A few days ago, I received an interesting message from an acquaintance on Facebook.

…..oh, btw, I have a request. could you please write about what usually pros do during a group study? I think it will be interesting for us non pro to know what pros usually do, and perhaps we could "copy: it to our study group. :)

This message reminded me of good memories of group study. Before coming to a college, I liked studying baduk in group so much. First, I liked all the members of my group, and second I could always learn something new from the meeting. Unfortunately I am out of the group recently due to my starting college life. Yet I am quite confident that I can explain about the group study better than anyone!

The group study usually starts at 10’o clock in the morning. If one player comes late to the study, he/she pays a little fine. We used to buy some snacks and food with the gathered fines about once a month. Then we start from the biggest match of the week. Oh, by the way, our group met once a week. As following the top players’ game records, we discuss the results (who is better here? Will you take black or white?) or analyzed other possible moves (what happens if black plays here instead of this?). After seeing some hot-issued games, we studied our matches, too. The style was almost the same except that criticizing could be harsher. (WHAT? YOU PLAYED HERE?)

Around 1’o clock, we go out for lunch. If there was a member who won a big match during the latest week, he/she often offered to pay for everyone. (Actually other members often forced to do that. Haha) Then after coming back from lunch, we play one another. It could be blitz game or just casual game without the clock. And some players solved life & death problems together. Well, not quite together. It was usually like this;

A: “Hey, do you have some money?”
B: “What? You have a good problem?”
A: “Sure, how about 10 minutes? Hajin solved it in 7 minutes.”
B: “OK. Try me. I would do better than her. How much?”
A: “Umm.. 5000won?”
B: “OK!”

Can you draw the picture here? They are talking about betting. So if B solves the problem in 10 minutes, A would give 5000won to B. At about 4 or 5’o clock, we go out again and have some fun before having dinner. It could be a movie, table tennis, bowling or basket ball and so on. After the dinner? Going home!

Did it answer to your question? Please feel free to ask me if you have more specific questions!