In Go, there are many aspects of the game in which we can develop. That makes it hard to know where to start. But, if you are between 20 kyu and 5 kyu, and you’re looking to improve your game. Opening theory made easy, by Otake Hideo, will help lead you to the next level.

The main topic is the “fuseki”, that’s the start of the game. Simply put we can call it the first 20 moves. So what better than a collection of 20 principles, too improve your “fuseki”.

The book consists of 3 chapters.

The first chapter contains 7 principles, and is about the fundamentals. They explain the basic ideas that will help you understand the opening. These principals will guide you through all your future games.

The second chapter is about shape. Here, Otake Hideo, talks about the mistakes that are often made during the opening. He explains why they are wrong and shows better fitting sequences.

In the last chapter he talks about basic strategies one can use for different situations. Whether it’s for attack or defense, these pricipals will help those who want to learn and understand the opening.

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1. Elementary Go Series, Volume 3 – Tesuji

Tesuji is a book one can’t emphasize enough for the progress in the game of Go. Its clear structural approach in teaching Tesujis by using chapters with the different field of&ndsp;applications makes it a good book for both a Tesuji reference and for studying.

In 16 chapters, of which the first one contains the famous explanation of how to successfully read out a sequence, “Tesuji” shows the application of Tesujis with diagrams and good explanations and asks you both directly after learning the new Tesuji and at the end of every chapter to use the learned Tesuji(s) to solve a couple of problems.

This way, the reader gets theory and practice in a very good mix and will not be overburdened with knowing and being able to use all the Tesujis at once.

The reader will learn about (chapter 2-15):

1. Capture the Cutting Stones
2. Amputate the Cutting Stones
3. Ko
4. When Liberties Count
5. Linking Groups Together
6. Cutting Groups Apart
7. Into Enemy Territory
8. Escape
9. Sacrifice to Gain Tempo
10. Tesuji for Attack
11. How to Connect
12. Making Shape
13. Ignore the Atari
14. Double-Threat Tesuji

Tesuji is a real beginner book. You could start with it right away after learning the rules, although one might not recommend it without having played a dozen games, because one might lack the connection to the game. Furthermore the reader is required to read out a lot of sequences, so practice with doing so (e.g. experience with life-and-death problems) is useful.

That being said: The problems at the end of each chapter appear to be more difficult than the few after learning one Tesuji, so this book becomes the more valuable (as a study book) the nearer you get to single digit Kyu. But any reader will get enough out of it by just reading Davies’ excellent explanations and looking at the diagrams.

The book and the problems also become easier the better you know certain shapes, since spotting a Tesuji is often connected with a certain shape in which it appears.

In conclusion: This book simply is a must-read. You’ll nowhere get to know basic Tesujis in such a good and clear way. There’s nothing more satisfying than being able to spot such a move in your own game, it will bring it to a new level!

Author: James Davies

Title: Elementary Go Series, Volume 3 – Tesuji

ISBN: 978-4871870122

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