Go: A Complete Introduction to the Game

My daughter wanted to learn and play Go from having been exposed to it in books she read. She got a little discouraged because I was beating her handily (and I was trying not to sometimes) when we just went off the rules and a few suggestions at web sites. I got her this book and within a few days she started beating me pretty regularly, even when I try hard. She is learning strategy and counter strategies and tweaky little rules. It will probably only get worse when she gets older, like say 8 or 9...

I'm just getting started playing Go, and I found this book to be an excellent introduction. The author is an internationally prominent player, and his passion shows on nearly every page. However, he never forgets that he's writing an introductory book. The book is authoritative without ever being condescending or assuming that the readers know more than they do. It seemed nearly perfectly "pitched" to me. The book very clearly lays out the rules of the game, most of the basic tactics, and some of the variations. It also makes clear a simple fact about Go: It doesn't take very much time to learn to play, but it probably takes a lifetime to truly master. When I finished reading the book, I truly felt I had a pretty good foundation for playing other similarly experienced players. However, I also felt that I still had a LOT to learn. I really liked the short articles about the history of Go and the culture that has grown around it that are inserted between the chapters. They provide some context for what is being taught, and they're also a nice break in the "heavy" material. Like all introductory books about all games, there is a drawback: There's no way to ask for more clarification or more examples. However, the pacing is good, the examples are clear, and the organization is logical. After reading this book, you won't be a tournament-quality player. However, you will understand and enjoy the game, and you'll probably be inspired to learn more about it.

Let's face it. You won't learn how to play go or even develop a style to playing the game from a book, any book. You'll learn it from playing the game. But start here, just to learn the rules and learn what the game is all about. After that, I do NOT recommend games against other people right away. The people you play will be so strong that you'll just get frustrated, or they'll be so weak that you won't learn much, win or lose. And the games will be slow and boring. Instead, get some go computer program (preferably one that lets you take back bad moves) and learn to smash the computer, first with 9x9 games, then with 13x13 games, and then with 19x19 games. Throw in some handicap stones, too! Then read this book again. And maybe try Janice Kim's set of introductory books next, and some of the books of graded go problems. Then try your skills against some human opponents of about 8-kyu strength.

I have played GO for a long time.Although this book is a introduction to the game, it is also a great help for skilled players.It's usefull studying again the actual method and the meaning of the moves.It is great fun reading the historical story of the Honnoji Temple affair related to the tripple ko.Anyone of you might found it important to study the josekis and memorise them.But I found it important to replay the actual games.Learning all of the moves by heart, then repeat to put stones to the end of the game.This book has an excellent example game, which was played between Cho Chikun and Kato Masao, who is a rival of Cho.It's usefull studying and also worth learning all of the moves by heart.

I'd recommend this book if you don't know much about the game yet. It covers the rules of the game and most of the basic tactics. After reading it, I felt I had a good foundation to build on. Although I still have a lot to learn.One thing especially nice about the book is that the chapters are separated by short articles describing a little of the history and culture of go and how it developed into it's current state.The only drawbacks were that the author went a little too fast once or twice and the book lacked any questions for the reader to solve his/herself. (Well, it had three.)