the game of improvement
On the second day of the US Go Congress I won my tournament game and my mood brightened.
After the prior day’s loss I was gloomy, and resolved if I didn’t end up with at least a .500 record I would quit spending so much time on this game. After all, I’ve been stuck at 8k for over a year. Maybe I’ve hit the wall and am just too stupid to improve past this point. Looking around the crowded game room I am surrounded by hundreds of go players better than me. Depressing.
Winning my second game turned my mood around completely. I’m surprised at how much winning and losing influences my mood. I guess I’m a moody guy.
On the third day I lost again, bringing my record to 2-1. Gloom returns. Then at lunch a 1D from SLC sitting next to me offered to review my game. I replayed it for him from memory and he made several very instructive comments. The gloom is replaced by hope that improvement is possible, and I resolve to try and get as much value out of this week’s gathering as possible.