Quote:
Originally Posted by Brutha  Go is a game that rewards non attached to your stones or positions. A Go game can end in a lot of different ways.
If someone has only one outcome in mind for a situation he loses the flexibilty and gets less effective. |
Glad to see I'm not the only one interested in both Go and Steve's blog!
On that subject, though moreso on the subject of Steve's post. I found this section of the American Go Association's E-Journal very interesting, and Steve's post just reiterates the same basic idea. I don't think there's any copyright problem in reproducing this since it was part of a lecture which the AGA was simply reproducing, but I just want to make it clear that I am getting this from the AGA, and that the words are not mine, but those of Takemiya Masaki, a master Go player.
"When you sit down to play a game is your aim to win the game or to become stronger? You probably think you can do both, but these are quite different projects. The problem with trying to win – besides the fact that it makes it hard to enjoy the game – is that you don’t trust your feelings about where to play. When you look over the board there’ll be a place find you want to play, but if you’re concerned about winning, you’re not going to trust your feeling. You’ll think and analyze and nervously play somewhere else. This is a terrible way to play go. You should look at the board and play wherever you want to. This is the way to get stronger. I say this everywhere I go, around the world, but no one believes me. Nevertheless it’s true. Of course, when you do this, you’ll lose a lot of games. So you have to review the games. That way your feelings about the game will get better and you will not only get stronger, you’ll also find that playing go is a lot of fun. And you’ll win more often. This is go the natural way."
Even without any knowledge at all of the game, anyone can, I think, get something from this, especially if you consider "the game" to be the money game of which Steve spoke.
For example, the problem with trying to win the money game is that you're too concerned about having money, and you won't trust your feelings about what you should really be spending your time on. If you're too concerned about going bankrupt or being broke, you may never quit your job to pursue something you're really passionate about. You may nervously decide to stick with your job because it's "safe." Granted, you may lose some rounds if you follow your passions, but then you can look at where things went right and where they went wrong, improve, and do something you love. Then, you'll start to win more often... this is the money game the natural way.
Yeah, I think the connection is pretty clear even without my explanation there, but I was just so excited to see somewhere else to apply these words of Takemiya's that I find so helpful (I first started applying them in my local Chess club) AND to see that someone already brought up Go. It really is kinda like winning the lottery. *there should be a LOL smiley on here*