Pure and Simple: Takao's Astute Use of Brute Force

Humor & Entertainment

Takao, Shinji

Puzzles & Games

Hinoki Press

<p>Determining the direction of play is a critical component of the game of go. If one does not understand the key factors that affect the upcoming flow of play one can easily flounder in the variations that develop. It can turn into a nightmare for beginners and experts alike. Kobayashi Satoru 9 dan is a former Kisei titleholder and an acknowledged master of positional play. He presents situations for the reader to analyze and then breaks down the relevant components to explain matters in an easily understood manner. All of the positions are taken from actual games. In Chapter 1 he uses those of the earliest Japanese masters to illustrate the fundamentals of finding the direction of play while offering a fascinating account of the evolution of the art and how those players of the 16th century groped to come up with lucid theories about it. In subsequent chapters Kobayashi 9 dan uses his own games as examples for problem positions to examine the direction of play in joseki, the fuseki (opening) and in fighting. "In the present work, I have focused on the 'direction of play of the stones'. Particularly in the opening, that is the starting point for coming up with ideas for determining the direction of play for the stones. I have taken positions from actual games that I have played, and reflecting fully on what happened, have analyzed them here. While understanding that there are many parts where fundamental principles are not thoroughly worked out, the theme of this book is cultivating perception through actual examples." - Kobayashi Satoru 9 dan (author) This book is Volume 1 of the Heart of Go Discovery Series.</p>

The Heart of Go Discovery 1: Perceiving the Direction of Play

Kobayashi Satoru

Editor's Note: This book contains an extensive list of ORissei's activity as a go player up to 2001 in chapter four.

The Heart of Go Discovery 2: Catching Scent of Victory

O Rissei

One of the most enjoyable aspects of go that one encounters are go proverbs. They may be wistful, whimsical or wise but they always encompass nuggets of knowledge regarding the game that one can gain insights from. Awaji Shuzo 9 dan is a top tournament professional player who has cultivated a taste for go proverbs over the course of his career and has gone so far as to invent a whole series of such maxims of his own. They illustrate the thoughts of a great player as he explains the game to himself. However, Awaji 9 dan is also one of the most friendly and sociable of go players around. He loves to share his enthusiasm about the game and has opened his own go 'cram school' (in Japanese, juku, which is the same word used for the schools that Japanese high school students attend in order to cram for college exams) where he rubs shoulders with average amateur players and shares his thoughts. This books shows how sessions at the Awaji Cram School are conducted, the give and take between players of all levels of skill and the way that refined technique is explained so that even weak players can understand and improve. Short of actually going to Japan to attend one of these classes, this book gives the reader an intensive workout that includes all of the elements that may be found in Awaji's training room.

The Heart of Go Discovery 4: Changing One's Conceptions - Awaji's Aphorisms

Awaji Shuzo

What in the world is thickness in go?! One hears the term bandied about as if it were a given. But what actually is meant by that word? And how can the concept of thickness be applied in one's own game? Hane Naoki 9 dan, former Kisei, learned the value of playing with an awareness of thickness from his renowned father, Hane Yasumasa 9 dan, one of the most accomplished players of his generation. But what actually is thickness? And how is it best utilized? The author has a surprising answer. He does not necessarily see to use it to attack as many players do, nor to dominate an opponent. Instead, Hane says that thickness gives him leeway to play in a relaxed way, rather than go all-out, to be satisfied with a mere sufficient gain instead of a big windfall and to play moves that others might deem too mediocre to consider. This book shows the keys to doing that successfully. Using positions from his actual games, including ones against his father while he was still an amateur and then again when he was on the verge of capturing the Kisei title, the most distinguished exploit in the go world, Hane highlights both the most significant strategic and tactical moments, while also pointing out fundamental truths about the game that one needs to master in order to play skillfully.

The Heart of Go Discovery 5: The Way of Creating a Thick and Strong Game

Naoki Hane

<p>And now for something completely different! How about a Go book without diagrams?! At least for the first twenty odd pages O Meien, a former Honinbo titleholder, dispenses with Go diagrams while expressing his thoughts about food! It is an unusual way to write a Go book, to say the least. However, O Meien is crafty like a fox. No player reaches the heights that he has without amassing a treasure trove of knowledge about Go and he is generous about sharing it. But the reader must be patient! Perhaps that is part of the lesson. But what on earth is a 'zone press'?! O Meien tantalizes and teases the writer assigned to work on the book with him, then explains his theory in detail. In many ways it is similar to orthodox teaching, but he gives everything a new slant. And in the final chapter he presents a unique game in which his opponent played elsewhere five times while he was attacking! It all makes for a lively account. "The words 'zone press' originally come from soccer. I believe that it was a term that the coach of the Japanese soccer team used for his soccer strategy. It fits exactly with my own perspective on Go and, at that time, I was doing a special feature for a magazine and I borrowed the term... 'Zone' is the relationship of the position of the stones on the board. 'Press' is the power relationship of stones on the board. With just this 'zone' and 'press' it is possible to think about everything in Go." - O Meien 9 dan (author) This book is Volume 6 of the Heart of Go Discovery Series.</p>

The Heart of Go Discovery 6: Zone Press Park

O Meien

Everybody loves a good fight. There is nothing better to get the adrenalin pumping and the heart racing. While playing go, it is even more enjoyable than capturing the opponent's stones. In Japan today, perhaps Yamashita Keigo is the most successful attacking player on the go scene. His effectiveness in attacking has brought him to the pinnacle of the go world, winning the Kisei title. In this book, Yamashita retraces his career from his first forays as a fledgling professional to one of the masterful games that gave him the Kisei title. Over ten chapters, he analyzes these games in detail, starting with highlight scenes that he presents of the games to follow and where he challenges the reader to find the best move. Then he explains the essence of his approach to the game and the key to attacking. The next chapter offers problem positions from 12 memorable games that he played, selected by his teacher, Kikuchi Yasuro, who for many years was one of the top amateur players in Japan. The final chapter contains biographical information and an intimate look at Yamashita's growth and maturity as a go player. Rather than being a brilliant or flashy player, Yamashita has achieved success through tenacious and indomitable play. That characteristic has served him well and is the kind of thing that can be emulated by anyone. This book gives a complete picture of Yamashita's development and the most notable aspects of his play. Altogether, it is instructive, entertaining, inspiring and informative. It shows how go is currently being played at the highest level and the attacking innovations to be seen there.

The Heart of Go Discovery 7: Breakthrough Attacking Power

Yamashita Keigo

Shuko: The Only Move - Vol. 2 Fighting Middlegame Collection

Fujisawa Shuko

Go experts regularly recommend the study of life and death problems in order to foster true strength at the game. There are a number of reasons for this. Training in reading is a primary reason. Another is the value of learning to recognize vital points. How to study shapes in go is still one more lesson to be learned. All of these things are important. But there is also an artistic element of life and death problems that is to be appreciated. This book examines life and death problems from a variety of perspectives, including the artistic element. Among the 150 life and death problems contained in this book, every theme of the subject is depicted. First, Maeda Nobuaki, the ''God of Life and Death Problems'' is featured, with 60 life and death problems presented. In addition, there is a retrospective examination of his career and one of his teaching essays. Next, Mimura Tomoyasu explains how to solve life and death problems in a down-to-earth manner. Fifteen masterpieces of life and death from the hand of the inimitable Fujisawa Shuko offer the reader a true test of strength, and there are six of the late Hashimoto Utaro's compositions; he is renowned as the master of life and death. Then there are ten problems which professional players themselves have selected as the best of all time. Tei Meiko takes the stage with 30 real game life and death problems, and Otake Hideo presents his own evaluations of unique shapes. Finally, Shirae Haruhiko challenges the reader to decide if a given position needs to have a move added.

The Best of Kido: The Ins and Outs of Life and Death

Kudo Norio Kido Magazine Maeda Nobuaki

Shape is one of the fundamental concepts of Go. If a shape is good, then the correlation between the stones is impossible to destroy, but if a shape is bad, then it is possible to destroy and, by doing so, inflict irreplaceable losses. In this book, the author only examines shapes related to the middle game, which are shapes connected to fighting, including: atsumi shapes, sabaki shapes, semeai shapes, shapes related to connecting stones and others. This book is Volume 3 of the Theory and Practice of Go series.

The Theory and Practice of Vol-3: Shapes

Valery Shikshin

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