I just started Go a few weeks ago. I don't really understand the reasons for why some moves are good or others are bad clearly. Nor do I have an idea about how to play it well. But your videos, even though they are advanced, have really helped me understand a lot.
Wow ... I'm a chessplayer and don't have a clue what Go is all about ... but I got interested ... watched quite a few videos ... got a few basic principles ... and then found THIS channel! Still way too advanced, but for some reason I get MUCH more out of your explanations than anywhere else! Thanx!
As a chess player, you must have developed your reading ability. Reading is the key to good go playing. You can always learn joseki and other fighting methods, but reading will get you more wins then any other ability. A professional can read over 100 moves. Most players can read about 10 moves ahead.
I really appreciate you having the scored board up at the end of the match! As a new player this has greatly led to my understanding of the different scoring rules. Keep up the great work and THANK YOU!!!
Nick, I am a fairly new go player. Only play online mainly and the online ranking I'm at is around 17ish kyu. Can you help me understand at 25:18 why Q19 is a bad play for black? After white took R19, if black didn't answer, couldn't white play at Q19 and start to run to the left, essentially taking 8 or so territory from black before black can play at L19.
If white play Q19, In this case black can block with P19. If white atari with P18, then BS18 - WO19 - BS19 - WP19 - BS15 - WT18 - BT16 - WT19 - BS18 - WS19 - would be inevitable sequence. Now if black connects the three stones(R15, S15, T16) with stones at right side like S14, Then the entire white stones at upper side cannot live.
Since this is an inevitable sequence, white can't atari with P18 and should play like T18 or S18. Then if black play O18, it's not bad for black since black also have played other big move. Or black can even tenuki again and play another big move(I think maybe this is better for black in this situation, because there are a lot of big positions in the board), that's not also bad. Black have already played two free big moves!
One thing I've noticed in the games is that there's no counting going on. Counting's important for it teaches you if you should invade or if you should reduce.
The idea is not to get surrounded OR to make your opponent stronger (unless you get a much larger gain for yourself by doing so). When you attach to a stone with no friends, you're basically putting up one side of a potentially surrounding enclosure around yourself and losing a liberty you might need later for no real gain. And then, after doing that, it's now your opponent's turn to add side number two if they want, or to extend and make themselves far stronger than they were before. A weak stone out in the middle of nowhere is just as vulnerable to being surrounded or cut off from a safer (and more play-flexible) distance, and you retain all your liberties and flexibility of play. >Is black becoming stronger there the thing to avoid? Making your opponent stronger ANYWHERE is to be avoided, unless you're just feeling sorry for them (or, as noted, doing so somehow helps you win a far bigger return that you have no other way of achieving). If you attach and they extend, they make a two-stone formation that is way strong, far harder to capture and with far more liberties to play flexibly and escape or thwart your plans than it had before you attached. Whereas before they were just a weak little stone with their arse hanging out in the breeze.
I'm about this level, and at move 94 we encounter the decision that is hardest for me. When playing a squirmer you always get to a decision: do I push the group in a direction that allows him to live yet allows me to take points, or do I push through my potential territory and go for the kill. It seems that white took the safe option and pushed him out, yet you seem to recommend playing risky and going for the kill. How do you decide this?
I would not call 20 points 'close' by any stretch of the imagination. XD This game overall feels like a comedy of errors with both sides getting themselves into unnecessarily sticky situations and snatching defeat from the jaws of victory with poor moves.
You use a lot of vocabulary in your videos it would be great if you had a couple of intro videos that maybe explain the vocabulary you use. I am beginning to pick it up from watching a few videos but I would find it very helpful though :)
"Stones that have no friends are sad stones." lol, lovin' it.
I just started Go a few weeks ago. I don't really understand the reasons for why some moves are good or others are bad clearly. Nor do I have an idea about how to play it well. But your videos, even though they are advanced, have really helped me understand a lot.
Wow ...
I'm a chessplayer and don't have a clue what Go is all about ... but I got interested ... watched quite a few videos ... got a few basic principles ... and then found THIS channel!
Still way too advanced, but for some reason I get MUCH more out of your explanations than anywhere else! Thanx!
As a chess player, you must have developed your reading ability. Reading is the key to good go playing. You can always learn joseki and other fighting methods, but reading will get you more wins then any other ability. A professional can read over 100 moves. Most players can read about 10 moves ahead.
legit same here
I really appreciate you having the scored board up at the end of the match! As a new player this has greatly led to my understanding of the different scoring rules. Keep up the great work and THANK YOU!!!
"That's no good. Because what's the next move? That's right, 1-1, everyone's favorite."
lolololololol
Thank you for this excellent commentary, I learned a lot. Keep it up!
found the variations shown very useful, thanks for the commentary!
Nick,
I am a fairly new go player. Only play online mainly and the online ranking I'm at is around 17ish kyu. Can you help me understand at 25:18 why Q19 is a bad play for black? After white took R19, if black didn't answer, couldn't white play at Q19 and start to run to the left, essentially taking 8 or so territory from black before black can play at L19.
If white play Q19, In this case black can block with P19. If white atari with P18, then BS18 - WO19 - BS19 - WP19 - BS15 - WT18 - BT16 - WT19 - BS18 - WS19 - would be inevitable sequence. Now if black connects the three stones(R15, S15, T16) with stones at right side like S14, Then the entire white stones at upper side cannot live.
Since this is an inevitable sequence, white can't atari with P18 and should play like T18 or S18. Then if black play O18, it's not bad for black since black also have played other big move. Or black can even tenuki again and play another big move(I think maybe this is better for black in this situation, because there are a lot of big positions in the board), that's not also bad. Black have already played two free big moves!
@@알버스-y8i I see. Thank you for the really great explanation! I didn't think about the fact that white could lose all those stones
You explained the game and its variations very well! Also I learned the value of the peep.
"No black friends to run to to help you out"
i need more context :D
One thing I've noticed in the games is that there's no counting going on. Counting's important for it teaches you if you should invade or if you should reduce.
As usual, very good quality in video and commentary. I learn a loot watching your vids... Keep rocking! :D
One blunder followed by another. "Hey, it's 4 kyu game" :( and here I am, trying to gain 5 stones strength to become 4 kyu some day :P
The point at 2 minutes was interesting. Any chance you could do a video about old styles versus modern and why those changes happened?
I'm only a third of the way in, but so far there seems to be a strong recurring theme of "DON'T WASTE YOUR AJI!!!"
12:00 "dont attach to weak stones". Why? Do you mean that attack from distance instead? Is black becoming stronger there the thing to avoid?
The idea is not to get surrounded OR to make your opponent stronger (unless you get a much larger gain for yourself by doing so).
When you attach to a stone with no friends, you're basically putting up one side of a potentially surrounding enclosure around yourself and losing a liberty you might need later for no real gain. And then, after doing that, it's now your opponent's turn to add side number two if they want, or to extend and make themselves far stronger than they were before. A weak stone out in the middle of nowhere is just as vulnerable to being surrounded or cut off from a safer (and more play-flexible) distance, and you retain all your liberties and flexibility of play.
>Is black becoming stronger there the thing to avoid?
Making your opponent stronger ANYWHERE is to be avoided, unless you're just feeling sorry for them (or, as noted, doing so somehow helps you win a far bigger return that you have no other way of achieving). If you attach and they extend, they make a two-stone formation that is way strong, far harder to capture and with far more liberties to play flexibly and escape or thwart your plans than it had before you attached. Whereas before they were just a weak little stone with their arse hanging out in the breeze.
I'm about this level, and at move 94 we encounter the decision that is hardest for me. When playing a squirmer you always get to a decision: do I push the group in a direction that allows him to live yet allows me to take points, or do I push through my potential territory and go for the kill. It seems that white took the safe option and pushed him out, yet you seem to recommend playing risky and going for the kill. How do you decide this?
Nice commentary, I like that, thanks.
The problem with white B1 is that the vital point of the shape is B2.
Best go videos.
every time you say "now, black has to make a choice!" i think of the oracle speaking to neo idk why...
I would not call 20 points 'close' by any stretch of the imagination. XD This game overall feels like a comedy of errors with both sides getting themselves into unnecessarily sticky situations and snatching defeat from the jaws of victory with poor moves.
*inhales*
PEEP N CREEP, CHECK THE CUTIES AT THE BEACH
You use a lot of vocabulary in your videos it would be great if you had a couple of intro videos that maybe explain the vocabulary you use. I am beginning to pick it up from watching a few videos but I would find it very helpful though :)
I had the same line of thinking. If you found any videos useful in explaining the terminology linking it here would be most helpful
RantingTalk your best bet is probably senseis library senseis.xmp.net/?CommonGoTerms - unless there's a later lecture that covers that
9:45 omg I'm pissing in my pants :P