Chapter 3. Shuichi No Go

Author Note:

This chapter contains a real Go game of a 28 Kyu versus 1 Dan, which pretty much resembles a beginner and an expert playing the game. The game was played online on Kiseido Go Server (03-16-2004). The player were "TheSaruman" rated 28 Kyu and "Hagen" rated 1 Dan.

---- = Indicates Go move

"---" = indicates speech

'----' = Indicates thought

"Okay... So that's the basic of Go..." Hikaru finally finished explaining the basic rules of Go.

"Er... I'm confused..." Shuichi sweatdropped .

"It's not that hard, Shui... let's play, it's the best way to learn" Hikaru smiled.

"Wait... play properly ?".

"Yup. Don't worry, I'll point out your mistakes"

"Uh... okay... so... I take black ?".

"Hmm.. yea, sure. I'll take white. The komi is..0.5"

"Komi ?" Shuichi frowned.

"Uh.. yea.. Komi's the point given to the white because white plays after black"

"Okay... so... Onegaishimasu...." Shuichi take the container with black stones in it and bowed at Hikaru.

"Onegaishimasu..." Hikaru takes the container with white stones in it and bowed at Shuichi.

Shuichi thought for awhile before finally make his move. 'I should protect the corners... Here goes nothing'. Q-4

'Interesting move.... Let's see how he handle this...'. "Komoku..." Hikaru narrowed his eyes slightly. R-16

'Next corner' Shuichi bite his lips as he put down the next stone D-4 .

'He's securing the corner... I'll do the same' Hikaru put down his next move C-16 .

'Er.. where should I move... hmm.. better connect the corners'. K-3

'Let's test his defense...' Hikaru made a small smile, almost unnoticed. R-6

'Oh shit... what'd I do.. HELP !!' Shuichi's eyes shifted at incredible speed. He let his instinct took him S-5

'Shuichi's panicking... Hmm...' Hikaru made an unreadable expression as he put down his next move O-3

'Darn... I'm in trouble'. Furiously, Shuichi put his move down O-4 .

'Bad respond, Shui....' Hikaru sighed and played along R-3

'Mehh... I suck...' Shuichi begin to fidget Q-3

'Good.. let's solidfy and connect...' Hikaru plays R-4 .

'BLOCK !!!' Shuichi screamed mentally and plays R-5 .

'Cut...' Hikaru played along Q-5

'Good... i can make atari... ' Q-6

'Not so fast, Shui....' P-5

'Shit.. I forgot he's an expert....' O-5

'What is he doing.... ?' Hikaru sweatdropped. P-4

'Heey... isn't that... atari ?... it is !!' Confidently, Shuichi played along P-3 .

'Atari for atari....' P-6

'Kami sama... I'm screwed....' Q-7 .

'Not bad.. he's leading by around 53 points... My turn... this should do the trick' Hikaru smiled and put his move down and takes the lead into his favour P-2 .

'WAAAHHH Atari !!' Quickly, Shuichi tried to save his group. Q-2 .

'Useless... those group is dead...' R-2 .

'Man.... I shouldn't have play Go...' P-7 .

It's 25th move and Shuichi is leading by around 10.5 points. However, that won't last for long.

To be continued...