I started playing Go at the Tucson Go Club and on IGS in 1996 or so. Started playing on NNGS later that year, where Dr. Straw taught a number of us a lot of useful things that still serve me well today. Was one of hte original admins on KGS when it first started (I knew wms from NNGS). Took lessons from Alexandre Dinerschtein for a number of months as well.

I'm technically an AGA 4k these days, though I've improved in the 3+ years since my last AGA tournament. I'm 1k-ish, and my game tends to focus on steady play and counter-punch attacks instead of preemptive attacks. Opening is generally a strength, middle-game direction of play and tactics are reasonable but not a great strength, and yose is progressing. Hoping to play more and push solidly up to 1d AGA or so.

My current go set is a 1" Samarkand folding Katsura board that's about 10 years old. I have moon-grade shell and slate stones and Kusu bowls from KGT that I use in the house, and glass stones and stained bowls from Samarkand I use when on the go. My wife is threatening to get me a nice table board for my studies at the house.

Finally, I've a veteran of the rec.games.go flame wars, though those days seem to thankfully passed with the advent of godiscussions.com

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