1) I am a good fairy, a guardian angel, I'm one of those who admins the human network... Hear me. Where could I go... Maybe spend money at cafe? Please don't. This won't turn out to be good. So let it be. She doesn't hear me... 2) I feel so bad for some reason... Sometimes you rise to the top, sometimes you sink to the bottom... But recently you mostly float at surface. You can't even remember things we have talked about some time ago. If only I could take your hand and guide you along your Path... How do others manage to do it... Hello. - How do your wardie do? - Still crawling like a little kitten. - Mine is no better. 3) Freedom, you say... Yeah, freedom is good. Do you know by the way - they decided to send one of local spirits upon both of us. He've already been at my place - expect him too. - Aah, I'm so glad you have come! - I've got a laptop. - Hurray! Let's watch anime!* (* In America and Russia, unofficially, "anime" means "japanese cartoons", any other cartoon is just "cartoon") - Not only. I'll teach you the game of Go. It's considered to be the greatest game in the history of mankind. It's even greater than chess. At any case, it's said that computer is nearly incapable to play it. Yet it's rules are quite simple. 4) I assume its name comes from a basic capture figure. Five stones, Go in japanese means 5. This way the stone is taken. The same with the group of stones. Now let's try to play. Mm... where should I go?.. I'll lose in no time ^.^ Relax, I'm still as weak as you. Let's explore it together... (Who is this guy?..) 5) A! She played a wrong place! Now she will realize it... No, not with this kind of opponent... - Um... who are you? - I'm the spirit of Go. - But... this game is about thousands of years, how come you look so young? - And why should I grow old? It will take some time to get interface developed. At first she won't understand what's going on. 6) A-a-a! I don't understand how to play! It's Ok, just don't be afraid of experimentation, and little by little you will realize how it all works. I'm not saying farewell. By the way, I wonder - where can you buy Go-board in Moscow... Hello, I wanted to buy Go-board and stones. - First, let's have a game. Oh, she is playing with the master? What a pity that she can't hear me yet You're playing good, really, really good! She is still a very weak player... Welcome to our weekly lessons! I can't promise ^.^ (Probably I'm still a weak player... Don't even know my level. 5 kyu? Or maybe 25?) 7) Let's study the advantage of "sanrensei" more closely. - I think it's a little bit early for me... - It's very important thing to gain the ability to *see* - She began to attend club lessons nevertheless... - I had no doubts. I have a feeling that somewhere inside me the low-level rules develop into higher-level ones... But how - a mystery... For you, the most important thing now is to play as much as possible. Play on the Internet, observe other's games... And, what is essential, don't ever fuss about that rating thing. What a right uncle! He already knows, what's going on... Adjustment is nearly finished. - Now White better play here. You count so fast? - Count?? Why? I'm the spirit of Go, after all! 8) I can't justify it, but for some reason i'd like to play here. She played right as I said! We got in touch!! - Just an accident. From time to time she obtains clarification and can hear something. - No, no, you'll see!.. Just a little more, and... After each lesson my playing level increases greatly. I'm already starting to understand some basic things. "Building territory is more important than taking stones" "Sometimes it is reasonable to sacrifice a stone or even a group" "Divide and rule... Separate weak forms, if there's opportunity to run away" "Attack opponent's weakness from your future strength" "Playing ko is but a real art" But the strongest moves ...come from the place nobody knows. 9) And what if I play here... Sacrifying the stone to cut White... - And what if White have one more stone here? - Maybe that is enough? She had to go to sleep a while ago. - Just a little more... This is the most beneficial time... And what if here? - Then I'll play here... Oh, I should be sleeping already. - Okay, enough for today. - You have to wake up early tomorrow, do you remember? I remember.