GYGES- Gygès strategy column - Play discreetly
Posted: 29 August 2012, 09:06
Gygès strategy column
"Play discreetly"
Gygès is obviously a network game. You have to build a strong network and try to weaken your opponent's network. This aim actually outweighs a short-term view consisting in trying to reach the goal by all means. Let consider the following caricatural example:
3_1_1_
____2_
______
3____3
_2_32_
__211_
North has just played an aggressive go and threatens south. One has to confess this is not very subtle (61-31-goal). South, on the contrary, has no way to the goal. However, an analysis of the situation in terms of network clearly shows that south has a better position. Indeed, let us compare the number of crossings reached by each player :
pour nord : ...
pour sud : ...
South has much more control on the board than north. Actually, he can even win the game! (That's a 2-go problem, can you solve it?)
Consequently, a major strategic issue is "how can I have a pretty network and spoil my opponent's one at the same time?". That's a delicate question. All the more delicate that, as a piece does not belong to anyone, both players can try to incorporate it in his own network. So one has to be extremely vigilent when introducing a new piece in the battle, and check that this piece is not more beneficial to his adversary than it is to him.
A good way to play with the quasi-certainty that you're not helping your opponent is "playing discreetly". It consists in bringing "your" pieces on crossings that are out of reach for your adversary.
An example of a non-discreet go : (go 4, game 1320)
_12123
_3____
__2___
______
___3__
_121_3
64x43=22, réponse discrète = 12x22=32
A discreet go : (go 3 game 1142)
3212_1
_____3
______
______
___3__
_12123
16-43 (par la suite, nord va s'efforcer de se re-connecter au réseau, mais sud conserve l'avantage. Il y a un bel exemple d'indiscrétion au coup 5)
Playing discreetly is often a good idea. But I am not saying one should always play discreetly! Sometimes, the best go is not discreet at all. That's a typical example of the goog old golden rule that you give to beginners but that experienced players break frequently. When I give this tip, I have in mind the frequent picture of a gygès player who has just oust a piece from the board and is wondering where would be the best place to put it. He knows he has to remove that piece, but he cannot figure out where to put it back. He is keeping his arm above the board, with this damned piece in his hand. The cramp is near, the clock is running, he is boggling... I whisper in his ear : "play discreetly". It might not be the best go, but at least it will be a piece that your adversary won't have.
"Play discreetly"
Gygès is obviously a network game. You have to build a strong network and try to weaken your opponent's network. This aim actually outweighs a short-term view consisting in trying to reach the goal by all means. Let consider the following caricatural example:
3_1_1_
____2_
______
3____3
_2_32_
__211_
North has just played an aggressive go and threatens south. One has to confess this is not very subtle (61-31-goal). South, on the contrary, has no way to the goal. However, an analysis of the situation in terms of network clearly shows that south has a better position. Indeed, let us compare the number of crossings reached by each player :
pour nord : ...
pour sud : ...
South has much more control on the board than north. Actually, he can even win the game! (That's a 2-go problem, can you solve it?)
Consequently, a major strategic issue is "how can I have a pretty network and spoil my opponent's one at the same time?". That's a delicate question. All the more delicate that, as a piece does not belong to anyone, both players can try to incorporate it in his own network. So one has to be extremely vigilent when introducing a new piece in the battle, and check that this piece is not more beneficial to his adversary than it is to him.
A good way to play with the quasi-certainty that you're not helping your opponent is "playing discreetly". It consists in bringing "your" pieces on crossings that are out of reach for your adversary.
An example of a non-discreet go : (go 4, game 1320)
_12123
_3____
__2___
______
___3__
_121_3
64x43=22, réponse discrète = 12x22=32
A discreet go : (go 3 game 1142)
3212_1
_____3
______
______
___3__
_12123
16-43 (par la suite, nord va s'efforcer de se re-connecter au réseau, mais sud conserve l'avantage. Il y a un bel exemple d'indiscrétion au coup 5)
Playing discreetly is often a good idea. But I am not saying one should always play discreetly! Sometimes, the best go is not discreet at all. That's a typical example of the goog old golden rule that you give to beginners but that experienced players break frequently. When I give this tip, I have in mind the frequent picture of a gygès player who has just oust a piece from the board and is wondering where would be the best place to put it. He knows he has to remove that piece, but he cannot figure out where to put it back. He is keeping his arm above the board, with this damned piece in his hand. The cramp is near, the clock is running, he is boggling... I whisper in his ear : "play discreetly". It might not be the best go, but at least it will be a piece that your adversary won't have.