Hello everybody!
Short Version
I propose a challenge:
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In the month of April 2021, do as much tsumego as you can every day to get stronger at Go (tsumego = training with Go puzzles). Suggested target: 300 problems in one month (10 per day).
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Optionally, play some ranked games as well to see if you really did get stronger.
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Post your tsumego stats here to see who did the most and who improved the most.
Full Version
I guess most of you will be aware of the recent Western Dan Challenge…
Well now, that gave me an idea…
Original Problem
Lack of strong (dan) players on Western Go servers (but lots on Asian servers)
Approach 1
Get already strong players from Asian servers to play on Western servers instead.
Which leads to…
Western Dan Challenge
- Entice strong players to Western Go servers through a challenge of 100 games in a month with cash prizes.
Advantages
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instant access to already strong players
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plus many more that go beyond the scope of the original problem such as: IT WAS LOADS OF FUN!
Disadvantages
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not clear how many strong players “migrated” from Asian servers to Western ones, as opposed to just seeing more games from players already on Western servers
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of those players who did migrate, not clear how many will stay on Western servers and not just go back to the Asian ones now that the challenge is over
Which got me thinking… Is there an alternative approach to solving the original problem…? Yes! And here it is:
Approach 2
Help players that are already on Western servers to become stronger. Effectively, training and promoting from within, rather than recruiting from elsewhere.
Which lead me to…
Western Tsumego Challenge
I propose this challenge for you to undertake if you wish:
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In the month of April 2021, do as much tsumego as you can every day to get stronger at Go (tsumego = training with Go puzzles). Suggested target: 300 problems in one month (10 per day). Obviously, feel free to set your own personal target to do more or less as your schedule allows.
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Optionally, play some ranked games as well to see if you really did get stronger.
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Post your tsumego stats here to see who did the most and who improved the most.
Advantages
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If we make existing OGS players (i.e. ourselves) stronger, then we already have some loyalty, familiarity, etc. with OGS. Hence, we are more likely to stay on OGS than players from Asian servers who only came over because of the Western Dan Challenge. Hopefully this will mean a more sustainable approach to solving the original problem.
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plus many more that go beyond the scope of the original problem such as: IT WILL BE LOADS OF FUN!
Disadvantages
- It will take a relatively long time compared to the Western Dan Challenge approach to provide more strong players in solution to the original problem (but that’s OK - we’re all life-long Go addicts anyway!)
Aims
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Get OGS players to realise / remember / confirm the fun and strengthening power of tsumego
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Help players to develop a daily tsumego workflow that works for them such that it fosters long-term commitment to daily tsumego
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Help players to get stronger at Go through daily tsumego workouts
Rules
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Solve tsumego on whatever platform works for you be that on a website, mobile app, from a book, etc. or any combination thereof.
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Record number of puzzles attempted, solved correctly, and total time spent solving tsumego. Only the final total for the month is required but, of course, it may be easier to keep daily totals or similar.
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If available (e.g. if using goproblems.com), record the rank of the most difficult puzzle correctly solved first time without hints. Must be from a problem set with a rating system, not just author estimated difficulty.
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If available (e.g. if using goproblems.com pro), record your own puzzle rank at the start and end of the month to measure progress.
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Optionally, record your OGS rank at the start of the month, play some ranked games during the challenge as well, and record your OGS rank at the end of the month to measure progress.
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The second post in this topic will be a wiki to record the results. Contestants will self-report their own results. Please feel free to post interim daily / weekly results if you wish. And please be honest!
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Due to the varied nature of players’ strengths, puzzle difficulty, etc. and the fact that results are self-reported, there will be no prizes beyond the joy of solving tsumego and becoming a stronger Go player (which is a prize worth winning anyway!) and, of course, the adoration of your fellow players
Proverb: there’s no point cheating, as you’re only cheating yourself! -
To sign-up, just add yourself to the results table in the wiki-fied second post of this topic.
Resources
- How to solve tsumego correctly:
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Cho Chikun on the importance of tsumego: [Tidbit] The Important Skill of Calculation Starts with Doing Life and Death Problems | Tchan001's Blog
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The obvious first (and only?) place to look for tsumego - the OGS puzzles section! Play Go at online-go.com! | OGS
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Loads of high quality tsumego (written by pros: Cho Chikun, Go Seigen, Lee Chang-ho, etc) in sgf format for use in your favourite app (archived version of tsumego dojo): Dropbox - File Deleted - Simplify your life
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“Gobandroid” (Android app) with built in tsumego feature. Comes with hundreds of GoGameGuru problems. The tsumego dojo ones above can be added by saving the files in the gobandroid tsumego directory. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.ligi.gobandroid_hd&hl=en_US&gl=US (also on fdroid here: Gobandroid | F-Droid - Free and Open Source Android App Repository )
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Books!
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Plus, of course, the usual websites such a goproblems.com, tsumego hero, etc.
And Finally
Comments, suggestions, etc. welcome. Please just post a reply to this topic.
I hope you like this idea and join me in the challenge. If so, I look forward to seeing your results. If not, I LOOK FORWARD TO CRUSHING YOU IN OUR NEXT GAME, MWAHAHAHA!
So I cancelled it, copied with adb (Android debugging bridge) and they were all done in < 3 mins 