To move up quickly, follow these steps:

1. Watch the Essential Joseki Series
You don’t have to memorize every variation. Focus on simplified versions to avoid major mistakes. Glance through other variations so you’re not completely lost if your opponent tries something unfamiliar. Chances are, they don’t know the correct follow-ups either, but you’ve seen the patterns before, and that is your edge.

2. Watch the Essential Invasion Series
This will help you get over your fear of getting invaded and teach you how to handle those situations with calm, effective responses.

3. Avoid Picking a “Style” Until You’re 1 Dan
Many players try to find their personal style too early. The truth is, style only becomes relevant around dan level. Until then, play influence-oriented games. Moyo style is simpler to manage than territory style and helps you learn:

• When to tenuki

• How to handle invasions

• Basic attacking concepts

Territory style demands much more: advanced reading, advanced sabaki techniques, accurate life and death, all kinds of tesujis, perfect timing in cutting and fighting, etc. Save that for later.

4. Master the San Ren Sei Opener
San Ren Sei is beginner-friendly and sets up for attack-based games. It has fewer variations to memorize and teaches you how to grow frameworks, deal with invasions, and play the big picture.

5. Watch Thickness Made Easy
This course helps you understand how to evaluate and use thickness. It gives you direction in the early & middle game and helps you know when your groups are strong enough to tenuki or attack.

6. Follow the Principle Series
These are fundamental lessons that help you build a clear value system and decision-making framework. This isn’t about limiting creativity—it’s about learning how the game works first. Creativity without foundation leads to chaotic and unproductive play. Trying to be “creative” too early is like pulling your king into the center of the board on move 5 in chess.

7. Understand and Use the Estimation Function
The Estimation Made Easy course introduces this concept. At the Kyu level, use the estimate function as often as possible. Most games use fast time settings (one-minute byoyomi or less). Even professionals can't accurately estimate under those conditions—they use shortcuts or tools.

Don’t let anyone convince you that using the estimation tool is cheating. Use it to learn and build your awareness. Manual estimation can come later, once you’re strong enough to do it reliably.

Checklist for New Members

• Watch Essential Joseki Series

• Watch the Essential Invasion Series

• Focus on the influence/moyo style only

• Master San Ren Sei

• Watch Thickness Made Easy

• Follow the Principle Series

• Use the Estimation Function often

Stick with this plan and you’ll develop the foundation needed to hit SDK and beyond without getting stuck or confused by scattered information. Welcome to the group. Study smart and you’ll see results.