AMERICAN GO E-JOURNAL: News from the American Go Association
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January 6, 2003
In This Edition:
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
YOUR MOVE: Readers Write
GO NEWS: New Ratings Posted!; 2003 Mind Sports Olympiad Set; Go Featured in
Anime Monthly; Whole-Board Problems in New S&S Pub; Kerwin Cancelled GO CLUBS:
Metro DC WORLD GO: Korea, China THE EMPTY BOARD: Revolutionary Go GO REVIEW: Art
of Capturing Stones A NEW YEAR AND A NEW AGA GO CLASSIFIED AGA OFFICER CONTACT
LIST
CALENDAR OF EVENTS (U.S.)
January 11: Salem, OR
Salem Winter Tournament.
levenick@willamette.edu, 503-370-6486
January 11: Arlington, VA
Winter Warmer
Allan Abramson 703-684-7676 mediate8@worldnet.att.net
January 11: Piscataway, NJ
Feng Yun Tournament
sponsored by the Feng Yun Go School, in conjunction with the AGA and the Ing Goe
Foundation
http://gm12.com/r.html?c=166798&r=166403&t=88498618&l=1&d=58445882&u=http://attila.stevens-tech.edu/~lruss/feng_yun_tournament.htm&g=0&f=58445896
January 12: Piscataway, NJ
Feng Yun Youth Tournament
Sponsored by the Feng Yun Go School, in conjunction with the AGA and the Ing Goe
Foundation
http://gm12.com/r.html?c=166798&r=166403&t=88498618&l=1&d=58445882&u=http://attila.stevens-tech.edu/~lruss/feng_yun_tournament.htm&g=0&f=58445896
January 18: Baltimore, MD
Fujitsu Finals & Amateur Tournament
Keith Arnold 410-788-3520 hlime@earthlink.net
January 18-20: Evanston, IL
4th Annual Winter Workshop with Guo Juan 5P
Mark Rubenstein 847-869-6020 mark@easyaspi.com
January 19: Boston, MA
MGA Winter Handicap Tournament
Don Wiener 617-734-6316 donwiener@earthlink.net
NOTE: this listing is not all-inclusive, featuring only upcoming tournaments in
the next month or events which require early registration. For a complete U.S.
listings, go to
http://gm12.com/r.html?c=166798&r=166403&t=88498618&l=1&d=58445893&u=http://www.usgo.org/usa/tournaments.html&g=0&f=58445896
For the European Go Calendar see
http://gm12.com/r.html?c=166798&r=166403&t=88498618&l=1&d=58445894&u=http://www.win.tue.nl/cs/fm/engels/go/tourn.html&g=0&f=58445896
YOUR MOVE: Readers Write
Blown Out of the Water by Baduk
"I just want to thank Michael Turk for making me aware of www.dashn.com, the
Korean Baduk site (12/2/02 AGEJ)," writes Edward Calabrese. "I finally got
around to going there and I was blown out of the water! A terrific site; two
thumbs up! Timed life and death, some Baduk Go History, Pro events, and lots
more. My thanks to both Turk and the E-Journal!"
SmartGo Buggy But Powerful?
"The free 9x9 version of SmartGo (AGEJ 12/23/02) has a bug which caused part of
the board to be blanked out for at least the first half dozen or more moves,"
reports Milton Bradley, who adds that "I found the program to be extremely weak.
It missed many elementary tesuji, and at the end I killed all of its stones."
Bradley judges SmartGo weaker than either Igo Win or the 9x9 version of Handtalk
"and based upon this, as a go teacher I would not recommend this program."
"That rare but annoying bug you're referring to will be fixed in the next
version," promises SmartGo's Anders Kierulf, who says that "As a tool for
recording, annotating, and analyzing, SmartGo is both more powerful and easier
to use than any other go program. Like all go programs, we're working on its
playing strength, but the breadth of features SmartGo provides makes it a great
tool for teaching and learning."
GAME COMMENTARY: Back to the Future
As we move into a brand new year, we reach back into the past for today's game
commentary, a three-decade-old gem, the first game from the 1973 Honinbo in
which Ishida defends his title against Rin Kaiho with four straight wins.
Ishida's commentary is as fresh and revealing as it was thirty years ago. We're
also pleased to include a bonus file, tsume-go master Yilun Yang's annual life
and death problem (2003YangProblem.sgf), another clever and elegant puzzle
(don't worry, you don't have to wait a year for the solution: look for it in
next week's E-Journal!).
To receive the weekly game commentaries, join the AGA today (or sign up for the
new Games Edition) at
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GO NEWS
New Ratings Posted!
Latest official AGA ratings are now posted at
http://gm12.com/r.html?c=166798&r=166403&t=88498618&l=1&d=58445892&u=http://www.usgo.org/ratings.asp&g=0&f=58445896
2003 Mind Sports Olympiad Set
The 2003 Mind Sports Olympiad has been scheduled for May 3-5 in Cambridge,
England. An Olympiad for "thinking" games, MSO competitors play each other at a
variety of well known strategy games, such as chess, bridge, checkers,
backgammon, Scrabble, Othello and, of course, go! Check it out at
http://gm12.com/r.html?c=166798&r=166403&t=88498618&l=1&d=58445885&u=http://www.msocambridge.org.uk/&g=0&f=58445896
Go Featured in Anime Monthly
The January issue (Vol. 11, No. 1) of Animerica Anime and Manga Monthly contains
a one page article entitled "What Is Go?" by Andy Nakatani, reports Joel Sanet.
"The author did a good job of describing the game's historical and cultural
significance given the small amount of space available to him. The following
page contains reviews of two manga (Japanese-style comics) in which go plays a
crucial role: Gojohden (Legend of the Go Maiden) and Volume 1 of Hikaru no Go.
Animerica is published by Viz Communications, the same company that publishes
the English language version of Shonen Jump. Could these articles be a precursor
to the appearance of Hikaru no Go in an expanded version of Shonen Jump, a
possibility previously reported in the E-Journal?"
Whole-Board Problems in New S&S Pub
Slate & Shell has published a fourth volume in the pocket sized series of "Go
Problems for Kyu Level Players." This volume is "Whole-Board Problems" that are
designed to lead you from a focus on local tactics to an awareness of whole
board strategy. Learn to assess local issues in terms of the entire game
situation--a key step in getting stronger. 44 pp, $5 at
http://gm12.com/r.html?c=166798&r=166403&t=88498618&l=1&d=58445887&u=http://www.slateandshell.com&g=0&f=58445896
.
Kerwin Cancelled
The Kerwin workshop scheduled for January 31-February 2 in Gaithersburg, MD has
been cancelled. For info, contact Gordon Fraser at Gordon_Fraser@sra.com
GO CLUBS: Metro DC
Thanks to John Goon for the following Metro Washington (DC) go activity update
(other go organizers around the country are encouraged to submit their reports
for future editions!): Rockville Chess & Go Group: meetings at the Pump House
re-started 1/3 at 7:30P. Call 301-613-8297 for info/directions; Lake Forest Mall
Chess & Go Club: continued its daily, non-stop drop-in casual program over the
holidays and finished strongly in 2002. There's every reason to believe that
2003 will be bigger and better. Chess and Go sets are available for free use
on-site. Just ask for access to the games storage locker; Hillandale Go Club:
meets Thursdays, beginning 1/9, from 6-9P at the Long Branch Community Center
just off Piney Branch Road; Arthur Lewis Go Club: business as usual on 1/8 &
every Wednesday from 6-8P at the Gilchrist Center for Cultural Diversity on
Elkin Street; Beltsville Strategy Games Club: begins weekly Monday meetings on
1/6 from 7-9:15P at the Beltsville Community Center; Go Demos: The Rockville
Barnes & Noble Go Demo will occur on the last Friday of January, 1/31; the Dream
Wizards Game Store Go Demo will resume its normal weekly schedule on Tuesday,
1/7, from 6-8P; the Lessons with Yuan Zhou series at the GWGC started ｼ and
continues on March 14, April 4, May 2, June 6; New thrusts - We are looking for
volunteers to support new game club initiatives in the Friendship Heights, Chevy
Chase, Greenbelt, Bowie/Upper Marlboro, and Southeast Capital Hill areas. If you
have the interest and time, drop John a line.
http://gm12.com/r.html?c=166798&r=166403&t=88498618&l=1&d=58445883&u=http://www.erols.com/jgoon/links-go.htm&g=0&f=58445896
WORLD GO: Korea, China
KOREA: The famous and popular Rui Naiwei 9P is currently engaged in a ten game
match against Park Ji Eun 3P, an up-and-coming female star in Korea. This is a
difficult match because the rules are unusual: only thirty minutes basic time
and three thirty second byo-yomi periods, no komi, and if one player wins twice
in a row the handicap is changed. At the half-way point Rui is ahead by 3-2.
Park is only nineteen but has risen to the top of professional Korean baduk
(go) very quickly. In the three games she has lost, she was ahead initially, but
Rui came from behind to win. Rui is very good at turning a close game into
victory, while Park is known for her skill in attacking. Rui won the first two
games, so the handicap was changed to Park playing Black in every game. Then
Park won the fourth and fifth games, and the handicap was changed back to
alternating Black and White.
Because it is a fast game (30 minutes basic time and three 30-second
overtimes) it is very stressful for both players. According to Rui, "Pak Ji Eun
is a hard opponent who is difficult to play against." Pak stated, "I don't want
to lose, but I want to play comfortably."
Most pro players want to avoid this type of match because whoever loses can be
hurt by the loss. Most people were surprised that both players agreed to this
match. In an interview with Rui by Tygem she said it was a big honor to play in
this match. In a similar interview, Pak said Rui would be a difficult opponent
but she would do her best.
Pak Ji Eun is not afraid to play against stronger players. If Pak Ji Eun beats
Rui Nei Wei then she can be a world-class player. Because many people are
watching this match Pak Ji Eun can learn from the games, whether she wins or
loses. In an interesting note, before the first match both players ate together;
however, after losing the first match Pak Ji Eun wanted to concentrate on the
game so they did not eat together before the second match.
The next game will be played on January 10. You can see pictures and articles
(in Korean) at
http://gm12.com/r.html?c=166798&r=166403&t=88498618&l=1&d=58445888&u=http://www.tygem.com/VEvent/ruipark/ruipark.asp&g=0&f=58445896
.
- reported by Les Waller
CHINA: Quarterfinal results from the 4th Chunlan Cup World Professional Go
Championship held in Shenzhen, China on 12/26/02: Hane Naoki 8p (Japan) beat Cho
Hunhyun 9p (Korea); Luo Xihe 9p (China) beat Yuki Satoshi 9p (Japan); Chang Hao
9p (China) beat Cho U 7p (Japan); Lee Changho 9p (Korea) beat Zhou Heyang 9p
(China).
Semifinal Results (played on 12/28/02): Hane Naoki beat Luo Xihe Lee Changho
beat Chang Hao. The final match (best of 3) between Lee Changho and Hane Naoki
will be played sometime later this month. Right now, the favorite is of course
Lee Changho 9p, who only needs this title to complete his World Champions'
collection. Lee has won all other World competition except this one, and was
runner up in the 1st Chunlan Cup. Past Chunlan Cup Champions: 1st: Cho Hunhyun
9p (Korea); 2nd: O Rissei 9p (Japan); 3rd: Yoo Changhyuk 9p (Korea).
- reported by Yuan Zhou
THE EMPTY BOARD: Revolutionary Go
By Bill Cobb
"It is not just a simple game; it is an important weapon in the revolution."
This statement is attributed to Che Guevara, the doctor turned revolutionary who
challenged dictators in Cuba and throughout Central America in the 1960s. It
appears on a t-shirt created by the folks at www.philosophyfootball.com, an
English site for soccer fans. Naturally, the statement made me think of go,
which has been such a revolutionary force in so many lives.
This "simple game" turns out to be surprisingly powerful. It's not just that we
become addicted to it; it makes us better people, too. If more people played go,
the world would surely be a better place. I still clearly remember how impressed
I was when I discovered that the people at the Nihon Kiin are, in all
seriousness, promoting go around the world as a way to bring about global peace.
A revolutionary force changes the way people think, as well as the way they act.
Playing go certainly does both. "Have a plan, but be flexible." "Pay attention
to the surrounding situations." "Let your opponent have something." Ideas like
these become second nature to a go player, but are all too rare in other
circles.
In order to become a better player I must have stronger opponents, so I try my
best to make you a better player. For me to win, you do not have to be
destroyed. Just think what the world would be like if that sort of attitude
toward your competitors was more common. Instead of invading "evil" countries,
perhaps we should be teaching their leaders to play go.
So the next time you introduce go to some kids at the local public school,
remember: it's not just a simple game.
GO REVIEW: Art of Capturing Stones
by Wu Dingyuan and Yu Xing
Published by Yutopian
Reviewed by Steve Fawthrop
This is a delightful book of problems. It concentrates on two themes,
ishi-no-shita (under the stones) and nakade (big eyes), and offers 91 wonderful
problems to get you thinking. It must be admitted that many of the shapes are
unlikely to occur in a game (although very few are so artificial as to appear
contrived) but that does not detract from the beauty of some of the sequences. I
found myself smiling with pleasure over and over when a problem was solved.
Without doubt, there is a lot to be learned from this book, but it is not for
the beginner. A sound knowledge of basic tesuji is required to appreciate it.
You will probably have a thrill of excitement the first time you use one if
these techniques in your own games. I would recommend it for high kyu and above.
A NEW YEAR AND A NEW AGA
by Roy Laird, Outgoing AGA President
By the time you read this, Chris Kirschner will have assumed the Presidency of a
newly restructured AGA, with its first elected Board and a whole new operating
structure. As I step down, I want to wish Chris the best of luck with his
ambitious plans for the AGA.
I also want to thank all of you who have done so much for the AGA during the
past five years. Together, we have accomplished a great deal. The AGA Summer Go
Camp, the only such camp in the world, is now a reality. More material support
is available to chapters and organizers than ever before. Our updated and
expanded website attracts thousands of new first-time visitors every week. The
E-Journal, with 5000+ subscribers and growing, is the most widely read
English-language go publication in the world.
While accomplishing all of the above, we also increased the AGA's bank account
by almost $100,000! But the real value of what we have accomplished can be seen
in the AGA's growth. In January of 1998, when I assumed office, the AGA had
slightly fewer than 1,000 full members and about fifty active chapters. Today,
there are twice as many chapters, and more than 1,300 full members. Life
membership has tripled, and it is especially gratifying to note a 50% increase
in people who donate money to the AGA over and above
their membership fees. Volunteers such as myself greatly appreciate this
kind of extra vote of confidence.
None of this would have been possible without the team of able volunteers that I
was fortunate enough to assemble. Chris Garlock, who redesigned and expanded the
American Go Journal and developed the E-Journal, played a central role in the
recent upsurge of memberships, especially with creative marketing strategies in
the E-Journal. As Treasurer, Ulo Tamm played a key role in the fiscal
improvements noted above, and in ways too numerous and complex to mention.
Without Chapter Services Coordinator Bill Cobb, I am sure we would have nowhere
near 100 chapters. And without Susan Weir and her dedicated team and successors,
there certainly would be no Summer Go Camp. As Tournament Coordinator, Mike Bull
worked with AGI President Ernest Brown and the Ing Foundation to bring the
prestigious World Youth Goe Championship to Hawaii, one of many highlights
during his long tenure. Database Coordinator Sam Zimmerman played his usual
role, nearly invisible but always indispensable. And we all owe many thanks to
other volunteers too numerous to mention here.
I hope to continue working to promote this wonderful game in the US, in my new
role as webmaster and however else I can be of service. Every leader faces
challenges, but even during difficult times, I have never forgotten this central
truth: a growing, sustainable go community in the West will greatly enrich the
lives of those fortunate enough to discover it. To those who understand the
meaning of these words, I would add: Have a look at the AGA's new organizational
chart at
http://gm12.com/r.html?c=166798&r=166403&t=88498618&l=1&d=58445891&u=http://www.usgo.org/org/documents/aga_organization_chartv2.pdf&g=0&f=58445896
. Somewhere on that chart is a job waiting for you. Discover the joy and rewards
of working for American go!
GO CLASSIFIED
FOR SALE: Sets of old "Go World" magazines: 1-48 and 1-15; 17-25; 50-56 and
individual copies #22, #40, #43, and #51. Check them out at
http://gm12.com/r.html?c=166798&r=166403&t=88498618&l=1&d=58445884&u=http://www.eskimo.com/~dobe/Dobe_ForSale_GO_Worlds01.htm&g=0&f=58445896
Or email dobe.doinat@verizon.net
FOR SALE: Play Go in your holiday! 10% off for all Go players at
www.shafston.com jamaica (the owner, Frank Lohmann, is 13k on KGS; players
name: shafston)
FOR SALE: Refrigerator Go sets for displaying (or playing) the game on the large
laminated board attached to the metallic surface (for example, a refrigerator -
see http://www.promptpublishing.com); $45 from Michal Lebl, storyspyder@aol.com
FOR SALE: Go boards made of 2.5" mahogany or pine, about 17X19", with 19X19 grid
(cut with small saw, not drawn) and a 9X9 or 13X13 grid on the back. Sanded and
waxed, without feet. $260 ea or $170 ea for 10 or more. Jim Thomas;
waldomesa@cybermesa.com
WANTED: Copy of the go novel "First Kyu."
Mark Lybrand; maryesme@shore.net
WANTED: MasterGo Team volunteer to enter data into a player biography database.
No pay but get your name on the MasterGo website and, possibly, get a free copy
of the program. Charles G. Robbins, crobbins@ctipc.com
WANTED: Human Resources Coordinator for the American Go Association. Help write
& edit job descriptions, assist the AGA to seek & screen volunteers, & guide
energetic volunteers into satisfying positions.Email chrisk.aga@attbi.com. Or
call 206-579-8071 between 7:30A and 11:30P Pacific time.
WANTED: "All About Life and Death, Volume 1," by Cho Chikun; "The Breakthrough
to Shodan," by Naoki Miyamoto. John Pinkerton, john.pinkerton@watsonwyatt.com
WANTED: Issues of 'Go World' from the past couple of years. Prefer someone who
has several issues to offer. sfragman@netvision.net.il
Got Go stuff to sell, swap or want to buy? Do it here and reach more than 5,000
Go players worldwide every week at Go Classified! Send to us at journal@usgo.org
GET LISTED & BOOST TURN-OUT! Got an upcoming event? Reach over 5,000 readers
every week! List your Go event/news In the E-Journal: email details to us at
MAILTO:journal@usgo.org
Ratings are on the web! Check the website;
http://gm12.com/r.html?c=166798&r=166403&t=88498618&l=1&d=58445889&u=http://www.usgo.org&g=0&f=58445896
for the full list.
GET YOUR TOURNAMENT RATED! Send your tournament data to MAILTO:ratings@usgo.org
AGA CONTACT LIST:
President: Chris Kirschner: president@usgo.org
Secretary Susan Weir: Secretary@ysgo.org
Treasurer Ben Bernstein: Treasurer@usgo.org
VP - Communications: Chris Garlock Journal@usgo.org
Archivist Craig Hutchinson: Archives@usgo.org
Chapter Management: Paul Celmer
Nicole Casanta: Chapters@usgo.org
Community Outreach: John Goon Outreach@usgo.org
Congress Liaison: Chris Kirschner Congress@usgo.org
Education Coordinator: Lee Ann Bowie Education@usgo.org Equipment Distribution:
Paul Celmer Equipment@usgo.org HR & Recruitment: Terry Assael Hr@usgo.org
Membership Services: John Goon membership@usgo.org Policy & Governance: Keith
Arnold Governance@usgo.org Professional Players' Representative: Zhu-jiu (Jujo)
Jiang Professionals@usgo.org Ranking Issues: Jeff Shaevel Rank@usgo.org Ratings
Coordinator: Paul Matthews Ratings@usgo.org Tournament Coordinator: Chuck
Robbins Tournaments@usgo.org Tournament Regulations: Duane Burns
Regulations@usgo.org Webmaster Roy Laird: webmaster@usgo.org Youth Coordinator:
Non？Redmond youth@usgo.org AGA Board of Directors Dave Weimer (Chair):
Shusaku@charter.net Chen-dao Lin: cdlin@alum.mit.edu John Stephenson:
Jcs@wingsgoclub.org David Dinhofer: David.dinhofer@alum.mit.edu Harold Lloyd:
Hlloyd@core.com Bob O'Malley: Omalley@OCE.ORST.EDU Jon Boley: Jon@airsltd.com
Published by the American Go Association
Material published in " AMERICAN GO E-JOURNAL" may be reproduced by any
recipient: please credit the AGEJ as the source.
To make name or address corrections - notify us at the email address below.
Story suggestions, event announcements, Letters to the Editor and other material
are welcome - subject to editing for clarity and space -- and should be directed
to:
Editor: Chris Garlock
email: journal@usgo.org
Voice: 202-857-3410
Fax: 202-857-3420
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