寒かったら、お茶が温め、暑かったら、冷やし、鬱なら元気にし、しんどかったら、落ち着かせる。

Thursday, March 31, 2011

3rd BC Card Cup Quarter Finals

Park Junghwan won his game against Zhou Ruiyang and therefore will face Yi Sedol or Chen Yaoye in the next round (let's hope it'll be Yi Sedol, but we'll know it by tommorow).
Park Junghwan has become my favorite player, but this game was rather strange for him: he lost no single Ko^^.
Well, just enjoy the game now:



-blackmoa

6th Sipdan Round 1(Finals)

Yi Sedol won the first game of the Sipdan finals, so if he wins the next game he'll win the finals.

The games seems to fit in nicely with Adoreme's last posts and is a nice example of how to attack groups.
I think one can realy learn alot about how shape works from this game, and it's also a nice game to watch if you are studying Fuseki.



-blackmoa

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Killing groups

It is easy when your opponent makes mistakes. ;)



- adoreme

Game reviews

In order to promote my teaching a bit I offered and still offer some free game reviews. So send me an SGF and I will review it for. Ask questions and receive answers on what you could do better.

Here is a example of my reviews. It is a game that was sent to me recently. 1kyu vs 4kyu. I hope you enjoy it. :)

(;CA[utf-8]FF[4]ST[2]RU[AGA]OT[5x30 byo-yomi]AP[CGoban:3]SZ[19]GM[1]DT[2011-03-19]
PC[The KGS Go Server at http\://www.gokgs.com/]BR[1k]WR[4k]KM[7.5]TM[2400]RE[B+Time]
MULTIGOGM[1]
;B[pd]BL[2393.23];W[qp]WL[2391];B[dd]BL[2389.63];W[cp]WL[2320.11];B[ep]BL[2377.57]
;W[eq]WL[2301.44];B[fq]BL[2374.29];W[dq]WL[2296.22];B[fp]BL[2372.53];W[nq]WL[2284.14]
;B[co]BL[2341.71];W[bo]WL[2273.92];B[cn]BL[2338.38];W[bn]WL[2270.26];B[cm]BL[2336.41]
(;W[dp]WL[2267.14]C[This is slack.];B[do]BL[2332.95];W[jc]WL[2257.78]C[Splitting is good.]
(;B[bm]BL[2300.08];W[bq]WL[2241.32]C[Now you needed to answer here.];B[kq]BL[2272.32]
C[L3 seems slow for black.];W[fc]WL[2199.55]C[Yes, good move.]
(;B[cg]BL[2237.15];W[db]WL[2193.96];B[cc]BL[2232.78];W[hd]WL[2191.34]C[Good shape.]
(;B[dj]BL[2219.83]C[Ineffective.];W[pj]WL[2185.4]C[Right direction. But I prefer a low approach here.]
(;B[mc]BL[2190.75];W[qf]WL[2141.31];B[qd]BL[2184.7]
(;W[kn]WL[1920.31];B[jo]BL[2162.31]
(;W[ko]WL[1910.78];B[jn]BL[2142.5]
(;W[km]WL[1896.84];B[jm]BL[2133.24];W[kp]WL[1894.31];B[jp]BL[2131];W[lq]WL[1887.11]
;B[kr]BL[2122.9];W[jl]WL[1858.35];B[qh]BL[2072.09];W[ph]WL[1844.59];B[qg]BL[2024.21]
;W[pg]WL[1834.63];B[pf]BL[1996.57];W[qi]WL[1831.37];B[rf]BL[1988.31];W[of]WL[1811.65]
;B[qe]BL[1981.75];W[il]WL[1801.97];B[kl]BL[1975.53];W[kk]WL[1748.56];B[ll]BL[1972.98]
;W[lk]WL[1735.07];B[ml]BL[1970.91];W[mk]WL[1724.88];B[nl]BL[1951.56]
(;W[op]WL[1697.43];B[mo]BL[1947.81];W[mp]WL[1693.61];B[qk]BL[1927.79];W[rj]WL[1686.82]
;B[qn]BL[1902.64];W[pl]WL[1586.19];B[nk]BL[1884.37];W[pk]WL[1579.33];B[nj]BL[1873.71]
;W[lh]WL[1537.97];B[oi]BL[1851.35];W[pi]WL[1432.41];B[ng]BL[1821.39]
(;W[mi]WL[1169.97];B[ni]BL[1787.32];W[og]WL[1157.79];B[nh]BL[1753.96];W[me]WL[1008.31]
;B[nf]BL[1719.68];W[ne]WL[998.779];B[lg]BL[1707.9]
(;W[kg]WL[929.806];B[lf]BL[1699.18];W[jg]WL[734.525];B[le]BL[1675];W[ld]WL[709.968]
;B[md]BL[1667.55]
(;W[lc]WL[351.18];B[oe]BL[1467.87];W[od]WL[309.225]C[radovan [1k\]\: it is o.k.
]
;B[oc]BL[1411.34];W[pe]WL[233.299]C[dogbert [3d\]\: did w wash his hand?\:)
];B[jk]
BL[1284.86];W[ij]WL[199.076];B[oe]BL[1276.03];W[jq]WL[194.109];B[nd]BL[1261.59]
;W[iq]WL[191.569];B[ql]BL[1225.85]C[dogbert [3d\]\: critical time by w short of time
]
;OW[5]W[pm]WL[30];B[pn]BL[1161.76];OW[5]W[on]WL[30];B[om]BL[1143.13];OW[5]W[qm]
WL[30];B[rm]BL[1137.33]
(;OW[5]W[rn]WL[30];B[ro]BL[1132.41];OW[5]W[rl]WL[30];B[sn]BL[1128.6];OW[5]W[sl]
WL[30];B[oo]BL[1108.75];OW[5]W[nn]WL[30];B[sm]BL[1097.67];OW[5]W[rk]WL[30];B[no]
BL[1076.57];OW[4]W[rp]WL[30];B[hm]BL[947.581];OW[4]W[mn]WL[30];B[ln]BL[944.733]
;OW[4]W[hl]WL[30];B[hn]BL[920.314];OW[4]W[fl]WL[30];B[fj]BL[900.441]
(;OW[4]W[fn]WL[30];B[gm]BL[883.221];OW[4]W[fm]WL[30];B[gl]BL[881.217];OW[4]W[go]
WL[30];B[hp]BL[865.282];OW[4]W[gp]WL[30]
(;B[hq]BL[851.775];OW[4]W[gq]WL[30]C[ChemBoy613 [-\]\: actually, W is sitting next to me
]
;B[gr]BL[834.663]C[ChemBoy613 [-\]\: I think the tim short is bad
];OW[4]W[ho]WL[30]
C[ChemBoy613 [-\]\: he is a slow plwyer
]
(;B[ip]BL[825.27];OW[4]W[fr]WL[30];B[er]BL[811.268];OW[4]W[fs]WL[30];B[gs]BL[789.427]
;OW[4]W[gk]WL[30];B[fk]BL[767.187];OW[4]W[in]WL[30];B[im]BL[762.577];OW[4]W[hr]
WL[30];B[hk]BL[713.088];OW[3]W[hs]WL[30];B[ik]BL[709.314];OW[3]W[jj]WL[30];B[ir]
BL[693.577];OW[3]W[dl]WL[30];B[ck]BL[677.427]
(;OW[3]W[lp]WL[30];B[mm]BL[618.662];OW[3]W[am]WL[30];B[al]BL[586.13];OW[3]W[bl]
WL[30];B[an]BL[581.2];OW[3]W[cl]WL[30];B[ao]BL[568.405];OW[3]W[bk]WL[30];B[bp]BL[558.403]
;OW[3]W[aq]WL[30];B[bj]BL[521.483];OW[3]W[ak]WL[30]C[Nice.
];B[if]BL[464.023];OW[3]
W[ig]WL[30];B[hf]BL[458.936];OW[3]W[hg]WL[30];B[gg]BL[453.162];OW[3]W[gh]WL[30]
;B[id]BL[443.293];OW[3]W[ic]WL[30];B[gd]BL[417.93];OW[3]W[hc]WL[30];B[gc]BL[415.131]
;OW[3]W[gb]WL[30];B[fd]BL[411.811];OW[3]W[ec]WL[30];B[fh]BL[402.381];OW[3]W[gi]
WL[30];B[fg]BL[376.113];OW[3]W[ge]WL[30];B[fe]BL[368.029];OW[3]W[jf]WL[30];B[gf]
BL[348.765];OW[3]W[cb]WL[30];B[aj]BL[320.8];OW[3]W[dm]WL[30];B[pq]BL[313.288];OW[3]
W[pp]WL[30];B[rr]BL[310.321]
(;OW[3]W[sp]WL[30];B[or]BL[296.087];OW[2]W[nr]WL[30];B[ns]BL[278.321];OW[2]W[ms]
WL[30];B[ps]BL[182.962];OW[1]W[so]WL[30];B[rn]BL[170.069]C[ChemBoy613 [-\]\: squeeze
radovan [1k\]\: thank you
sakaibokou [4k\]\: thx
])
(;W[rq];B[or];W[nr]C[Easier shape. Take away blacks eye space and no problems for you.]))
(;W[cb]C[Here.]))
(;B[hr];W[ip];B[gk];W[io];B[fo];W[gn];B[er];W[ir];B[cr];W[br];B[bs];W[ap]C[Must be always prepared for resistance.]))
(;B[gq];W[hq]
(;B[ho];W[gk];B[fk];W[hk];B[gn];W[fo];B[el];W[im];B[en];W[in];B[em])
(;B[gk]
(;W[eo];B[hr]C[Now what? ];W[ir];B[gr])
(;W[gr];B[fr];W[hr];B[eo]))))
(;W[cb]C[This is the biggest endgame for white. About 17 points?]))
(;W[po];B[ro];W[rp];B[rk];W[sl]
(;B[sk];W[qo];B[rn];W[so];B[ri];W[rh];B[si];W[sh]C[White wins this.])
(;B[sn];W[qo];B[rn];W[sk])
(;B[sp];W[qo];B[rn];W[so])))
(;W[od]C[Must here.]))
(;W[od]C[This will be sente and ensures at least a ko connection.]))
(;W[nh]
(;B[oh];W[ni];B[mh];W[mi];B[li];W[mj];B[jk];W[ij];B[kj];W[mg];B[jj];W[ik]C[Should be favorable for white.])
(;B[ni];W[mh];B[oh];W[og]C[Also this.])))
(;W[pl]C[I think first block here.]
(;B[mo];W[mp];B[oo];W[pp]C[if he tries you can protect.])
(;B[lp];W[mo]C[If cut sacrifice one stone.])
(;B[op];W[oq];B[pp];W[pq];B[qo];W[qq];B[pn];W[qm];B[mo];W[mp];B[om];W[no]C[Seems quite dead to me.])))
(;W[jm]C[The proverb goes\: On top of two stones hane.];B[km]C[Even if he cuts there is plenty of space to maneuever.]))
(;W[jn]C[Push like this. It will make black overconcentrated];B[io];W[lp]C[Then you can fix your own Moyo like this.]))
(;W[of]C[You can think of making a more solid shape first.]))
(;B[qh]C[This make the shape a little uncomfortable for white.]))
(;B[qj]C[Black's next move should be here.]))
(;B[dg]C[If he extends then he should extend high. Why make the influence less effective.]
;W[ci];B[ch];W[di];B[fh]C[If white would dare to boldly invade black can fight easily.]))
(;B[bq]C[Later you still have this aji so d4 does not fix the problem.]))
(;W[jc]C[I think it is better to split black here.];B[dp];W[cq]C[If he plays d4 you can easily answer here and it is a ko threat less for black.]
;B[bm]C[This move will not be sente anymore.]))

- adoreme

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Relieving

When stressed out. Go and play a game of Baduk and cut lose for fighting.

THe result of my stress relief today:



- adoreme

9th Jeongganjang Cup- Final Round

I'm sorry that i didn't post all the games of the 9th Jeongganjang Cup, but here's the final one for you.
Rui Naiwei was defeated by Park Jieun(9p) which makes Korea the winner of the tournament.

The game was very interesting to watch, and i realy enjoyed the lower right corner sequence, but in the end the game was decided by a large kill in a kofight.



-blackmoa

Thursday, March 24, 2011

9th Jeongganjang Cup - 2nd stage - 3rd round

After the victory of the Japanese player Yoshida Mika some might have felt some hope for the Japanese team, however today she was defeated by Kim Miri(Korea) leaving Japan with no more players. It's now 4(Korea) VS 1(China) but we'll see who wins as China has Rui Naiwei who is considered to be the best femal player in the world.

The game was nice to watch, and Kim showed what light moves are good for when invading a moyo.



-blackmoa

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

9th Jeongganjang Cup - 2nd stage - 2nd round

Hey guys,

The next round of the 9th Jeongganjang Cup was played today by Tang Yi 2p (China) and Yoshida Mika 8p (Japan).

Up to the middle game, I think the game was favourable for Mika (B),after that she lost some points I guess. Correct me, if I am wrong ;)

OK - here the result: Yoshida Mika won the game by 1.5 pts against Tang Yi!!!



Next opponent will be a Korean :)

Just one player from Japan and one player from China is left. Korea has still four players to go...

- a1r -

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

9th Jeongganjang Cup - 2nd stage - 1st round

Moon Dowon lost her 8th game! She resigned after 169 moves. Tang Yi 2p won and will play Yoshida Mika 8p from Japan tomorrow...

game inserted by adoreme ;)


- a1r -

Monday, March 21, 2011

I am back^^

Hello guys...

I was some time absent, sorry for that.

But I have some news for you....the 3rd BC Card Cup.

All games were played in the 3rd round and now there are just 8 players left - of course from China and Korea...what else.

From China are left:                           
  • Chen Yaoye
  • Zhou Ruiyang
  • Zhong Wenjing
  • Gu Li
From Korea are left:
  • Park Junghwan
  • Heo Yeongheo
  • Kim Jiseok
Some good guys were eliminated, like Choi Cheolhan, Kim Seungjun and Cho Hanseung. Next games will be from 03-31~04-03!




I hope to post more news, but  I can not promise...

- a1r - 

Yi Sedol entered the Sipdan Final

YI Sedol bested Yi Younggoo in the semi-final of the sipdan. Now he will face Kang Yootack in the final match starting on March 30th.

Some words about the game: rather modern opening and some nice fighting, but black was hopeless against Yi Sedol.



-blackmoa

Saturday, March 19, 2011

A voice - Japan

Here is something I read in a discussion thread on L19 and thought should be shared.

To give context if you want it here is the link to the thread: Click here

From Dave Sigaty
I read John's post around 13:00 Wednesday, just before rushing off to a meeting. At that time my office, on the 25th floor of an office building in Tokyo, was shaking in the midst of one of the hundreds of aftershocks that we have experienced. I am still in Tokyo, currently watching the television news on Saturday morning. I did not have time to post a reply until now. But I would like to do so now.

I believe that the events of March 11 were a great tragedy for thousands of families in Japan and elsewhere, who lost family members to the earthquake and its aftermath. Those losses have yet to be fully measured and we should extend our sympathy both to all those who know what they have suffered and those who are still waiting for confirmation of the worst.

March 11 and its aftermath were also an economic and social disaster for Japan. It fell most directly on the residents of Northeastern Japan, hundreds of thousands of whom lost their homes and livelihoods and are struggling right at this moment to cope with winter weather, disrupted infrastructure, stress, and grief. As experience in Japan and elsewhere around the world has shown time and time again, it will take many years and great efforts to rebuild and recover to some (new) level of "normalcy".

Tokyo as well is facing long-term disruptions resulting from the damage to the Fukushima power plants and the subsequent shortage of electrical power generating capacity. We have had chaotic travel conditions all week with train lines running below capacity and at times some of them completely shut down. Various neighborhoods have had power cut in rolling black outs in order to match load to the available supply of power. This was particularly acute Thursday due to the cold temperatures. That is supposed to ease today as some warmer weather moves up from the south. However, the potential is high for similar, serious problems when summer arrives. It is possible that it will take years to repair Tokyo's power supply.

I believe that Japan is greatly in need of, let me call it, positive thinking. After a week of relentlessly serious coverage of the situation in the Tohoku region, local television has returned to at least a blend of normal programming (with news updates scrolling across the bottom of the screen). I never thought I could be so happy to see the return of Japan's utterly nonsensical variety shows, but I am! Grief is an intimate part of the human condition. At the same time, we should all realize that the rebuilding , both physical and psychological, will require positive acts. The necessary money will come from the creation of replacement wealth in daily life across Japanese society. That society will divert a larger than expected portion to the northeast. People and families will gradually come to terms with what has happened, though obviously those in the Tohoku will do so with much more effort and perhaps less success than those of us in places like Tokyo.

I believe that all the parts of art and culture that allow people to enjoy life and bond with those who share an interest are of great value in a situation like this. I very much hope that the WAGC is able to go ahead as planned (though I will support any decision that the sponsors make). I will welcome the participants and thank them for their support in these difficult times. I am similarly glad that the pro tournaments continue. I enjoyed watching the coverage of the baseball pre-season on television this morning. Various players were interviewed. Everyone is aware of events. Everyone is supportive of those currently suffering. At the same time, they are aware that their role is not to rush to Sendai and help clear the rubble. Society has assigned that task to others. Their role is to support an essential balance in Japanese daily life as a whole. Go also has that role.

This is true for me personally as well. This last week included daily meetings at my company on efforts to first find (happily yesterday we were able to finally establish contact with the last of those employees that had been unaccounted for) and now support our 800-some employees in the Tohoku area. That is an ongoing effort that will last for months. My company has assigned me no further work over this weekend (absent a new emergency arising). So in about an hour, I will leave for the Nihon Kiin in Ichigaya. After closing the building for a week, its activities will resume today. I will take the opportunity to reestablish contact with various friends, doubtlessly exchange stories of our experiences this last week, and play Go. I feel that this is an appropriate use of my time. I will find relief for myself from the stresses of the last week and hope that my presence can offer the same to my friends. It will be our shared interest in Go that makes that possible. I welcome all Go players who come to Japan to support this country and our great game under all circumstances.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Chang Hsu wins the 35th Kisei match in the 6th round

After the well known "Atomic Bomb Game" Japan now has another game to remember.
Chang Hsu was able to defend the Kisei title even though the game was interrupted by the quake(8.9, 9.0 or whatever). He and Iyama Yuta showed how well they can focus on a game of Baduk even after such a horrible tragedy unfolded.
The game itself was very interresting, it had many Kofights and a "strange" Fuseki.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Western Pros - 1 - Micheal Redmond - Part 1

An Idea flashed through my mind how I could bring interesting study material to my readers here on the black. I am studying professional games regularily which has me memorizing and reviewing games. So I thought how the readers could benifit from my study also and then I had an idea.

Proudly presenting now: Micheal Redmond's journey through the last 10 years with reviewed games!

His Bio: Michael Redmond (born May 25, 1963) is a Nihon Ki-in professional Go player.

Redmond was born in Santa Barbara, California, United States and began playing Go at age 11. At age 14 he became an insei for the Nihon Ki-in. A student of Oeda Yusuke 9-dan, he became a professional 1-dan at age 18 and was promoted to 2-dan during the same year. Michael achieved 500 professional wins in August 2007 (500 wins, 331 losses and 2 jigo).

He was promoted to:

* 5-dan in 1985
* 8-dan in 1996
* 9-dan in 2000 (the first and only Western Go Professional to ever reach 9-dan)

Redmond was one of sixteen participants in the 54th (2006) Oza Tournament, made the semifinals of the Gosei in 2006, and reached the quarterfinals in 36th (2010) Tengen. He managed to the second round of the 17th Agon (2010, on going) where he beat Cho U in the first round (source: [ext] UnlimitedGo).

Redmond is the author of The ABC's of Attack and Defense (Slate and Shell, 2002).

Redmond is married to Xian-Xian Niu, a Chinese 3-dan professional. They have two daughters, Yumi and Emi. Redmond worked with the AGA and the The Ing Foundation to create the Redmond Cup as well as the Ing Redmond Tournament?, a tournament for American players stronger than 5D and under 30.

Redmond vs Rissei - 2000-02-07 - Comments by adoreme


(;CA[utf-8]GM[1]BC[ja]WC[ja]TI[71]AP[MultiGo:4.4.4]SZ[19]FF[4]EV[13th Fujitsu Cup]
RO[Japanese preliminary]DT[2000-02-07]PB[O Rissei]BR[9p]PW[Michael Redmond]WR[8p]
RE[W+R]SO[gokifu.com]MULTIGOGM[1]
;B[qd];W[dd];B[pq]LB[dp:A]C[A would be usual as we know.]
(;W[od];B[dp];W[pn];B[mc];W[ne];B[pc];W[qq];B[qp];W[pp];B[rp];W[rq];B[rr];W[qr]
;B[po];W[op];B[oo];W[qo];B[ro];W[qn];B[pr];W[no];B[qs];W[on];B[dj]C[Usually I would prefer a lower extension here as it would yield securer profit.]
;W[dg];B[cn];W[ld];B[qg];W[oc];B[jd];W[lc];B[fc]C[My move. \:)];W[eb]
(;B[jb];W[fb];B[lb];W[kc];B[kb];W[md];B[gc]
(;W[gb];B[hb];W[fq];B[cd];W[de];B[bf];W[ce];B[ch];W[be]
(;B[fo];W[dq];B[cq];W[ep];B[eo];W[cp];B[do];W[cr];B[bq];W[br];B[bp];W[hq]C[White conquered the lower side now. I don't think f5 was good.]
;B[qi];W[ph];B[qf];W[pe];B[qe];W[or];B[io];W[ho];B[hn];W[hp];B[im];W[fk]C[Aloof timing. Usually one would continue defending the lower sides as amateur no? I would first have thought of defending...]
;B[fj];W[gj];B[fi];W[gk];B[gi];W[ij]
(;B[el];W[hi];B[hh];W[ih];B[ig];W[hg];B[gh];W[jh];B[if];W[ek];B[dk];W[kf];B[jp]
;W[jn];B[in];W[hd];B[ge];W[he];B[hf];W[hc];B[ic];W[ha];B[ib];W[gd];B[fd];W[fe];B[gf]
;W[ed];B[og];W[ob];B[ni];W[qb];B[ir];W[kr];B[kq];W[jr];B[iq];W[hr];B[lp];W[lr];B[bg]
(;W[ec]C[Was there aji?];B[je];W[fg];B[gg];W[ko];B[jq];W[lq];B[ae];W[ad];B[af];W[bd]
;B[kp];W[oq];B[sq];W[pj];B[pi];W[qj];B[ri];W[rc];B[qc];W[sb];B[ar];W[er];B[oj];W[lo]
;B[mp];W[fl];B[jm];W[li];B[lm];W[mo];B[lj];W[kj];B[lk];W[kk];B[fm];W[gm];B[fn];W[mi]
;B[pl];W[mj];B[ml];W[ok];B[pk];W[nj];B[oi];W[ol]C[White won solidly here. West goes for a victory!])
(;W[qk];B[bd];W[ae];B[dc];W[ec];B[cb]C[I do not think black could live.]))
(;B[kj]C[Maye attack like this first.]))
(;B[dr]C[My guess was here. Profit the Korean style.]))
(;W[fq]C[I would play here. G18 seems a bit wasteful yet. Sente though maybe now unneeded.]))
(;B[fe]C[I wonder if this would be possible too.]))
(;W[dp];B[fc];W[cf];B[kc]C[It seems lack did not like this opening.]))




- adorable plum

The Weiqi King and his son (Movie - 棋王和他的儿子)

A movie a stumbled upon just today. It's only in chinese though. The story is about a man who is called "the Go King" by his peers and adored for his skill in Weiqi. However he is unemployed and his fed up wife is leaving him. Surprisingly his son however wants to stay with his who not soon after discovers a great Weiqi talent within his son. A struggle ensues for the Go king to come up with the money to finance his son's study of Weiqi. The son makes great progress in Weiqi and has his mother to agree if he wins a the big Weiqi tournament in his city she will come back to the family.

Part 1: http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XNDcwODgwOTI=.html

Part 2: http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XNDcxMDQ5MDg=.html

- adorable plum

New poster and some basic Korean for Baduk players

As of today(to be exact as of yesterday but i didnt post anything so that does't count) I'm a new poster of this Blog.

To stick to the pattern that A1R used first some informations about me:
I was born in December 1991 in Germany and started playing Go in December 2008 (not because of Hikaru no Go btw, but because of the book Shibumi). You can contact me on KGS where i use the nick blackmoa or on Tygem where I play as badukmoa. Up until now I'm completely self taught and for this matter I rely on the help of books, which are mostly Korean. For htis reason I started to learn Korean and now I'll give you a short introduction to this beautiful language and therefore enable you to enjoy some Korean books, too.

1. The Alphabet

Many people don't know that the Korean language uses an alphabet and not a script based on syllables like the Japanese or Chinese. Well to be fair: it is kind of syllabic, but it works different.

The Korean alphabet ahs 51 letters which can be aranged to form a total of 11172 different syllables. First of all i'd advise you to install the Korean language pack on your computer if you don't know how you can consult google.

You can learn this script  online http://library.thinkquest.org/20746/non/learn/cv/c1.html

2. Korean Baduk Terms

As you all should know, Koreans don't use Japanese Baduk terms but have their own ones and of yourse knowing them makes reading a Korean book much easier.
You can look some up here.

3. Some Vocab

Books don't only consist of Baduk terms so you have to learn a bit more to read them.
Now I'll present some easy words to you:

백/白 This means White, the second variation is a so called Hanja that is sometimes used, but it is read as 백, too.

흑/黑 This means Black

흑 차례 Black to play( 차례 can be used with White too^^)

정답 Correct

실패 Wrong/Failure

변화 Variation

Now you can "read" a Korean problem book ;).

With the aphabet you already have quite some stuff to learn now, but more lessons will follow.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Korean BBQ in Cologne

I found out that in Cologne is a original Bulgogi restaurant, so it was quickly decided to go there. Food was delicious and I got to practice my choppy Korean a bit. Sadly we already had eaten most of the food when I thought of taking a few photos.




Monday, March 14, 2011

Tygem goes West

Tygem finally released a English client yay! Check it out!

http://www.tygembaduk.com/


And please support Japan in its toughest hours! http://www.google.co.jp/intl/en/crisisresponse/japanquake2011.html

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Public lecture in April

I will be doing a public lecture for the Advanced Study Room on KGS at the beginning of april after my exams in Chinese are over. The topic is chosen by the people and voting is going on currently. So take your chance and suggest and vote for what you want to see.

http://www.lifein19x19.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=53&t=3382

On a side-note: It seems I might be going to Japan for a year next year in Spring.

- adorable plum