I'm not basically a nervous person, but I lose go games because of timidity. When the game is close, I become more and more timid as the end of the game approaches and end up resigning. If I count properly, I often find that actually I was still winning. Things are a little better playing on the Net, but, even so, when the byo-yomi starts, I feel the game is hopeless if my territory is just reduced a little. What should I do to overcome this psychological weakness? Also, I think professionals must play much more tense games, so what do you and other professionals do to keep calm? Consultation One : From Mr. Yoshino Thank you for your question, Mr. Yoshino. It's really upsetting when you can't display your usual strength because of nerves. Actually, if anything, I' m the opposite type . . . I get quite nervous when I have to speak in front of a large number of people, but, in contrast, I become calm when I sit in front of a go board. Of course, there's a unique tension with title matches and special games, but actually I feel that you can't display fighting spirit without that tension. Tension doesn't have just a bad influence but also a good influence, so I hope you will try to change your tension into the good kind when you play. As for timidity . . . it's true that when you are in byo-yomi and your partner is playing aggressive move after aggressive move, you do get nervous. The element of technique in the moves one plays is big, but the psychological element is also big. Even so, one's spirit and one's technique are surely linked, so if you are good at something, that becomes self-confidence, so you are able to relax and play with confidence. If you have a tendency to become timid in the endgame, how about developing your reading ability by studying the endgame and life-and-death problems? Even if the results don't appear immediately, the fact that you are studying the endgame will increase your self-confidence and you may be able to play much more forthrightly.