| | Interrupting my walk down memory lane of this year's Go Congress... I played in Tacoma's rating tournament on Saturday. Not a huge event - mostly beginning players, and only 3 boards were setup for the 2 round tourny.
I was playing board 1 as an 8 kyu -- now that's a first!
Round one I gave 7 stones to my opponent. Having watched him play a warmup game earlier, I wasn't expecting much difficulty. Nevertheless, I tried to play carefully and not make too many overplays, patiently waiting for his mistakes. I still made a few bad mistakes, and in spite of my poor poker face, he didn't see them. I won handily.
Then Solomon (3 dan) showed up. Now, either the TD (3 kyu) was going to play in the last round or I was going to have a really tough opponent. Another latecomer and the pairings were even again.
I was offered an unrated 12 stone game, but I came to play rated games - even if I lost. Let's see how I do with 9.
I was determined not to get pushed around, to play safe moves, and yet try to keep the pressure on white keeping white seperated as much as possible. Solomon likes to attach -- a lot. I had to keep deciding, do I hane, or extend? And which side do I want, and how do I play so as to get that side and not lose both? I screwed up the first corner and gave him too much. I was determined not to do that the next time.
After the game, Solomon felt he played too honte, not making any trick plays. He didn't kill anything so he was never able to completely catch up. Near the end with one byo-yomi period left, and at least 20 points behind, he resigned.
The ratings were in by the next day! Its official - I'm 8 kyu now!
And still climbing.
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| | Posted 8/21/2007 10:52 AM - 200 Views - 0 eProps - 0 comments
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