I joined youripad4free.com: Inspired by Andrew
Step 1. Sign up for a referral account
(a 32 gb Ipad Air costs about 1500 points, nearly impossible with a points account. offers are about 5-8 points a piece.)
Step 2. Copy your refferal link and post it --> http://www.YouriPad4free.com/index.php?ref=7567165 <--
(The referral account requires you to have twelve people sign up using your link) delete the asterisks... =p
Step 3. Complete one offer
(Plan on using the gamely trial, just cancel it after the allotted time)
Request Prize.
Lets see if this thing'll work. ill update if i can manage it...
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
That Old Black Magic
Well, it's Halloween and for me that means training day. I've prepared a short instruction and exercise for teaching one of my classes tonight. I broke the lesson into three parts: a) a brief introduction to the board, history, and materials used for playing, b) the two rules of basic play (atari & ko), and lastly, c) ponnuki, the game of capture as a practical exercise.
On the home front, i've been in contact with others a bit more frequently thanks to the Dragon GO Server (DGS) and have, at the very least, improved my game slightly. Twitter has become an annoyance unfortunately. My attempts to use it for constructive means have faltered, and for my uses the GO Servers and blogs are much more user friendly and relevant.
But i digress, the purpose of this post was to address the allure of GO. GO is a game that requires like minded people to pursue. Alone, players develop individual playing styles. Together they adapt and grow to address each others weaknesses. I myself am a defensive player, but thanks to largely blogger, have studied enough life and death problems to deal with invasions with some skill.
Advances not withstanding, my own passion for the game has waned a bit. Whether it's because of the constant research, or the lack of players, i cannot tell, only that the game's lost that old black magic. The hook that's kept me playing. We'll see what the week brings...
On the home front, i've been in contact with others a bit more frequently thanks to the Dragon GO Server (DGS) and have, at the very least, improved my game slightly. Twitter has become an annoyance unfortunately. My attempts to use it for constructive means have faltered, and for my uses the GO Servers and blogs are much more user friendly and relevant.
But i digress, the purpose of this post was to address the allure of GO. GO is a game that requires like minded people to pursue. Alone, players develop individual playing styles. Together they adapt and grow to address each others weaknesses. I myself am a defensive player, but thanks to largely blogger, have studied enough life and death problems to deal with invasions with some skill.
Advances not withstanding, my own passion for the game has waned a bit. Whether it's because of the constant research, or the lack of players, i cannot tell, only that the game's lost that old black magic. The hook that's kept me playing. We'll see what the week brings...
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
GO Learning Network
Progress to create a digital learning network is slow. After having made initial contact with a mathemation who programs GO applications, little response has been made. In addition to this, using twitter i have followed connected to a proverbs database, as well as the American Go Association.
On a personal note, i have broached teaching the game to a number of people on the Merrimack campus ( one of whom has responded favorably), and introduced the game to the head librarian at TMHS as she had shown interest in it. These aside, i have compiled an extensive repository of information in Evernote pertaining to several aspects of gameplay, many of which still above me skill wise, but available to scan as i work towards them.
I have attempted to contact the Cambridge Go Society, located on the MIT campus, but have had no response.
Lastly, I have begun breaking down the game into a series of lessons based on my findings. this first of these i intent to use as part of training day exercise in another class, and the total are to be used in the instruction of anyone interested. Whether i will ultimately post these or work them into this blog as time progresses is as of yet unknown.
More updates to come...
On a personal note, i have broached teaching the game to a number of people on the Merrimack campus ( one of whom has responded favorably), and introduced the game to the head librarian at TMHS as she had shown interest in it. These aside, i have compiled an extensive repository of information in Evernote pertaining to several aspects of gameplay, many of which still above me skill wise, but available to scan as i work towards them.
I have attempted to contact the Cambridge Go Society, located on the MIT campus, but have had no response.
Lastly, I have begun breaking down the game into a series of lessons based on my findings. this first of these i intent to use as part of training day exercise in another class, and the total are to be used in the instruction of anyone interested. Whether i will ultimately post these or work them into this blog as time progresses is as of yet unknown.
More updates to come...
Sunday, October 14, 2012
UPDATE:
There is a draft on here somewhere, but alas, like losing a KO*, I didn't realize it was gone until it was too late.I had hoped to be uploading examples via an SVG editor by now, but as with using Linux, the program has become a labor of love.
(* a KO is a special situation which we will talk about at a later date)
INTRODUCTION:
In any event, I've begun researching standard openings, called joseki. The game has three main phases of play; the opening, mid-game, and the end game. The general opening, no matter the size of board used, begins in the corners. Players begin by staking claim to these as it take the least plays to control territory, and from their they move (extending) to the sides.
USING JOSEKI:
The corners are also the places where fighting usually begins, and based on your respective moves either player may come out ahead or behind point wise. Josekis are, in this respect, a series of sequential moves that lead to a mutually favorable outcome. It is up to both players whether or not to stick to the joseki sequence and this may be influenced by other groups near by on the board.
The danger of learning Josekis, as far as i have come to understand them, is rote memorization. The beginner move is often to simply learn them because they lead to favorable outcomes, but based on the entire board, or in weakness in your opponents response you may wish to deviate. this can only be don if you truly understand what each move in the joseki intends to do.
This is the beauty of GO, each play has a different meaning and level of strength bases on the surrounding stones. Even a good joseki may be a bad move if the situation calls for something different.
(Example to come shortly)
There is a draft on here somewhere, but alas, like losing a KO*, I didn't realize it was gone until it was too late.I had hoped to be uploading examples via an SVG editor by now, but as with using Linux, the program has become a labor of love.
(* a KO is a special situation which we will talk about at a later date)
INTRODUCTION:
In any event, I've begun researching standard openings, called joseki. The game has three main phases of play; the opening, mid-game, and the end game. The general opening, no matter the size of board used, begins in the corners. Players begin by staking claim to these as it take the least plays to control territory, and from their they move (extending) to the sides.
USING JOSEKI:
The corners are also the places where fighting usually begins, and based on your respective moves either player may come out ahead or behind point wise. Josekis are, in this respect, a series of sequential moves that lead to a mutually favorable outcome. It is up to both players whether or not to stick to the joseki sequence and this may be influenced by other groups near by on the board.
The danger of learning Josekis, as far as i have come to understand them, is rote memorization. The beginner move is often to simply learn them because they lead to favorable outcomes, but based on the entire board, or in weakness in your opponents response you may wish to deviate. this can only be don if you truly understand what each move in the joseki intends to do.
This is the beauty of GO, each play has a different meaning and level of strength bases on the surrounding stones. Even a good joseki may be a bad move if the situation calls for something different.
(Example to come shortly)
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
PLN's and the Game
Using a digital learning network to better my game play is proving enjoyable and difficult. in terms of the resources available, using ever-note has allowed me to archive information that at one time would have meant spending weeks at the book store and the library taking notes and photocopying. Similarly, being able to store entire websites like sensei's library for reference (especially for vocabulary) is mind blowing. The draw back so far has been the human component, as it has always been. The closest players known to me are Rhode Island and in Cambridge making discussions and physical games difficult. i had thought that using Twitter would enable me to make better contact with players, but this appears not to be the case. I have managed to contact one player (in LA) via this method but ultimately it doesn't stand up as of yet.
It would appear that if i wish to play actual games i need to widen my audience and the public's knowledge of the game. I have an inherent distaste for virtual games as play is very much like a discussion; and no one likes a one sided conversation.
I would add here that my twitter compatriot from LA, being a mathematition and game programmer, give me pause for possible allies in our own science building. It just might be time to post a flyer.
It would appear that if i wish to play actual games i need to widen my audience and the public's knowledge of the game. I have an inherent distaste for virtual games as play is very much like a discussion; and no one likes a one sided conversation.
I would add here that my twitter compatriot from LA, being a mathematition and game programmer, give me pause for possible allies in our own science building. It just might be time to post a flyer.
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Introductions: My Goban and Me
As the title of this blog suggests; Tesuji (skillful play) is my ultimate aim, but I'm a head of myself. I play a game called GO (also; Baduk in Korea and weiqi in China), and have been for some time. The game's origins can be traced to the east and records exist as far back as approx. 300 years. while debates argue over its national origin, the nature of the game cannot be out shined. It is a game of strategy, played on the intersections of a grid, with only two rules.
Firstly, the rule of liberty: a stone must have at least one free point (liberty) directly next to it, or connected to a group with at least one, to remain on the board.
Secondly, the rule of KO: stones once placed on the board cannot repeat a previous position. In cases such as this it is necessary to play elsewhere before making the desired play.
These rules are the basis for the beginners game of capture (ponnuki) on a small board (9x9) and also for the true game played on the standard at 19x19. The game appears simple, but like one of einsteins equations, the level of depth and complexity achievable is astounding.
As to myself, I am a weak casual player. I began playing in high school but never really progressed past the 9x9 board at that time. I continued into college and after a year or so, according to an interactive test, i scored 14 kyu still a casual player.I then stopped playing for about two years to focus on schoolwork and life, and have only recently got back into playing. Outside of the basics i know very little and plan on using this blog to discuss and develop strategy, life-death-problems (tsumego), joseki, reading techniques, and ultimately improve my level of play.
Firstly, the rule of liberty: a stone must have at least one free point (liberty) directly next to it, or connected to a group with at least one, to remain on the board.
Secondly, the rule of KO: stones once placed on the board cannot repeat a previous position. In cases such as this it is necessary to play elsewhere before making the desired play.
These rules are the basis for the beginners game of capture (ponnuki) on a small board (9x9) and also for the true game played on the standard at 19x19. The game appears simple, but like one of einsteins equations, the level of depth and complexity achievable is astounding.
As to myself, I am a weak casual player. I began playing in high school but never really progressed past the 9x9 board at that time. I continued into college and after a year or so, according to an interactive test, i scored 14 kyu still a casual player.I then stopped playing for about two years to focus on schoolwork and life, and have only recently got back into playing. Outside of the basics i know very little and plan on using this blog to discuss and develop strategy, life-death-problems (tsumego), joseki, reading techniques, and ultimately improve my level of play.
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