AMERICAN GO E-JOURNAL: News from the American Go Association
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AMERICAN GO E-JOURNAL: News from the American Go Association
January 13, 2003
In This Edition:
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
SCOREBOARD: Piscataway, NJ
YOUR MOVE, Readers Write: The Big Switch; Credit Where It's Due GAME COMMENTARY:
Fujitsu Redux GO NEWS: 6th Annual Kid's Summer Go Camp; International Go Players
Meetup Day; Go Software Upgrades X2 GO CLUBS: Capitol Hill, Washington, DC WORLD
GO: China GO ONLINE: The Magic Of Ko
MY CORNER: Notes from the President
GO CLASSIFIED
AGA CONTACT LIST
CALENDAR OF EVENTS (U.S.)
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=168277&r=167880&t=88498618&l=1&d=59870471&u=http://www.usgo.org/usa/tournaments.html&g=0&f=59870475
For the European Go Calendar see
http://gm12.com/r.html?c=168277&r=167880&t=88498618&l=1&d=59870472&u=http://www.win.tue.nl/cs/fm/engels/go/tourn.html&g=0&f=59870475
SCOREBOARD: Piscataway, NJ
January 11: Piscataway, NJ
Feng Yun Go Tournament
62 Players (27 dan players, 35 kyu players)
Sponsor: Ing Foundation
Organizer: Feng Yun
Assistant Organizer: Larry Rusche
Director: Chuck Robbins
Assistant Director: Robert Muldowney
Open Section (10 players): 1st: HUANG, KE 7d; 2nd: GUAN, Mozheng, 7d; 3rd: ZHOU,
Yansong 6d Dan Division: 1?6d (17 players): 1st: CHEN, Wei 1d; 2nd: CHEN,
Zhaonian 4d; 3rd: LIU, Andy 4d. Upper Kyu Division: 1-6k (21 players): 1st
ZHANG, Yinghe 3k; 2nd: CHEN, Yu 4k; 3rd: PALMER, Marc 1k. Lower Kyu Division:
7-22k (14 players): 1st: SIMMONS, Joshua 16k; 2nd: ROSENBLATT, Gregory 20; 3rd:
MCCOWAN, Ian 7k.
January 11: Piscataway, NJ
Feng Yun Youth Tournament
42 players; ranging from 5 to 15 years old.
Sponsor: Ing Foundation
Organizer: Feng Yun
Assistant Organizer: Larry Rusche
Director: Chuck Robbins
Assistant Director: Robert Muldowney
19x19 Older Group (12 players): 1st: GU, Jason 15k; 2nd: LIN, Ken 20k; 3rd:
HSU,Eric 20 19x19 Younger Group (17 players): 1st: SHANG, Kevin 20; 2nd: YAN,
Jasmine 20k; 3rd: DAI, Anna 20k 13x13 Older Group (8 players): 1st: ZHONG, Peter
25k; 2nd: HSU, Sophia 25k; 3rd: AN, Terrence 25 13x13 Younger Group (12
players); 1st: XU, Yang 25k; 2nd: SHANG, Andrew 25k; 3rd: ZHAO, Bonng 25k.
YOUR MOVE: Readers Write
The Big Switch
"Within the last week I finally joined the AGA (yeah!) after receiving the free
E-Journal for some time now," writes Dave Aronhalt and other new members.
"Unfortunately, now I seem to be getting both a copy the free version and the
'games' version. My question is how to get rid of the free subscription without
affecting the other one (or any other member-related mailings for that matter)."
Just unsubscribe the free version via the link/instructions at the bottom of the
E-Journal; we'll keep sending you the Member's Edition with attached games. And
welcome to the AGA!
Credit Where It's Due
"As one of those responsible for the English adaptation of the Hikaru no Go
manga," writes AGA member Mike Kiefl, "it gave me great pleasure to see the
E-Journal conversations on Hikaru no Go replicated in the print Fall 2002/Winter
2003 issue. I was blown out of the water, however, when I saw my site,
Toriyama's World, www.toriyamaworld.com mentioned. While honored by the mention,
I was dismayed to see that the original authors, writer Hotta Yumi and artist
Obata Takeshi were not mentioned at all. It is typical in America for the
animated adaptation of a series from Japan to receive more notice than its
original manga (comic) version, but in the future I would like to see the
original version and authors given more credit for their achievements."
GAME COMMENTARY: Fujitsu Redux
With the U.S. Fujitsu playoffs set for this weekend in Baltimore, Guo Juan takes
a look at a recent game from the European Fujitsu in today's timely commentary
in which Romania's Catalin Taranu, 5P takes on Russia's Svetlana Shikshina, 1P.
Also included this week is the answer to last week's brain-bending 2003 life and
death problem by tsume-go master Yi-lun Yang. We're very pleased and proud to
announce that Mr. Yang's popular problems will become a monthly feature in the
E-Journal this year, with three brand-new problems each month, ranging in
difficulty from beginner to intermediate and advanced.
To receive the weekly Games Edition, sign up today at
http://gm12.com/r.html?c=168277&r=167880&t=88498618&l=1&d=59870470&u=http://www.usgo.org/org/application.asp&g=0&f=59870475
GO NEWS
6th Annual Kid's Summer Go Camp
Kids can register now for the world's only summer go camp! For the last five
summers, dozens of youngsters age 8 through 18 have met for a week to study go,
explore and have fun with their go playing friends from all over the USA and
abroad,
The AGA Summer Go Camp encourages go clubs, organizations, and parents to send
kids to the Summer Go Camp this year in Oakland, California, June 28 through
July 5 at beautiful Mills College. Everything is organized to the last detail,
from pickup at the airport to send-off for the home-bound flight.
Download the registration forms at
http://gm12.com/r.html?c=168277&r=167880&t=88498618&l=1&d=59870469&u=http://www.usgo.org/gocamp/index.html&g=0&f=59870475
or contact us at: AGA Go Camp, Attn: James Chien, 12 Sutter Creek Lane, Mountain
View, CA 94043; 415-860-3926; AGAGoCamp@yahoo.com
International Go Players Meetup Day
An International Go Players Meetup Day has been scheduled for the second
Saturday of each month. This is a chance for go players worldwide to meet each
other locally to talk about the game, teach, and organize games.
Meetup creates real-world group gatherings about anything anywhere, using
technology and a network of venues (cafes, bars, etc.) that can help any
interest group easily organize local monthly Meetups in over 530 cities across
27 countries. Check out details of the upcoming Meetups at
http://gm12.com/r.html?c=168277&r=167880&t=88498618&l=1&d=59870452&u=http://go.meetup.com/&g=0&f=59870475
Go Software Upgrades X2
SmartGo 1.1.1
SmartGo 1.1.1 has just been released, with two new features: Open Folder allows
you to open all the SGF files in a whole folder with a single command. You can
then apply SmartGo's powerful search or diagram features to that collection of
games. Or use it to reduce SGF file clutter. And if 19x19 isn't big enough for
your fuseki, you can also now play on a large scale: SmartGo:Board now allows
board sizes up to 29x29! The upgrade is free to registered users. SmartGo:Player
(the full version) is available for $59; SmartGo:Board (without computer play)
is $29. Check
http://gm12.com/r.html?c=168277&r=167880&t=88498618&l=1&d=59870466&u=http://www.smartgo.com&g=0&f=59870475
web site for details.
MasterGo 2.2
The latest release of MasterGo has 16,068 games by 993 professional players.
MasterGo 2.2 also fixes a number of bugs and adds new features, including the
ability to import SGF files by dragging and dropping the files onto either the
board window or game list window. Users can now start MasterGo with a specific
game collection by dragging and dropping the MGD file onto the MasterGo
Executable or the short cut to MasterGo. Upgrade, order or download a free trial
version at
http://gm12.com/r.html?c=168277&r=167880&t=88498618&l=1&d=59870450&u=http://MasterGo.com&g=0&f=59870475
GO CLUBS: Capitol Hill, Washington, DC
The proposed Capitol Hill Go Club will be holding an organizing meeting on Feb.
22 at the Northeast Branch Public Library (corner of Maryland and 7th) at 3P. At
that meeting a more permanent day and time of the week for meetings will be set.
Info: Bob Lindsey, 202-543-8752
NOTE TO CLUB ORGANIZERS: This space is available for YOUR club announcements and
news! Spread the word to over 5,000 go players worldwide about what your club is
up to! Email us at journal@usgo.org
WORLD GO: China
The 1st World Student Oza wrapped up January 8 and featured sixteen players from
around the world, including Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan, Europe, North America,
South and Central America and Thailand. Chinese players took 1st and 2nd places.
USA representative Jie Li finished 11th. Final standings: 1: Ye Lingyun (China);
2: Zhu Daming (China); 3: Kang Na Yeon (Korea, female); 4: Asa Takumi (Japan);
5: Shin Yi Cheng (Taiwan); 6: Csaba Mero (Hungary); 7: Son Chang Ho (Korea); 8:
Liu Yao Wen (Taiwan); 9: Ishii Akane (Japan, female); 10: Nagao Kentaro (Japan);
11: Li Jie (USA); 12: Dong Qin (China, female); 13: Diana Kosgezi (Hungary,
female); 14: Andrey Kulkov (Russia); 15: Nitipone Aroonphaichitra (Thailand);
16: Santiago Laplagne (Argentina).
U.S. representative Jie Li went 2-2 in the Student Oza: Round 1: Jie Li (B) d.
Nitipone Aroonphaichitra (Thailand); Round 2: Son Chang Ho (Korea) (B) d. Jie
Li; Round 3: Ishii Akane (Japan) (B) d. Jie Li; Round 4: Jie Li (W) d. Diana
Kosgezi (Hungary).
In other news, Zhou Heyang 9p is the challenger for the 15th Mingren title,
defeating Yu Bin 9p 2-0 in the best-of-three challenger decision match. The
current title holder is Ma Xiaochun 9p, who has held this title for 13
consecutive years. As this is Ma's only remaining title, and with no titles for
#2-ranked Zhou at this point, this match has assumed major importance for both
players.
- Reported by Yuan Zhou
GO ONLINE: The Magic Of Ko
By Roy Laird, AGA Webmaster
The "ko" rule, which ensures a result in nearly every game by avoiding endlessly
repetitive situations on the board, leads to situations of fascinating
complexity: double and triple kos, multi-stage and multi-step kos, "hot" and
"cold" kos, flower-viewing kos, thousand-year kos, "super-ko" and thousands of
other peculiar positions, including the mind-bending "molasses ko." In truth,
few if any of us truly understand the depth of those complications. Ko fights
often decide games, especially if one player is afraid. Life and death problems
often center on the question of finding, or avoiding, ko.
Ko is the only rule to be the subject of an entire book (Fighting Ko by Jin
Jiang, available from Yutopian Enterprises.) Nonetheless, we were surprised to
discover dozens of web pages devoted exclusively to this topic. We were looking
at Rob Van Ziejst's wonderful column, "The Magic of Go," which appears in the
online English language Yomiuri newspaper. A discussion of pon-nuki, the
four-leaf-clover shape that captures a stone, gradually evolved into a
discussion of ko, which is created when two ponnukis of opposing colors overlap.
Column #192 at
http://gm12.com/r.html?c=168277&r=167880&t=88498618&l=1&d=59870473&u=http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/igo_e/&g=0&f=59870475
is a good place to jump in. Better yet, go back and read all 192 in order.
They're great, especially for new players.
Sensei's Library, a set of user-maintained pages, contains two separate
collections of pages on the subject. Learn the basics at
http://gm12.com/r.html?c=168277&r=167880&t=88498618&l=1&d=59870457&u=http://senseis.xmp.net/%3fKoFighting,&g=0&f=59870475
then move on to "The Second Course of Ko" at
http://gm12.com/r.html?c=168277&r=167880&t=88498618&l=1&d=59870458&u=http://senseis.xmp.net/%3fSecondCourseOnKo.&g=0&f=59870475
where you can learn about such arcane subjects as "Moonshine Life," the earliest
known rules dispute, which arose during a game played in Japan in the 13th
century.
We thought we had completely exhausted the subject, until we discovered a series
of ten lengthy essays by Britis author Charles Matthews at
http://gm12.com/r.html?c=168277&r=167880&t=88498618&l=1&d=59870453&u=http://gobase.org/studying/articles/matthews/ko/.&g=0&f=59870475
Here you can learn even more about how to calculate the value of a ko fight, how
and when to start a fight, how to understand "bulge ko" and "apex ko", how to
block with implied ko, how to take a ko's "temperature," and other subjects.
Sensei's Library (above) also contains a number of "party-trick" positions, more
perplexing than plausible setups such as "Molasses Ko" and "Pinwheel Ko". If
these entertainment's strike your fancy, you won't want to miss Harry Fearnley's
"Bestiary" at
http://gm12.com/r.html?c=168277&r=167880&t=88498618&l=1&d=59870463&u=http://www.goban.demon.co.uk/go/bestiary/zippersetc.html.&g=0&f=59870475
You may never see a "zipper", a "loop" or a "train" in a real game, but they're
fun in their own way. You'll also want to check out Matthew Macfadyen's
collection at
http://gm12.com/r.html?c=168277&r=167880&t=88498618&l=1&d=59870462&u=http://www.goban.demon.co.uk/go/bestiary/molasses_ko.html&g=0&f=59870475
Animated versions of some of these positions can be viewed at
http://gm12.com/r.html?c=168277&r=167880&t=88498618&l=1&d=59870459&u=http://www.britgo.org/rules/molasses.html&g=0&f=59870475
and
http://gm12.com/r.html?c=168277&r=167880&t=88498618&l=1&d=59870464&u=http://www.homes.uni-bi!
elefeld.de/achim/goloopy.html&g=0&f=59870475
For a different perspective, check out Robert Jasiek's extensive discussion of
the subject at
http://gm12.com/r.html?c=168277&r=167880&t=88498618&l=1&d=59870456&u=http://home.snafu.de/jasiek/korules.html.&g=0&f=59870475
Jasiek is particularly interested in classifying and comparing various rule sets
according to their handling of ko, a subject he discusses thoroughly at
http://gm12.com/r.html?c=168277&r=167880&t=88498618&l=1&d=59870455&u=http://home.snafu.de/jasiek/koclass.html.&g=0&f=59870475
It seems that ko, like go itself, is so vast as to defy complete description.
MY CORNER: Notes from the President
by Chris Kirscher
In this column, I'll keep you aware of the national organizing activity by the
American Go Association, with the goal of increasing member interest and
participation in the AGA.
First, my deepest thanks go to outgoing President Roy Laird for facilitating an
incredibly smooth transition. Roy not only left the house in good order, but
he's provided terrific guidance in understanding how things work. And even
though he's now served the AGA in one capacity or another for over 20 years, Roy
will continue to serve, now as AGA webmaster as well as being available for
background information and advice when needed. I will be continuously grateful
and the AGA is forever in his debt.
One of the first acts of the new AGA Board of Directors was to propose our very
first organization chart, which is posted at www.usgo.org on the "About the AGA"
page. What's notable about the chart is that it recognizes that the workload of
organizing and coordinating a national go organization requires a lot more
people than are currently active national level organizers. Thus, recruiting has
become a major activity and I'm pleased to report that we are making good
progress finding people to tackle the work. While it's very gratifying to see
new blood coming in, we need still more. If you think you might have something
to contribute to spreading go in the United States, please contact Terry Assael,
our new HR and Recruiting volunteer, at hrandrecruiting@usgo.org to explore the
possibilities.
GO CLASSIFIED
WANTED: Looking for step-by-step directions on how to equip a Palm Pilot to
record
(and hopefully improve!) my go games. marcwillhite@hotmail.com
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=168277&r=167880&t=88498618&l=1&d=59870461&u=http://www.eskimo.com/~dobe/Dobe_ForSale_GO_Worlds01.htm&g=0&f=59870475
Or email dobe.doinat@verizon.net
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: "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=168277&r=167880&t=88498618&l=1&d=59870467&u=http://www.usgo.org&g=0&f=59870475
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@usgo.org
Treasurer Ben Bernstein: Treasurer@usgo.org
VP - Communications: Chris Garlock Journal@usgo.org
Archivist Craig Hutchinson: Archives@usgo.org
Chapter Management: Paul Celmer chapterservices@usgo.org
Nicole Casanta: Chapters@usgo.org
Community Outreach: John Goon Outreach@usgo.org
Congress Liaison: Judy Debel 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
American Go Foundation: Terry Benson terrybenson@nyc.rr.com Database Manager:
Sam Zimmerman database@usgo.org AGA Board of Directors Dave Weimer (Chair):
Shusaku@charter.net
Chen-dao Lin: cdlin5@yahoo.com
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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