In January I wrote review of Yuan Zhou book Understand How to Play Go. Thanks to Library at Polish Go Association I get chance to read interesting book about handicap games: “How to Play Handicap Go”. This is different from other handicap books. Let me explain…

Most authors of books about handicap game show some basic principle about baduk. With this model examples you can have good knowledge about what is good and what is bad move. Unfortunately in real life this kind of situation don’t happened a lot :( Of course some principles are very important like direction of play, but until you will face big mistake of this kind you won’t understand it. Process of getting stronger must be painful and this what you can find in this book. 1 game show game where black play mistake and lost huge group.

In book you can find 9 games with very good comments. Format is the same as in Understand How to Play Go. 8 games are from Yuan Zhou games and 1 is between kyu players. One made this book valuable for me is that author not only comments black moves but also white. If you are giving stones and have a lot troubles with it, then this book can help you. In book you will get some information how to start on handicap games as white, which joseki don’t play and where to start fights. Of course 8 games is too little to master handicap games as white, but thanks to 9 game you can see difference between Yuan Zhou approach to handicap games as white to typical amateur player.

Of course this book give you also well-know examples of bad play like: atari is bad, inconsistency, overlooking own weak points and much more. Book is good for everyone, but especially for play 4kyu and stronger who wants to know how play handicap games with white stones.

Author: Yuan Zhou

Title: How to Play Handicap Go

ISBN: 1-932001-01-8

Where to buy: Slate&Shell; E-Go.PL (in Poland)

Rating: 9/10