Advice for player_A 8k to Improve Judging from 1 Game
by Robert Jasiek
Most Important Systematic Mistakes in Order of Relevance
1. Missing shape completion
Do not play elsewhere when the shape still needs to be completed! When
your opponent would also want to play where you should play now, then
tenuki is premature. Punish the opponent's missing shape completion.
2. Overconcentration
Avoid overconcentration! Let the distances between your stones be
efficient! When you play too many stones too closely together, they
achieve by far too little on average per stone. Extend as far as
possible without leaving a cut or place for opposing life behind.
Consider to attack, to defend, or to kill on a larger scale whenever
possible.
3. Unnecessary additional stone
Do not add another stone when your group is already alive! Do not add
another stone when your opponent's group is already killed! Each
superfluous stone equals about one further handicap stone: You could
take sente and play elsewhere!
4. Missed chance to continue strong attack or to kill
Continue an attack if you gain from it while your opponent gains about
nothing! Your gain might be points or outside influence or thickness.
When your opponent starts to gain about the same as you do, it is still
time to switch to playing elsewhere. Of course, it is not a gain to
drive your opponent into your moyo without killing him or getting
greater compensation during the fight. Do not miss your chance to kill
the opponent's group if possible!
5. Pushing from behind
Avoid pushing from behind whenever possible! Try to jump ahead or
consider falling back for a solid connection. But do not be the honey
on the wall trying to push it.
6. Mistake in direction
Avoid mistakes in direction! E.g., when you have a big moyo, encircle it instead of driving your living opponent in.
7. Worthless cuts or connections
Avoid worthless cuts or connections! There is no point in cutting when the opponent could easily run out to the center.
8. Bad shape, bad aji
Avoid bad shape or bad aji whenever possible!
Additional Notes
To assist your improvement and avoid unnecessary confusion, I have not
commented on your opponent's mistakes because you should concentrate on
yours first. I have provided many 1 move variations because most of
your mistakes can be avoided by simply noticing at all that they are
mistakes. You can improve a lot already without much looking ahead
beyond just 1 move. Identify your mistakes by checking your moves
against the above list and, when
you find a mistake in your games, just look for a better move that is not also such a mistake.
Short Comments on Only Black's Moves
(Abbreviation: VAR = see variation.)
11: missing shape completion, overconcentrated
19: "
21: overconcentrated, too near attack, pushing from behind
23: overconcentrated, connection not making points
27: overconcentrated, too near attack, pushing from behind
33: missing shape completion, overconcentrated, too near attack, pushing from behind
35: bad shape (no proper cap, no proper connection)
41: good cut defense + vital point but overconcentrated + missing fast development outwards
45: missing W shape completion should be punished first before attacking invasion stone (and
later still important to play there; shape remains incomplete)
47: missing shape completion right of 45 is more important (good shape move for either player)
49: see 47. Also: Defends less important place. (VAR)
55: misses chance to continue strong attack (VAR)
57: see 55
87: misses chance to continue strong attack, missing connection defense, overconcentrated
89: ", bad shape
91: ", bad aji
95: pushing from behind (VAR)
97: missing shape completion on upper side + center
101: leaves too much aji: (VARs)
109: good
111: pushing from behind; better: hanging connection
113: similar
115: bad exchange (VAR for 116), better capture 104 (because VAR)
119: better capture 104
121: small (VAR); B alive; add unnecessary stone when already alive
123: "
125: mistake in direction, defending moyo much bigger
129: overconcentrated, kill bigger
131: "
133: "
145: "
147: add unnecessary stone when already alive (VAR)
151: overconcentrated, kill bigger
155: bad shape, allows W many ataris (VAR)
183: defend bigger
185: add unnecessary stone when already alive
187: defend bigger
191: add unnecessary stone when already alive
193: makes reading easier
197: add unnecessary stone when already alive
199: add unnecessary stone when already alive
201: makes reading easier
203: add unnecessary stone when already killed
205: "
207: "
209: "
215: kill bigger
219: fails to kill (VARs)
Additional Question & Answer
Question
I don't understand the fifth "Pushing behind" problem. Do you mean I
need lead the attack instead of letting opponent to start a new
teritory to attack?
Answer
. . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . .
O O O O O O 2 . .
# # # # # 1 . . .
. . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . .
Black 1 pushes from behind. This is bad.
. . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . .
O O O O O O . . .
# # # # # . . . .
. . . . . . 1 . .
. . . . . . . . .
Black should move faster: running ahead of the white stones.
Sometimes, going back to connect a cutting point is even better than running ahead and letting the opponent cut oneself.