I was encouraged to advertise it a bit more here, so I'll start by adding a small introduction to the league here.

The league consists of four different levels: Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta, Alpha being the highest class, and Delta being those who score lower or are just beginning in the league. Promoting and demoting between classes in the pyramid will be done by keeping score on the games between league participants in a class. The best two players will be promoted, while the worst four performers in each class will be demoted to a lower class. If one doesn't play a minimum of four games per month, they will be kicked off the league. (Which according to stalkor is negotiable, since after all, we all have our lives outside the league too.)

The games will be played by Japanese rules on a 19x19 board, with no handicap. Komi is 6.5. Timing should be 25 to 45 minutes with 5 x 30 s byo-yomi. Game type should be Free, Simul or Ranked according to the players' wishes, but not Private, since they are invisible to the score counter. The games are to be tagged 'ASR League' so that the system will recognice them. Each player can play every other player in his class max. 3 times. Class sizes would normally be 14 players per class, but as of now, most of Delta class were cleared and instead there is now 22 players on each Gamma class. That's why we are hoping for more active people to join the league.

The pyramid system.

This is how the pyramid system looks like. You can also find this picture from the ASR League rules page.

If you are interested in learning Go efficiently and want to play against really strong opponents, you should consider joining the league. It will definitely take some dedication on your part, but I will promise that it'll be worth it! You can talk to stalkor in the Advanced Study Room on KGS, he accepts applications for new participants till 15th of every month. So if you want to be in the September league, be quick and apply before Sunday 15th.

And, if you may, spread the word. I want to play against all of you. ^^ Thanks, and see you in the league! /gg

ASR League games nearing towards the end of month again. Little bit scared now.

2010-07-30T22:55:00.001+03:00

So the games for this July are almost played. I'm pretty scared that I might drop from the Gamma IV class, since both LiKao 5k and Olechka 10k are only a 0.5 to 1.5 points away, and I can't seem to find opponents to play against. If they both pass me by, I am sure I will be demoted to the Delta classes. It isn't exactly an encouraging thought. I would have liked to play against these strong players a bit longer, as it definitely has its perks. That, and I still haven't beaten ardesh 10k in a game. If I get demoted now there's no knowing when our paths will cross next time.

Man I'm talking about it like I was in a real insei league. That is a bit worrying.

Anyway, I'm going to try finding someone to play against now before going to bed. Hopefully it'll be a league game. See you all soon! ^^ /gg

13kyu... Maybe I'm ready for it now.

2010-07-28T01:19:00.001+03:00

A week ago I momentarily ranked 13kyu due to a couple of ranked games I managed to beat. My rank looked like it was skyrocketing, but I wasn't too sure about my real abilities. I soon dropped back to 14kyu where I actually felt more comfortable. (I think somewhere around 16k would have been more like it, but that's how KGS wants to rank me so.)

Now I know KGS rankings are not to be stared at, even more so when one's a DDK (Double Digit Kyu) like me, but still it feels nice to have some sort of a measure to determine one's strength. Even when one's as inexperienced in the game as me. But heh, I have a feeling I might be gradually getting a bit better. Maybe I could handle the 13k rank If progressed now. ^^

Here are two of my latest games on KGS. The first one was a ranked game against EMOTOKENZO 11k, whom weirdly resigned while scoring the game. I really don't understand it because he only lost by 18½ moku when I had a three stone handicap. Well, I guess some would argue a loss is a loss no matter how few stones it's lost, but I still don't feel OK about it. These kinds of things often make me uneasy. It's a good thing I didn't notice his resignation before playing my second game today, an ASR League match against ardesh 10k, my "rival" on Gamma IV class, I would probably have lost that game... Well, one can dream, right? Actually I lost anyway. ;) But hey, all that aside I think I'm not too weak anymore. Single digits soon, no?

1st game:

(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]AP[CGoban:3]ST[2]
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]HA[3]KM[0.50]TM[1500]OT[5x30 byo-yomi]
PW[EMOTOKENZO]PB[AmbyR00]WR[11k]BR[14k]DT[2010-07-27]PC[The KGS Go Server at http://www.gokgs.com/]AB[pd][dp][pp]RE[B+Resign]
;W[dd]WL[1495.896]C[AmbyR00 [14k\]: hello :)
AmbyR00 [14k\]: have a nice game
]
;B[nc]BL[1481.907]
;W[pg]WL[1481.173]
;B[jc]BL[1425.235]
;W[ql]WL[1469.989]
;B[pi]BL[1416.577]
;W[qi]WL[1467.118]
;B[pj]BL[1401.824]
;W[qj]WL[1464.448]
;B[pl]BL[1399.302]
;W[pk]WL[1455.008]
;B[ok]BL[1398.189]
;W[qk]WL[1452.25]
;B[ol]BL[1386.571]
;W[ph]WL[1448.707]
;B[oi]BL[1341.281]
;W[pn]WL[1434.718]
;B[on]BL[1337.566]
;W[pm]WL[1430.978]
;B[om]BL[1333.698]
;W[po]WL[1427.719]
;B[oo]BL[1332.076]
;W[qp]WL[1419.858]
;B[pq]BL[1324.872]
;W[qq]WL[1416.927]
;B[qo]BL[1310.298]
;W[qn]WL[1411.26]
;B[ro]BL[1309.02]
;W[rn]WL[1406.586]
;B[rp]BL[1304.27]
;W[rq]WL[1403.335]
;B[qr]BL[1288.281]
;W[sp]WL[1400.38]
;B[rr]BL[1273.811]
;W[so]WL[1398.09]
;B[sr]BL[1267.86]
;W[qe]WL[1373.96]
;B[qd]BL[1265.126]
;W[rd]WL[1370.558]
;B[rc]BL[1256.758]
;W[re]WL[1367.445]
;B[qb]BL[1254.119]
;W[pe]WL[1364.884]
;B[oe]BL[1253.103]
;W[of]WL[1362.524]
;B[ne]BL[1250.215]
;W[nf]WL[1359.876]
;B[mf]BL[1248.838]
;W[mg]WL[1351.483]
;B[lf]BL[1244.19]
;W[lg]WL[1339.892]
;B[kf]BL[1238.349]
;W[cg]WL[1325.588]
;B[kg]BL[1229.746]
;W[li]WL[1311.728]
;B[ki]BL[1227.165]
;W[kh]WL[1301.818]
;B[jh]BL[1225.707]
;W[lh]WL[1300.195]
;B[ji]BL[1217.425]
;W[gd]WL[1284.853]
;B[hc]BL[1202.446]
;W[gc]WL[1280.824]
;B[gb]BL[1201.435]
;W[fb]WL[1277.947]
;B[hb]BL[1199.823]
;W[hd]WL[1270.511]
;B[id]BL[1197.979]
;W[ie]WL[1256.338]
;B[je]BL[1196.991]
;W[if]WL[1254.007]
;B[jf]BL[1193.306]
;W[ig]WL[1248.419]
;B[ih]BL[1181.929]
;W[jg]WL[1242.883]
;B[hg]BL[1173.987]
;W[he]WL[1239.752]
;B[fg]BL[1160.27]
;W[lj]WL[1225.709]
;B[kk]BL[1156.217]
;W[lk]WL[1222.658]
;B[ll]BL[1154.628]
;W[kj]WL[1218.975]
;B[jk]BL[1151.957]
;W[jj]WL[1215.797]
;B[ij]BL[1151.111]
;W[hh]WL[1210.65]
;B[ii]BL[1144.095]
;W[gg]WL[1208.129]
;B[gh]BL[1136.886]
;W[hf]WL[1195.617]
;B[hi]BL[1132.991]
;W[ff]WL[1185.446]
;B[hg]BL[1129.231]
;W[gf]WL[1182.95]
;B[fh]BL[1121.558]
;W[eg]WL[1178.493]
;B[eh]BL[1119.253]
;W[dg]WL[1171.957]
;B[ci]BL[1109.285]
;W[dh]WL[1169.557]
;B[di]BL[1108.269]
;W[ei]WL[1159.481]
;B[ej]BL[1098.937]
;W[hh]WL[1156.528]
;B[fi]BL[1092.665]
;W[ik]WL[1153.096]
;B[il]BL[1078.095]
;W[hk]WL[1150.513]
;B[hl]BL[1040.636]
;W[gk]WL[1141.683]
;B[fl]BL[1032.176]
;W[fk]WL[1135.477]
;B[ek]BL[1030.452]
;W[gl]WL[1132.664]
;B[gm]BL[1029.482]
;W[fm]WL[1124.938]
;B[em]BL[1009.094]
;W[el]WL[1115.221]
;B[dl]BL[1000.513]
;W[hm]WL[1108.561]
;B[fl]BL[953.491]
;W[jl]WL[1104.168]
;B[kl]BL[951.509]
;W[im]WL[1102.109]
;B[jm]BL[950.285]
;W[gn]WL[1096.82]
;B[fn]BL[939.381]
;W[fo]WL[1085.09]
;B[en]BL[936.917]
;W[jn]WL[1078.409]
;B[ln]BL[932.337]
;W[km]WL[1075.211]
;B[lm]BL[930.785]
;W[kn]WL[1071.723]
;B[ko]BL[929.352]
;W[jo]WL[1069.594]
;B[kp]BL[921.872]
;W[jp]WL[1066.68]
;B[jr]BL[921.065]
;W[ep]WL[1061.64]
;B[eo]BL[915.304]
;W[fp]WL[1054.762]
;B[eq]BL[899.126]
;W[fq]WL[1051.666]
;B[dq]BL[893.845]
;W[jq]WL[1046.387]
;B[kq]BL[892.323]
;W[ir]WL[1043.66]
;B[kr]BL[891.008]
;W[er]WL[1035.99]
;B[is]BL[872.541]
;W[hr]WL[1017.088]
;B[gm]BL[843.778]
;W[ml]WL[1009.547]
;B[mm]BL[828.598]
;W[nl]WL[996.206]
;B[nk]BL[818.834]
;W[mk]WL[992.618]
;B[nm]BL[811.445]
;W[dr]WL[971.646]
;B[cr]BL[809.719]
;W[cs]WL[952.699]
;B[br]BL[805.455]
;W[do]WL[943.185]
;B[co]BL[800.794]
;W[fm]WL[938.654]
;B[bs]BL[785.435]
;W[el]WL[929.084]
;B[dm]BL[772.235]
;W[es]WL[916.87]
;B[ds]BL[751.127]
;W[fr]WL[910.581]
;B[cs]BL[745.335]
;W[fj]WL[902.316]
;B[gi]BL[730.294]
;W[fl]WL[888.724]
;B[bh]BL[691.708]
;W[bg]WL[882.374]
;B[ag]BL[690.466]
;W[ch]WL[870.224]
;B[ah]BL[683.848]
;W[bf]WL[858.531]
;B[af]BL[679.193]
;W[ae]WL[847.659]
;B[bi]BL[643.994]
;W[be]WL[843.881]
;B[fa]BL[638.565]
;W[eb]WL[837.84]
;B[ea]BL[631.27]
;W[da]WL[835.917]
;B[ga]BL[628.801]
;W[db]WL[829.642]
;B[ni]BL[586.635]
;W[nh]WL[827.969]
;B[mi]BL[560.508]
;W[oh]WL[815.016]
;B[mh]BL[548.043]
;W[ng]WL[801.575]
;B[mj]BL[531.626]
;W[sc]WL[792.312]
;B[sb]BL[529.552]
;W[sd]WL[791.097]
;B[hs]BL[519.759]
;W[gs]WL[786.961]
;B[js]BL[517.893]
;W[pr]WL[766.489]
;B[or]BL[509.268]
;W[op]WL[763.931]
;B[oq]BL[498.752]
;W[np]WL[762.383]
;B[lo]BL[494.781]
;W[nr]WL[747.905]
;B[ps]BL[475.931]
;W[ns]WL[735.18]
;B[nq]BL[456.471]
;W[mq]WL[732.503]
;B[mp]BL[450.467]
;W[sq]WL[579.525]
;B[hg]BL[407.266]
;W[ra]WL[532.887]
;B[rb]BL[401.983]
;W[hh]WL[528.785]
;B[qh]BL[380.628]
;W[hg]WL[519.044]
;B[qg]BL[377.448]
;W[pf]WL[512.273]
;B[rf]BL[369.339]
;W[rh]WL[501.197]
;B[rg]BL[358.925]
;W[sh]WL[494.161]
;B[sg]BL[269.447]
;W[qf]WL[476.33]
;B[ri]BL[195.021]
;W[sf]WL[473.57]
;B[no]BL[161.563]
;W[hj]WL[451.736]
;B[ei]BL[160.244]
;W[gj]WL[371.626]
;B[]BL[104.174]
;W[]WL[322.819]TW[aa][ba][ca][ab][bb][cb][ac][bc][cc][dc][ec][fc][ad][bd][cd][ed][fd][ce][de][ee][fe][ge][se][cf][df][ef][rf][og][qg][rg][sg][qh][ri][si][rj][sj][rk][sk][hl][il][rl][sl][gm][jm][qm][rm][sm][hn][in][sn][go][ho][io][qo][ro][gp][hp][ip][rp][gq][hq][iq][gr][fs]TB[ha][ia][ja][ka][la][ma][na][oa][pa][qa][ra][sa][ib][jb][kb][lb][mb][nb][ob][pb][ic][kc][lc][mc][oc][pc][qc][jd][kd][ld][md][nd][od][ke][le][me][ai][aj][bj][cj][dj][nj][oj][ak][bk][ck][dk][al][bl][cl][am][bm][cm][an][bn][cn][dn][mn][nn][ao][bo][do][mo][ap][bp][cp][lp][np][op][aq][bq][cq][lq][mq][ar][lr][mr][nr][pr][as][ks][ls][ms][ns][os][qs][rs][ss]C[AmbyR00 [14k\]: thank you
AmbyR00 [14k\]: was a good game :)
])

2nd game:

(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]AP[CGoban:3]ST[2]
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]KM[6.50]TM[1500]OT[5x30 byo-yomi]
PW[ardesh]PB[AmbyR00]WR[10k]BR[14k]DT[2010-07-27]PC[The KGS Go Server at http://www.gokgs.com/]C[ardesh [10k\]: good luck and have fun :)
ardesh [10k\]: *smoke*
ardesh [10k\]: asr league
AmbyR00 [14k\]: have a nice game :)
]RE[W+47.50]
;B[pd]BL[1482.546]C[ardesh [10k\]: i ll try to play without big mistakes now :D
]
;W[pp]WL[1476.056]C[AmbyR00 [14k\]: please don't ;)
]
;B[dd]BL[1469.329]C[ardesh [10k\]: u just have to give me a good fight :
]
;W[dp]WL[1470.541]
;B[jj]BL[1467.149]
;W[jc]WL[1455.409]
;B[mc]BL[1450.938]
;W[gc]WL[1451.182]
;B[cg]BL[1419.508]
;W[qi]WL[1431.91]
;B[kb]BL[1387.25]
;W[jb]WL[1429.418]
;B[kc]BL[1381.887]
;W[qf]WL[1419.997]
;B[qe]BL[1366.866]
;W[pm]WL[1408.801]
;B[cm]BL[1362.708]
;W[gq]WL[1352.783]
;B[bp]BL[1357.349]
;W[cq]WL[1345.64]
;B[cp]BL[1341.57]
;W[eq]WL[1334.002]
;B[do]BL[1339.912]
;W[eo]WL[1332.553]
;B[dn]BL[1335.927]
;W[kp]WL[1272.893]
;B[fm]BL[1321.193]
;W[gn]WL[1260.867]
;B[gm]BL[1314.273]
;W[ge]WL[1244.514]
;B[fc]BL[1295.64]
;W[fb]WL[1237.419]
;B[eb]BL[1274.383]
;W[fd]WL[1215.229]
;B[ec]BL[1269.299]
;W[gb]WL[1213.834]
;B[jd]BL[1261.662]
;W[id]WL[1212.227]
;B[je]BL[1257.914]
;W[ie]WL[1203.845]
;B[if]BL[1253.703]
;W[hf]WL[1200.268]
;B[ig]BL[1236.32]
;W[de]WL[1164.794]
;B[ce]BL[1225.855]
;W[df]WL[1157.802]
;B[cf]BL[1213.461]
;W[dg]WL[1141.932]
;B[dh]BL[1207.69]
;W[eh]WL[1140.224]
;B[di]BL[1205.894]
;W[of]WL[1075.885]
;B[oe]BL[1143.999]
;W[nf]WL[1065.071]
;B[rf]BL[1142.381]
;W[qg]WL[1060.929]
;B[rg]BL[1140.988]
;W[rh]WL[1058.337]
;B[mf]BL[1133.897]
;W[ne]WL[1055.149]
;B[nd]BL[1132.18]
;W[mg]WL[1038.489]
;B[me]BL[1118.112]
;W[lg]WL[1015.239]
;B[gh]BL[1115.529]
;W[gg]WL[1013.093]
;B[hg]BL[1111.412]
;W[fg]WL[1009.082]
;B[fh]BL[1109.366]
;W[ei]WL[1006]
;B[ej]BL[1107.631]
;W[fi]WL[1001.792]
;B[fj]BL[1104.559]
;W[gi]WL[999.943]
;B[hh]BL[1102.894]
;W[gj]WL[992.525]
;B[gk]BL[1099.495]
;W[hk]WL[985.324]
;B[hj]BL[1093.463]
;W[dj]WL[970.096]
;B[hi]BL[1081.562]
;W[eg]WL[967.028]
;B[cj]BL[1055.846]
;W[fk]WL[960.616]
;B[dk]BL[1048.68]
;W[ek]WL[957.549]
;B[dj]BL[1046.851]
;W[gl]WL[954.674]
;B[el]BL[1016.876]
;W[qq]WL[941.322]
;B[ng]BL[917.731]
;W[og]WL[914.607]
;B[nh]BL[915.645]
;W[mi]WL[910.764]
;B[oh]BL[893.209]
;W[ph]WL[909.377]
;B[pf]BL[886.456]
;W[pg]WL[904.793]
;B[ik]BL[827.91]
;W[oi]WL[900.979]
;B[hl]BL[811.396]
;W[gk]WL[896.583]
;B[hn]BL[790.063]
;W[il]WL[887.891]
;B[hm]BL[786.417]
;W[jk]WL[885.454]
;B[ij]BL[783.141]
;W[jl]WL[882.467]
;B[kk]BL[778.141]
;W[km]WL[879.722]
;B[ml]BL[774.989]
;W[mm]WL[877.928]
;B[kl]BL[767.542]
;W[jm]WL[862.488]
;B[jn]BL[745.069]
;W[kn]WL[859.624]
;B[ip]BL[698.058]
;W[iq]WL[857.916]
;B[jp]BL[695.877]
;W[jq]WL[856.321]
;B[gp]BL[677.232]
;W[hp]WL[853.83]
;B[ho]BL[675.682]
;W[hq]WL[849.259]
;B[ko]BL[669.468]
;W[lo]WL[839.83]
;B[jo]BL[637.415]
;W[lq]WL[824.983]
;B[nm]BL[608.59]
;W[mn]WL[806.945]
;B[on]BL[588.771]
;W[nl]WL[805.045]
;B[nk]BL[575.107]
;W[ol]WL[803.008]
;B[mk]BL[562.935]
;W[ok]WL[795.679]
;B[oj]BL[520.406]
;W[pj]WL[791.576]
;B[nj]BL[497.077]
;W[ni]WL[789.857]
;B[pk]BL[481.138]
;W[qk]WL[785.619]
;B[pn]BL[478.255]
;W[qm]WL[780.078]
;B[qn]BL[460.97]
;W[nn]WL[770.322]
;B[om]BL[455.791]
;W[pl]WL[768.04]
;B[rm]BL[452.519]
;W[rl]WL[764.247]
;B[no]BL[430.767]
;W[oo]WL[747.6]
;B[mp]BL[418.743]
;W[lp]WL[745.175]
;B[lm]BL[412.511]
;W[ln]WL[741.091]
;B[op]BL[392.249]
;W[po]WL[738.83]
;B[ib]BL[237.508]
;W[ic]WL[713.093]
;B[ja]BL[232.828]
;W[hb]WL[708.816]
;B[ia]BL[228.097]
;W[ed]WL[699.412]
;B[cc]BL[224.204]
;W[ea]WL[697.024]
;B[da]BL[219.207]
;W[fa]WL[687.389]
;B[cb]BL[160.104]
;W[pe]WL[676.566]
;B[hd]BL[140.519]
;W[he]WL[657.601]
;B[qd]BL[125.256]
;W[sg]WL[607.097]
;B[sf]BL[111.12]
;W[re]WL[605.442]C[AmbyR00 [14k\]: always the same mistake !!!! argh :(
ardesh [10k\]: yes
ardesh [10k\]: i hoped for that :)
]
;B[rd]BL[84.854]C[ardesh [10k\]: i make the same mistake quite often too...
]
;W[se]WL[591.892]
;B[sd]BL[83.475]
;W[bq]WL[571.625]
;B[aq]BL[1.19]
;W[ar]WL[566.727]
;B[ap]BL[0.485]
;W[br]WL[562.431]
;B[kf]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[kg]WL[557.774]
;B[jg]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[ki]WL[555.439]
;B[kj]BL[30]OB[4]
;W[lf]WL[541.914]
;B[le]BL[30]OB[4]
;W[li]WL[536.78]
;B[jh]BL[30]OB[4]
;W[kh]WL[525.488]
;B[ji]BL[30]OB[4]
;W[en]WL[504.515]
;B[fn]BL[30]OB[4]
;W[go]WL[501.803]
;B[fo]BL[30]OB[4]
;W[fp]WL[499.801]
;B[em]BL[30]OB[4]
;W[ep]WL[497.738]
;B[go]BL[30]OB[4]
;W[od]WL[484.037]
;B[oc]BL[30]OB[4]
;W[oe]WL[482.734]
;B[im]BL[30]OB[4]
;W[ha]WL[466.786]
;B[ka]BL[30]OB[4]
;W[pc]WL[460.423]
;B[qc]BL[30]OB[3]
;W[pb]WL[436.054]
;B[qb]BL[30]OB[3]
;W[ob]WL[433.804]
;B[nc]BL[30]OB[3]
;W[nb]WL[425.028]
;B[mb]BL[30]OB[3]
;W[rb]WL[419.404]
;B[pa]BL[30]OB[2]
;W[ma]WL[398.014]
;B[oa]BL[30]OB[2]
;W[ll]WL[385.233]
;B[lk]BL[30]OB[2]C[ardesh [10k\]: meh.. it was overplay
]
;W[lm]WL[370.848]
;B[ee]BL[30]OB[1]
;W[]WL[338.464]C[AmbyR00 [14k\]: heh... from me too I guess
]
;B[]BL[30]OB[1]TW[ga][hc][gd][hd][ee][fe][ef][ff][gf][pf][rf][sf][ng][rg][lh][mh][nh][oh][qh][sh][pi][ri][si][qj][rj][sj][pk][rk][sk][ql][sl][nm][om][rm][sm][on][pn][qn][rn][sn][mo][no][qo][ro][so][mp][np][op][qp][rp][sp][dq][fq][kq][mq][nq][oq][pq][rq][sq][cr][dr][er][fr][gr][hr][ir][jr][kr][lr][mr][nr][or][pr][qr][rr][sr][as][bs][cs][ds][es][fs][gs][hs][is][js][ks][ls][ms][ns][os][ps][qs][rs][ss]TB[aa][ba][ca][la][ma][na][qa][ra][sa][ab][bb][db][lb][nb][ob][pb][rb][sb][ac][bc][dc][lc][pc][rc][sc][ad][bd][cd][kd][ld][md][ae][be][ke][af][bf][jf][ag][bg][ah][bh][ch][ih][ai][bi][ci][ii][aj][bj][ak][bk][ck][al][bl][cl][dl][am][bm][dm][an][bn][cn][gn][in][ao][bo][co][io]C[ardesh [10k\]: ya
])

Well, I'm off now. See you soon with a new blog post. If you see me on KGS or IGS, don't be afraid to say Hi, maybe we could play a game or two. ^^ /gg

I wish I could be there. Tampere EGC 2010.

2010-07-23T01:13:00.000+03:00

Sadly I wasn't able to arrange for myself to attend the European Go Congress in Tampere this year. I would've wanted to check it out and meet some of those 14 pros and other go players from all around Europe that are also visiting the congress. The lack of money and timing issues with my son's return from Lapland are definitely keeping me home this weekend. But, there's eventually another congress some other time.

I was making some quick calculations one day, and I noticed that if I can keep up the recent pace with my rankings in KGS (since March) I might eventually reach 1kyu (dan?) in one year. I think that could be a nice goal for myself. I've also been doing tsumego every morning for a while now and I have a modest goal of completing atleast 40 of them each day. Achievable, no?

I haven't been very active in ASR League lately. Haven't found people on my class Gamma IV to be on-line at the same time I've been on. That, or they have been in the middle of a game whenever I've been there. So I've mostly played some ranked games to try raise my rank, first with a rocketing results as I was 13kyu for a while. But I soon dropped back to the 14kyu where I still belong. :) I'm not very skillful in picking fights on the board yet.

Had a chat today with SciSan 4k after a game of mine ended that he was watching, and I naturally told him that unlike in the game I had just played, I want to hone my fuseki skills into such perfection I never have to fight. From him I learned that can be considered a style in itself. So there I decided I would adopt that style as my own, as it is already in my forte. After all, everyone keeps telling me so, so maybe I just have to accept that and take it to heart.

The league will soon be over for july, so I need to pick up pace one of these days anyway lest I drop to Delta class. But... You guessed it. I'm going to sleep first. So Good night, and have nice games! ^^ See ya!!

Finally, some pictures from the tournament in Oulu

2010-07-16T04:58:00.002+03:00

This post is long overdue, but I finally managed to get the pictures sort of edited and actually uploaded them to my picasa albums. It took me a while since I took well over hundred pictures while visiting Oulu. Not all of them are related to go, but I suppose a little bit of culture never hurt anyone. :)

I would've posted more of them from my G1 phone, but the blogger client I had installed didn't support uploading more than one picture at a time. (I just got an update installed which is supposed to do just that, but it came a bit too late.)

When I arrived to Oulu I met an old friend of mine, Ari whom had gracefully opted in to provide me a place to stay on my visit, for which I am very thankful for him since I'd probably never had money to attend the tournament otherwise. We went straight to Oulun lyseo, the high-school where the event was held, and I got very surprised when the organizers immediately recognized who I was.
(I was, after all one of the only one they didn't really know. ^^ My name was on the participant list anyway.)

In the beginning I felt a bit orphaned, being the only stranger in a place where everyone else knew eachother. The event at first looked a bit loosely organized, but as the tournament opening ceremony began, I got a chance to hide behind the camera so I began to feel a little less obscure. And here's where the picture cavalcade begins.

From Oulun kesä 2010 - Go-tournament

The welcome speech was interesting, to say the least. "The purpose of this tournament is to have fun, and if you are not having fun, come and tell us. We will make you have fun." Then they told us the tournament was also a bit experimental, since they wanted to test out the Fischer timing system. I was a bit oblivious to what it really meant, but figured I would find out in my first games.

Then, after the starting ceremonies were over, both the main and handicap tournaments started, and I got to play my first game, which I lost, but my opponent, Erkki Mattila 13k told me afterwards that as he was a 9k in KGS, he couldn't quite believe I was "only 14k" on KGS for the hard time I gave him in the game. I was quite pleased.

Between rounds I had some time to walk around town. I met Ari's girlfriend Anna, and while she and Ari went shopping, I took a haircut. We still had time to visit a café and the sea-side market square.

When I got back for the second round I learned I had a free round and didn't have other games for the day, so I took some pictures of the on-going second round of the main tournament.

The bearded fellow was a German 2dan Jan Rueten-Budde, who later that day gave me a teaching game at the sauna. A game I won because he insisted on giving me hints and tips on how to play on each occurring situation. Here he was playing a game against Janne Kössö 4d.

Antti Törmänen 6d vs. Ilkka Mattila 2d

You could really feel the concentrated atmosphere here.

The girl on the right, Hannele Ahlroos 2k playing against Matti Väätäjä 5k, was my opposing player when we played in the sandbag tournament later in the day. Sadly I forgot to take any pictures from those games. They were fun. It was a 9x9 board on the ground where we threw black and white "stones" from two meters away. Mostly out of luck, I lost that one too. But it was a tough match. ^^

The guy in blue shirt here is Erkki, the one I played against in the first round. Here he's playing against Miikka Salmi 10k.

Elina Pieniniemi 10k vs. Ville Väätäjä 9k

Lilli Hiltunen 13k vs. Katariina Keränen 15k

The Second day

On Saturday it was my turn to play again. I walked 6 km to get there, but I tend to think things like that are just good workout for the games.

The gobans were ready and waiting.

My second game (yeah that's me right there) in the tournament was against Katariina Keränen 15k. It was an interesting match. I mean.. This girl was fast. As soon as I hit the clock her stone was already there. So the game started off with a sort of a blitz but it soon slowed down as we entered the mid game. There, in the mid game I misread a situation where I could have killed the whole middle group of hers. Lucky for her I started chasing her stones the wrong way, thus throwing away my big chance. Well, I didn't know about it until the end when we got shown where I could have turned the game to my advantage. Well, she won the match, but she too said she was surprised about my low rank. Maybe I should play those ranked games on KGS more often after all.

More games.

For the rest of the weekend I don't have pictures of any games, but on Sunday in between matches, I went for a photoshoot with my friend Ari and here's what I found.

The town hall, now pictured from the front.

Water fountains in the Oulu river.

Nice postcard scenery too. :)

Then we headed back to the tournament prize ceremony.

Miikka Salmi 10k was given the first prize in the handicap tournament with 5 wins and 1 loss.

Antti Törmänen 6d was the outstanding winner of the main tournament with only 1 loss.

In the end of the prize ceremony, they announced the graduating ranks amongst the players. And we all applauded wildly for everyone.

It wasn't a total loss for me although I did lose all my games in this tournament. For being a fearless and resilient newcomer in the tournament, I was presented with a prize too. I was given a fan. "The first, not the only fan, and certainly not the last fan."
I was kinda dumbfounded... All I could say was "thanks, thanks". ^^

After the games had passed

I went to shoot some more photos with Ari.

Click on the picture and check out all the other pics I took.

One more picture before I go to sleep, it's 4:50 in the morning, so I'll probably sleep the whole day.

From Oulun kesä 2010 - Go-tournament

Beautiful, isn't it?

Good night! And Let's meet again soon! ^^ /gg

First picture from the Summer tournament in Oulu

2010-07-09T16:04:00.001+03:00

Here's the picture of the prizes. :)I played my first tournament game ever. Sadly I resigned. I was a nervous wreck, but my opponent told me he is 8 kyu on KGS, and could not believe I'm just a 14 kyu, so maybe it wasn't all that bad.Anyway, I'm going to post more pictures later today, it looks like this Blogger for Android client isn't able to send more than one pic per post, so I need to write more posts to get them all online. ^^I'll be playing my next game soon, so I will have to cut this one short. See ya with the next posting! gg! ^^

Published with Blogger-droid v1.4.2

Tournament tomorrow

2010-07-08T08:37:00.001+03:00

I've been somewhat nervous about the upcoming tournament in Oulu, so I've not written much this past week. I've played a couple of pretty interesting games, and also a couple of very embarrassing ones. I think I will leave it to those who are interested to try and check them out theirselves. This time.

Now, I will use this space just for talking.

The trip to Oulu

I recall I already wrote that the trip from where I live to Oulu is going to be over 500 km. But I decided to add a map here for those of you who love maps. ;) So basically it's almost a 7 hour trip one way by car:

View Larger Map

And I will be taking the bus. I must first wake up tomorrow morning at 1:30, take a shower, eat something and then take a walk some three kilometers to the bus station and take the 3:15 bus to Oulu. I'll be arriving Oulu at 10:55. So it's about 8 hours sitting in a bus. I guess that'll be somewhat boring. I hope I can pass the time somehow. :)

Anxiety

My stomach has been acting up, butterflies. I didn't really know I could get so anxious about something, but looks as if it is possible, after all this is the very first real-world face-to-face tournament I'm going to, not just some pixels on the screen and a faint notion that there's someone on the other side of the earth playing against me. (That's titillating too I guess.)

There was a party yesterday evening, where all the people in this building I live in were invited to have a barbeque on the yard. So being there with my neighbors, having a cool can of beer and eating sausages, easing a little tension I told them I could show them Go and how it's played, if there were people interested. And surely I found some of them were. So I laid down the foundations for a future get-together with teaching gobans included. But as we continued on towards the night, to easing up my anxiety I might have taken one two many of them appetizers (beer mostly) and got a bit drunk. So after I got home, I played a game of Drunken Go... I would say it was interesting, if it weren't so damn embarrassing. So I'm not going into any details, except that I messed up at the end count. It was pretty awful, I don't think I'm ever going to play "under influence" again.

So hopefully the anxiety will ease up before the tournament starts. :)

Something positive

It is a cool thing, that whenever I tell people about my ambitions and ideas about setting up and founding a go salon or café, they are mostly positive about it, and if they work in the field (cafés and restaurants) they genuinely offer to help me with it. An offer which I still have to politely decline to, but I will keep in mind who have been kind enough to do so, if and when I do need help with the project. But now it seems a bit too distant, since the latest course applications (for building up any qualifications for having a café of my own) I sent came back negative. But I will try sending them out again, and again, until I succeed.

Thanks for the attention. I will now start practicing some tsumego in preparation for the games this weekend. See ya! ^^ /gg

ASR League closed, Oulun kesä & Leo's demonstration game.

2010-07-01T21:36:00.003+03:00

Yeah! The first month in the ASR League is now officially over!

I can finally take a breather... or not.

The league is now on and yet again I'm the lowest rank on my class. I'm probably going to get pounded again, just like I did last month.

Ok, I'll let you guys into the results of the games in June first:

Class Gamma_IV (28 Players, 29% of all games played¹ )

	Score	W/L
1. asm	57	31/12
2. akinfeevk	48	28/0
3. cgbspender	40.5	19/0
4. h2so5	36	16/0
5. ktylxy	35.75	10/20
6. dubdub	31.5	12/2
7. likao	23.75	4/9
8. jenj	23.5	4/9
9. rgloaguen	23.25	4/8
10. aguess	22	3/9
11. nay4ok	21	7/0
12. ambyr00	20.5	0/15
13. anatal	20.5	2/8
14. joloo	20.5	4/3
15. deadoc	20.5	0/16
16. inio	19.5	3/4
17. hausmilbe	19	1/8
18. alejo84ar	18.5	3/2
19. nastusha	18.5	2/4
20. hanter	18.5	3/1
21. gasho	17.5	1/5
22. matri2061	17	0/7
23. ruddick	17	2/1
24. marcus316	16.5	1/3
25. zended	16.5	0/6
26. burton	15.5	0/4
27. lessrence	15.5	0/4
28. kevlar	13.5	0/0

This is probably going to look like crap. :) I just copy-pasted it from the ASR League Results page.

Anyway, I was going to make some commentary on the previous three games I posted, but I soon realised I was currently playing too many games to really remember what I was thinking in any one of the games I played before. All-in-all I managed to play 15 league games before the results for June were closed. And yes, I lost them all. But it's all fine, because the guys I got to play against were really strong, so I guess I learned a lot just by losing to them. After all, as some people say, I gained more than they did in those games. So we can pretty much say the advantage is really mine.

There are two games I want to show, even if I skipped the rest altogether. The first one is the game I played against hausmilbe 10k, where I finally thought I might have a chance of not getting senselessly beaten to pulp, along with my stones. The second game, the third match with asm 5k is also worth showing, since that was when I could, for the first time start to see where I could place my threats, where the game would be decided, although still being a bit anxious to attack a bit deeper into the enemy territory. That, and going for the tengen way too early as if wanting to secure its existence or something. Maybe there's a way to resolve such fear and constrain myself from doing these things, I'm sure there is, and I think I will eventually find a working solution to it.

hausmilbe (W) vs. AmbyR00 (B):

(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]AP[CGoban:3]ST[2]
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]KM[6.50]TM[2400]OT[5x30 byo-yomi]
PW[hausmilbe]PB[AmbyR00]WR[10k]BR[15k]DT[2010-06-29]PC[The KGS Go Server at http://www.gokgs.com/]C[hausmilbe [10k\]: have a nice game
AmbyR00 [15k\]: hello and have good game :)
]RE[W+18.50]
;B[pd]BL[2383.666]C[hausmilbe [10k\]: asr league
AmbyR00 [15k\]: asr league
]
;W[cq]WL[2389.453]
;B[cd]BL[2370.269]
;W[qp]WL[2353.205]
;B[id]BL[2366.347]
;W[ed]WL[2290.204]
;B[dd]BL[2338.338]
;W[ec]WL[2182.18]
;B[ee]BL[2312.713]
;W[de]WL[2158.085]
;B[df]BL[2304.245]
;W[fe]WL[2137.491]
;B[ef]BL[2292.349]
;W[gd]WL[2093.512]
;B[kd]BL[2263.574]
;W[gf]WL[2039.55]
;B[dj]BL[2235.75]
;W[qi]WL[1995.014]
;B[op]BL[2223.797]
;W[pn]WL[1967.406]
;B[qq]BL[2181.197]
;W[pq]WL[1942.894]
;B[pp]BL[2170.269]
;W[rq]WL[1932.338]
;B[qr]BL[2148.52]
;W[qo]WL[1923.122]
;B[or]BL[2107.832]
;W[qf]WL[1829.63]
;B[re]BL[2001.025]
;W[dn]WL[1768.357]
;B[pg]BL[1965.889]
;W[qg]WL[1707.156]
;B[pf]BL[1957.497]
;W[qe]WL[1695.23]
;B[qd]BL[1936.719]
;W[pe]WL[1682.166]
;B[oe]BL[1933.6]
;W[ph]WL[1672.513]
;B[nf]BL[1914.904]
;W[oh]WL[1590.11]
;B[ng]BL[1898.2]
;W[iq]WL[1496.747]
;B[kq]BL[1884.257]
;W[nq]WL[1487.352]
;B[oq]BL[1877.618]
;W[jo]WL[1441.017]
;B[mp]BL[1844.816]
;W[no]WL[1389.987]
;B[np]BL[1843.173]
;W[nm]WL[1377.213]
;B[ig]BL[1807.402]
;W[cl]WL[1267.142]
;B[ck]BL[1792.056]
;W[bl]WL[1252.226]
;B[bk]BL[1790.42]
;W[el]WL[1201.41]
;B[ek]BL[1776.131]
;W[fl]WL[1190.118]
;B[hm]BL[1772.525]
;W[gk]WL[1150.762]
;B[hk]BL[1765.929]
;W[gj]WL[1133.717]
;B[hj]BL[1758.063]
;W[gh]WL[1074.165]
;B[eh]BL[1717.426]
;W[fi]WL[1060.646]
;B[hi]BL[1708.353]
;W[hh]WL[1037.898]
;B[ih]BL[1699.676]
;W[gn]WL[938.071]
;B[hn]BL[1696.421]
;W[ho]WL[935.207]
;B[jp]BL[1676.869]
;W[ip]WL[930.073]
;B[in]BL[1670.778]
;W[kp]WL[902.881]
;B[jq]BL[1665.344]
;W[io]WL[898.304]
;B[go]BL[1657.118]
;W[fo]WL[889.827]
;B[gp]BL[1655.443]
;W[fp]WL[855.869]
;B[gq]BL[1638.368]
;W[fq]WL[824.706]
;B[ko]BL[1629.642]
;W[kn]WL[812.554]
;B[lp]BL[1600.96]
;W[ln]WL[792.213]
;B[jn]BL[1592.807]
;W[gr]WL[780.238]
;B[fn]BL[1564.707]
;W[gm]WL[769.721]
;B[ir]BL[1545.622]
;W[hr]WL[699.145]
;B[kk]BL[1499.987]
;W[mh]WL[670.282]
;B[lg]BL[1435.307]
;W[lh]WL[654.625]
;B[nh]BL[1432.243]
;W[ni]WL[652.587]
;B[mi]BL[1429.441]
;W[mj]WL[620.06]
;B[li]BL[1425.88]
;W[lj]WL[605.298]
;B[ki]BL[1424.432]
;W[nj]WL[597.158]
;B[kh]BL[1393.363]
;W[hc]WL[453.308]
;B[ic]BL[1388.772]
;W[hb]WL[450.726]
;B[ib]BL[1386.032]
;W[cb]WL[448.86]
;B[bc]BL[1350.745]
;W[kj]WL[349.436]
;B[jj]BL[1321.99]
;W[jk]WL[324.36]
;B[jl]BL[1309.745]
;W[kl]WL[321.68]
;B[ik]BL[1304.03]
;W[lk]WL[319.033]
;B[jm]BL[1272.844]
;W[km]WL[287.99]
;B[he]BL[1212.476]
;W[hf]WL[273.437]
;B[ge]BL[1185.963]
;W[hd]WL[186.246]
;B[ie]BL[1181.592]
;W[ff]WL[162.874]
;B[gi]BL[1161.46]
;W[ei]WL[137.413]
;B[di]BL[1142.487]
;W[fh]WL[88.133]
;B[fg]BL[1060.556]
;W[rf]WL[50.285]
;B[se]BL[1058.021]
;W[sf]WL[43.706]
;B[rd]BL[1052.077]
;W[bb]WL[11.711]
;B[dc]BL[1028.127]
;W[db]WL[9.265]
;B[ab]BL[1022.126]
;W[ak]WL[30]OW[5]
;B[aj]BL[1009.991]
;W[al]WL[30]OW[5]
;B[bi]BL[1007.379]
;W[ia]WL[30]OW[5]
;B[ja]BL[1000.54]
;W[ha]WL[30]OW[5]
;B[kb]BL[998.249]
;W[rr]WL[30]OW[4]
;B[rs]BL[961.813]
;W[jr]WL[30]OW[4]
;B[js]BL[948.881]
;W[is]WL[30]OW[4]
;B[kr]BL[947.637]
;W[ks]WL[30]OW[4]
;B[ls]BL[946.287]
;W[lo]WL[30]OW[4]
;B[kp]BL[932.481]
;W[js]WL[30]OW[4]
;B[lr]BL[917.909]
;W[if]WL[30]OW[3]
;B[jf]BL[904.477]
;W[sr]WL[30]OW[2]
;B[rp]BL[779.759]
;W[ro]WL[30]OW[2]
;B[hl]BL[756.286]
;W[gl]WL[30]OW[2]
;B[dk]BL[734.153]
;W[dl]WL[30]OW[2]
;B[fj]BL[731.781]
;W[gg]WL[30]OW[2]
;B[eg]BL[723.621]
;W[po]WL[30]OW[1]
;B[oo]BL[715.359]
;W[on]WL[30]OW[1]
;B[mo]BL[713.743]
;W[mn]WL[30]OW[1]
;B[nn]BL[710.565]
;W[og]WL[30]OW[1]
;B[of]BL[707.734]
;W[no]WL[30]OW[1]
;B[cc]BL[537.524]
;W[nn]WL[30]OW[1]
;B[jk]BL[522.574]
;W[ba]WL[30]OW[1]
;B[ac]BL[520.208]
;W[fk]WL[30]OW[1]
;B[ej]BL[515.639]
;W[sp]WL[30]OW[1]
;B[hg]BL[512.179]
;W[fd]WL[30]OW[1]
;B[]BL[376.738]
;W[]WL[30]OW[1]TW[ca][da][ea][fa][ga][eb][fb][gb][fc][gc][rg][sg][qh][rh][sh][oi][pi][ri][si][oj][pj][qj][rj][sj][mk][nk][ok][pk][qk][rk][sk][ll][ml][nl][ol][pl][ql][rl][sl][am][bm][cm][dm][em][fm][lm][mm][om][pm][qm][rm][sm][an][bn][cn][en][fn][qn][rn][sn][ao][bo][co][do][eo][go][so][ap][bp][cp][dp][ep][gp][hp][rp][aq][bq][dq][eq][gq][hq][sq][ar][br][cr][dr][er][fr][ir][as][bs][cs][ds][es][fs][gs][hs]TB[ka][la][ma][na][oa][pa][qa][ra][sa][jb][lb][mb][nb][ob][pb][qb][rb][sb][jc][kc][lc][mc][nc][oc][pc][qc][rc][sc][ad][bd][jd][ld][md][nd][od][sd][ae][be][ce][de][je][ke][le][me][ne][af][bf][cf][kf][lf][mf][ag][bg][cg][dg][jg][kg][mg][ah][bh][ch][dh][jh][lh][mh][ai][ci][ii][ji][bj][cj][ij][il][im][lq][mq][nq][pq][mr][nr][pr][ms][ns][os][ps]C[AmbyR00 [15k\]: thank you :)
hausmilbe [10k\]: thx!
AmbyR00 [15k\]: it was a fun match
hausmilbe [10k\]: oh, yeah
hausmilbe [10k\]: very interesting
AmbyR00 [15k\]: at last someone I almost had a chance against
hausmilbe [10k\]: :D
])

AmbyR00 (W) vs. asm (B):

(;GM[1]FF[4]
CA[UTF-8]
AP[Quarry:0.2.0]
SZ[19]
ST[2]
PC[The KGS Go Server at http://www.gokgs.com/]
DT[2010-06-30]
RU[Japanese]
KM[6.5]
TM[2700.0]
OT[5x30 byo-yomi]
PB[asm]
BR[5k]
PW[AmbyR00]
WR[15k]
RE[B+45.5]
C[AmbyR00 [15k\]: have a nice game :)
asm [5k\]: enjoy the game
AmbyR00 [15k\]: asr league];B[pd]BL[2677.661];W[dp]WL[2696.86]
;B[qq]BL[2669.228];W[dc]WL[2686.364];B[ce]BL[2654.045];W[ed]
WL[2651.651];B[ch]BL[2646.569];W[cd]WL[2640.436];B[de]BL[2631.206]
;W[gd]WL[2638.559];B[cn]BL[2622.427];W[gq]WL[2568.977];B[cq]
BL[2562.506];W[cp]WL[2553.146];B[dq]BL[2515.375];W[ep]WL[2516.323]
;B[eq]BL[2456.396];W[fq]WL[2421.403];B[bp]BL[2449.43];W[bo]
WL[2400.592];B[bq]BL[2445.056];W[co]WL[2398.013];B[en]BL[2438.454]
;W[fn]WL[2389.781];B[em]BL[2375.271];W[gn]WL[2385.464];B[kp]
BL[2357.921];W[nq]WL[2280.231];B[po]BL[2328.469];W[no]WL[2258.194]
;B[qk]BL[2294.962];W[kr]WL[2192.387];B[kn]BL[2250.671]
(;W[jj]WL[2126.939];B[nm]BL[2232.745];W[iq]WL[2107.062];B[mn]
BL[2216.094];W[mo]WL[2102.441];B[lo]BL[2213.031]
(;W[mq]WL[2090.486];B[jd]BL[2200.43];W[ic]WL[2067.056];B[jc]
BL[2192.894];W[ib]WL[2063.741];B[qd]BL[2171.054]
(;W[ig]WL[2015.892];B[bn]BL[2157.849]
(;W[ej]WL[1993.231];B[dk]BL[2152.567]
(;W[ek]WL[1985.767];B[dj]BL[2149.123];W[ei]WL[1936.873];B[ph]
BL[2129.754];W[lh]WL[1929.441];B[md]BL[2123.287];W[pq]WL[1896.867]
;B[pr]BL[2112.466];W[or]WL[1893.759];B[pp]BL[2110.898];W[oq]
WL[1892.711];B[qr]BL[2102.413];W[mk]WL[1878.683];B[ok]BL[2097.581]
;W[ni]WL[1874.33];B[fl]BL[2093.006];W[gl]WL[1872.409];B[fk]
BL[2089.978];W[fj]WL[1871.021];B[gk]BL[2088.622];W[hl]WL[1869.016]
;B[hj]BL[2086.773];W[ii]WL[1849.256];B[gh]BL[2080.727];W[eg]
WL[1838.788];B[ik]BL[2071.825];W[jk]WL[1822.179];B[il]BL[2068.357]
;W[im]WL[1813.499];B[jl]BL[2051.008];W[jm]WL[1810.119];B[kl]
BL[2048.993];W[km]WL[1808.588];B[lm]BL[2047.833];W[ll]WL[1791.396]
;B[ml]BL[2043.138];W[lk]WL[1789.194];B[hk]BL[2037.529];W[hi]
WL[1780.112];B[hm]BL[2031.539];W[gm]WL[1774.568];B[in]BL[2029.646]
;W[hn]WL[1768.851];B[io]BL[2026.965];W[ho]WL[1764.562];B[ip]
BL[2023.44];W[hp]WL[1763.254];B[jq]BL[2022.041];W[jr]WL[1761.94]
;B[ng]BL[2006.597];W[lf]WL[1728.99];B[jb]BL[1999.414];W[nl]
WL[1724.516];B[mm]BL[1992.542];W[nk]WL[1717.163];B[om]BL[1990.004]
;W[ol]WL[1715.827];B[pl]BL[1988.774];W[oj]WL[1712.929];B[pk]
BL[1986.818];W[pj]WL[1710.788];B[qj]BL[1985.574];W[pi]WL[1607.133]
;B[qi]BL[1982.035];W[oh]WL[1605.951];B[og]BL[1980.086];W[nh]
WL[1588.028];B[bd]BL[1977.594];W[bc]WL[1586.152];B[dd]BL[1976.117]
;W[cc]WL[1584.251];B[ia]BL[1974.057];W[ha]WL[1582.172];B[ja]
BL[1972.707];W[gb]WL[1581.333];B[be]BL[1966.549];W[ee]WL[1574.304]
;B[id]BL[1962.067];W[hd]WL[1571.855];B[if]BL[1959.806];W[hf]
WL[1569.707];B[jf]BL[1949.761];W[jg]WL[1558.384];B[ao]BL[1942.313]
;W[el]WL[1490.279];B[fm]BL[1931.526];W[dl]WL[1479.616];B[cl]
BL[1929.877];W[dm]WL[1477.776];B[dn]BL[1924.465];W[cm]WL[1476.883]
;B[bl]BL[1916.155];W[bm]WL[1473.096];B[am]BL[1914.995];W[gj]
WL[1460.143];B[di]BL[1898.702];W[dh]WL[1425.642];B[dg]BL[1886.595]
;W[eh]WL[1422.931];B[bj]BL[1881.367];W[cg]WL[1389.438];B[df]
BL[1866.399];W[ci]WL[1379.891];B[bh]BL[1863.585];W[ef]WL[1354.401]
;B[ac]BL[1856.714];W[ab]WL[1351.59];B[ad]BL[1854.899];W[ba]
WL[1349.035];B[bi]BL[1823.815];W[er]WL[1320.558];B[dr]BL[1820.207]
;W[es]WL[1313.277];B[ds]BL[1818.415];W[gs]WL[1306.091];B[fp]
BL[1813.167];W[fo]WL[1299.786];B[eo]BL[1812.208];W[gp]WL[1296.832]
;B[do]BL[1811.054];W[fp]WL[1295.675];B[jn]BL[1805.424];W[hm]
WL[1294.064];B[mf]BL[1768.374];W[mg]WL[1286.951];B[me]BL[1757.891]
;W[kq]WL[1268.178];B[jp]BL[1754.476];W[le]WL[1257.863];B[ld]
BL[1751.607];W[ke]WL[1255.483];B[kf]BL[1742.781];W[kg]WL[1250.021]
;B[kd]BL[1741.317];W[je]WL[1243.684];B[ie]BL[1738.356];W[lg]
WL[1242.396];B[he]BL[1734.73];W[gf]WL[1239.17];B[ge]BL[1732.771]
;W[fe]WL[1237.194];B[lq]BL[1710.239];W[lr]WL[1230.572];B[lp]
BL[1704.989];W[mp]WL[1228.27];B[on]BL[1701.977];W[oo]WL[1226.505]
;B[op]BL[1699.78];W[pn]WL[1193.207];B[qn]BL[1695.351];W[ps]
WL[1175.052];B[qs]BL[1692.681];W[os]WL[1174.249];B[kk]BL[1686.155]
;W[kj]WL[1172.103];B[an]BL[1662.589];W[pg]WL[1134.052];B[qh]
BL[1657.548];W[pf]WL[1112.876];B[oe]BL[1652.68];W[of]WL[1111.071]
;B[nf]BL[1650.112];W[hr]WL[1090.719];B[]BL[1650.112];W[]C[AmbyR00 \
[15k\]: thank you :)
asm [5k\]: thank you
asm [5k\]: it was beautiful game
AmbyR00 [15k\]: have I improved? :)
asm [5k\]: yeah
asm [5k\]: so much
AmbyR00 [15k\]: I started doing some tsumegos again
AmbyR00 [15k\]: I must have fumbled in those josekis I tried to do in \
the beginning
AmbyR00 [15k\]: my reading skills still need some honing I think
asm [5k\]: yeah, with joseki you cant build bad form
asm [5k\]: reading, maybe
AmbyR00 [15k\]: but I easily get scared when a joseki doesn't go as it \
was printed in the books
asm [5k\]: but better just know tesuji
asm [5k\]: each time when opponent play not how in joseki
asm [5k\]: you need to read why
asm [5k\]: after game]
WL[1090.716]TB[ka:sc][nd:od][rd:sd][ne][pe:se][of:sf][bf:cg]
[pg:sg][ci:cj][bk:ck][rh:sk][ae:al][ql:sl][pm:sm][ln][pn]
[rn:sn][jo:ko][qo:sp][ap:as][br:cs][rq:ss]
TW[aa][ca:ga][bb:fb][hb][ec:hc][fd][gg:hh][ih:kh][mh][ff:fi]
[gi][ji:mi][oi][lj:nj][go][hq][fr:gr][ir][mr:nr][fs][hs:ns]
)
(;W[dj];B[ek];W[cj];B[ck];W[bk];B[bl];W[bj];B[fj];W[fk];B[fl]
;W[gk];B[gj];W[gl]))
(;W[dj]))
(;W[on]))
(;W[on];B[pn];W[om]
(;B[pm];W[ol];B[pl];W[nl])
(;B[ol];W[pm];B[qm];W[pl];B[pk];W[ql];B[rl];W[qn];B[rm];W[nl]
;B[ok];W[mm];B[nn];W[ln])))
(;W[nm];B[pm];W[kl])
(;W[nm];B[kl];W[pm])
)

I marked some of the places I remembered from the review asm gave me after the game, that could have been played differently.

My first Go event is closing up!

A while ago I was invited to participate a three day go event and a tournament held during the Summer of Oulu festival in Oulu, Finland. That's about 500 km north from where I live, so I'll have to leave on an early buss at 3:00 in the morning to get there on time. It's a good thing a friend of mine lives in Oulu so I got a place to stay during the event.

I'm a little bit scared though. Never been to one of these, and have little to none experience of playing live, so I guess I'll get pummeled on the board quite a lot, just for being too slow or nervous or something. After all, I'm just a 15kyu on KGS, and I think I saw that those who have already registered to the tournament are at least 15 kyu on the European rankings (EGS), I don't have much a chance there. But I hope it'll be fun anyway. ^^

One more thing...

My 4 year old son, Leo played a game against me today, which I broadcast on KGS as a demonstration game in the Advanced Study Room since I mentioned there that he'd insisted on playing the white stones. It was pretty popular, and I guess he got praised too. Well, we "cheated" a little, since I gave him a couple of tips on what was happening, and then hinted how he could create two eyes on one of his groups, on the upper right corner. But Suddenly I noticed there was a flood of white stones on their way to kill all my stones. And before I could do anything, the game was over, and Leo declared himself the winner.

Here's the game:

(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]AP[CGoban:3]ST[2]
RU[Japanese]SZ[13]KM[0.50]TM[0]OT[5x30 byo-yomi]
DT[2010-07-01]PC[The KGS Go Server at http://www.gokgs.com/]
C[ardesh [11k\]: hehe
ardesh [11k\]: <= will be cheering for white :DAmbyR00 [15k\]: I can't switchardesh [11k\]: amby.. just pass thenardesh [11k\]: or use the tool in the upper leftAmbyR00 [15k\]: okAmbyR00 [15k\]: tried to set playersardesh [11k\]: mhhhGabalon [4k\]: i'll cheer for...umh...small amby ^^ardesh [11k\]: neer did that... but should work somehow :DAmbyR00 [15k\]: Ok, let's pretend white is LeoGabalon [4k\]: leo = small amby?];B[jd];W[fb]C[Gabalon [4k\]: :P];B[dj];W[bc]C[Gabalon [4k\]: oh, and i thought 5.3 looks strange ^^ardesh [11k\]: lol :D];B[jj]C[zzzzzzz22 [-\]: shimary desuGabalon [4k\]: secret tesuji combination];W[kb]C[Gabalon [4k\]: tengen \nowGabalon [4k\]: argardesh [11k\]: maybe he is playing extremely confusing... resulting in \a black autoatari];B[kd];W[gg]C[Gabalon [4k\]: ha!ardesh [11k\]: tengeeeeen :ardesh [11k\]: <= starts a laola wave :D];B[dg];W[dd]C[zzzzzzz22 [-\]: \w+r];B[ce];W[hh];B[jh]C[ardesh [11k\]: quite good for a 4yr old?];W[fh]C[ardesh [11k\]: am i right?];B[ic];W[eb]C[Gabalon [4k\]: yeaGabalon [4k\]: much potential :)ardesh [11k\]: hehe ayeGabalon [4k\]: and if he want's to play the hardest part is doneardesh [11k\]: hehe .'D];B[jf]C[ardesh [11k\]: yes];W[ec]C[ardesh [11k\]: the upcoming pro :D];B[de];W[fc]C[ardesh [11k\]: and \black is playing lazy and slow :DAmbyR00 [15k\]: oops, he made a dumpling];B[hb];W[ji]C[AmbyR00 [15k\]: oh, an attack];B[ki];W[ii];B[kk];W[hi]C[ardesh [11k\]: ohuhardesh [11k\]: empty triangle :D];B[bd];W[gi];B[fj];W[fi];B[cc];W[cd];B[dc];W[ed]C[AmbyR00 [15k\]: I'll give him a chance];B[be];W[cb];B[db];W[da];B[ge];W[kc];B[ij];W[jb];B[gj];W[lc];B[hj];W[la]C[AmbyR00 [15k\]: misclicks on the way :)];B[ld];W[mc];B[ja];W[ia];B[ib];W[mb];B[ha]C[AmbyR00 [15k\]: uuh... he got \tired];AB[el][ll:ml]AW[me][fe:ff][lf][ag][ie:ig][kg:lg][ch][lh:mh][ai][lj:mj][bk][mk][dl][gl:hl][jl:kl][am][gm][im][km:mm]C[AmbyR00 [15k\]: oh my, .... IAmbyR00 [15k\]: m going to loseAmbyR00 [15k\]: where do all these stones come from?AmbyR00 [15k\]: oh... I'm practically lost nowAmbyR00 [15k\]: Ok, I think this concludes our game. :)AmbyR00 [15k\]: he's still got to train his staminaAmbyR00 [15k\]: but pretty good for a 4 year old, no?])

I think I'm going to play a game or two right now, before going to bed. ^^ See you there! /gg

Three ASR League games.

2010-06-26T11:42:00.001+03:00

I played three games yesterday and this post is primarily for showing them. I will not have much more time this morning, so I will post these now, and some commentary later.

7th game, Ktylxy 7k vs. AmbyR00 15k, White wins by resignation:

(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]AP[CGoban:3]ST[2]
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]KM[6.50]TM[1500]OT[5x30 byo-yomi]
PW[Ktylxy]PB[AmbyR00]WR[7k]BR[15k]DT[2010-06-25]PC[The KGS Go Server at http://www.gokgs.com/]C[Ktylxy [7k\]: good game
AmbyR00 [15k\]: have a nice one :)
AmbyR00 [15k\]: asr league
]RE[W+Resign]
;B[pd]BL[1479.77]
;W[dp]WL[1493.305]
;B[pq]BL[1473.785]
;W[dc]WL[1490.865]
;B[pk]BL[1471.914]
;W[nc]WL[1484.757]
;B[qf]BL[1469.684]
;W[jd]WL[1481.545]
;B[cn]BL[1463.918]
;W[cl]WL[1476.997]
;B[en]BL[1461.617]
;W[co]WL[1460.277]
;B[bn]BL[1432.863]
;W[el]WL[1454.208]
;B[gn]BL[1426.123]
;W[dn]WL[1429.319]
;B[dm]BL[1420.852]
;W[do]WL[1427.692]
;B[dl]BL[1415.933]
;W[em]WL[1395.574]
;B[fo]BL[1347.527]
;W[dk]WL[1374.997]
;B[bl]BL[1333.023]
;W[cm]WL[1340.851]
;B[bk]BL[1302.047]
;W[bm]WL[1333.172]
;B[bo]BL[1299.222]
;W[bp]WL[1331.768]
;B[ci]BL[1287.154]
;W[cg]WL[1323.413]
;B[ei]BL[1274.565]
;W[eg]WL[1316.255]C[AmbyR00 [15k\]: I wonder if this game will be logged
]
;B[gi]BL[1239.865]C[Ktylxy [7k\]: why not?
AmbyR00 [15k\]: during the first 30 moves both players should say "asr league"
]
;W[po]WL[1277.511]C[Ktylxy [7k\]: are you sure about "both"?
AmbyR00 [15k\]: I thought I read that on the asr league page some day :)
]
;B[qp]BL[1164.791]C[Ktylxy [7k\]: In any case we can say about game to admin :)
AmbyR00 [15k\]: yep
]
;W[np]WL[1206.889]
;B[nq]BL[1162.46]
;W[mq]WL[1199.948]
;B[nr]BL[1154.032]
;W[mp]WL[1185.777]
;B[qo]BL[1150.864]
;W[pn]WL[1183.375]
;B[qn]BL[1149.442]
;W[ip]WL[1123.63]
;B[iq]BL[1124.178]
;W[hq]WL[1106.991]
;B[jq]BL[1117.014]
;W[jp]WL[1104.592]
;B[kq]BL[1110.454]
;W[kp]WL[1088.76]
;B[mr]BL[1097.645]
;W[lq]WL[1075.665]
;B[lr]BL[1092.099]
;W[ir]WL[1073.312]
;B[jr]BL[1082.01]
;W[hr]WL[1040.803]
;B[is]BL[1071.639]
;W[gk]WL[1014.957]
;B[hp]BL[1065.596]
;W[gp]WL[1009.896]
;B[ho]BL[1059.863]
;W[fp]WL[1002.386]
;B[jn]BL[1000.907]
;W[kn]WL[977.728]
;B[jm]BL[984.988]
;W[km]WL[933.81]
;B[jk]BL[957.304]
;W[jl]WL[924.996]
;B[il]BL[954.189]
;W[kl]WL[923.3]
;B[ii]BL[937.092]
;W[ik]WL[893.806]
;B[hk]BL[934.599]
;W[hl]WL[889.344]
;B[ij]BL[927.676]
;W[im]WL[887.6]
;B[gl]BL[896.028]
;W[ik]WL[849.063]
;B[hm]BL[873.804]
;W[hj]WL[844.553]
;B[hi]BL[863.097]
;W[mg]WL[805.661]
;B[gj]BL[848.491]
;W[fl]WL[784.092]
;B[fk]BL[827.435]
;W[gm]WL[780.351]
;B[hk]BL[819.982]
;W[hn]WL[776.706]
;B[in]BL[804.626]
;W[hm]WL[768.969]
;B[il]BL[797.153]
;W[kk]WL[748.268]
;B[gl]BL[784.541]
;W[ik]WL[733.476]
;B[oh]BL[710.372]
;W[jj]WL[725.846]
;B[hf]BL[678.058]
;W[ge]WL[706.356]
;B[gf]BL[672.091]
;W[ff]WL[704.105]
;B[he]BL[664.142]
;W[hd]WL[700.227]
;B[fg]BL[650.827]
;W[fe]WL[692.674]
;B[fh]BL[643.691]
;W[jh]WL[682.666]
;B[ih]BL[632.122]
;W[jg]WL[671.234]
;B[ig]BL[620.45]
;W[ie]WL[666.411]
;B[dg]BL[584.824]
;W[dh]WL[631.769]
;B[df]BL[578.665]
;W[ch]WL[621.653]
;B[eh]BL[566.963]
;W[ef]WL[618.576]
;B[cf]BL[560.024]
;W[di]WL[615.993]
;B[dj]BL[552.141]
;W[cj]WL[613.968]
;B[ck]BL[543.508]
;W[ej]WL[611.526]
;B[bi]BL[526.981]
;W[bh]WL[596.95]
;B[ah]BL[508.716]
;W[bj]WL[590.997]
;B[ai]BL[502.606]
;W[ag]WL[587.569]C[AmbyR00 [15k\]: it didn't go well :(
Ktylxy [7k\]: thank you for the game
AmbyR00 [15k\]: thanks
AmbyR00 [15k\]: hmm
AmbyR00 [15k\]: I had the right side pretty good but I made such losses trying to fight for my stones
Ktylxy [7k\]: if you read position one step more you can win )
AmbyR00 [15k\]: I can hope
AmbyR00 [15k\]: not much a reader yet
Ktylxy [7k\]: review next time, now I must go to play another game. sorry
AmbyR00 [15k\]: ok, see ya
AmbyR00 [15k\]: thanks
Ktylxy [7k\]: c u
])

8th game, AkinfeevK 2k vs. AmbyR00 15k, White wins by resignation:

(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]AP[CGoban:3]ST[2]
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]KM[6.50]TM[1500]OT[5x30 byo-yomi]
PW[AkinfeevK]PB[AmbyR00]WR[2k]BR[15k]DT[2010-06-25]PC[The KGS Go Server at http://www.gokgs.com/]C[AkinfeevK [2k\]: ASR League
]RE[W+Resign]
;B[pd]BL[1494.626]C[AkinfeevK [2k\]: hi gl
AmbyR00 [15k\]: ASR League
]
;W[pp]WL[1494.018]C[AmbyR00 [15k\]: Hello, and have a nice game :)
]
;B[cd]BL[1477.351]
;W[dp]WL[1490.573]
;B[id]BL[1475.93]
;W[dg]WL[1489.086]
;B[cf]BL[1467.551]
;W[ed]WL[1485.521]
;B[cg]BL[1459.436]
;W[cc]WL[1483.275]
;B[dc]BL[1456.154]
;W[dd]WL[1481.573]
;B[bc]BL[1454.799]
;W[cb]WL[1475.545]
;B[bb]BL[1453.609]
;W[ce]WL[1471.404]
;B[bd]BL[1447.918]
;W[db]WL[1466.313]
;B[de]BL[1432.024]
;W[ee]WL[1464.579]
;B[be]BL[1430.733]
;W[nc]WL[1463.167]
;B[qf]BL[1428.448]
;W[pb]WL[1460.423]
;B[qc]BL[1426.654]
;W[kc]WL[1459.535]
;B[ne]BL[1387.661]
;W[le]WL[1451.178]
;B[if]BL[1367.746]
;W[kg]WL[1445.35]
;B[fq]BL[1352.052]
;W[hq]WL[1442.825]
;B[fo]BL[1349.352]
;W[dn]WL[1441.162]
;B[cq]BL[1346.606]
;W[dq]WL[1439.335]
;B[cp]BL[1345.055]
;W[co]WL[1438.184]
;B[dr]BL[1339.365]
;W[er]WL[1436.583]
;B[cr]BL[1334.18]
;W[fr]WL[1435.493]
;B[eq]BL[1331.094]
;W[gq]WL[1433.635]
;B[fm]BL[1329.211]
;W[fp]WL[1430.521]
;B[eo]BL[1303.081]
;W[ep]WL[1426.42]
;B[do]BL[1301.677]
;W[bo]WL[1425.184]
;B[bp]BL[1290.792]
;W[cl]WL[1420.274]
;B[ci]BL[1253.22]
;W[br]WL[1414.753]
;B[ar]BL[1241.084]
;W[bs]WL[1410.832]
;B[bq]BL[1223.331]
;W[ap]WL[1406.264]
;B[ds]BL[1183.099]C[AmbyR00 [15k\]: hmm
AkinfeevK [2k\]: ))
]
;W[el]WL[1375.772]C[Zended [7k\]: разве o17 не будет плохим ходом?)
Zended [7k\]: естественно при павильном ответе
Amakaresu [3k\]: Хм
Amakaresu [3k\]: Спорно
]
;B[ho]BL[1149.134]
;W[en]WL[1365.851]
;B[fn]BL[1144.782]C[Amakaresu [3k\]: я думаю o17 хороший ход с точки зрения направления игры
]
;W[ih]WL[1357.064]
;B[gg]BL[1135.558]
;W[fg]WL[1350.286]C[Amakaresu [3k\]: правильный ответ это хасами? или косуми-цуке?
Zended [7k\]: ну отвечать на него кеймой слишком мирно
Zended [7k\]: косумицуке если
Amakaresu [3k\]: я бы тоже кеймой ответил
Amakaresu [3k\]: косуми цуке это бессмысленный боевой дух
]
;B[gh]BL[1089.502]
;W[gk]WL[1347.693]
;B[ei]BL[1065.525]C[Zended [7k\]: а если бы у тебя китай стоял и 6 ходом белый o17 как бы ответил?)
]
;W[hb]WL[1339.746]
;B[ib]BL[1046.895]
;W[hc]WL[1337.859]
;B[ic]BL[1042.061]
;W[jp]WL[1334.413]
;B[jn]BL[1034.611]
;W[lo]WL[1331.126]C[Amakaresu [3k\]: без позиции белого вверху-слева? Косуми-цуке
]
;B[ko]BL[1023.36]
;W[kp]WL[1329.677]
;B[ln]BL[1021.591]
;W[mo]WL[1328.013]
;B[mn]BL[1020.159]C[Zended [7k\]: ясно)
]
;W[nn]WL[1326.606]
;B[nm]BL[1006.908]
;W[qq]WL[1323.449]C[Amakaresu [3k\]: или хасами наверное выглядело бы немного переконцентрированно
]
;B[on]BL[998.304]
;W[no]WL[1321.922]C[Amakaresu [3k\]: но хасами*
]
;B[pm]BL[984.325]
;W[me]WL[1318.108]C[Zended [7k\]: а еще чем защита угла r3 отличается от r4 например)
Amakaresu [3k\]: кстати Амби явно не 15кю
]
;B[nd]BL[973.346]
;W[mc]WL[1315.927]
;B[oc]BL[965.175]C[Amakaresu [3k\]: адзи
]
;W[ob]WL[1314.32]
;B[pc]BL[961.269]
;W[nf]WL[1311.152]
;B[of]BL[958.379]C[Zended [7k\]: так медленнее)
]
;W[ng]WL[1308.088]C[Amakaresu [3k\]: тут можно было сыграть вполне r4
]
;B[og]BL[956.618]
;W[ni]WL[1295.515]
;B[oi]BL[955.278]
;W[oj]WL[1293.846]
;B[pi]BL[952.627]
;W[nk]WL[1292.071]C[Amakaresu [3k\]: Но в других ситуациях возможно r4 o3 такая реакция белого
]
;B[nh]BL[938.106]
;W[mh]WL[1290.458]
;B[oh]BL[936.071]
;W[mj]WL[1283.742]C[Amakaresu [3k\]: Нужно шире понимать и видеть даже мелкие адзи
]
;B[mg]BL[934.234]
;W[mf]WL[1281.713]C[Amakaresu [3k\]: видить*
]
;B[hj]BL[921.118]
;W[mm]WL[1278.659]
;B[ml]BL[917.027]C[Zended [7k\]: +
]
;W[lm]WL[1276.807]C[Amakaresu [3k\]: ой, т.е. реакция чёрного* но я думаю ты мысль понял
]
;B[kn]BL[908.262]
;W[nl]WL[1273.395]
;B[om]BL[904.322]
;W[kl]WL[1270.141]
;B[ll]BL[898.728]
;W[km]WL[1268.456]
;B[il]BL[885.244]
;W[jm]WL[1260.938]
;B[im]BL[882.626]
;W[in]WL[1259.293]
;B[hn]BL[869.396]
;W[jo]WL[1257.777]
;B[ik]BL[856.342]
;W[qk]WL[1251.869]C[AmbyR00 [15k\]: omg
AkinfeevK [2k\]: )))
AkinfeevK [2k\]: thanks
AmbyR00 [15k\]: there was just no way I could have gotten out of that mess... Thanks for the game :)
AkinfeevK [2k\]: вот это чат ))
Zended [7k\]: стараемся)
Amakaresu [3k\]: Эх Кирилл, не знаешь ты слова обучающая партия.. прям как я )
Zended [7k\]: различие в обучающейей партии и обычной как я понимаю - в обучающей белый дает черному пару шаносов исправить ситуацию)
AkinfeevK [2k\]: я английского не знаю )
Amakaresu [3k\]: В обучающей белый не рубить в капусту всё живое! )
Zended [7k\]: ))
Amakaresu [3k\]: не рубит*
AkinfeevK [2k\]: ))))
AkinfeevK [2k\]: живое трудно срубить ))
AkinfeevK [2k\]: значит оно было полуживое )))
Amakaresu [3k\]: ты доказал обратное
AkinfeevK [2k\]: у этого живого не было 2-х раздельных глаз )
AkinfeevK [2k\]: так nxj оно было полуживое )
])

9th game, AmbyR00 15k vs. asm 5k, Black wins by 84.5 moku:

(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]AP[CGoban:3]ST[2]
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]KM[6.50]TM[1500]OT[5x30 byo-yomi]
PW[AmbyR00]PB[asm]WR[15k]BR[5k]DT[2010-06-25]PC[The KGS Go Server at http://www.gokgs.com/]C[AmbyR00 [15k\]: have a nice game :)
asm [5k\]: Have a good game
asm [5k\]: asr league
]RE[B+84.50]
;B[pd]BL[1478.132]C[AmbyR00 [15k\]: ASR League
]
;W[dp]WL[1496.666]
;B[pq]BL[1448.62]
;W[dd]WL[1479.121]
;B[qk]BL[1439.774]
;W[qf]WL[1441.98]C[asm [5k\]: hmm
asm [5k\]: let me thinking
]
;B[qe]BL[1301.719]
;W[rf]WL[1410.696]
;B[pf]BL[1287.342]
;W[pg]WL[1390.768]
;B[of]BL[1280.741]
;W[og]WL[1371.791]
;B[nf]BL[1260.366]
;W[qi]WL[1344.199]
;B[ok]BL[1257.058]
;W[oi]WL[1342.568]
;B[jd]BL[1232.575]
;W[gc]WL[1328.425]
;B[mp]BL[1227.519]
;W[le]WL[1295.456]
;B[ld]BL[1215.39]
;W[me]WL[1283.506]
;B[md]BL[1213.478]
;W[ne]WL[1279.312]
;B[nd]BL[1211.716]
;W[lg]WL[1271.866]
;B[fq]BL[1193.196]
;W[hq]WL[1262.376]
;B[fo]BL[1189.531]
;W[dn]WL[1232.287]
;B[ip]BL[1185.651]
;W[iq]WL[1218.047]
;B[jp]BL[1180.027]
;W[jq]WL[1213.317]
;B[kp]BL[1169.471]
;W[lq]WL[1179.808]
;B[mq]BL[1158.359]
;W[mr]WL[1160.398]C[AmbyR00 [15k\]: I'm still playing too small
]
;B[nr]BL[1122.541]
;W[lr]WL[1138.558]
;B[gp]BL[1106.612]
;W[hp]WL[1127.79]
;B[ho]BL[1105.202]
;W[gq]WL[1123.216]
;B[fr]BL[1102.225]
;W[gr]WL[1117.865]
;B[cq]BL[1097.554]
;W[cp]WL[1109.261]
;B[dq]BL[1095.377]
;W[ep]WL[1102.693]
;B[fp]BL[1092.743]
;W[eo]WL[1099.837]
;B[cf]BL[1078.852]
;W[ch]WL[1050.436]
;B[cc]BL[1073.416]
;W[cd]WL[1048.172]
;B[bd]BL[1062.869]
;W[be]WL[1037.357]
;B[bc]BL[1061.486]
;W[bf]WL[1027.124]
;B[eb]BL[1048.329]
;W[fb]WL[1019.056]
;B[ec]BL[1045.536]
;W[ed]WL[1014.362]
;B[fc]BL[1043.8]
;W[gb]WL[1012.289]
;B[fd]BL[1042.499]
;W[ef]WL[1007.854]
;B[gd]BL[1037.91]
;W[hd]WL[1000.067]
;B[he]BL[1030.105]
;W[ge]WL[983.728]
;B[ie]BL[838.461]
;W[ck]WL[932.848]
;B[lk]BL[825.2]
;W[mj]WL[857.875]
;B[ik]BL[816.464]
;W[ii]WL[848.747]
;B[fk]BL[812.156]
;W[fh]WL[831.998]
;B[re]BL[804.282]
;W[se]WL[823.247]
;B[sd]BL[800.118]
;W[sf]WL[821.689]
;B[rc]BL[798.879]
;W[fm]WL[802.703]
;B[gm]BL[787.605]
;W[fn]WL[797.554]
;B[gn]BL[785.297]
;W[gl]WL[780.525]
;B[gk]BL[779.986]
;W[fl]WL[770.924]
;B[hl]BL[778.484]
;W[lp]WL[761.066]
;B[lo]BL[774.919]
;W[mo]WL[759.054]
;B[op]BL[740.382]
;W[ko]WL[743.183]
;B[ln]BL[737.694]
;W[kn]WL[726.845]
;B[lm]BL[732.955]
;W[io]WL[716.286]
;B[jo]BL[727.169]
;W[in]WL[704.368]
;B[jn]BL[725.643]
;W[hn]WL[698.133]
;B[go]BL[703.088]C[AmbyR00 [15k\]: 5 more points lost...
AmbyR00 [15k\]: I'm ridiculous :)
]
;W[lj]WL[577.798]C[asm [5k\]: nope, you not lost any points on this atack
AmbyR00 [15k\]: I didn't?
asm [5k\]: cuz im answer on each stone
AmbyR00 [15k\]: oh
asm [5k\]: so +1 for eated and -1 for my additional stone
]
;B[mk]BL[647.688]
;W[kk]WL[570.292]
;B[kl]BL[643.13]
;W[jk]WL[566.193]
;B[jl]BL[641.033]
;W[ij]WL[563.361]
;B[hj]BL[636.178]
;W[hi]WL[555.4]
;B[gi]BL[634.377]
;W[gh]WL[553.168]
;B[ej]BL[624.026]
;W[fi]WL[545.36]
;B[cj]BL[617.385]
;W[bj]WL[535.896]
;B[ci]BL[609.219]
;W[bi]WL[533.877]
;B[dk]BL[607.9]
;W[cl]WL[530.411]
;B[dh]BL[605.835]
;W[cg]WL[526.956]
;B[nj]BL[585.549]
;W[ni]WL[519.393]
;B[kj]BL[580.311]
;W[jj]WL[503.967]
;B[mi]BL[574.494]
;W[ki]WL[498.326]
;B[mf]BL[560.263]
;W[mh]WL[489.644]
;B[lf]BL[557.789]
;W[kf]WL[466.342]
;B[ke]BL[553.29]
;W[je]WL[454.954]C[AmbyR00 [15k\]: ouch
asm [5k\]: dont hurry
]
;B[jf]BL[532.44]
;W[kg]WL[447.284]
;B[ei]BL[528.152]
;W[eh]WL[440.258]
;B[dg]BL[525.714]
;W[df]WL[435.87]
;B[gj]BL[513.576]
;W[el]WL[424.102]
;B[dl]BL[507.551]
;W[dm]WL[415.605]
;B[rh]BL[497.92]
;W[qg]WL[402.738]
;B[ri]BL[496.323]
;W[pj]WL[383.297]
;B[pk]BL[491.312]
;W[qh]WL[380.049]
;B[bp]BL[480.671]
;W[bo]WL[376.282]
;B[bq]BL[478.528]
;W[eq]WL[374.744]
;B[er]BL[475.52]
;W[ek]WL[364.319]
;B[fj]BL[469.59]
;W[eg]WL[361.256]
;B[dj]BL[452.574]
;W[di]WL[358.631]
;B[dh]BL[451.341]
;W[dg]WL[353.328]
;B[gf]BL[434.97]
;W[fe]WL[322.346]
;B[hc]BL[417.039]
;W[hb]WL[304.901]
;B[ic]BL[402.087]
;W[ib]WL[287.381]
;B[jb]BL[387.423]
;W[dc]WL[282.524]
;B[db]BL[384.97]
;W[ap]WL[172.863]
;B[aq]BL[377.412]
;W[ao]WL[169.597]
;B[ff]BL[369.399]
;W[ee]WL[161.913]
;B[ms]BL[366.695]
;W[ls]WL[133.047]
;B[ns]BL[364.736]
;W[kq]WL[124.373]
;B[km]BL[362.061]
;W[fs]WL[118.983]
;B[ds]BL[345.198]
;W[cr]WL[87.11]
;B[dr]BL[340.881]
;W[oj]WL[26.93]
;B[nk]BL[338.286]
;W[di]WL[29.092]
;B[hk]BL[332.511]
;W[hm]WL[4.521]
;B[im]BL[328.577]
;W[ad]WL[30]OW[5]
;B[ba]BL[297.484]
;W[ac]WL[30]OW[5]
;B[ab]BL[294.072]
;W[ae]WL[30]OW[5]
;B[hg]BL[271.607]
;W[jg]WL[270.831]
;B[ig]BL[267.35]
;W[ih]WL[269.406]
;B[ng]BL[257.357]
;W[nh]WL[261.895]
;B[gg]BL[248.263]
;W[sh]WL[206.754]
;B[qj]BL[233.604]
;W[si]WL[195.836]
;B[sj]BL[231.803]
;W[sg]WL[193.468]
;B[dh]BL[218.129]
;W[mg]WL[82.172]
;B[di]BL[209.946]
;W[gs]WL[51.352]C[asm [5k\]: good for now
AmbyR00 [15k\]: ok
]
;B[]BL[188.687]
;W[]WL[51.35]TW[ce][de][af][cf][ag][bg][ah][bh][jh][kh][lh][oh][ph][ai][ji][li][mi][pi][aj][kj][ak][bk][al][bl][am][bm][cm][em][an][bn][cn][en][co][do][hr][ir][jr][kr][hs][is][js][ks]TB[aa][ca][da][ea][fa][ga][ha][ia][ja][ka][la][ma][na][oa][pa][qa][ra][sa][bb][cb][fb][gb][hb][ib][kb][lb][mb][nb][ob][pb][qb][rb][sb][gc][jc][kc][lc][mc][nc][oc][pc][qc][sc][kd][od][qd][rd][je][le][me][ne][oe][pe][hf][if][rk][sk][il][ll][ml][nl][ol][pl][ql][rl][sl][hm][jm][mm][nm][om][pm][qm][rm][sm][hn][in][kn][mn][nn][on][pn][qn][rn][sn][io][ko][mo][no][oo][po][qo][ro][so][np][pp][qp][rp][sp][nq][oq][qq][rq][sq][ar][br][cr][or][pr][qr][rr][sr][as][bs][cs][os][ps][qs][rs][ss]C[AmbyR00 [15k\]: Thank you
MakeTheNub [2d\]: h16
asm [5k\]: thanks for playing
AmbyR00 [15k\]: hi fassal :)
asm [5k\]: yea, h16
Fassal [10k\]: hey gg
])

I have to attend to some fatherly duties now, and take my son out to the park. For a small commentary I'll try reviewing those yesterday's first two games myself later. See ya soon! ^^ /gg

Feelings can be deceiving.

2010-06-24T23:35:00.001+03:00

Yesterday's game was an interesting one. I totally thought I was doing pretty good and was feeling very strong from the beginning to the middle game.
And well, all I really did was a lot of broken joseki, mis-calculations and other weird mistakes, like taking a small life in the corner while giving my opponent a huge influence towards the center, not seeing where my own influences were and trying to invade where running away was impossible. I even forgot how to correctly capture a stone in a net and ended up overplaying the whole situation. Well, I guess that's how it goes some times, when your (over)confidence just blinds you and you end up in all the wrong places.

I'd like to reason my way out of being this bad just by saying that I wanted to try playing a bit more in the corners, leaving the center for later, but I really can't say that about my joseki. It might be I am in a need of studying more joseki. It's just that joseki is pretty hard to learn by studying alone. I've noticed I am pretty bad in studying anything from books or samples, and I need to learn things by doing, repeating them hundreds or maybe thousands of times before I really remember them. (That's why I was not particularly a wizkid in school I guess.) The only problem with repetition is, that if it's not done right you will learn things wrong, and that can actually be worse than learning things at all.

I feel I'm in a need of a mind trick. Something to ease up the learning process.

Anyway, asm 5k, against whom I played yesterday, mentioned I should check out Kogo's Joseki Dictionary. I actually knew it existed, but I am still a bit overwhelmed at how many different choices there are for joseki, and questioning "how in the world am I supposed to learn them all?"

Still, I'm going to try looking into the josekis at Eidogo, maybe they will open up a new world for me one day, when I've checked them out for the thousandth and one time. ^^ I often like to think I have patience for these sort of things.

So how goeth the game? Here, have a look-see:

(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]AP[CGoban:3]ST[2]
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]KM[6.50]TM[1500]OT[5x30 byo-yomi]
PW[asm]PB[AmbyR00]WR[5k]BR[15k]DT[2010-06-23]PC[The KGS Go Server at http://www.gokgs.com/]RE[W+Resign]
;B[pd]BL[1494.123]C[AmbyR00 [15k\]: hello :)
asm [5k\]: Enjoy the game!
AmbyR00 [15k\]: you too! :)
asm [5k\]: asr league
]
;W[dp]WL[1476.26]
;B[pp]BL[1488.558]
;W[dc]WL[1474.863]
;B[fq]BL[1474.25]
;W[hq]WL[1469.995]
;B[fo]BL[1442.574]C[AmbyR00 [15k\]: asr league
AmbyR00 [15k\]: almost forgot :) sorry
]
;W[dn]WL[1430.118]
;B[jq]BL[1420.88]
;W[ho]WL[1398.883]
;B[dq]BL[1355.954]
;W[ep]WL[1330.063]
;B[eq]BL[1344.116]
;W[fp]WL[1328.189]
;B[cp]BL[1334.1]
;W[co]WL[1269.722]
;B[bp]BL[1317.253]
;W[gq]WL[1262.619]
;B[bo]BL[1275.755]
;W[bn]WL[1198.813]
;B[jo]BL[1219.336]
;W[ci]WL[1174.307]
;B[jc]BL[1173.64]
;W[qf]WL[1101.207]
;B[qh]BL[1137.035]
;W[of]WL[1097.939]
;B[nd]BL[1126.975]
;W[qc]WL[1090.48]
;B[qd]BL[1124.928]
;W[rd]WL[1089.356]
;B[rf]BL[1097.882]
;W[re]WL[1053.398]
;B[rg]BL[1055.438]
;W[qe]WL[1047.575]
;B[pc]BL[1050.09]
;W[qb]WL[1016.362]
;B[pb]BL[1043.734]
;W[qn]WL[992.14]
;B[nq]BL[971.77]
;W[rp]WL[989.776]
;B[rq]BL[954.781]
;W[qq]WL[979.414]
;B[qp]BL[933.655]
;W[rr]WL[920.547]
;B[ro]BL[865.785]
;W[sq]WL[911.901]
;B[rn]BL[817.181]
;W[rm]WL[877.306]
;B[qm]BL[784.119]
;W[ql]WL[814.672]
;B[pm]BL[771.144]
;W[pi]WL[809.422]
;B[qi]BL[744.992]
;W[qj]WL[804.837]
;B[rj]BL[738.608]
;W[rk]WL[801.061]
;B[sm]BL[724.373]
;W[pj]WL[763.973]
;B[rl]BL[706.339]
;W[sk]WL[745.513]
;B[pl]BL[664.621]
;W[ph]WL[636.693]
;B[qk]BL[655.343]
;W[ri]WL[634.468]
;B[pr]BL[625.671]
;W[qr]WL[599.584]
;B[pq]BL[584.019]
;W[fd]WL[583.543]
;B[gc]BL[577.618]
;W[gd]WL[563.657]
;B[fc]BL[575.333]
;W[hc]WL[558.813]
;B[hb]BL[566.29]
;W[ic]WL[544.735]
;B[ib]BL[558.365]
;W[jd]WL[543.566]
;B[kc]BL[553.941]
;W[hi]WL[538.447]
;B[im]BL[442.586]
;W[gm]WL[468.058]
;B[id]BL[418.333]
;W[hd]WL[438.848]
;B[ie]BL[413.831]
;W[hf]WL[436.319]
;B[jf]BL[386.717]
;W[ke]WL[393.595]
;B[mf]BL[363.705]
;W[md]WL[378.48]
;B[mc]BL[354.842]
;W[me]WL[374.896]
;B[ne]BL[346.178]
;W[lf]WL[373.272]
;B[ld]BL[342.033]
;W[le]WL[362.112]
;B[mg]BL[331.72]
;W[kg]WL[336.127]
;B[jg]BL[319.824]
;W[kh]WL[308.614]
;B[jh]BL[292.249]
;W[ji]WL[294.354]
;B[ki]BL[282.307]
;W[li]WL[290.691]
;B[kj]BL[280.667]
;W[mh]WL[289.232]
;B[lg]BL[276.925]
;W[lh]WL[274.306]
;B[kf]BL[249.105]
;W[nf]WL[268.628]
;B[ii]BL[220.308]
;W[jj]WL[264.205]
;B[ij]BL[209.785]
;W[jk]WL[262.751]
;B[kk]BL[206.183]
;W[ik]WL[258.302]
;B[hk]BL[202.782]
;W[hj]WL[254.196]
;B[ih]BL[201.143]
;W[hl]WL[251.943]
;B[gk]BL[199.707]
;W[il]WL[247.242]
;B[je]BL[169.942]
;W[ng]WL[241.788]
;B[kd]BL[162.292]
;W[hh]WL[230.873]
;B[he]BL[159.534]
;W[ge]WL[224.811]
;B[gf]BL[158.299]
;W[ff]WL[218.411]
;B[gg]BL[156.89]
;W[hg]WL[216.599]
;B[gh]BL[150.149]
;W[gj]WL[211.521]
;B[fj]BL[141.802]C[AmbyR00 [15k\]: ah, missed a spot
]
;W[fk]WL[190.89]
;B[ed]BL[124.016]
;W[fe]WL[163.862]
;B[eg]BL[59.889]
;W[ee]WL[139.229]
;B[dd]BL[43.512]
;W[de]WL[113.162]
;B[cc]BL[12.459]
;W[cd]WL[91.961]
;B[ec]BL[8.955]
;W[bc]WL[88.762]
;B[db]BL[1.183]
;W[ce]WL[73.189]
;B[ch]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[dh]WL[65.267]
;B[dg]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[cg]WL[39.798]
;B[di]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[bh]WL[36.868]
;B[ek]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[gl]WL[33.691]
;B[fl]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[fi]WL[28.326]
;B[eh]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[ei]WL[30]OW[5]
;B[dj]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[ch]WL[30]OW[5]
;B[gk]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[gi]WL[30]OW[5]
;B[cm]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[cn]WL[30]OW[5]
;B[eo]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[do]WL[30]OW[5]
;B[em]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[dl]WL[30]OW[5]
;B[dm]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[cl]WL[30]OW[5]
;B[bm]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[an]WL[30]OW[5]
;B[ck]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[bl]WL[30]OW[5]
;B[al]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[am]WL[30]OW[5]
;B[bk]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[ak]WL[30]OW[5]
;B[aj]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[al]WL[30]OW[5]
;B[gn]BL[30]OB[3]C[AmbyR00 [15k\]: what the?
AmbyR00 [15k\]: did he lose connection or something?
asm [5k\]: sorry, was disconnected
AmbyR00 [15k\]: oh, I see... I was wondering about that
]
;W[go]WL[30]OW[4]
;B[hn]BL[30]OB[3]
;W[fn]WL[30]OW[4]
;B[en]BL[30]OB[3]
;W[in]WL[30]OW[4]
;B[fm]BL[30]OB[3]
;W[hm]WL[30]OW[4]
;B[fn]BL[30]OB[3]
;W[jm]WL[30]OW[4]
;B[kl]BL[30]OB[3]
;W[km]WL[30]OW[4]
;B[ml]BL[30]OB[2]
;W[io]WL[30]OW[4]
;B[jn]BL[30]OB[2]
;W[kp]WL[30]OW[4]
;B[jp]BL[30]OB[2]
;W[lo]WL[30]OW[4]
;B[no]BL[30]OB[2]
;W[nm]WL[30]OW[4]
;B[nl]BL[30]OB[2]
;W[kq]WL[30]OW[4]
;B[kr]BL[30]OB[2]
;W[lr]WL[30]OW[4]
;B[hr]BL[30]OB[2]
;W[ir]WL[30]OW[4]
;B[gr]BL[30]OB[2]
;W[iq]WL[30]OW[4]
;B[jr]BL[30]OB[2]
;W[hs]WL[30]OW[4]
;B[fr]BL[30]OB[2]
;W[ko]WL[30]OW[4]
;B[mr]BL[30]OB[2]
;W[lq]WL[30]OW[3]
;B[ls]BL[30]OB[2]
;W[mm]WL[30]OW[3]
;B[lm]BL[30]OB[2]
;W[ln]WL[30]OW[2]
;B[ll]BL[30]OB[2]
;W[kn]WL[30]OW[2]
;B[hp]BL[30]OB[2]
;W[ip]WL[30]OW[2]
;B[ao]BL[30]OB[2]
;W[js]WL[30]OW[2]
;B[gs]BL[30]OB[2]
;W[ks]WL[30]OW[2]C[AmbyR00 [15k\]: oops
]
;B[om]BL[30]OB[3]
;W[mo]WL[30]OW[2]
;B[nn]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[mn]WL[30]OW[2]
;B[nj]BL[30]OB[4]
;W[ok]WL[30]OW[2]
;B[ol]BL[30]OB[4]
;W[nk]WL[30]OW[2]
;B[oj]BL[30]OB[4]
;W[pk]WL[30]OW[2]
;B[pg]BL[30]OB[3]
;W[qg]WL[30]OW[2]
;B[oe]BL[30]OB[2]
;W[pf]WL[30]OW[2]
;B[sl]BL[30]OB[2]
;W[sj]WL[30]OW[2]
;B[qa]BL[30]OB[2]
;W[rb]WL[30]OW[2]
;B[ra]BL[30]OB[2]
;W[sb]WL[30]OW[2]
;B[pa]BL[30]OB[2]
;W[ps]WL[30]OW[2]
;B[os]BL[30]OB[2]
;W[qs]WL[30]OW[2]
;B[ns]BL[30]OB[2]
;W[bb]WL[30]OW[2]
;B[cb]BL[30]OB[2]
;W[ca]WL[30]OW[2]
;B[da]BL[30]OB[2]
;W[ba]WL[30]OW[2]
;B[fa]BL[30]OB[2]
;W[mj]WL[30]OW[2]
;B[mp]BL[30]OB[3]
;W[mq]WL[30]OW[2]
;B[np]BL[30]OB[3]
;W[ms]WL[30]OW[2]
;B[nr]BL[30]OB[3]
;W[bj]WL[30]OW[2]C[AmbyR00 [15k\]: heh... fun :)
AmbyR00 [15k\]: thanks
asm [5k\]: thank you for the game
asm [5k\]: review ?
AmbyR00 [15k\]: ok why not :)
])

Have a good night! ^^ See ya soon! /gg

Two busy weeks behind.

2010-06-22T01:04:00.002+03:00

I simply hate it when I can't play. It is simply not fun. Well I did manage to have two small games when I visited my parents almost two weeks ago.
I first taught my little brother to play a 9x9 atari-go, and while I didn't have much time showing my aunt how to play, my mother delightfully agreed to play a game, again on the 9x9 goban. My brother, whom against I always lose whenever we play a game didn't stand a chance as I totally obliterated his stones. (Ok it wasn't that bad, really... Mwahaahahaha!!;) But as I taught my mom, she beat me by 16 stones. Thenagain, maybe it was because I showed her where to play.

Oh, I forgot. Before I went to my parents I had printed some 9x9 and 13x13 boards from the web and bought some of those decorative flat glass stones also mentioned on the page I got the prints from. Enough for three small teaching boards anyway. I decided I would get some thin plywood for creating the boards with the mentioned goban prints and take the boards and stones to the aikido dojo so I can show Go to all my senpai who are interested in it.

Btw. here's a picture of an ice cream that reminded us of a certain comic strip on the web comic Empty Triangle:

Last week I also played my fifth match in the ASR League, it was AkinfeevK 2k again. I played white. It was a nice game, but I had to resign as my game was not really going anywhere anymore, actually it was way past lost at the moment. I should try playing when I'm awake. ^^ Here's the game:

(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]AP[CGoban:3]ST[2]
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]KM[6.50]TM[1500]OT[5x30 byo-yomi]
PW[AmbyR00]PB[AkinfeevK]WR[16k]BR[2k]DT[2010-06-15]PC[The KGS Go Server at http://www.gokgs.com/]C[AkinfeevK [2k\]: * Запоминать дзесеки
AkinfeevK [2k\]: hi gl
AkinfeevK [2k\]: ASR League
AmbyR00 [16k\]: have a nice game :)
]RE[B+Resign]
;B[pd]BL[1482.047]C[AmbyR00 [16k\]: asr league
]
;W[dp]WL[1494.074]
;B[pq]BL[1476.9]
;W[dd]WL[1473.011]
;B[fq]BL[1474.91]
;W[cn]WL[1470.783]
;B[jp]BL[1473.129]
;W[qf]WL[1416.451]
;B[pi]BL[1459.49]
;W[of]WL[1412.21]
;B[nd]BL[1454.29]
;W[mf]WL[1386.44]
;B[ld]BL[1447.737]
;W[rd]WL[1381.775]
;B[qc]BL[1445.659]
;W[ri]WL[1366.461]
;B[qo]BL[1440.205]
;W[mq]WL[1287.707]
;B[kq]BL[1436.448]
;W[mo]WL[1286.191]
;B[ln]BL[1432.283]
;W[mn]WL[1246.777]
;B[lm]BL[1429.91]
;W[mm]WL[1182.597]
;B[ml]BL[1427.818]
;W[om]WL[1166.225]
;B[nl]BL[1425.967]
;W[ol]WL[1135.89]
;B[nm]BL[1422.059]
;W[nn]WL[1128.718]
;B[on]BL[1420.176]
;W[qk]WL[1112.343]
;B[pn]BL[1417.357]
;W[qm]WL[1097.474]
;B[lk]BL[1411.684]
;W[nk]WL[1090.29]
;B[mk]BL[1409.802]
;W[nj]WL[1088.523]
;B[dr]BL[1406.735]
;W[cq]WL[1082.988]
;B[fc]BL[1403.836]
;W[cf]WL[1080.431]
;B[db]BL[1400.779]
;W[cc]WL[1078.824]
;B[ic]BL[1398.914]
;W[rc]WL[1023.64]
;B[ch]BL[1387.794]
;W[cj]WL[980.068]
;B[cb]BL[1377.659]
;W[bb]WL[973.083]
;B[bd]BL[1370.859]
;W[bc]WL[910.778]
;B[ce]BL[1368.828]
;W[de]WL[903.081]
;B[bf]BL[1367.435]
;W[cd]WL[844.32]
;B[be]BL[1363.995]
;W[cg]WL[834.097]
;B[bg]BL[1362.14]
;W[ef]WL[813.078]
;B[dh]BL[1360.22]
;W[eg]WL[803.686]
;B[cl]BL[1345.259]
;W[cr]WL[787.587]
;B[dk]BL[1340.095]
;W[er]WL[750.855]
;B[fr]BL[1335.633]
;W[eq]WL[745.963]
;B[es]BL[1333.788]
;W[cs]WL[694.575]
;B[ep]BL[1331.335]
;W[dq]WL[686.78]
;B[fp]BL[1329.714]
;W[do]WL[671.106]
;B[bm]BL[1320.116]
;W[bn]WL[635.014]
;B[dj]BL[1316.335]
;W[cm]WL[598.37]
;B[bl]BL[1312.426]
;W[em]WL[580.758]
;B[gm]BL[1310.373]
;W[fk]WL[521.897]
;B[hk]BL[1299.967]
;W[fi]WL[516.845]
;B[fn]BL[1295.548]
;W[en]WL[514.567]
;B[mi]BL[1266.456]
;W[ni]WL[493.858]
;B[lh]BL[1260.325]
;W[nh]WL[469.868]
;B[hh]BL[1244.064]
;W[gg]WL[455.808]
;B[rn]BL[1222.069]
;W[rm]WL[430.095]
;B[je]BL[1205.269]C[Ruddick [3k\]: Привет Анатал
]
;W[he]WL[349.096]
;B[hd]BL[1199.485]C[Anatal [7k\]: привет
]
;W[gd]WL[315.312]
;B[gc]BL[1191.036]
;W[id]WL[306.192]
;B[hc]BL[1189.378]C[Anatal [7k\]: а 16 ый всетаки пеплохо тут играет
]
;W[ie]WL[282.817]
;B[jd]BL[1186.592]C[Anatal [7k\]: но в территории разница
]
;W[jf]WL[257.729]C[Ruddick [3k\]: если бі неплохл играл, то понял бі что ресайн пора біло делать
]
;B[qn]BL[1179.359]
;W[kf]WL[239.354]
;B[pe]BL[1168.12]
;W[pf]WL[235.569]
;B[ne]BL[1164.83]
;W[nf]WL[234.002]
;B[le]BL[1162.342]C[Anatal [7k\]: в смысле сдаваться
]
;W[lf]WL[226.264]
;B[pm]BL[1148.288]
;W[pl]WL[224.335]
;B[sm]BL[1146.822]
;W[sl]WL[206.712]C[Anatal [7k\]: да с аком тяжело играть
]
;B[sn]BL[1145.631]C[Ruddick [3k\]: )
]
;W[rk]WL[196.326]
;B[an]BL[1142.784]C[Anatal [7k\]: но я у него еще выиграю
]
;W[ao]WL[192.644]
;B[am]BL[1141.346]
;W[bp]WL[191.825]C[Ruddick [3k\]: смелый!)
]
;B[rb]BL[1131.923]C[Anatal [7k\]: нет целеустремленный
Ruddick [3k\]: правельно!)
]
;W[qd]WL[167.806]
;B[qb]BL[1128.139]C[Ruddick [3k\]: С России?
Anatal [7k\]: смелости тут не много плюс минус один проиграшь
Anatal [7k\]: нет из сум
Anatal [7k\]: если донецкие знают где это
]
;W[jh]WL[107.797]
;B[ji]BL[1124.91]C[Ruddick [3k\]: земляк(
Ruddick [3k\]: )*
]
;W[ih]WL[93.265]
;B[ii]BL[1123.497]
;W[hg]WL[90.933]
;B[hi]BL[1121.873]C[Anatal [7k\]: да 500км пыль для моряков))
]
;W[kh]WL[52.891]C[Anatal [7k\]: но Сумских я тут не встречал
Ruddick [3k\]: а у вас клуб свой есть ?
Anatal [7k\]: нету
]
;B[ki]BL[1093.114]C[Anatal [7k\]: все по инету
Ruddick [3k\]: ты одинокий боец?
Anatal [7k\]: у нас да
Ruddick [3k\]: моё имя Рудольф, друзья зовут Рудик,. Как тебя звать?
Anatal [7k\]: пока особо никого не присадил тут
]
;W[eh]WL[30]OW[5]C[Anatal [7k\]: Анатолий
Ruddick [3k\]: у нас в Донецке тоэе не было никого..пришлось мне создать клуб
]
;B[fd]BL[1072.34]C[Anatal [7k\]: эт молодец
]
;W[ge]WL[30]OW[5]
;B[qe]BL[1070.158]
;W[re]WL[30]OW[5]
;B[sc]BL[1067.959]C[Ruddick [3k\]: ^_^
Anatal [7k\]: я пока времени не найду то работа то дети
]
;W[sd]WL[30]OW[5]
;B[sb]BL[1066.171]
;W[sf]WL[30]OW[5]
;B[dg]BL[1059.776]
;W[df]WL[30]OW[5]
;B[di]BL[1058.761]C[Ruddick [3k\]: понимаю. Ну одна партия ночью = 30 мин времени
Anatal [7k\]: по инету да
]
;W[fj]WL[30]OW[5]C[Anatal [7k\]: ночью просто сил особо нет
]
;B[dl]BL[1046.659]
;W[el]WL[30]OW[5]
;B[dc]BL[1036.905]C[Ruddick [3k\]: а в реале всё равно тебе в городе негде... разве что ездить о турнирам
Anatal [7k\]: а в реале дорога плюс то се
]
;W[ca]WL[30]OW[5]
;B[da]BL[1034.91]
;W[ba]WL[30]OW[5]C[Anatal [7k\]: да точно
Ruddick [3k\]: то сё... завто позитив.... и то сё предоставляют обычно
]
;B[ed]BL[1022.594]
;W[fe]WL[30]OW[5]C[Ruddick [3k\]: например 20 грн день
Anatal [7k\]: в москву разве что предлагали уже
]
;B[gl]BL[1010.109]C[Ruddick [3k\]: та...в Украине тоже хватает. Например Киев
Anatal [7k\]: у нас пока фанатов таких как я нет
]
;W[mj]WL[30]OW[4]
;B[lj]BL[1002.819]
;W[mh]WL[30]OW[4]
;B[li]BL[1000.713]
;W[lg]WL[30]OW[4]
;B[fs]BL[996.584]C[Ruddick [3k\]: в городе. А в стране есть и довольно сильные
]
;W[ds]WL[30]OW[4]C[Anatal [7k\]: разгребусь с делами буду тоже клуб создавать
]
;B[ad]BL[978.396]C[Anatal [7k\]: в стране верю
]
;W[ac]WL[30]OW[4]
;B[bj]BL[976.29]C[Anatal [7k\]: в россии есть почему у нас нету
]
;W[gj]WL[30]OW[4]
;B[hj]BL[974.359]
;W[gh]WL[30]OW[4]C[Ruddick [3k\]: создать клуб не проблема) Главное найти людей и не опускать руки. Россия большая)))
]
;B[fo]BL[968.846]
;W[eo]WL[30]OW[4]C[Anatal [7k\]: я и то пятых третих япошек побеждаю
]
;B[dm]BL[961.445]
;W[ei]WL[30]OW[4]
;B[oe]BL[957.477]C[Anatal [7k\]: по настроению
]
;W[me]WL[30]OW[4]
;B[md]BL[955.959]
;W[ke]WL[30]OW[4]
;B[kd]BL[954.712]C[Anatal [7k\]: кю имею в ввиду
Ruddick [3k\]: ну я понял)
Ruddick [3k\]: на кю уровнях до 1 дана всё может быть
]
;W[gk]WL[30]OW[3]
;B[np]BL[952.037]C[Anatal [7k\]: да с аком надо еще по лиге сыграть партию
Ruddick [3k\]: я только вошёл в лигу пару дней назад
]
;W[ok]WL[30]OW[2]C[Anatal [7k\]: какая группа
Ruddick [3k\]: твоя
Anatal [7k\]: ))))
AkinfeevK [2k\]: thx
AmbyR00 [16k\]: Thank you...
AmbyR00 [16k\]: I was a bit tired, sorry about that
AkinfeevK [2k\]: ok
])

Last weekend I was away as we were invited to watch my father-in-law defend his doctorate thesis and to the evening party that followed. It was pretty nice to see our son stole the show, and their hearts. And all-in-all we had pretty much fun, even after the parties, when I joined my sister-in-laws and their friend to party at a local pub in their hometown, singing karaoke amidst all the Finnish hillbillies there.

This was fun. I'll be signing off now, but I will be trying to gather some strength so that I could play atleast two games per day. I also feel I will have to play a ranked game every now and then. See you soon! ^^ /gg

Played against 4dan yesterday. Cool. (ASR League)

2010-06-09T13:32:00.002+03:00

The ASR League is proving to be quite interesting as it gives me a possibility to play against really tough opponents, like CGBSpender 4d. The game we played was fun, but I soon came to the realization my chances of living on the board were reducing pretty fast. It wasn't until when we did the review when I was revealed my strategy was flawed. Because of the weird claustrophobic feel I have towards the corners I was concentrating my efforts to make influence towards the center, and lost critical base of support for my "house", because the ceiling couldn't stand in the air by its own. CGBSpender told me that I would have to redirect my efforts to build territory in the corners first, like they were the cornerstone of my house, then the sides, like they were the ceilings, and then the center, the roof.

I kind of get it, but since there are two people on the board fighting for the same spaces that sounds somewhat difficult. I think I still need practice. Also, conquering the fear of small spaces would be nice too.

Here's the game:

(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]AP[CGoban:3]ST[2]
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]KM[0.50]TM[2400]OT[5x30 byo-yomi]
PW[CGBSpender]PB[AmbyR00]WR[4d]BR[16k]DT[2010-06-08]PC[The KGS Go Server at http://www.gokgs.com/]RE[W+Resign]
;B[pd]BL[2393.188]C[CGBSpender [4d?\]: have a good game :)
CGBSpender [4d?\]: asr league
]
;W[dc]WL[2389.809]C[AmbyR00 [16k\]: hi, you too :)
AmbyR00 [16k\]: asr league
]
;B[pq]BL[2374.81]
;W[cp]WL[2370.212]
;B[pk]BL[2369.586]
;W[nc]WL[2363.45]
;B[qf]BL[2358.895]
;W[jd]WL[2345.167]
;B[ep]BL[2316.056]
;W[gq]WL[2338.398]
;B[gp]BL[2295.808]
;W[hp]WL[2330.874]
;B[go]BL[2286.531]
;W[dq]WL[2295.821]
;B[eq]BL[2278.096]
;W[dn]WL[2274.053]
;B[en]BL[2270.316]
;W[dm]WL[2269.173]
;B[em]BL[2266.629]
;W[dl]WL[2257.8]
;B[in]BL[2233.273]
;W[kq]WL[2234.596]
;B[nq]BL[2219.476]
;W[ko]WL[2229.495]
;B[km]BL[2213.391]
;W[hq]WL[2224.64]C[CGBSpender [4d?\]: 16k, really ?
]
;B[lc]BL[2174.847]
;W[ld]WL[2220.118]
;B[jc]BL[2167.519]
;W[kc]WL[2215.688]
;B[kb]BL[2157.067]
;W[kd]WL[2213.67]
;B[mb]BL[2128.755]
;W[mc]WL[2211.065]
;B[lb]BL[2127.087]
;W[jb]WL[2209.301]
;B[nb]BL[2122.633]
;W[oc]WL[2207.48]
;B[ob]BL[2117.443]
;W[pc]WL[2205.391]
;B[ic]BL[2096.685]
;W[ib]WL[2202.445]
;B[hc]BL[2094.718]
;W[hb]WL[2200.722]
;B[gc]BL[2086.946]
;W[gb]WL[2199.013]
;B[ec]BL[1997.325]
;W[fc]WL[2186.212]
;B[fd]BL[1979.884]
;W[fb]WL[2183.204]
;B[dd]BL[1974.859]
;W[eb]WL[2180.935]
;B[ge]BL[1959.069]
;W[ed]WL[2171.467]
;B[ee]BL[1957.577]
;W[qd]WL[2168.479]
;B[pe]BL[1941.453]
;W[rc]WL[2160.484]
;B[qb]BL[1939.56]
;W[pb]WL[2158.128]
;B[pa]BL[1920.282]
;W[qc]WL[2144.537]
;B[rb]BL[1904.673]
;W[sb]WL[2138.311]
;B[ra]BL[1898.882]
;W[me]WL[2119.944]
;B[nd]BL[1884.52]
;W[md]WL[2114.354]
;B[ne]BL[1881.854]
;W[cd]WL[2109.818]
;B[ec]BL[1847.429]
;W[de]WL[2107.024]
;B[ed]BL[1835.877]
;W[ce]WL[2105.852]C[AmbyR00 [16k\]: how's that?
CGBSpender [4d?\]: you seem much stronger
AmbyR00 [16k\]: but I always lose
CGBSpender [4d?\]: not for long, I bet, you should be ranked higher than 10k
]
;B[ch]BL[1685.743]
;W[dg]WL[2101.348]C[AmbyR00 [16k\]: I wonder
]
;B[cg]BL[1616.102]
;W[ef]WL[2097.255]C[AmbyR00 [16k\]: I think I have no chance in this game though :)
]
;B[ff]BL[1580.665]
;W[fg]WL[2089.587]
;B[gg]BL[1577.42]C[CGBSpender [4d?\]: the result doesn't matter :)
]
;W[fh]WL[2080.647]
;B[gh]BL[1568.719]
;W[fi]WL[2076.739]
;B[lh]BL[1536.865]
;W[hf]WL[2061.561]
;B[gf]BL[1498.067]
;W[fk]WL[2048.507]
;B[dr]BL[1452.61]
;W[cr]WL[2045.065]
;B[dp]BL[1449.891]
;W[cq]WL[2039.21]
;B[fr]BL[1415.686]
;W[mq]WL[2028.608]
;B[mp]BL[1398.04]
;W[np]WL[2021.913]
;B[no]BL[1392.287]
;W[op]WL[2019.19]
;B[oq]BL[1390.192]
;W[mo]WL[2017.824]
;B[lp]BL[1378.405]
;W[oo]WL[1999.177]
;B[lq]BL[1347.786]
;W[nn]WL[1994.037]
;B[mr]BL[1340.566]
;W[lo]WL[1985.366]
;B[po]BL[1338.82]
;W[pp]WL[1982.206]
;B[qp]BL[1334.369]
;W[qo]WL[1981.04]
;B[qq]BL[1318.551]
;W[pn]WL[1978.863]
;B[ro]BL[1316.546]
;W[kp]WL[1974.902]
;B[qn]BL[1310.723]
;W[hj]WL[1968.374]
;B[ih]BL[1297.754]
;W[mg]WL[1965.14]
;B[mf]BL[1289.004]
;W[lf]WL[1961.773]
;B[nf]BL[1282.793]
;W[lg]WL[1958.304]
;B[nh]BL[1266.31]
;W[mh]WL[1948.77]
;B[ng]BL[1262.179]
;W[mi]WL[1943.695]
;B[if]BL[1255.981]
;W[he]WL[1932.048]
;B[ie]BL[1252.49]
;W[id]WL[1929.312]
;B[hg]BL[1249.047]
;W[hd]WL[1926.527]
;B[gd]BL[1197.197]
;W[jg]WL[1923.335]
;B[hi]BL[1190.133]
;W[ig]WL[1919.558]
;B[ii]BL[1180.678]
;W[gi]WL[1916.356]
;B[ij]BL[1146.405]
;W[hk]WL[1913.372]
;B[ik]BL[1126.644]
;W[hl]WL[1909.776]
;B[li]BL[1103.847]
;W[lj]WL[1889.249]
;B[kh]BL[1090.134]
;W[jh]WL[1886.139]
;B[kk]BL[1084.467]
;W[oj]WL[1871.988]
;B[pj]BL[1080.608]
;W[oi]WL[1868.672]
;B[oh]BL[1078.717]
;W[pi]WL[1862.11]
;B[mj]BL[1055.879]
;W[mk]WL[1857.386]
;B[kj]BL[1043.41]
;W[nj]WL[1853.566]
;B[kg]BL[1031.037]
;W[kf]WL[1850.35]
;B[ki]BL[1027.188]
;W[qm]WL[1846.121]
;B[rn]BL[1008.486]
;W[ql]WL[1835.772]
;B[qk]BL[1003.739]
;W[ol]WL[1824.759]
;B[ri]BL[969.453]
;W[rg]WL[1814.336]
;B[qh]BL[954.108]
;W[rf]WL[1810.106]C[CGBSpender [4d?\]: what do you think is the most difficult to master in Go ? :)
AmbyR00 [16k\]: uh... my own feelings I guess :)
CGBSpender [4d?\]: hehe, exactly what i was thinking
CGBSpender [4d?\]: that's the good approach to becoming good
CGBSpender [4d?\]: most players don't even realize that
AmbyR00 [16k\]: I tend to go all tied up inside when I get to a point where I can see no way out, and start making bad move after another
AmbyR00 [16k\]: I like this game since usually after a game I'm empty. It's a nice feeling, although I might have lost.
]
;B[qg]BL[659.142]
;W[rk]WL[1803.29]
;B[rj]BL[649.374]C[CGBSpender [4d?\]: i am empty during the game
]
;W[rl]WL[1796.021]
;B[sh]BL[589.298]
;W[qe]WL[1788.631]
;B[sg]BL[568.358]
;W[re]WL[1778.253]
;B[sf]BL[555.629]
;W[lr]WL[1759.866]C[AmbyR00 [16k\]: I'm making small moves :)
AmbyR00 [16k\]: I just realized I'm doing the same as always
]
;B[mq]BL[540.152]C[AmbyR00 [16k\]: and have a feeling the downhill started quite a few moves ago
]
;W[gr]WL[1722.881]
;B[kr]BL[516.975]
;W[jr]WL[1719.147]
;B[ls]BL[512.971]
;W[im]WL[1716.871]
;B[jm]BL[500.23]
;W[hn]WL[1705.094]
;B[il]BL[496.758]
;W[ho]WL[1698.132]
;B[hm]BL[489.175]
;W[gm]WL[1695.426]
;B[im]BL[486.863]
;W[bm]WL[1665.732]
;B[gn]BL[401.544]
;W[fm]WL[1660.427]
;B[eh]BL[335.436]
;W[eg]WL[1656.2]
;B[cf]BL[319.175]
;W[df]WL[1647.166]
;B[ek]BL[287.343]
;W[cj]WL[1640.313]
;B[dj]BL[234.314]
;W[ck]WL[1636.65]
;B[el]BL[216.391]
;W[di]WL[1633.472]
;B[ei]BL[200.432]
;W[dh]WL[1628.974]
;B[ej]BL[147.138]
;W[ll]WL[1615.586]
;B[ji]BL[128.749]
;W[jf]WL[1612.601]
;B[lk]BL[108.093]
;W[lm]WL[1609.153]
;B[jo]BL[31.739]
;W[jp]WL[1604.164]C[AmbyR00 [16k\]: haha... I'm out of time already :)
]
;B[io]BL[608.543]
;W[ir]WL[1599.619]C[CGBSpender [4d?\]: i added
]
;B[ip]BL[597.328]
;W[iq]WL[1596.874]C[AmbyR00 [16k\]: oh :) thank you
]
;B[fq]BL[564.24]
;W[do]WL[1591.093]
;B[eo]BL[556.756]
;W[fs]WL[1587.913]
;B[es]BL[517.162]
;W[gs]WL[1583.055]
;B[fl]BL[509.174]
;W[gl]WL[1579.596]
;B[gj]BL[506.993]
;W[fj]WL[1575.954]
;B[fn]BL[492.354]
;W[gk]WL[1569.016]C[AmbyR00 [16k\]: :(
AmbyR00 [16k\]: should I resign or play to count?
CGBSpender [4d?\]: as you like, i don't mind finishing
AmbyR00 [16k\]: ok... I'll resign, I'll lose anyway
CGBSpender [4d?\]: thank you
AmbyR00 [16k\]: thank you
CGBSpender [4d?\]: let's review
CGBSpender [4d?\]: ?
AmbyR00 [16k\]: ok :)
CGBSpender [4d?\]: so.. first
CGBSpender [4d?\]: look at the board
CGBSpender [4d?\]: and not talking about the dead groups, tell me what you see
AmbyR00 [16k\]: hmm
AmbyR00 [16k\]: the first thing to come to mind
AmbyR00 [16k\]: is the left side white has secured
CGBSpender [4d?\]: right
AmbyR00 [16k\]: if we don't count the left corner, but I think I'd lose if I tried to invade
CGBSpender [4d?\]: what i see at glance is an "aerial play"
AmbyR00 [16k\]: what's that?
CGBSpender [4d?\]: that means, very little on the sides, you invested everything in center
CGBSpender [4d?\]: heavily
])

All-in-all the game was pretty intense, but unlike when playing against higher rank kyu players, I was pretty relaxed through the whole game. Playing against dan ranks rarely makes me feel queasy like if I often do when playing a single digit kyu.

Anyway, going to have some lunch now. Thanks for the game! And I hope I can reach that 10k soon. ^^ See ya! /gg

Some Josekis for OneLiner

2010-06-08T00:40:00.003+03:00

Two nights ago I was dead tired, but I still played a sort of a teaching game for OneLiner 30k, and lost. ;)
In the end of the game I showed him a simple Joseki. But because I had not slept at all the previous night and only taken two 1.5 hour naps during the day I sort of forgot how it should have been done.
So I decided to make three examples of josekis for OneLiner right here on my blog, since he told me earlier he would be following it daily. :)

Three Josekis I have seen when playing:

(;GM[1]FF[4]
CA[UTF-8]
AP[Quarry:0.2.0]
SZ[19]
GN[Some Joseki]
KM[6.5]
PB[Black]
PW[White]
;B[pd];W[qc];B[qd];W[pc];B[oc];W[ob];B[nc];W[nb];B[mc];W[rd]
;B[re];W[rc];B[qf];W[dp];B[fq];W[cn];B[dr];W[cq];B[iq]
(;W[ck];B[dd];W[fc];B[jd];W[pp];B[fd];W[gd];B[fe];W[ec];B[dc]
;W[hc];B[df])
(;W[pp]C[Changed the sequence a bit here according to the tips given by\
dfan, thanks!

These should be correct.]
;B[dd];W[fc];B[fd];W[gd];B[fe];W[ec];B[dc];W[hc];B[df])
)

Tell me if I made any mistakes. I was tired when I played him, and I still seem to be somewhat tired. So without further due, I will head to bed. (The tradition continues.)

Now, study some tsumego and play a lot and you'll get to be 16k like me in no time, OneLiner. ^^ See ya! /gg

It could have been better.

2010-06-06T21:37:00.004+03:00

I seriously need to learn to fight, my ability read isn't getting better if I always feel scared like I did in this game. Ultimately, there were several holes I left for the opponent to exploit just by playing overly cautious game and not having guts to attack where it would have counted. From the very first moves I caved in and saw black gaining major influence while my own grew smaller and smaller.

I spare the commentary, since this was such a embarrassing match. Ok, the guy I played against was strong, but yes even he did leave openings, though shamefully I never even tried to go after them. Not like I even saw them in game. Yeah, and B2 was scary when I realized it reading the comments after the game, I wonder why black didn't use it to his advantage.

There's a saying though according which a loser gains more than the winner. So maybe I did. We can hope so.

Here's the game:

(W) AmbyR00 16k vs. (B) AkinfeevK 2k

(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]AP[CGoban:3]ST[2]
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]KM[6.50]TM[1500]OT[5x30 byo-yomi]
PW[AmbyR00]PB[AkinfeevK]WR[16k]BR[2k]DT[2010-06-05]PC[The KGS Go Server at http://www.gokgs.com/]C[AkinfeevK [2k\]: hi gl
AmbyR00 [16k\]: hi... have a nice one :)
AkinfeevK [2k\]: ASR League
]RE[B+80.50]
;B[pd]BL[1483.432]C[AmbyR00 [16k\]: ASR League
]
;W[dp]WL[1490.486]
;B[pq]BL[1481.364]C[more [5k\]: )))))))))))
]
;W[dc]WL[1471.397]
;B[fq]BL[1478.59]
;W[cn]WL[1469.334]
;B[jp]BL[1476.593]C[more [5k\]: ща 16к мочить будет)
]
;W[dr]WL[1462.074]C[Agzam [-\]: (
]
;B[de]BL[1453.889]
;W[fd]WL[1436.879]
;B[cc]BL[1451.732]
;W[ec]WL[1428.016]
;B[cd]BL[1441.518]
;W[ic]WL[1414.94]
;B[ci]BL[1437.669]
;W[qf]WL[1390.725]
;B[qh]BL[1414.697]
;W[of]WL[1388.075]
;B[nd]BL[1412.829]
;W[mf]WL[1383.456]
;B[lc]BL[1409.649]
;W[ke]WL[1357.555]
;B[rd]BL[1407.498]
;W[qj]WL[1343.313]
;B[rf]BL[1401.264]
;W[rj]WL[1249.769]
;B[qn]BL[1397.156]
;W[rh]WL[1200.053]
;B[er]BL[1386.339]
;W[fo]WL[1128.14]
;B[go]BL[1376.183]
;W[fn]WL[1123.933]
;B[gp]BL[1372.003]
;W[fp]WL[1108.522]
;B[cl]BL[1364.183]
;W[el]WL[1086.956]
;B[jm]BL[1334.443]
;W[nn]WL[1059.709]
;B[no]BL[1319.05]
;W[mn]WL[1029.134]
;B[mo]BL[1317.316]C[H2SO5 [1d\]: what's this contact
]
;W[ol]WL[1011.483]
;B[on]BL[1312.404]C[asm [6k\]: whats this contact ?
H2SO5 [1d\]: o5
asm [6k\]: hi play vs 16k..
]
;W[ll]WL[956.217]
;B[rg]BL[1308.761]C[asm [6k\]: just dont care maybe
]
;W[qg]WL[954.044]
;B[jj]BL[1303.388]
;W[lj]WL[948.838]
;B[ri]BL[1294.651]C[asm [6k\]: *he
]
;W[si]WL[940.088]
;B[sh]BL[1292.734]
;W[sj]WL[938.33]
;B[ph]BL[1287.985]
;W[og]WL[931.864]
;B[oj]BL[1284.265]
;W[oi]WL[916.314]
;B[pi]BL[1259.911]
;W[qi]WL[912.736]
;B[rh]BL[1256.914]
;W[pj]WL[911.568]
;B[oh]BL[1254.89]
;W[ni]WL[910.5]
;B[nh]BL[1254.193]
;W[nj]WL[903.812]
;B[lf]BL[1248.915]
;W[lg]WL[890.259]
;B[mg]BL[1245.615]
;W[le]WL[886.585]
;B[nf]BL[1244.612]
;W[kf]WL[856.097]
;B[ne]BL[1241.257]
;W[mh]WL[854.609]
;B[ng]BL[1239.251]
;W[li]WL[847.404]
;B[ln]BL[1232.718]
;W[lm]WL[835.166]
;B[kn]BL[1226.243]
;W[rm]WL[813.946]
;B[rn]BL[1223.232]
;W[qm]WL[812.294]
;B[om]BL[1219.97]
;W[nm]WL[805.718]
;B[nl]BL[1217.725]
;W[mm]WL[802.988]
;B[pl]BL[1216.516]
;W[ok]WL[801.1]
;B[pm]BL[1215.351]
;W[ql]WL[799.027]
;B[cb]BL[1200.885]
;W[ck]WL[772.125]
;B[bk]BL[1198.314]
;W[dk]WL[755.575]
;B[bm]BL[1192.114]
;W[bn]WL[753.954]
;B[ds]BL[1186.87]
;W[eq]WL[730.738]
;B[fr]BL[1173.888]
;W[cs]WL[729.76]
;B[es]BL[1172.128]
;W[br]WL[717.685]
;B[hq]BL[1169.268]
;W[hm]WL[692.215]
;B[hn]BL[1165.343]C[H2SO5 [1d\]: b2 is like an invitation
]
;W[gn]WL[678.394]
;B[im]BL[1131.659]
;W[hl]WL[671.377]
;B[ik]BL[1124.752]
;W[in]WL[660.321]
;B[ho]BL[1122.61]
;W[ji]WL[627.365]
;B[hk]BL[1119.366]
;W[gk]WL[617.564]
;B[gj]BL[1112.828]
;W[fj]WL[603.888]
;B[gl]BL[1110.595]
;W[gm]WL[598.466]
;B[fk]BL[1109.001]
;W[fl]WL[593.67]
;B[gk]BL[1106.803]
;W[ei]WL[551.179]
;B[cg]BL[1098.698]
;W[eg]WL[549.235]
;B[ii]BL[1092.346]
;W[jh]WL[541.259]
;B[fe]BL[1077.633]
;W[ge]WL[535.799]
;B[ff]BL[1075.875]
;W[fg]WL[532.357]
;B[gf]BL[1073.655]
;W[he]WL[501.177]
;B[ed]BL[1049.385]
;W[gc]WL[499.23]
;B[ej]BL[1046.093]
;W[dj]WL[482.737]
;B[ek]BL[1044.801]
;W[dl]WL[476.246]
;B[di]BL[1042.763]
;W[cm]WL[442.66]
;B[bl]BL[1036.869]
;W[hh]WL[380.606]
;B[gh]BL[1009.056]
;W[gg]WL[365.844]
;B[hg]BL[1007.964]
;W[ig]WL[355.597]
;B[hf]BL[1006.418]
;W[gi]WL[330.545]
;B[ih]BL[1005.109]
;W[hi]WL[306.513]
;B[ij]BL[1003.823]
;W[if]WL[293.396]
;B[df]BL[995.774]
;W[kb]WL[203.807]
;B[lb]BL[992.145]
;W[kc]WL[197.942]
;B[la]BL[988.301]
;W[md]WL[189.032]
;B[mc]BL[986.603]
;W[ld]WL[168.989]
;B[nc]BL[975.048]
;W[ka]WL[163.271]
;B[dd]BL[973.435]
;W[db]WL[161.938]
;B[da]BL[971.202]
;W[ea]WL[159.286]
;B[ca]BL[969.832]
;W[fb]WL[154.548]
;B[bj]BL[946.922]
;W[jl]WL[99.888]
;B[il]BL[942.909]
;W[kk]WL[95.581]
;B[an]BL[939.519]
;W[ao]WL[93.14]
;B[am]BL[938.45]
;W[bp]WL[91.026]
;B[sm]BL[930.57]
;W[sl]WL[86.911]
;B[sn]BL[929.584]
;W[pk]WL[49.308]
;B[oo]BL[924.622]
;W[km]WL[36.292]
;B[jn]BL[917.794]
;W[jk]WL[35.186]
;B[kj]BL[916.667]
;W[ki]WL[21.282]
;B[me]BL[915.125]
;W[lf]WL[19.166]
;B[qc]BL[876.557]
;W[]WL[30]OW[5]
;B[]BL[876.557]TW[fa][ga][ha][ia][ja][eb][gb][hb][ib][jb][fc][hc][jc][gd][hd][id][jd][kd][ie][je][jf][jg][kg][kh][lh][mi][mj][oj][lk][mk][nk][qk][rk][sk][kl][ml][nl][rl][dm][em][fm][dn][en][bo][co][do][eo][ap][cp][ep][aq][bq][cq][dq][ar][cr][as][bs]TB[aa][ba][ma][na][oa][pa][qa][ra][sa][ab][bb][mb][nb][ob][pb][qb][rb][sb][ac][bc][oc][pc][rc][sc][ad][bd][od][qd][sd][ae][be][ce][ee][oe][pe][qe][re][se][af][bf][cf][ef][of][pf][qf][sf][ag][bg][dg][eg][fg][gg][og][pg][qg][sg][ah][bh][ch][dh][eh][fh][hh][ai][bi][ei][fi][gi][hi][aj][fj][hj][ak][al][in][pn][io][jo][ko][lo][po][qo][ro][so][hp][ip][kp][lp][mp][np][op][pp][qp][rp][sp][gq][iq][jq][kq][lq][mq][nq][oq][qq][rq][sq][gr][hr][ir][jr][kr][lr][mr][nr][or][pr][qr][rr][sr][fs][gs][hs][is][js][ks][ls][ms][ns][os][ps][qs][rs][ss]C[AmbyR00 [16k\]: thank you
AkinfeevK [2k\]: thanks
AmbyR00 [16k\]: whew... I feel strained :)
AkinfeevK [2k\]: ))
AmbyR00 [16k\]: hmm...
AmbyR00 [16k\]: anyone want to go over this with me? :)
])

I'll be on KGS today night, hoping to play at least a couple of league games. See you there! /gg ^^

Update: Didn't have a chance to play even one. Maybe it's just a good thing, since I am a bit sleep deprived after last night. I was caught up arguing politics in the Middle East. So I've not slept too much. I'll be heading to bed now, so I can recoup a bit.

Second game

2010-06-05T00:24:00.001+03:00

Today I played my second game in the Advanced Study Room (ASR) League. It was a game against H2SO5 1dan, with no handicap. Needless to say I lost, again, this time by resigning. But in a matter of fact I did get some praise for my fuseki, which while reviewing according to H2SO5 was "dan-like" to a point where he'd think he already lost the game. I find it hard to believe personally, since I honestly don't think I'm that good. After all, I'm just 16k in rank. But maybe it's just me, and I'm only suffering from a mild inferiority complex. I wouldn't know. ^^

Or maybe the tsumegos I do almost every day really help.

Anyway, I'll continue the "long" and "established" tradition of presenting the game in Eidogo, so others too can comment on it.

(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]AP[CGoban:3]ST[2]
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]KM[0.50]TM[1500]OT[5x30 byo-yomi]
PW[H2SO5]PB[AmbyR00]WR[1d]BR[16k]DT[2010-06-04]PC[The KGS Go Server at http://www.gokgs.com/]C[H2SO5 [1d\]: have a good game
AmbyR00 [16k\]: you have a nice game too
]RE[W+Resign]
;B[pd]BL[1482.982]C[H2SO5 [1d\]: asr league
]
;W[dc]WL[1492.204]C[AmbyR00 [16k\]: asr league
]
;B[pp]BL[1471.459]
;W[dp]WL[1487.382]
;B[cn]BL[1454.911]
;W[fq]WL[1483.902]
;B[bp]BL[1452.174]
;W[cq]WL[1480.185]
;B[bk]BL[1439.369]
;W[nc]WL[1472.743]
;B[qf]BL[1436.546]
;W[jd]WL[1468.681]
;B[pb]BL[1418.697]
;W[nq]WL[1452.874]
;B[np]BL[1383.632]
;W[mp]WL[1447.413]
;B[no]BL[1374.228]
;W[qq]WL[1429.259]
;B[qp]BL[1358.732]
;W[pq]WL[1426.082]
;B[oq]BL[1357.141]
;W[or]WL[1423.523]
;B[op]BL[1351.643]
;W[mq]WL[1420.269]
;B[pk]BL[1325.343]
;W[qi]WL[1404.419]
;B[qk]BL[1306.745]
;W[oh]WL[1394.941]
;B[rh]BL[1299.828]
;W[de]WL[1386.034]
;B[of]BL[1281.136]
;W[mh]WL[1367.273]
;B[mf]BL[1274.087]
;W[ld]WL[1353.97]
;B[kg]BL[1253.453]
;W[li]WL[1334.532]
;B[ji]BL[1218.073]
;W[jj]WL[1328.537]
;B[kj]BL[1188.074]
;W[ki]WL[1309.081]
;B[jk]BL[1170.12]
;W[ij]WL[1303.696]
;B[kk]BL[1137.607]
;W[jh]WL[1300.599]
;B[jg]BL[1117.12]
;W[ii]WL[1292.985]
;B[ig]BL[1089.707]
;W[mk]WL[1289.481]
;B[lm]BL[1077.618]
;W[mm]WL[1283.118]
;B[mn]BL[1067.871]
;W[nm]WL[1280.058]C[H2SO5 [1d\]: you have an extremely unusual style
H2SO5 [1d\]: hmm
]
;B[pm]BL[999.8]C[H2SO5 [1d\]: how to say.. some moves are as powerful as a 3d's, and not only one, some entire sequences actually, while some others are 16k
H2SO5 [1d\]: this is very odd :)
H2SO5 [1d\]: perhaps that's because you are taught very well
]
;W[ln]WL[1231.089]C[AmbyR00 [16k\]: thank you... but I don't have any teachers, I'm self taught, unless the kgs teaching games count :)
H2SO5 [1d\]: sure they do
]
;B[km]BL[949.565]
;W[kn]WL[1221.124]
;B[jn]BL[943.722]
;W[kp]WL[1215.286]
;B[ko]BL[933.749]
;W[lo]WL[1212.448]
;B[jo]BL[928.748]
;W[hl]WL[1206.197]
;B[il]BL[921.611]
;W[hm]WL[1203.684]
;B[im]BL[912.622]
;W[hn]WL[1201.628]
;B[mj]BL[828.148]
;W[lj]WL[1193.937]
;B[lk]BL[820.071]
;W[nk]WL[1191.966]
;B[hk]BL[765.16]
;W[ik]WL[1188.427]
;B[gk]BL[760.673]
;W[hp]WL[1172.382]
;B[jp]BL[732.829]
;W[kq]WL[1165.276]
;B[ho]BL[686.3]
;W[go]WL[1162.011]
;B[io]BL[682.179]
;W[gp]WL[1142.459]
;B[iq]BL[673.427]
;W[jr]WL[1137.597]
;B[gn]BL[643.224]
;W[fm]WL[1132.583]
;B[gm]BL[639.941]
;W[gl]WL[1130.584]
;B[fn]BL[633.275]
;W[en]WL[1127.838]C[AmbyR00 [16k\]: ah... I tricked myself in a ladder :)
]
;B[fl]BL[587.188]
;W[fo]WL[1125.329]
;B[el]BL[568.896]
;W[gd]WL[1103.256]
;B[hi]BL[533.55]
;W[hh]WL[1078.382]
;B[ih]BL[512.766]
;W[hj]WL[1075.676]
;B[gi]BL[447.157]
;W[gj]WL[1072.885]
;B[fk]BL[446.22]
;W[fi]WL[1070.656]
;B[gh]BL[439.433]
;W[fh]WL[1069.514]
;B[hg]BL[437.503]
;W[gg]WL[1067.406]
;B[hh]BL[432.898]
;W[fj]WL[1066.329]
;B[fg]BL[425.71]
;W[gf]WL[1064.871]
;B[eg]BL[423.487]
;W[dj]WL[1062.353]
;B[ej]BL[420.403]
;W[di]WL[1059.267]
;B[ei]BL[418.921]
;W[eh]WL[1057.632]
;B[bi]BL[385.394]
;W[lf]WL[1054.178]
;B[lg]BL[372.647]
;W[mg]WL[1052.656]
;B[le]BL[365.303]
;W[nf]WL[1051.04]
;B[me]BL[356.095]
;W[ne]WL[1041.047]
;B[md]BL[345.32]
;W[mc]WL[1026.282]
;B[kd]BL[339.532]
;W[lc]WL[1022.717]
;B[kc]BL[317.216]
;W[ke]WL[1018.968]
;B[kf]BL[315.027]
;W[je]WL[1016.61]
;B[nd]BL[297.585]
;W[od]WL[1013.963]
;B[lf]BL[293.702]
;W[oc]WL[1009.777]
;B[pc]BL[280.415]
;W[oe]WL[1006.545]
;B[pe]BL[276.34]
;W[rq]WL[992.378]
;B[mo]BL[248.626]
;W[lp]WL[989.146]
;B[rp]BL[246.459]
;W[cl]WL[984.837]
;B[dk]BL[223.151]
;W[ck]WL[981.36]
;B[cj]BL[204.747]
;W[dl]WL[936.421]C[AmbyR00 [16k\]: oh well
AmbyR00 [16k\]: it was fun :)
H2SO5 [1d\]: thank you
AmbyR00 [16k\]: thank you
])

And almost as if it were another tradition of mine, I'll be heading to bed next. Mister sleepyhead is sleepy. See ya soon! ^^ /gg

Yesterday's game. (ASR League)

2010-06-04T15:58:00.001+03:00

Last night I played my first game in the ASR League, between me and Rgloaguen 5k. It went fairly well, considering I was playing a non-handicapped match against a 11 ranks stronger player than myself, and although I lost I pretty much liked the game. Yes I made some glaring errors now that I think about it, but I figure doing so was a learning process in itself. Can't learn if not by making errors. Scoring-wise white won by 61.5 moku. I was later told it was a pretty good game considering the difference in our ranks.

I'll add the game here (sans review) so people can give comments and advice if they want.

(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]AP[CGoban:3]ST[2]
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]KM[0.50]TM[1800]OT[5x30 byo-yomi]
PW[Rgloaguen]PB[AmbyR00]WR[5k]BR[16k]DT[2010-06-03]PC[The KGS Go Server at http://www.gokgs.com/]C[AmbyR00 [16k\]: hey, should it be ranked?
Rgloaguen [5k\]: ASR League
Rgloaguen [5k\]: !?
Rgloaguen [5k\]: sorry
Rgloaguen [5k\]: ?
AmbyR00 [16k\]: again?
Rgloaguen [5k\]: it is an amicaame le g
Rgloaguen [5k\]: amicale game
Rgloaguen [5k\]: Free
AmbyR00 [16k\]: asr league
]RE[W+61.50]
;B[pd]BL[1710.628]C[AmbyR00 [16k\]: have a nice game then :)
Rgloaguen [5k\]: good game
]
;W[dd]WL[1787.108]
;B[pq]BL[1709.096]
;W[dp]WL[1784.93]
;B[pk]BL[1707.346]
;W[nd]WL[1778.784]
;B[nc]BL[1695.923]
;W[mc]WL[1776.688]
;B[nb]BL[1685.907]C[Amakaresu [3k\]: Wow, 16kyu who uses high chinese fuseki.. impresive ^_^
]
;W[mb]WL[1761.504]C[Fassal [12k\]: thats amby for you :)
]
;B[pc]BL[1681.54]
;W[ne]WL[1740.658]
;B[pf]BL[1680.133]
;W[hd]WL[1726.096]
;B[cn]BL[1674.918]
;W[cl]WL[1721.14]
;B[en]BL[1665.92]
;W[fq]WL[1717.588]C[Amakaresu [3k\]: amby looks like sandbagger ^_^
]
;B[go]BL[1636.367]
;W[hq]WL[1709.993]
;B[ip]BL[1603.817]C[Fassal [12k\]: i wouldnt say so hes just a strong 16k
]
;W[po]WL[1701.343]
;B[qo]BL[1589.139]
;W[qn]WL[1697.529]
;B[ro]BL[1580.793]
;W[pn]WL[1689.137]C[Amakaresu [3k\]: I think he something around 5-8kyu
]
;B[rn]BL[1572.119]C[Amakaresu [3k\]: but this is okay anyway )
]
;W[oq]WL[1680.881]C[Fassal [12k\]: amby?
]
;B[or]BL[1539.486]C[Amakaresu [3k\]: yes
]
;W[pp]WL[1672.961]
;B[qq]BL[1535.084]
;W[qp]WL[1659.581]C[Amakaresu [3k\]: but may im wrong and he good only in fuseki
]
;B[nq]BL[1508.583]C[Amakaresu [3k\]: may be*
]
;W[op]WL[1650.086]
;B[mr]BL[1491.07]C[Fassal [12k\]: :(
]
;W[rp]WL[1636.042]
;B[rq]BL[1486.618]
;W[rm]WL[1632.362]C[Amakaresu [3k\]: im wrong )
Fassal [12k\]: his fuseki is really though good
]
;B[iq]BL[1451.728]
;W[hp]WL[1628.984]
;B[ho]BL[1446.25]
;W[io]WL[1626.882]
;B[hm]BL[1440.759]
;W[jo]WL[1623.574]C[Fassal [12k\]: ouch
]
;B[kq]BL[1420.067]
;W[ci]WL[1619.02]
;B[bp]BL[1386.412]
;W[cq]WL[1614.895]
;B[bq]BL[1381.984]
;W[br]WL[1613.828]
;B[cp]BL[1374.177]
;W[dq]WL[1611.911]
;B[do]BL[1372.04]
;W[qi]WL[1604.79]C[Fassal [12k\]: ah hes not good with invasions
]
;B[qg]BL[1332.609]
;W[oi]WL[1602.23]
;B[nk]BL[1330.688]
;W[mi]WL[1597.328]
;B[lj]BL[1325.028]
;W[mj]WL[1594.834]
;B[mk]BL[1321.937]
;W[lk]WL[1593.659]C[Amakaresu [3k\]: Yeah
]
;B[ll]BL[1302.031]
;W[kk]WL[1590.239]
;B[jm]BL[1296.348]
;W[ml]WL[1575.242]C[Nastusha [6k\]: блин, и мне с ними потом играть -_-
Amakaresu [3k\]: С кем из инх?
Nastusha [6k\]: эм
Amakaresu [3k\]: из них*
]
;B[nl]BL[1263.823]C[Nastusha [6k\]: с обоими?
Amakaresu [3k\]: Ну, белого ты должна выйграть
Nastusha [6k\]: ы
Nastusha [6k\]: белого?)
Amakaresu [3k\]: Сама посмотри как он тупил в фусеках
Nastusha [6k\]: хм
Nastusha [6k\]: ой
Nastusha [6k\]: чтот не на то посомтрела
Amakaresu [3k\]: Ты его в фусеках должна обыграть минимум на 15 очков!
Nastusha [6k\]: думала белыми 4 д с вопросиком
Nastusha [6k\]: ну
Nastusha [6k\]: ты же знаешь как я проигрываю в тюбане и йосе много..
]
;W[mm]WL[1494.766]C[Nastusha [6k\]: ой
Nastusha [6k\]: дак ч вообще 16кю...
Amakaresu [3k\]: Ну чёрного ты тем более обязана выйграть
Amakaresu [3k\]: :)
Nastusha [6k\]: хм
Nastusha [6k\]: жесть
Nastusha [6k\]: посмотрела начало
Nastusha [6k\]: забавно)
]
;B[ln]BL[1196.864]
;W[nm]WL[1487.841]C[Nastusha [6k\]: ну так не чесно маленьких избивать..
Nastusha [6k\]: нужно с равными играть..
Amakaresu [3k\]: я сегодня равному проиграл (
]
;B[no]BL[1140.78]C[Amakaresu [3k\]: Он мегатесудзи замутил на 15 ходов
Amakaresu [3k\]: ужс..
]
;W[nn]WL[1457.967]C[Nastusha [6k\]: эм
Nastusha [6k\]: кто?
]
;B[on]BL[1116.644]
;W[oo]WL[1441.765]
;B[om]BL[1108.702]
;W[ol]WL[1439.406]C[Amakaresu [3k\]: Lovrokic
]
;B[np]BL[1098.109]
;W[kj]WL[1428.811]C[Amakaresu [3k\]: я думаю он посильнее 2кю играет
]
;B[hr]BL[1068.232]
;W[gr]WL[1425.788]
;B[ir]BL[1063.99]
;W[fp]WL[1419.677]
;B[gp]BL[1054.227]
;W[gq]WL[1415.956]C[Amakaresu [3k\]: Всё, пошёл играть
]
;B[fo]BL[1037.34]
;W[lm]WL[1411.895]
;B[kl]BL[1019.688]
;W[km]WL[1409.603]
;B[kn]BL[1010.026]
;W[jl]WL[1399.494]
;B[in]BL[961.783]
;W[fl]WL[1354.492]
;B[ik]BL[901.144]
;W[il]WL[1350.04]
;B[hl]BL[890.578]
;W[hk]WL[1340.755]
;B[hj]BL[871.519]
;W[gk]WL[1337.881]
;B[ii]BL[865.039]C[CGBSpender [4d?\]: where is chinese fuseki gone ?
]
;W[gi]WL[1326.54]
;B[kh]BL[843.308]
;W[ki]WL[1320.467]
;B[jh]BL[834.571]
;W[mo]WL[1313.237]
;B[mn]BL[814.56]
;W[jn]WL[1309.945]C[Nastusha [6k\]: >:D
]
;W[jp]WL[1303.006]C[sekoj [1d?\]: you never know you never know :P
]
;B[kp]BL[721.747]
;W[im]WL[1300.102]C[CGBSpender [4d?\]: heh
]
;B[pm]BL[664.241]
;W[pl]WL[1295.829]C[sekoj [1d?\]: just got to get black less iterested in stones ^^
sekoj [1d?\]: +n in there somewhere :p
]
;B[cc]BL[633.842]
;W[cd]WL[1288.972]
;B[dc]BL[632.337]
;W[ec]WL[1287.698]
;B[eb]BL[630.978]
;W[fc]WL[1286.585]
;B[fb]BL[628.13]
;W[gc]WL[1282.108]
;B[bd]BL[626.606]
;W[be]WL[1279.386]
;B[bc]BL[624.856]
;W[ce]WL[1277.979]
;B[gb]BL[618.101]
;W[hb]WL[1275.016]C[sekoj [1d?\]: :o c15 go 5kyu
CGBSpender [4d?\]: gotta play b7
]
;B[fm]BL[562.768]C[LaiLaiHei [5k\]: The next couple of months are going to make for interesting games while the league normalizes :)
]
;W[el]WL[1265.77]C[CGBSpender [4d?\]: yes
CGBSpender [4d?\]: alive alive
sekoj [1d?\]: should have been white f17 to kill black on lower side
CGBSpender [4d?\]: now ressurect the center
]
;B[gl]BL[528.332]C[sekoj [1d?\]: centre how? !
CGBSpender [4d?\]: i don't know :)
]
;W[hn]WL[1221.282]C[sekoj [1d?\]: well you have a few peeps to play with ... but its dead :((
]
;B[gm]BL[508.235]
;W[gj]WL[1217.046]C[CGBSpender [4d?\]: it can probably live
]
;B[hh]BL[464.121]C[CGBSpender [4d?\]: o13 to start
]
;W[gg]WL[1209.928]
;B[je]BL[454.186]
;W[if]WL[1204.034]
;B[jf]BL[450.504]
;W[ig]WL[1200.339]C[sekoj [1d?\]: hmm now there is a little chance
]
;B[mg]BL[414.877]
;W[ng]WL[1183.041]
;B[mf]BL[389.175]
;W[nf]WL[1177.395]
;B[md]BL[365.5]
;W[ld]WL[1172.277]
;B[me]BL[360.85]
;W[kc]WL[1162.3]
;B[jc]BL[333.768]
;W[jb]WL[1155.868]
;B[ic]BL[330.457]
;W[ib]WL[1150.769]
;B[kd]BL[321.996]
;W[hc]WL[1140.058]C[CGBSpender [4d?\]: live
sekoj [1d?\]: ye
CGBSpender [4d?\]: ^^
sekoj [1d?\]: 5k being kind or?
sekoj [1d?\]: well done black if he sees it :)
]
;B[kb]BL[268.427]C[sekoj [1d?\]: >.>
]
;W[lc]WL[1133.802]C[sekoj [1d?\]: still ok
]
;B[le]BL[250.801]
;W[ie]WL[1129.422]
;B[jd]BL[248.132]C[CGBSpender [4d?\]: oh
sekoj [1d?\]: !!!!
CGBSpender [4d?\]: n19 dudes
]
;W[bm]WL[1117.627]C[sekoj [1d?\]: scary :P
]
;B[bn]BL[222.606]
;W[rh]WL[1113.76]
;B[lb]BL[204.656]
;W[rf]WL[1108.593]
;B[rg]BL[203.471]
;W[sg]WL[1105.681]
;B[qh]BL[200.07]
;W[ri]WL[1102.805]
;B[rd]BL[179.563]
;W[qe]WL[1099.134]
;B[qf]BL[168.457]
;W[re]WL[1095.359]
;B[qd]BL[163.982]
;W[pe]WL[1093.814]
;B[oe]BL[148.248]
;W[od]WL[1084.129]
;B[of]BL[122.981]
;W[sf]WL[1068.988]
;B[nh]BL[49.929]C[sekoj [1d?\]: nice thought but not quite ^^
]
;W[og]WL[1011.968]
;B[sp]BL[19.628]
;W[qm]WL[1007.111]
;B[so]BL[0.389]
;W[ih]WL[995.946]
;B[oh]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[ph]WL[992.294]
;B[mh]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[ji]WL[986.365]
;B[jg]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[aq]WL[975.03]
;B[ap]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[ar]WL[973.761]
;B[ni]BL[30]OB[3]
;W[nj]WL[968.246]
;B[ok]BL[30]OB[3]
;W[oj]WL[955.219]C[sekoj [1d?\]: a missed chance to re-live the chinese there :P
]
;B[am]BL[30]OB[2]
;W[al]WL[951.734]
;B[an]BL[30]OB[2]
;W[cm]WL[945.298]
;B[dm]BL[30]OB[2]
;W[em]WL[937.938]
;B[gn]BL[30]OB[2]
;W[dl]WL[932.807]
;B[eo]BL[30]OB[1]
;W[jq]WL[906.044]
;B[jr]BL[30]OB[1]
;W[sm]WL[901.64]
;B[oc]BL[30]OB[1]
;W[pg]WL[896.848]
;B[ma]BL[30]OB[1]
;W[ga]WL[893.228]
;B[fa]BL[30]OB[1]
;W[ha]WL[889.905]
;B[da]BL[30]OB[1]
;W[ad]WL[887.166]
;B[ac]BL[30]OB[1]
;W[ae]WL[886.102]
;B[ja]BL[30]OB[1]
;W[sd]WL[874.173]
;B[sc]BL[30]OB[1]
;W[se]WL[871.742]
;B[rb]BL[30]OB[1]
;W[lh]WL[869.051]
;B[lg]BL[30]OB[1]
;W[li]WL[867.339]
;B[cr]BL[30]OB[1]
;W[dr]WL[864.011]
;B[gs]BL[30]OB[1]
;W[fs]WL[861.344]
;B[hs]BL[30]OB[1]
;W[sn]WL[854.117]
;B[sq]BL[30]OB[1]
;W[ep]WL[849.32]
;B[ka]BL[30]OB[1]
;W[in]WL[844.56]
;B[kr]BL[30]OB[1]
;W[dn]WL[841.09]
;B[co]BL[30]OB[1]
;W[dm]WL[838.051]C[sekoj [1d?\]: minus points yay
sekoj [1d?\]: and black missed a chance on lower left group ;x
]
;B[]BL[30]OB[1]
;W[]WL[838.051]TW[ed][fd][gd][de][ee][fe][ge][he][oe][af][bf][cf][df][ef][ff][gf][hf][of][pf][qf][ag][bg][cg][dg][eg][fg][hg][qg][rg][ah][bh][ch][dh][eh][fh][gh][hh][qh][sh][ai][bi][di][ei][fi][hi][ii][pi][si][aj][bj][cj][dj][ej][fj][hj][ij][jj][lj][pj][qj][rj][sj][ak][bk][ck][dk][ek][fk][ik][jk][mk][nk][ok][pk][qk][rk][sk][bl][kl][ll][nl][ql][rl][sl][jm][om][pm][on][eq][cr][er][fr][as][bs][cs][ds][es]TB[aa][ba][ca][ea][la][na][oa][pa][qa][ra][sa][ab][bb][cb][db][mb][ob][pb][qb][sb][kc][lc][mc][qc][rc][ld][ke][kf][lf][kg][fn][ao][bo][lo][mo][lp][mp][lq][mq][lr][nr][pr][qr][rr][sr][is][js][ks][ls][ms][ns][os][ps][qs][rs][ss]C[AmbyR00 [16k\]: thank you
Rgloaguen [5k\]: thx
])

My first ASR League rankings have also been recorded, be sure to check them out every once in a while! :)

I really want to play again soon, but before I do, I will take a small breather and go practice some aikido. I'll be back later tonight though. ^^ See ya! /gg

So I applied to the ASR League. (And unrelated to that, played poorly today.)

2010-05-30T02:39:00.000+03:00

Having played and chatted a lot with Fassal @ KGS, he once mentioned the ASR League, and said joining and playing in it might give a boost to my go learning. So I got interested, and learned that it was actually a free go-school for Internet players, designed after the japanese and korean insei leagues.
After pondering about this for a while, I finally asked to be added to the league yesterday as it sounded plenty of fun.

I'm now in the waiting list, and on the 1th of July the games are actually supposed to start.

About those games... I have possibly risen too hastily in my rankings since today all of my games have gone bad. Nothing seems to work, and every move I make seems to lack a purpose. In short, I suck. Again. Lost almost all of the games today and even the one I did win tasted like sour grapes since the opponent was winning, but lost by time. I actually feel like I'm getting dumber as I'm being beaten by 22. kyus, myself being 16k.

Thus a change of course is direly needed.

I decided I have to take a few days off, sleep more, and have a tsumego holiday doing nothing but tsumego for a while. So when I get back, it'll be with some new determination. Hopefully having enough punch to beat a game or two in the ASR League too. ^^ See ya! /gg

My first goban!

2010-05-22T23:31:00.002+03:00

I finally got myself a real, concrete flippable 19x19 + 13x13 go-board! It took a while but I'm ecstatic, even if it's only plywood.
I got a call yesterday from the game shop I ordered it from, that I could pick it up, so I did without waiting. I've already played a couple of "teaching games" with my son, who btw. isn't too bad a player although he has never really played on a big board (13x13) before. Here's a recreation of a game I played online yesterday night:

I'm not particularly proud of the game, but it was actually kind of fun, albeit scary. It just happened that the opponent changed from a beginner kyu level to a 1dan in the middle game. I had to resign at this point since I was crushed. ^^

Ok, turned out the 1dan took over his brother's game when it was getting a bit too difficult. Since I didn't know what had happened I just noticed the game play changed from sheer random to highly coordinated, and I was wondering if someone had been toying with me. I was apologized for it though, and the guy I played turned out to be a good guy after all. He reviewed the game for me and told me his brother would like to play me again some time. I also ended up apologizing his brother since I did play a bit harsh, aggressive kind of game against him.

Afterwards I should've gone to bed, but I ended up showing the game to other friends on KGS, and yet when I almost had gone, I noticed there was a 3dan checking the game out I found myself getting reviewed again and taught about liberties. Precious stuff. Now, I'm about to go to bed again because tomorrow I have day two of an aikido seminar by sensei Micheline Tissier 6dan, and it starts at 10am. It's 23:30 and I'm still awake it seems... See ya soon! ^^ /gg

Tsumego

2010-05-12T01:22:00.003+03:00

I didn't know solving go problems would have such a great impact on the game play. I recently had a losing streak and I had to get away from the game for a while. So I spent some time at goproblems.com when I normally would have played on KGS, and relaxed.
Had some exercise doing qigong and aikido too and spent some more time with my son, mainly teaching him to ride a bicicle and scouring the small forests together. I'm doing pretty good in the improving department. More of that after this...

I recently learned I am going to be a father, again. Here's a picture of the little newcomer:

Cute, ain't it? :) I'm going to teach my kids everything I know about Go, and maybe they grow a bit smarter and capable than I've managed to be. Hopefully everything works out, and I think, maybe they will be assisting me with the café when I finally have succeeded bringing it about. Who knows?=)

So I played altogether 3 great games yesterday and today, one of them with a 3d (which I lost mind you), the other two were against one 14k yesterday (win by resigning) and a 16k today (loss by time, although it was a win in every other way). I finally feel like I'm starting to understand the game more, and even being able to count the liberties to the point I won't get butchered every time I think I have a major capture on sight. And my corner play has improved a lot. I love it. Tsumego is really worth doing.

Oh... And I also ordered myself a goban w/ stones via a local games shop. Waiting anxiously for it to arrive.

But now, I'll just say good night since it's already over 1:22 (am) here. I have an early morning tomorrow. See ya! ^^ /gg

I'm back!

2010-04-07T23:00:00.001+03:00

We did a little visit to my parents' this easter, so I had to take a small break from writing. There wasn't really very much to report since I didn't play any games while I was away. I managed to get my mother, and my wife somewhat interested to Go when I showed them some basic tsumego from The Interactive Way To Go -pages. Hopefully I can play against them too some day.

Due to the circumstances surrounding my introduction to Go, I was delighted to also find out most of the games in the Hikaru's Go series, both manga and anime, have been identified and even have the kifus available as SGF-files. It'll be fun to study those games more in-depth than was depicted in the series, although I read they are not always 100 % same. But anyways I think I now have some study material to go through with. I might even learn something new.

I tried playing a small game a couple of days ago, but didn't have that much time on my hands so I was limited to only playing on a 13x13 board on KGS. I lost, badly. Not only was the opponent better than me, I made some pretty bad mistakes. I think it might have something to do with the fact I haven't had very much sleep this easter. I will have to try to fix my sleep rhythms so that I wouldn't get so dazed out and could concentrate better. Thus, no games for me today. I'll get some sleep first.

See ya soon! ^^ /gg!

Back on track.

2010-04-01T00:43:00.002+03:00

My small break didn't go to waste. I'm definitely feeling more serene now while playing, even when losing. I'm making progress now, and I even got commended today which feels pretty good.
No I'm not going to let it get to my head.

It looks as though the ranking has stabilized somewhat, I haven't seen it jump more than one figure anymore if I've lost or won a game with a big difference.

Started going to aikido again, long time since I've last been there, I thought that I'd buy myself a board and stones and ask my sensei if I could possibly use the dojo at free hours, and organise Go game events for those in our dojo who might be interested in Go. I could probably teach them some basics like atari, capturing game, eyes and ladders. How does that sound?

I'm a bit tired now, so I'll be writing again either tomorrow, or on the weekend.

See ya guys soon! gg! ^^

I have a dream.

2010-03-30T22:28:00.002+03:00

I'm going to play one game before I go to sleep. I came here to mention a blog post I wrote on my other blog where I try to tackle the motivational aspects of my life. I have a feeling that if I do not eventually do something to doing nothing I might end up, well, doing nothing for the rest of my life.
So now that I already had a plan (mentioned earlier) that I had problems with and didn't quite know how to execute before, I guess all it really needs is patience and hard work. Maybe I should start by doing what I do now. Blogging. It seems to come pretty naturally anyway.

So, concerning my stated goals and the plan. I have already applied for a carpentry course, and a friend of mine has promised to teach me computer graphics using Inkscape, GIMP and Blender. And designing a goban with Blender was one of the first things I requested, and that he actually wanted to teach me to do. I think I can use that in order to build a board or two of my own. And eventually, when I have reached shodan and have become more experienced in making gobans. I might even incorporate them into the idea of a Go café I had earlier.

I need some sort of a job though, to support my project. Nothing comes without money these days. Unless of course, the blogging part suddenly starts paying off. (I'm not a big fan of ads though.) I've actually thought about doing some videos while I'm at it, but I've not yet gathered enough courage. Perhaps it will happen some day. I also need to figure what the heck I'm going to do or go on about in them. I'd appreciate feedback on this. If you have ideas let me know! Maybe I could do some investigation into the Finnish Go clubs or something, who knows.

But, um. Looks as if I spent more time I originally allotted for writing this, I wonder if I have time for one quick game. Hope seeing you soon! ^^ gg!

My first self-review.

2010-03-28T19:54:00.003+03:00

This is bad, hopefully it's not a total failure. It looks as though I've just gone through different scenarios where both of the players are equally bad, and ended up a lot like many of my games with lower or similar ranks than myself. But I think I managed to learn something from this, although I don't yet really know what it is. It's a funny thing when you sort of get it, but yet don't, although maybe some sub-conscious element is still working overtime to crack the answers.

At least I think I now know how I can find and review some of the errors in my games. That is, going them through after every or so game and go through the situations again and try different ways to play. Perhaps it will eventually work out and everything falls into place. I hope. Well, without further ado, here's the review:

(I was black)

(;GM[1]FF[4]
CA[UTF-8]
AP[Quarry:0.2.0]
SZ[19]
ST[2]
PC[The KGS Go Server at http://www.gokgs.com/]
DT[2010-03-22]
RU[Japanese]
HA[6]
KM[0.5]
TM[600.0]
OT[5x30 byo-yomi]
PB[AmbyR00]
BR[19k]
PW[Chameau20]
WR[10k]
RE[W+73.5]
AB[dd][pd][dj][pj][dp][pp]
;W[nq]C[AmbyR00 [19k\]: hello :)
Chameau20 [10k\]: hello gg
My Review: I wonder if my Joseki skills suck, but considering white's \
attack at the corner I might have had better chance keeping it by \
answering P3 instead.]
WL[595.206]
(;B[qn]BL[582.997];W[qq]WL[591.473];B[qp]BL[577.106];W[pq]
WL[589.821];B[np]BL[575.383];W[mp]WL[588.032];B[no]BL[566.795]
;W[mo]WL[575.778];B[jp]BL[563.703];W[hp]WL[569.557];B[jn]
BL[554.748];W[io]WL[567.976];B[jo]BL[542.993];W[kq]WL[565.138]
;B[iq]BL[524.564];W[cn]WL[562.606]
(;B[en]BL[512.664];W[do]WL[560.394];B[eo]BL[507.196];W[ep]
WL[559.221];B[fp]BL[497.8];W[eq]WL[557.076];B[fq]BL[496.256]
;W[dq]WL[555.583]
(;B[go]BL[485.132];W[cl]WL[551.667]
(;B[ck]BL[480.542];W[el]WL[549.623];B[ek]BL[479.249];W[fk]
WL[548.113];B[fj]BL[468.893];W[gk]WL[545.372];B[gj]BL[467.321]
;W[fm]WL[542.768]
(;B[gn]BL[460.477];W[hj]WL[537.476];B[hi]BL[453.264];W[ei]
WL[528.76];B[hk]BL[436.195];W[ej]WL[525.477]
(;B[dk]BL[421.591];W[ij]WL[521.924];B[gl]BL[399.99];W[fl]
WL[515.017];B[fi]BL[398.392];W[fh]WL[510.014];B[gi]BL[375.462]
;W[hl]WL[503.351];B[eh]BL[370.377];W[ik]WL[490.476];B[gh]
BL[341.275];W[hn]WL[487.48];B[gm]BL[337.557];W[hm]WL[483.838]
;B[in]BL[325.712];W[hq]WL[476.275];B[ip]BL[320.427];W[ho]
WL[473.11];B[lm]BL[254.062];W[mm]WL[471.259];B[lk]BL[243.519]
;W[kl]WL[466.928];B[jl]BL[234.785];W[km]WL[463.703];B[jm]
BL[233.37];W[kn]WL[461.366];B[ko]BL[219.754];W[ln]WL[458.548]
;B[ll]BL[216.474];W[jk]WL[457.035];B[ki]BL[198.081];W[nn]
WL[450.115];B[on]BL[192.776];W[om]WL[447.154];B[pm]BL[178.481]
;W[oo]WL[445.689];B[op]BL[169.545];W[pn]WL[444.223];B[po]
BL[167.745];W[on]WL[442.526];B[nl]BL[164.664];W[oq]WL[435.03]
;B[ol]BL[151.792];W[qm]WL[432.349];B[pl]BL[142.839];W[rn]
C[AmbyR00 [19k\]: no
Chameau20 [10k\]: Sorry...
AmbyR00 [19k\]: hardly anything black has, lives]WL[429.877]
;B[ql]C[Chameau20 [10k\]: you still have a big influence]
BL[62.902];W[rm]WL[417.486];B[rl]BL[48.468];W[nc]WL[402.502]
(;B[oc]BL[34.891];W[nd]WL[397.199];B[od]BL[30.009];W[kc]WL[394.712]
;B[ne]BL[28.176];W[me]WL[392.266];B[nf]BL[10.086];W[le]WL[390.339]
;B[pf]BL[30.0]OB[5];W[fc]WL[388.163];B[ec]BL[30.0]OB[5];W[fd]
WL[386.564];B[ed]BL[30.0]OB[5];W[ic]WL[384.032];B[fe]BL[30.0]
OB[5];W[ge]WL[379.861];B[ff]BL[30.0]OB[5];W[he]WL[378.573]
;B[gf]BL[30.0]OB[5];W[jg]WL[375.374];B[if]BL[30.0]OB[5];W[jf]
WL[373.243];B[ig]BL[30.0]OB[5];W[ie]WL[370.301];B[kg]BL[30.0]
OB[5];W[lg]WL[365.47];B[kh]BL[30.0]OB[5];W[lf]WL[361.845]
;B[kf]BL[30.0]OB[5];W[ke]WL[359.768];B[jh]BL[30.0]OB[5];W[je]
WL[358.611];B[mg]BL[30.0]OB[5];W[lh]WL[356.455];B[mh]BL[30.0]
OB[5];W[li]WL[355.409];B[lj]BL[30.0]OB[5];W[mi]WL[354.484]
;B[ni]BL[30.0]OB[5];W[mj]WL[352.753];B[nj]BL[30.0]OB[5];W[mk]
WL[351.628];B[ml]BL[30.0]OB[5];W[mn]WL[346.87];B[lq]BL[30.0]
OB[5];W[lp]WL[342.344];B[oh]BL[30.0]OB[5];W[nb]WL[339.698]
;B[ob]BL[30.0]OB[5];W[eb]WL[337.812];B[db]BL[30.0]OB[5];W[fa]
WL[336.635];B[da]BL[30.0]OB[5];W[bl]WL[332.461];B[bk]BL[30.0]
OB[5];W[dl]WL[331.103];B[dh]BL[30.0]OB[5];W[ii]WL[328.586]
;B[ih]BL[30.0]OB[5];W[oa]WL[317.941];B[pa]BL[30.0]OB[5];W[na]
WL[316.64];B[qb]BL[30.0]OB[5];W[ea]WL[315.276]
(;B[jj]BL[30.0]OB[4];W[kk]WL[310.961];B[kj]BL[30.0]OB[4]
;W[ak]WL[309.084];B[aj]BL[30.0]OB[4];W[al]WL[307.816]
(;B[ef]BL[30.0]OB[3];W[bj]WL[302.693];B[bi]BL[30.0]OB[3]
;W[ai]WL[300.602];B[ah]BL[30.0]OB[3];W[aj]WL[298.723];B[ch]
BL[30.0]OB[3];W[ci]WL[294.319];B[bh]BL[30.0]OB[3];W[cj]WL[291.428]
;B[di]BL[30.0]OB[3];W[rp]WL[284.086];B[sm]BL[30.0]OB[3];W[sn]
WL[278.053];B[sl]BL[30.0]OB[3];W[nk]WL[271.555];B[ok]BL[30.0]
OB[3];W[hf]WL[269.239];B[hg]BL[30.0]OB[3];W[mf]WL[267.933]
;B[og]BL[30.0]OB[3];W[]WL[267.933];B[]C[AmbyR00 [19k\]: thank you
Chameau20 [10k\]: Thank you]BL[30.0]OB[3]TB[qa:sa][rb:sb]
[dc][pb:pc][qc:sd][de:ee][oe:se][of][qf:sf][aa:cg][df:dg]
[eg:gg][fh][hh][ng:nh][pg:sh][oi:si][ei:ej][oj][qj:sj][pk:sk]
TW[ga:ma][fb:mb][jc][lc:mc][gc:hd][id:md][hk][am:em][gl:gm]
[dn:gn][il:jn][qn][eo:go][jo:lo][po:so][dp][ip:kp][no:np]
[op:qp][sp][fp:gq][iq:jq][lq:mq][rq:sq][an:bs][co:cs][dr:ss]
)
(;B[bj]C[I should always remember this.]))
(;B[hg];W[kj];B[kk];W[jj];B[hr]C[Black is not going to be happy.]
;W[gr];B[ir];W[gq];B[fr];W[gp];B[fo];W[fs];B[es];W[gs];B[er]
;W[dr];B[cp];W[cq];B[dn];W[co];B[bp];W[bq];B[bo];W[bn]))
(;B[nd];W[oc];B[od]C[Zach, would this have been better in terms of \
power distribution?]
))
(;B[ij];W[dk];B[di];W[bk];B[cj];W[dh];B[ch];W[bj];B[ci];W[dg]
;B[cg];W[df];B[cf];W[de]))
(;B[hk];W[gn];B[ho];W[hn];B[in];W[gq];B[fo]C[Not a chance for this \
black group.]
;W[ip];B[gp]C[No? Seems it was very much alive.];W[hq];B[hr]
;W[ir];B[gr]))
(;B[el]
(;W[cj])
(;W[dk])
(;W[dk];B[ek];W[cj];B[dl];W[ck];B[dm];W[dn];B[di];W[ej];B[fj]
C[This might be good.]))
(;B[in]C[Zach (zbass) noted I should've done this to protect my bottom \
groups from getting cut. He's right, there doesn't seem to be a \
straight forward attack for white to exploit this move. Two white \
stones most likely die here.]
(;W[hn]
(;B[ho];W[gn];B[fn];W[gp];B[fo])
(;B[hm];W[gn];B[gm];W[fo];B[fn];W[gp];B[ho]))
(;W[ho];B[hn];W[hq];B[hr];W[ir];B[jr])))
(;B[hq]
(;W[gp];B[gq];W[fo];B[go];W[hn];B[fn];W[gn];B[dn];W[co];B[cm]
;W[bm];B[cl];W[bl];B[ck];W[bk]
(;B[bj]C[Right way to do it? White has secured the corner, black has \
rescued two weak groups and has some strong powers towards the center. \
But white also has the sente.]
)
(;B[er];W[dr];B[fr];W[es];B[fs];W[ds]C[A bit early for a joseki though \
still black now has sente.]
;B[il];W[cj];B[ci];W[bj];B[bi];W[el]C[Is this bad or just scary? Let's \
find out.]
;B[fl];W[dm]
(;B[em]C[This doesn't work.];W[dk];B[dl])
(;B[dk]C[Better.];W[ek];B[ej];W[fk];B[gk];W[fm];B[gl];W[gm]
;B[dl];W[em];B[fo];W[fj];B[fi];W[gj];B[hj];W[ei];B[di]
(;W[gi];B[fh]C[And white still manages and escapes.];W[ho])
(;W[eh]C[Jeesh, It's gonna be a long solo play here. I don't really \
think white would be this bad, but I just started playing, so I let \
these stay here.]
;B[gi];W[hi]
(;B[hh];W[ii];B[ij];W[hk];B[hl];W[ik];B[jj];W[jk];B[ji];W[ih]
;B[ig])
(;B[hh];W[ii];B[gh];W[hk];B[ij];W[hl];B[ji];W[cg];B[dh];W[eg]
;B[dg];W[df];B[ef];W[fg];B[gg];W[ff];B[ee];W[de];B[ed];W[ch]
;B[bh];W[bg];B[cf]
(;W[ce];B[bf];W[ag];B[af];W[ah];B[ai])
(;W[ce];B[bf];W[be];B[ag];W[ae];B[aj];W[ak];B[ai];W[cd];B[cc]
;W[bc];B[cb];W[bb];B[ad];W[ac];B[ba];W[bd];B[aa];W[da];B[ca]
;W[dc];B[db];W[eb]
(;B[ea];W[ec];B[fb];W[fc];B[fd];W[gd])
(;B[ec];W[ab];B[ea])))))))
(;W[gq];B[gp]C[I should've probably secured my base before trying to go\
after white stones leaving myself open like that.]
)))
(;B[dn]C[Harder to cut.];W[do];B[eo];W[en];B[dm];W[co];B[fn]
(;W[em];B[dl];W[el];B[ek];W[ep];B[fo];W[cp];B[fl]C[If only white were \
that dumb. Which I doubt. He would probably attack some other corner \
and try to distract me. Let's say move 25.]
)
(;W[nc])))
(;B[oq]C[I guess white can still attack the corner but he would have \
smaller life there.]
;W[qq];B[qp];W[pq];B[np];W[or];B[op];W[mq]C[Maybe.

At least a bit better outlook for black.])
(;B[pq];W[qn]C[Not sure about this.])
)

I have a feeling I might have done it a bit better, but I have been having some distraction in a form of a four year old running around and climbing all over me so this will have to do for now. See ya soon! gg! ^^

A Game of Go

2010-03-26T14:16:00.003+02:00

A while ago when I was going through Freebase where I'm occationally doing some edits in, I came across with this reference. It is about a TV series from the 90's called Jag (Judge Advocate General), and particularly an episode of the said series. It's the 10th episode of the second season called "A Game of Go".
I had never heard of this series before, and since I was pretty much interested to know how it depicted a game of go, I went and digged up (or googled) all the info I could find of it and even went searched and fetched the episode for viewing. (Fair warning: I suggest you use adblock and/or NoScript if you decide to visit the link. I have no idea what kind of malware could leap out at your browser there.)

Here's what Wikipedia says about the episode: "Harm [Lt. Harmon Rabb] and a Colombian drug lord [Carlos Estruga] play a high-stakes game of "Go", with the prize being a Marine that was left behind during a covert mission."

As I watched it I thought it was faintly familiar, as if I had seen it before, but I don't really think that's possible. Maybe it was some episode of McGyver or Miami Vice I've seen earlier instead. After all, this was just a typical episode of a typical 90's crime drama, all that bland and boring stuff from the 80's recycled, with even more bad acting, dialogue and plot lines. I was pretty much disappointed. But that's all for the quality and the acting. So how was the game? Well. I took some screengrabs for show.

Not long into the story, some negotiations take place over the phone where Carlos Estruga, the drug lord asks the western officials if any of them plays the game of go, while he places stones on his board. The first move.

Here's the stone, right in the center of the board:

I didn't catch the second move, but the third (and the other visible) stone here seems somewhat off the grid:

Here the game has eventually progressed into something, don't really know what it is, and I would think the upper right white stone is very badly placed. At least there are no empty triangles yet. Looks very random, with nothing resembling a proper joseki.

Moving on. Here's where it suddenly gets "interesting". Carlos is here playing one of his solo games. He always plays alone, no wonder, he's a drug paron with no friends. Notice how the stones are suddenly in the squares instead of the line crossings. (Makes me think this scene is filmed before someone noticed that's not how the game is really played. Of course it would be already too late to fix by then.)

Btw. Isn't that just a wonderful board? Nice. See how he holds his stone.

Harm (Epic concentration.): "Ah! A sente, no... 'atari' or what's it called?"... "I think I have him now."

H: "Ta-da! Whatcha think about that?"

Carlos: "Hah, that's too small. I knew you can't play!"

C: "This is how this game is played. Eat this!"
(Hey did that ring just jump to another finger?)

H: "You wish. Check Mate!"
C: "Oh noes! How'd you do that?!"

So I wish I could recommend this series to anyone, but It seriously looks as though it really isn't worth it. However, it doesn't really matter the depiction of "The Game of Go" was poor (though it would've helped, after all it was the name of the episode for crying out loud), I would've definitely liked to see some quality acting and a good plot line with even a remotely genuine sounding dialogue. But maybe it's just too much to wish for in series like these. Well, at least I got a good laugh at Hollywood. Again.

Uh. I think that concludes this day's webisode. I hope you liked it. I'll be doing the previously promised self-review on this weekend. See ya all soon! gg! ^^

Idea: Self-reviewing according to visitors' comments

2010-03-22T23:16:00.000+02:00

I thought it'd be a cool idea to pick one of my older games (well, I asked on KGS and people pointed out the older games might be a bit too bad and I most likely don't remember it anymore, so I should perhaps choose a fairly recent one), post it online with eidogo and ask you guys for ideas and comments on how I could've played better, and afterwards post a self-review (again with eidogo) according to the comments I've got on the game. If I get really courageous I might (!) even do it as a video review, but I don't promise anything. How's that sound?

To experiment with this idea, here's one of my latest games. It was actually played today.

Chameau20 W vs AmbyR00 B :: (W+73.5)

(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]AP[CGoban:3]ST[2]
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]HA[6]KM[0.50]TM[600]OT[5x30 byo-yomi]
PW[Chameau20]PB[AmbyR00]WR[10k]BR[19k]DT[2010-03-22]PC[The KGS Go Server at http://www.gokgs.com/]AB[dd][pd][dj][pj][dp][pp]RE[W+73.50]
;W[nq]WL[595.206]C[AmbyR00 [19k\]: hello :)
Chameau20 [10k\]: hello gg
]
;B[qn]BL[582.997]
;W[qq]WL[591.473]
;B[qp]BL[577.106]
;W[pq]WL[589.821]
;B[np]BL[575.383]
;W[mp]WL[588.032]
;B[no]BL[566.795]
;W[mo]WL[575.778]
;B[jp]BL[563.703]
;W[hp]WL[569.557]
;B[jn]BL[554.748]
;W[io]WL[567.976]
;B[jo]BL[542.993]
;W[kq]WL[565.138]
;B[iq]BL[524.564]
;W[cn]WL[562.606]
;B[en]BL[512.664]
;W[do]WL[560.394]
;B[eo]BL[507.196]
;W[ep]WL[559.221]
;B[fp]BL[497.8]
;W[eq]WL[557.076]
;B[fq]BL[496.256]
;W[dq]WL[555.583]
;B[go]BL[485.132]
;W[cl]WL[551.667]
;B[ck]BL[480.542]
;W[el]WL[549.623]
;B[ek]BL[479.249]
;W[fk]WL[548.113]
;B[fj]BL[468.893]
;W[gk]WL[545.372]
;B[gj]BL[467.321]
;W[fm]WL[542.768]
;B[gn]BL[460.477]
;W[hj]WL[537.476]
;B[hi]BL[453.264]
;W[ei]WL[528.76]
;B[hk]BL[436.195]
;W[ej]WL[525.477]
;B[dk]BL[421.591]
;W[ij]WL[521.924]
;B[gl]BL[399.99]
;W[fl]WL[515.017]
;B[fi]BL[398.392]
;W[fh]WL[510.014]
;B[gi]BL[375.462]
;W[hl]WL[503.351]
;B[eh]BL[370.377]
;W[ik]WL[490.476]
;B[gh]BL[341.275]
;W[hn]WL[487.48]
;B[gm]BL[337.557]
;W[hm]WL[483.838]
;B[in]BL[325.712]
;W[hq]WL[476.275]
;B[ip]BL[320.427]
;W[ho]WL[473.11]
;B[lm]BL[254.062]
;W[mm]WL[471.259]
;B[lk]BL[243.519]
;W[kl]WL[466.928]
;B[jl]BL[234.785]
;W[km]WL[463.703]
;B[jm]BL[233.37]
;W[kn]WL[461.366]
;B[ko]BL[219.754]
;W[ln]WL[458.548]
;B[ll]BL[216.474]
;W[jk]WL[457.035]
;B[ki]BL[198.081]
;W[nn]WL[450.115]
;B[on]BL[192.776]
;W[om]WL[447.154]
;B[pm]BL[178.481]
;W[oo]WL[445.689]
;B[op]BL[169.545]
;W[pn]WL[444.223]
;B[po]BL[167.745]
;W[on]WL[442.526]
;B[nl]BL[164.664]
;W[oq]WL[435.03]
;B[ol]BL[151.792]
;W[qm]WL[432.349]
;B[pl]BL[142.839]
;W[rn]WL[429.877]C[AmbyR00 [19k\]: no
Chameau20 [10k\]: Sorry...
AmbyR00 [19k\]: hardly anything black has, lives
]
;B[ql]BL[62.902]C[Chameau20 [10k\]: you still have a big influence
]
;W[rm]WL[417.486]
;B[rl]BL[48.468]
;W[nc]WL[402.502]
;B[oc]BL[34.891]
;W[nd]WL[397.199]
;B[od]BL[30.009]
;W[kc]WL[394.712]
;B[ne]BL[28.176]
;W[me]WL[392.266]
;B[nf]BL[10.086]
;W[le]WL[390.339]
;B[pf]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[fc]WL[388.163]
;B[ec]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[fd]WL[386.564]
;B[ed]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[ic]WL[384.032]
;B[fe]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[ge]WL[379.861]
;B[ff]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[he]WL[378.573]
;B[gf]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[jg]WL[375.374]
;B[if]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[jf]WL[373.243]
;B[ig]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[ie]WL[370.301]
;B[kg]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[lg]WL[365.47]
;B[kh]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[lf]WL[361.845]
;B[kf]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[ke]WL[359.768]
;B[jh]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[je]WL[358.611]
;B[mg]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[lh]WL[356.455]
;B[mh]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[li]WL[355.409]
;B[lj]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[mi]WL[354.484]
;B[ni]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[mj]WL[352.753]
;B[nj]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[mk]WL[351.628]
;B[ml]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[mn]WL[346.87]
;B[lq]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[lp]WL[342.344]
;B[oh]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[nb]WL[339.698]
;B[ob]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[eb]WL[337.812]
;B[db]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[fa]WL[336.635]
;B[da]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[bl]WL[332.461]
;B[bk]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[dl]WL[331.103]
;B[dh]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[ii]WL[328.586]
;B[ih]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[oa]WL[317.941]
;B[pa]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[na]WL[316.64]
;B[qb]BL[30]OB[5]
;W[ea]WL[315.276]
;B[jj]BL[30]OB[4]
;W[kk]WL[310.961]
;B[kj]BL[30]OB[4]
;W[ak]WL[309.084]
;B[aj]BL[30]OB[4]
;W[al]WL[307.816]
;B[ef]BL[30]OB[3]
;W[bj]WL[302.693]
;B[bi]BL[30]OB[3]
;W[ai]WL[300.602]
;B[ah]BL[30]OB[3]
;W[aj]WL[298.723]
;B[ch]BL[30]OB[3]
;W[ci]WL[294.319]
;B[bh]BL[30]OB[3]
;W[cj]WL[291.428]
;B[di]BL[30]OB[3]
;W[rp]WL[284.086]
;B[sm]BL[30]OB[3]
;W[sn]WL[278.053]
;B[sl]BL[30]OB[3]
;W[nk]WL[271.555]
;B[ok]BL[30]OB[3]
;W[hf]WL[269.239]
;B[hg]BL[30]OB[3]
;W[mf]WL[267.933]
;B[og]BL[30]OB[3]
;W[]WL[267.933]
;B[]BL[30]OB[3]TW[ga][ha][ia][ja][ka][la][ma][fb][gb][hb][ib][jb][kb][lb][mb][gc][hc][jc][lc][mc][gd][hd][id][jd][kd][ld][md][hk][gl][il][jl][am][bm][cm][dm][em][gm][im][jm][an][bn][dn][en][fn][gn][in][jn][qn][ao][bo][co][eo][fo][go][jo][ko][lo][no][po][qo][ro][so][ap][bp][cp][dp][fp][gp][ip][jp][kp][np][op][pp][qp][sp][aq][bq][cq][fq][gq][iq][jq][lq][mq][rq][sq][ar][br][cr][dr][er][fr][gr][hr][ir][jr][kr][lr][mr][nr][or][pr][qr][rr][sr][as][bs][cs][ds][es][fs][gs][hs][is][js][ks][ls][ms][ns][os][ps][qs][rs][ss]TB[aa][ba][ca][qa][ra][sa][ab][bb][cb][pb][rb][sb][ac][bc][cc][dc][pc][qc][rc][sc][ad][bd][cd][qd][rd][sd][ae][be][ce][de][ee][oe][pe][qe][re][se][af][bf][cf][df][of][qf][rf][sf][ag][bg][cg][dg][eg][fg][gg][ng][pg][qg][rg][sg][fh][hh][nh][ph][qh][rh][sh][ei][oi][pi][qi][ri][si][ej][oj][qj][rj][sj][pk][qk][rk][sk]C[AmbyR00 [19k\]: thank you
Chameau20 [10k\]: Thank you
])

I will track the responses (if any), and then post the self-review, probably in a few days.

Please post the move to be reviewed and any subsequent moves you'd like me to try. Thanks. I hope this experiment works out. See ya! ^^ /gg

Early yose. (Learning to Lose part 2)

2010-03-22T14:27:00.002+02:00

Lately many of my games have more or less started with an early yose. I've heard that beginners do that more often than more advanced players. I would add, that especially those who have no confidence in their play tend to also resort to an early yose, whether they are beginners like me (struggling in the 20 to 18 kyu range) or those with somewhat higher ranking like 10th or 9th kyu.
I happened to see some video reviews for games played at those ranks and it seems it is not that weird for even the more experienced players.

Couple nights ago I was playing on KGS and met a guy whom with we had a discussion about this phenomena that seems to affect all the games if the previous games didn't go that well. We coined the term "losers' fatigue" although not being too sure if that was the real name for it. He told me it often bothers him too, and that it's the worst thing for a person, if this loss of confidence were to happen in midst of a tournament. I concur, I would not like to get into that kind of situation. The truth is I have been having bad games for a while, and I seem to be getting worse, not better. So if it were a tournament, I'd not get very far.

Looking back at my gaming records it looks like I've played almost every day since the beginning of this month. So I was reminded I might be better off if I really took a small break from playing and relax a little. But even if I do take a break from playing, I'm not planning to abandon this blog for very long. I'm still reading about Go, and while I will use my spare time to catch up with my other hobbies, aikido perhaps. I will pass a thought or two here every once in a while. (I don't really think my break is that long either. Maybe a week at most.)

But before I go, I'd like to share a couple of book recommendations I got from a game review yesterday. There were actually three books. All of them were said to be very good books for beginners at my level. The first one was Lessons in the Fundamentals of Go by Toshiro Kageyama, and the second and third were James Davies' books Tesuji, and Life and Death. I'll probably later make a book list with links to Amazon or other web bookstore and add some other recommendations so that you can easily order them if you like. I'm thinking about ordering one of these when I visit the town later today.

Update: (As promised.) Here are the links to Amazon.com:
- Lessons in the Fundamentals of Go (Beginner and Elementary Go Books)
- Tesuji (Elementary Go Series)
- Life and Death (Elementary Go Series Vol. 4)

(I also ordered myself the book Tesuji via our local bookstore.)

Anyways, I'm off now. See ya later! /gg ^^

My first kifu. (SGF)

2010-03-20T00:06:00.002+02:00

Here's AmbyR00's first game in KGS, mind you, it's not the first I've ever played, but not very much better. I was white. ;)

AmbyR00 W vs. nobody33 B (Black wins w/ Resignation)

(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]AP[CGoban:3]ST[2]
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]KM[6.50]TM[1500]OT[5x30 byo-yomi]
PW[AmbyR00]PB[nobody33]DT[2009-05-23]PC[The KGS Go Server at http://www.gokgs.com/]RE[B+Resign]
;B[qc]BL[1496.131]
;W[dp]WL[1496.059]
;B[qq]BL[1489.441]
;W[dd]WL[1491.91]
;B[jc]BL[1472.281]
;W[np]WL[1477.504]
;B[mq]BL[1441.121]
;W[lo]WL[1417.689]
;B[cg]BL[1432.946]
;W[dg]WL[1403.798]
;B[df]BL[1421.73]
;W[ch]WL[1383.502]
;B[cf]BL[1402.624]
;W[eg]WL[1350.814]
;B[ef]BL[1393.702]
;W[hd]WL[1296.713]
;B[gd]BL[1384.104]
;W[gf]WL[1278.74]
;B[fg]BL[1372.926]
;W[dh]WL[1251.413]
;B[ff]BL[1367.739]
;W[fh]WL[1216.819]
;B[ge]BL[1356.531]
;W[he]WL[1163.743]
;B[hf]BL[1349.102]
;W[gg]WL[1145.977]
;B[gh]BL[1344.611]
;W[hg]WL[1123.445]
;B[if]BL[1336.397]
;W[hh]WL[1102.669]
;B[gi]BL[1327.557]
;W[fi]WL[1090.998]
;B[gj]BL[1299.514]
;W[ej]WL[1050.872]
;B[ii]BL[1282.36]
;W[ig]WL[973.814]
;B[jf]BL[1254.809]
;W[jg]WL[952.732]
;B[kg]BL[1253.291]
;W[kh]WL[939.301]
;B[jh]BL[1241.122]
;W[mp]WL[856.394]
;B[ih]BL[1221.321]
;W[fj]WL[839.261]
;B[hi]BL[1217.915]
;W[gk]WL[799.816]
;B[hc]BL[1216.739]
;W[lh]WL[743.384]
;B[mh]BL[1207.345]
;W[mi]WL[726.849]
;B[li]BL[1182.999]
;W[ki]WL[724.163]
;B[lj]BL[1178.57]
;W[kj]WL[713.214]
;B[ni]BL[1172.776]
;W[mj]WL[700.012]
;B[lk]BL[1171.623]
;W[mk]WL[695.363]
;B[ll]BL[1158.956]
;W[ml]WL[681.925]
;B[jk]BL[1146.472]
;W[mm]WL[614.76]
;B[kk]BL[1132.677]
;W[mg]WL[596.876]
;B[nh]BL[1126.869]
;W[lg]WL[582.344]
;B[ng]BL[1091.828]
;W[mf]WL[564.816]
;B[me]BL[1087.458]
;W[kf]WL[541.994]
;B[jg]BL[1084.471]
;W[nf]WL[497.577]
;B[ke]BL[1038.697]
;W[lf]WL[465.47]
;B[of]BL[985.246]
;W[oe]WL[441.609]
;B[ne]BL[880.058]
;W[je]WL[388.706]
;B[ie]BL[870.578]
;W[le]WL[367.194]
;B[jd]BL[839.949]
;W[kd]WL[326.836]
;B[je]BL[822.726]
;W[ld]WL[317.711]
;B[od]BL[814.567]
;W[pe]WL[300.698]
;B[qe]BL[788.206]
;W[nd]WL[289.278]
;B[nc]BL[765.181]
;W[md]WL[274.773]
;B[oc]BL[754.465]
;W[og]WL[261.288]
;B[pf]BL[750.202]
;W[qf]WL[250.27]
;B[pg]BL[747.746]
;W[oh]WL[212.266]
;B[pd]BL[743.808]
;W[ne]WL[197.52]
;B[qg]BL[735.536]
;W[oi]WL[172.363]
;B[nj]BL[712.035]
;W[oj]WL[170.128]
;B[nk]BL[706.316]
;W[ok]WL[168.072]
;B[nl]BL[705.039]
;W[ol]WL[165.932]
;B[nm]BL[704.151]
;W[om]WL[164.332]
;B[nn]BL[703.278]
;W[on]WL[161.29]
;B[mn]BL[701.377]
;W[ln]WL[159.006]
;B[lm]BL[698.993]
;W[oo]WL[74.361]
;B[lc]BL[692.583]
;W[re]WL[55.166]
;B[rf]BL[689.286])

If this comes out right, then I've read these instructions correctly. Thank you Boywing.

Today I unfortunately don't have more time to write. I'm almost sleeping while I sit here writing this. So that's for now, and I hope I can play you all very soon. ^^ /gg

The King and his advisor are overlooking the battle field

2010-03-17T17:00:00.000+02:00

A couple days ago I was greeted by my mobile phone (more specifically the fortune app) with this funny little story, I decided to share it here because it reminded me of Go:

King: "How goes the battle plan?"
Advisor: "See those little black specks running to the right?"
K: "Yes."
A: "Those are their guys. And all those little red specks running to the left are our guys. Then when they collide we wait till the dust clears."
K: "And?"
A: "If there are more red specks left than black specks, we win."
K: "But what about the ^#!!$% battle plan?"
A: "So far, it seems to be going according to specks."

Learning to Lose

2010-03-17T00:14:00.000+02:00

The hardest thing about Go, for me anyway, is inevitably the part of losing a game. Well losing once is not bad, losing twice is not bad either. But when you play 10 games and each and every one ends up in an epic failure the pressure of losing, the overwhelming feeling of shame is almost unbearable and pretty hard to contain. This is not very common in the other games I've played.

For example the game of patience. You can lose many times in succession, but it doesn't rise such an emotional response. In Black Jack you lose money, but that's almost all there is, you can still cough up the cash and still feel pretty good about yourself. But of course these games have a lot to do with plain luck, unlike as in Go it is most likely to do with your own inabilities. The one you are frustrated about is yourself being not able to see the next move, not able to predict the outcome, not able to plan ahead. (BTW. A weird thing is, I don't feel the same disappointment playing and losing in computer action games. Something to do with being able to play the same game or level again over and over again I guess.)

So what could we Go newbies, beginners alike do to combat those feelings of failure?

The friendly people on KGS have told me time and time again that it will come with practice, eventually. And I should not worry. I figure they were right. And I would like add, and this is what I've learned from aikido, is whenever you feel you did badly, that is the moment when you have learned something new, although realizing exactly what it is might take some time. And if you ever come to a phase where everything ends up in frustration, don't feel bad to take a little break. Maybe day or two to clear the mind and then try again.

If you can, you should also try some physical exercise, maybe go out for a run, or swimming, biking, or walking. If not, maybe you can do some weight lifting, sit-ups or push ups. Make the most of it, keep in shape and have fun. See ya soon! ^^ /gg

Reddit Go Club

2010-03-13T19:15:00.000+02:00

About a week ago there was a thread about Go on Reddit where a question of creating a Reddit Go club came up, soon to be followed by an article on r/baduk asking the very same thing. So, a few of us started to frequent a room 'reddit' on KGS. The room was promptly made official and was moved to the Social rooms by a friendly gold star admin. So there we have it, reddit's own virtual go club. Next on agenda is creating some events or activities we could hold in our room to make our club even more interesting.

Anyway it's interesting as I've learned I'm the least experienced go player on r/baduk, ranking just 22k on KGS. But hopefully I'll be learning as I go on. If you want a game, feel free to ask anytime you see me on either KGS or IGS. See ya. ^^ gg!

Tadaa! My first post!

2010-03-12T20:59:00.000+02:00

Hello! I'm a guy from Lahti, Finland, a father of a small boy, Leo, and pretty much into everything that goes on in the Internet, mostly Free Culture related stuff. My hobbies have also included Aikido and Chi Kung, although lately I haven't been financially able to pursue them.

I decided to start blogging about one of my favourite subjects; Go. Also known as weiqi in Chinese or baduk in Korean. I first came to know Go in business school, most likely in 2003, not very sure about that, really. It was a classmate who introduced me to the anime Hikaru no Go, Hikaru's Go.

So I tried to play on and off for a couple of months, tried Pandanet/IGS, KGS... Didn't really know what I was doing then. It wasn't until I found a 9x9 Go board on Yahoo when I really started learning the stuff.

I was soon learning more on KGS and was even dreaming of setting up my own Go salon or a Go themed café. In Aikido I had a lot of friends who were interested, and even supportive of my idea. So I even took a entrepreneurship course where I drafted a detailed plan on how I would set everything up, from getting funding to pricing, location, counting how many tables I needed, to plans for setting up terminals for Internet Go. Everything was accounted for and ready for implementation. And then my girl friend told me she wanted us to leave Lahti and move to another city (with an ultimatum). So we left for Jyväskylä. The year, I think was 2005.

The move affected my plans gravely enough all by itself, but losing the familiar milieu and friends due the move my dreams were abruptly shattered. There was no way I could have started the same business in the new place. I didn't even have to investigate it. Even building up relationships was awkward in that town not to mention trying to build publicity for a project that was most likely to fail in a place where there is a café in almost every corner. Even my hobbies were affected. I tried both of the Aikido dojos there, and sure enough I didn't feel at home in either. The other one (the one I would've probably liked) was just too expensive, and the other, well their style didn't suit me and they were really unsympathetic towards training bokken and jo. "Sticks are just sticks" was the comment if I remember it correctly.

Anyway, after that I forgot Go for years to come. In the spring of 2006 our son was born, I had a project around a web page so I didn't have much time for almost anything but work. At home. When the baby was crying and shouting all the time. It was a hard time for me, not to say the web project turned out not to be a success after all. We did get married though. In the summer of 2007.

Well, fast forward a move to Kotka in fall 2007, and another move back to Lahti in 2008. I started going to Aikido as soon as we got back here, and in May of 2009 I created new accounts on KGS and IGS as AmbyR00. I'm back on track playing Go, although being ill for almost the whole last quarter of last year also shows in my game activity for that time. Today I'm trying to catch up, slowly where I left off in 2005, maybe enough to start thinking of my dream again. Although, looking at it now, it might surely have been just a dream.

I'll be posting my progress reports and other Go related stuff here, so that I'd have another reason to keep on playing Go. ^^ See ya soon! gg!