GO Chronology

Notes for Learning to play the strategy game of GO.

Chapter 1 Ladders and Nets

"What should one do to become stronger at go?" [p. 10]

This is the right question. The goal is clear: to become stronger. The question is one of strategy. What is a good strategy for Learning more about a topic?

"After you have learned the rules, your first step should be just to play for a while." [p. 11]

This is just a simple way to begin to get a feel for the terrain. Do not focus too quickly on memorizing anything. It is much better to try to get a general sense of the topic. In the case of a textbook, skim the entire book, getting a sense of the sequence of topics as well as glancing at the diagrams and exercises.

"You cannot expect to do all of your studying and gain all of your knowledge from books." [p. 11]

Even in the case of a course or a textbook, one should look for additional resources and approaches. Forming a small study group where everyone can discuss the topic and share questions, ideas, suggestions and problems is an alternative to just reading the book. Visiting a library where one can see what other books are available on the topic is often a good idea. If one book fails to express an idea clearly, another book may say it in a manner that makes sense. Or another book may give an opposing persective on a controversial issue. In addition to books, there is the Web and Google. There are also a variety of tools that should be tried: yellow highlighting of important passages making handwritten notes in a notebook or binder lists diagrams and charts graphs using computer software word processors, databases, spreadsheets web authoring (e.g. Dreamweaver) google (and other search engines) mind mapping (Inspiration, MindManager) statistics (Excel, SPSS) A cup of coffee can also help. (I have one in my hand at the moment.)

"I would like to recommend that you play according to your own ideas." [p. 11]

This applies to studying. We all have individual styles and preferences. Trust your judgement, but be ready to make adjustments as you proceed.

"If you are to learn go, open-mindedness is the most important thing." [p. 11]

Open-mindedness applies to both content and to strategies for Learning. When an approach is working well, stay with it, but when it is not, try to think of some alternative approaches or activities. For example, I am currently trying to Learn more about the mathematics of symmetry as well as the French Revolution. Yet I am using a book on Go to reflect on my overall approaches to Learning. I am also trying to apply these ideas to becoming a more proficient model railroader.

"Of course one cannot make progress in any discipline without effort." [p. 12]

Obviously! Yet in my particular case, I seem to have too many topics and I am not spending enough time on any one (or two) topics to make substantive progress.

"One must, without fail, learn the correct way to study." [p. 12]

The above notes capture the essential principles that apply to any situation: Get a general sense of the topic. Develop a variety of approaches. Trust your own judgement. Put substantial effort into Learning. This should include conscious efforts at regular review and practice. Then within a particular topic, develop specific Learning strategies.

Ladders

"Ladders should be the school that teaches you to read patiently, move by move - black, white, black, white, black, white - which is the only way." [p. 14]

Regardless of the topic, there are occasions when one must slow down and methodically pay attention to the detail of each step.

"Confine your practice to this one exercise every day until you can read the long-distance ladder in Dia. 1 with the greatest of ease." [p. 15]

Practice, practice, practice the fundamentals. Repetition of the same activity until it is automatic is a necessary prerequisite to more advanced activities. This may be algebra, or a backhand in tennis, or memorizing a sequence of important historical events. It is not enough to understand a section of text, one must integrate it into one's being so that it is automatically available at any time.

"When you can do that, rearrange the stones in the lower left corner - use your ingenuity - and try reading again. That's the way." [p. 15]

Do not restrict yourself to pre-set problems. Learn to create your own by modifying an existing problem. This is more interesting and quickly develops a confidence in the overall situation that the particular problem represents. It also begins to get one used to asking questions - which is a much better Learning strategy than trying to learn how to solve someone else's problems.

"No doubt the first requirement for becoming strong at go is to like it, ... and a second requirement is the desire to learn. A third requirement is to study it, using proper methods, patiently, little by little, without cramming. ... The only ones who fall by the wayside are those, be they gifted or otherwise, who forget the word 'effort' ". [p. 22]

SUMMARY of the session: The last hour has been one of the most enjoyable hours that I have spent while engaged in Learning in quite some time. I loved the interplay of Go and my more general interest in Learning any topic. My next hour will be spent setting up ladders on an actual (physical) wooden GO board and learning to read them. 1:30 PM

2:50 PM I played around with ladders on my wooden Go board for about half an hour. Once again, it was very enjoyable. It has been a few years since I touched the board. I quickly recalled how to hold a stone and place it on the board with a solid thunk.

Here are the results of my 3 games of 9x9 GO++:

• Game 1: I lose by 4.5 points.
• Game 2: I lose by 0.5 points.
• Game 3: I lose by 1.5 points.

Although I lost all three games, they were all close. I still need to learn to be slightly more aggressive in order to overcome the 6.5 point komi.