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Lessons in the Fundamentals of Go (Beginner and Elementary Go Books)
Many Go books promise to explains the fundamentals; here is one that really keeps its promise. Kageyama's subjects are connectivity, good and bad shape, the way stones should 'move', the difference between territory and spheres of influence, how to use thickness and walls, how to train yourself to read, where to start looking in a life-and-death problem - matters so fundam...more
Paperback, 272 pages
Published
May 28th 1996
by Kiseido Publishing Company
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This is a very good book. As others have noted it's not a good first book. It explores fundamental concepts, not the rules and mechanics of the game. You should have no doubt what a legal move is, and fully understand Ko & Seki, know how to kill the basic shapes that are either dead or alive depending on who has sente.
One thing I would like to point out is that the chapter on ladders is in many ways the most important, and is NOT to be skipped by any reader of any level. It is easily a help...more
One thing I would like to point out is that the chapter on ladders is in many ways the most important, and is NOT to be skipped by any reader of any level. It is easily a help...more
Regardless of what the title might suggest, this is not a beginner's flavored book. If you still get vertigo at the sight of an empty 19x19 board, then you're better off with - hell, I don't know! This is the first book about Go I've read, so I cannot suggest anything other than playing 100 games, or something, and pick this one up when you're above 15kyu, or something. Kageyama is not teaching the fundamentals of Go, but rather the value and importance of such fundamentals. He's preaching at al...more
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It's hard to say what I like best about this book. The style is very entertaining; it's like hanging out with an incredibly wise and goofy old man. The humor and sarcasm is no distraction from the lessons, either, but rather serve to underscore the points he's making.
I'm looking forward to re-reading it again. I've already re-read several chapters, and feel like my game has benefited each time I've opened it up.
It's maybe not the first book you should buy about go, but once you understand the ba...more
I'm looking forward to re-reading it again. I've already re-read several chapters, and feel like my game has benefited each time I've opened it up.
It's maybe not the first book you should buy about go, but once you understand the ba...more
This is a truly amazing book for the intermediate player. Kageyama's style is wonderfully conversational and imminently funny. Of course, that would be worthless if the book weren't full of fascinating strategic and tactical insights. From the go books I've read, most are either short on depth or overly abstruse. While Lessons does occasionally descend into too-deep analysis of sequences, it generally strikes a good balance between clarifying difficult concepts and considering the concrete impli...more
Packed with valuable information about the game of go, and unique for its readability and focus on "approach" to the game, rather than specific skills. Broken up with anecdotes about the author's life as a professional go player, Lessons in the Fundamentals feels like recreational reading at times. Nonetheless, taking Kageyama's lessons to heart will definitely improve your game, at pretty much any level of play.
If you want to improve your game, but don't necessarily know how to go about it, thi...more
If you want to improve your game, but don't necessarily know how to go about it, thi...more
Dia. 2. Black blocks at 1, of course. There is no need for him to wonder what White may do afterward. Given a chance like this, only a feeble-minded player would be uncertain where to play - 'not this point, not here either, perhaps I should leave the position as it is.' Black's hand should be trembling with eagerness to play 1. He should be overcome with emotion.
Toshiro Kageyama doesn't mince words. Lessons in the Fundamentals of Go may be visualized as Kageyama-sensei leaning over your go boar...more
Jul 10, 2007
Nscangal
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Go players from about 15k and stronger
This book is an amazing aid for the intermediate level go player, and very readable, to boot.
Kageyama-sensei was easily as gifted a writer as he was a go player, and his sarcastic, chatty style will have you laughing out loud or cringing as one of his barbed comments hits close to home - not that it's a bad thing.
It's more valuable as a tool to teach you how to look critically at your own go and accept your weaknesses than as an instructional book, but that said, it is still a very useful book....more
Kageyama-sensei was easily as gifted a writer as he was a go player, and his sarcastic, chatty style will have you laughing out loud or cringing as one of his barbed comments hits close to home - not that it's a bad thing.
It's more valuable as a tool to teach you how to look critically at your own go and accept your weaknesses than as an instructional book, but that said, it is still a very useful book....more
Not really a beginner's book, but an excellent "second" go book -- excellent to go back to once you've started to figure out how go works. It really does deal with the basics, but at a fairly high level; at least it seems high to this weak player -- probably about 20-18 kyu right now. Although some books hold your hand a little more and might be a little clearer or more organized, I credit this book in particular with my recent improvement. Kageyama has a very engaging, conversational and straig...more
This book is designed to be read when you start to feel stagnant in your growth at Go. Kageyama rightly highlights the two biggest blocks for most people: 10-9k, and 2-1k. I've read it two and a half times now, each time when I felt like I didn't quite know how to keep getting better, and each time it helped me keep advancing.
The writing is fun and enjoyable, and because it's more about attitude than calculation, it's easy to read. Definitely check it out if you're ever feeling blocked.
The writing is fun and enjoyable, and because it's more about attitude than calculation, it's easy to read. Definitely check it out if you're ever feeling blocked.
My only criticism of this book is that it doesn't truly start 'at the beginning'. It assumes a basic knowledge of the game which a person may not have when picking it up.
Otherwise it covers a BROAD spectrum of strategy lessons from basic to advanced. The anecdotes and analogies are great and help to break up the otherwise dry content.
Otherwise it covers a BROAD spectrum of strategy lessons from basic to advanced. The anecdotes and analogies are great and help to break up the otherwise dry content.
Kageyama (and translator) mix instruction with a sense of humor that delights. A great book for Go players of a wide variety of strengths. Teaching the novice a solid foundation for strategy, and reminding the more experienced player of what they'd forgotten.
To be read, and reread, and reread...
To be read, and reread, and reread...
Of all the books on Go I've ever come across, I've learned more from Kageyama than I have from any other source. I've read this book three or four times now and each time I gain new understanding. Absolutely invaluable source for anyone looking to get stronger.
I stopped part-way into the book; it's at too advanced a level for me.
The conversational style added a lot of colour - the author recalls a cantankerous yet brilliant old teacher I had - but the book required a lot of pre-existing knowledge and didn't give a full and complete treatment of the topics raised.
The conversational style added a lot of colour - the author recalls a cantankerous yet brilliant old teacher I had - but the book required a lot of pre-existing knowledge and didn't give a full and complete treatment of the topics raised.
For reference, I am not good at go, a very weak amateur. I found this book to be an excellent interweaving of technical and intuitive aspects of the game, along with a well written style that made it interesting to read rather than a chore of studying.
Not a beginner's book, but all the more excellent for that reason. If you already know the game, this is a great way to play over your own head and go to the next level.
Very helpful. I'm glad I own it. I think it helped me raise a few stones in rank.
essential
A must read for any Go player.
I admit to not understanding 90% of it during my first reading yet enjoying it immensely.
About a third of the way through my 2nd reading and am maybe up to 25% understanding.
This is a book that you can read repeatedly and still feel almost like you are reading it the first time.
I admit to not understanding 90% of it during my first reading yet enjoying it immensely.
About a third of the way through my 2nd reading and am maybe up to 25% understanding.
This is a book that you can read repeatedly and still feel almost like you are reading it the first time.
I think I need to get better at Go before I can really appreciate this book.
This book is packed with sass, and that's what really counts.
If you play go/baduk/weiqi, read this book.
This is a technical book on Go.
May 04, 2013
Lin De
marked it as to-read
Apr 29, 2013
Saša Ranisavljević
is currently reading it
Apr 27, 2013
Melvin Zhang
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Mar 31, 2013
Matt
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