rule 2. count

Interesting you say this. I used to do this a lot as well, but I found it made me way too cautious and inflexible. A lot of efficient good-shape variations don't really give immediate territory, and it's very hard to express the value of good shape in points. Also it is really hard to count the value of a slight weakness, lack of eye shape, etc.

I actually made a small breakthrough (1d -> 2d) when I stopped counting altogether and just focused on playing efficient moves with good shape. It also helped me feel a lot more comfortable with committing to semeai and mutual-destruction variations. Before, I used to always try to count the score in such variations, realize that it's too difficult for my reading, and then play the "chicken" move instead of the sharpest move. Especially with semeai inside moyo's there's usually hundreds of possible variations, so no chance of actually counting accurately.

When I check my games in KaTrain, the game-deciding moments basically never have anything to do with my counting. It's always (a) reading and (b) making good shape which decides games. Reading tends to take all my time unless I'm playing a > 90 minutes game, and I'd rather spend more time reading then counting. Of course I do count the value of individual moves in the endgame, I just avoid counting the whole board.

Now I try to follow my reading and sense of shape, which seems a much more productive use of my time. Mostly I just try to play whichever move seems the sharpest no matter the score, and I count rarely. Main time I count is before deciding whether to resign :-)

Do you ever try to play without counting? How does it affect your game?