reading
The process of board evaluation and, from that, visualisation of a small selective set of alternative sequences.
Reading ability is said to define the basic strength of a player, yet it is an ill defined term. Some players believe the process to be similar to computer lookahead where potentially millions of alternative sequences are tried out in a methodical fashion. Original cognitive research has shown that this is not the case. Plodding through every possibility is only feasible in very tight positions. Despite subjective impressions, humans actually use a very small amount of conscious logic to guide the major thought processes which are rooted in the subconscious mind.
As a game develops, a strong player builds up a complex perception of the stones and their relationships on the board. He automatically notices such features as eye shape, eye status, damezumari, potential throw-ins, necessary approach moves, thickness, connectivity - all the many attributes covered in this glossary. This perception, together with natural pattern recognition abilities, allows him to intuitively recognise key intersections. This in turn suggests single moves, exchanges and short sequences. Then, with the aid of a little conscious logic, some moves can be rejected, some alternatives searched for, and only then lesser moves to join the short sequences are visualised. Last of all, a specific order of moves is properly established.
It is important to understand that the sequences read out, need not be the only valid continuations. More often, the play envisaged will be representative of the possibilities. Some weaker players limit their moves to those that force sequences that they believe they can consciously foresee. This leads to a lot of aji keshi which is bad enough, but worse still is that, by blocking the training of their intuition., they forego any significant chance of improvement. |