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- From: gafter@frog.csc.ti.com (Neal M Gafter)
- Newsgroups: rec.games.go
- Subject: Go Book List and recommended readings for beginners
- Message-ID: <GAFTER.91Oct7144141@frog.csc.ti.com>
- Date: 7 Oct 91 19:41:41 GMT
- Article-I.D.: frog.GAFTER.91Oct7144141
- Sender: usenet@csc.ti.com (USENET News System)
- Reply-To: from
- Distribution: rec
- Organization: Texas Instruments Computer Science Center, Dallas, Texas
- Lines: 589
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-
- This is a list of Go-related books, periodicals, and mail-order
- sources which has evolved since its humble beginnings in 1985. New
- entries, or additional comments on current entries, should be sent to
- the addresses listed for Neal Gafter; please be sure to let me know
- your playing strength.
-
- First, though, some recommended readings for beginners:
-
-
- Go Books for Beginners
- ----------------------
-
- My recommendations for a new player are, in order:
-
- For really new beginners, play a handful of games on a 9x9 board with
- a regular "club" player. You should get a handicap of somewhere
- between four and none stones. Don't worry about winning or losing,
- and don't take too much time with any of your moves. Unlike chess
- clubs, you will find go players usually eager to help teach a new
- person. Playing short games will give you a fundamental feel for the
- game that you can build on. You should also play at least
- occasionally during your book studies, preferably with a stronger
- player. Try to understand your opponent's moves.
-
- "Go for Beginners", which can be found in some mass-market bookstores,
- is fairly good for a first book. "The Second Book of Go" is also good
- and fun.
-
- Nothing is better for bringing beginners up to speed than problems.
- For this purpose, I would recommend "Graded Go Problems for
- Beginners". You will probably want all four volumes, but if you
- decide to get fewer, get the higher numbered volumes.
-
- A good set of books to own is the Elementary Go Series, comprised of
- (in order that you should get them): "In the Beginning", "Tesuji", "38
- Basic Joseki", "Life and Death", "Handicap Go", "Attack and Defense",
- and "The Endgame".
-
- "Lessons in the Fundamentals of Go" is fairly easy to digest, and I
- think you will learn something from it each time you read it. It
- should not be your only book, though.
-
- "Strategic Concepts of Go" and "Basic Techniques of Go" are good but a
- little difficult to read for the beginner.
-
- I you want some cultural background and fun anecdotes about the game,
- try "The Treasure Chest Enigma".
-
-
- GO Books, Periodicals, and Mail-order sources
- ---------------------------------------------
-
- This is a list of Go-related books, periodicals, and mail-order
- sources which has evolved since its humble beginnings in 1985. New
- entries, or additional comments on current entries, should be sent to
- the addresses listed for Neal Gafter; please be sure to let me know
- your playing strength.
-
- By the way, you should check your local Go club to see if they carry
- books. Sometimes the distributors will give them good discounts. I
- [HL] got my copy of Invincible for $50 from the S.F. Go Club, a
- savings of $20! Second, Ishi Press visits each Go Congress, and there
- are usually lots of special prices. For those near stores listed at
- the end of this message, you can go right to the store or distributor.
- If all else fails, you can order by mail.
-
- This list may be freely distributed, so long as the information
- concerning the contributors and this comment remain with the list. A
- current copy of the list can be obtained by sending a SASE to the
- address listed for Neal Gafter, or by electronic mail.
-
- Every entry which is available from Ishi Press is listed with its
- mail-order price. The format for entries begins with the catalog
- number, then the price from the catalog, the title, the author in
- parentheses, then paragraphs of comments with the initials of the
- contributor in square brackets. See the appendix for a list of
- contributors.
-
- This version created Mon Oct 7, 1991
-
- ==========================================
-
- Some definitions:
-
- Fuseki: The opening moves of the game where the players form their
- respective areas of influence and prospective territory. The Fuseki
- ends when the real fighting (middle game) begins.
-
- Joseki: Literally "fixed stones". These are known sequences of moves
- near the corner that result in near-equal positions for white and black.
-
- Reading: The process of analyzing, in one's head, the possibilities
- resulting from a move or sequence of moves. [Minimaxing]
-
- Strength: A complimentary term describing playing ability.
-
- Tesuji: A locally or tactically optimal play.
-
- Yose: The endgame. During this final phase of the games borders
- between territories become well defined. Because it is last, this
- phase of the game is often decisive.
-
- ==========================================
-
- The Books
-
- G1 $13.00 Modern Joseki and Fuseki I (Sakata)
- G3 $13.00 Modern Joseki and Fuseki II (Sakata)
- These books cover in detail a few representative games
- and analyze the fuseki and the results of using
- possible joseki. It is an analysis of classical even
- game fuseki. Book I covers "Parallel Fuseki" where
- black and white occupy opposite sides of the board;
- Book II covers "Diagonal Fuseki," and the "Shusaku
- fuseki". These books contain an extensive collection
- of Joseki. It is easy to get lost in detail in these
- books, but they are the most comprehensive works on the
- subject. G5 continues where these books leave off. [NG]
- Excellent for 8 kyu or stronger. [BGC]
- These are currently out of print.
-
- G2 $9.95 Basic Techniques of GO (Haruyama and Nagahara)
- This is the companion volume to G6. It is a brief
- (but detailed) survey of tesuji, even game and handicap
- fuseki, and yose. It is sometimes easy for a beginner
- to get lost in detail here, but these books are
- definitely of value. [NG]
- A very good book for learning techniques when you get
- so far that you know the rules thoroughly. Especially
- useful for handicap games. Highly recommended. [OL]
- This book has depth, and is a good way for 1 to 8 kyu
- players to get to shodan. [BGC]
-
- G5 $13.00 The Middle Game of GO (Sakata)
- This book covers some of the standard techniques of the
- "chubansen", or middle game. It does this by analyzing
- continuations of some games discussed in G1 & G3. [NG]
- Excellent. [BGC]
- Currently out-of-print.
-
- G6 $12.95 Strategic Concepts of GO (Nagahara)
- This book is an introduction to the eight major
- strategic concepts of Go: Miai (two moves such that if
- one player occupies one, the other player must occupy
- the other); Aji (the latent possibility of a sequence
- or sequences of play); Kikashi (forcing move);
- Thickness; Korigatachi (overconcentration); Sabaki
- (light play); Furikawari (exchange); and Yosu-miru
- (probe) These concepts are illustrated with specific
- examples and with actual game records. An excellent
- book. [NG]
- Excellent for 6 kyu or stronger. [BGC]
-
- The following seven books comprise the Ishi Press "Elementary Go
- Series." They have all improved my game. [Mike Meyer <mwm@Berkeley.edu>]
-
- G10 $12.95 In the Beginning (Ishigure)
- An excellent beginners book describing techniques of
- the Fuseki. This book does not stay on the shelf much. [NG]
- An excellent work on fuseki (opening) for even game.
- Highly recommended. [OL]
- An excellent introduction to fuseki. [BGC]
-
- G11 $13.95 38 Basic Joseki (Kosugi and Davies)
- An excellent introduction to Joseki. [BGC]
-
- G12 $12.95 Tesuji (Davies)
- An excellent book by a western writer covering many
- basic tesuji. This book is easy to read, though the
- problems are not always easy (for me). Of course, the
- stress is on tactical reading. [NG]
- A very thorough approach to the concept and techniques
- of tesujis. Warmly recommended. [OL]
- Excellent. [BGC]
-
- G13 $12.95 Life and Death (Davies)
- An excellent book covering basic shapes arising in
- life-and-death situations. Many problems. An
- excellent book. [NG, BGC]
-
- G14 $13.95 Attack and Defense (Ishida and Davies)
- A well organized survey of basic middle game
- techniques. Another excellent book. [NG]
- A very good book when you need to get familiar with
- the standard techniques of attacking and defending
- (hence the name... :-) in the middle game.
- Highly recommended. [OL]
- Will improve anyone's fighting style. [BGC]
-
- G15 $12.95 The Endgame (Ogawa and Davies)
- The endgame is the final, and therefore decisive part
- of the game. This is an excellent book teaching about
- the techniques of the endgame. [NG, BGC]
-
- G16 $12.95 Handicap GO (Nagahara, Bozulich)
- A good book describing the strategy for high handicap
- games, both from white's and black's point of view. [NG, BGC]
-
-
- G17 $10.95 Kage's secret chronicles of Handicap GO (Kageyama)
- Good book - useful but not great. [BGC]
-
- G18 $12.95 Test your GO strength.
-
- G19 $14.95 The Breakthrough to Shodan (Naoki Miyamoto, 9-dan)
- (trans. by Jas. Davies)
- Excellent book. [BGC]
- Can get the strong kyu player out of the rut he's in,
- opening his eyes to *new* aspects of the game. [BA]
-
-
- G21,G22,G23 Dictionary of Basic Joseki Volumes I, II, III
- $22.95 each This is the most comprehensive work in English on
- Joseki. It is in dictionary format, and is easy to
- follow. [NG]
- ...containins MANY common trick wariations.
- Warmly recommended. [OL]
- Necessary for any Go library. [BGC]
-
- G21 $19.95 Dictionary of Basic Joseki I
- The 3-4 point
- The small knight approach. The large knight
- approach. The two-space high approach.
-
- G22 $19.95 Dictionary of Basic Joseki II
- The 3-4 point
- The one space high approach.
- The 5-3 point
- The 3-4 approach. The 4-5 approach. Entering at the
- 3-3 point.
-
- G23 $19.95 Dictionary of Basic Joseki III
- The 5-4 point
- The 3-4 approach. Entering at the 3-3 point.
- The Star Point
- The small knight approach. The one space high
- approach. The two space high approach. Positions
- with no approach move. The 3-3 point
- The shoulder hit. The large knight approach.
-
- G24 $10.00 Enclosure Joseki (Takemiya)
- Standard sequences for invading and living in enemy
- enclosures. Necessary for any dan. [BGC]
- Currently out of print.
-
- G25 $12.95 Appreciating Famous Games (Ohira)
- A detailed commentary of some famous games. Fun and
- instructive. [BGC]
-
- G26 $10.00 The Direction of Play (Kajiwara)
- Excellent book. It will improve your intuition. [BGC]
- Currently out of print.
-
- G27 $12.95 Kato's Attack and Kill (Kato)
- Techniques for chasing weak enemy groups to gain
- advantage. Excellent book. It will make you dangerous. [BGC]
-
- G28 $12.95 Lessons in the Fundamentals of GO (Kageyama)
- A good book covering some of the fundamentals, but
- necessarily briefly. Ladders and Nets; Cutting and
- Connecting; Walking ("ordinary" moves); The struggle to
- get ahead (running and pushing battles); Territory and
- Influence; Life and Death; How to study Joseki; Good
- and Bad Shape; Proper and Improper moves; Tesuji; the
- Endgame. [NG]
- Great book for 1 to 8 kyu. [BGC]
-
- G29 $10.95 Reducing Territorial Frameworks (Shuko Fujisawa)
- Presents techniques for reducing and invading the
- opponent's territory in the middle game, with
- emphasis on reduction. [NG]
- Currently out of print.
-
- G30 $3.95 An Introduction to GO (Davies and Bozulich)
- "A simple and clear introduction to the game of GO
- based on the Japanese rules. Tactics and strategy as
- well as example games." [Ishi flyer]
-
- G31 $6.95 The Second Book of Go (Richard Bozulich)
- "..takes the reader who has learned the rules and
- rudiments of strategy and introduces them to the ideas
- required to get to the 12 kyu level... covered at a
- level that can be grasped by the novice" [Ishi flyer]
-
- G32 $12.95 The Power of the Star Point (Takagawa Shukaku)
- An excellent book covering the fuseki resulting from a
- san-ren-sei, or three star points in a row. Although
- the book focuses on even game fuseki, it would be
- especially useful for those playing low handicap
- games. [NG]
-
- G33 $10.95 The Chinese Opening: The Sure Win Strategy (Kato Masao)
- "The Chinese opening in GO is the newest ... yet within
- two decades it has established itself as one of the
- most popular. In one pattern it combines both
- influence and territory. It is a dynamic and flexible
- opening that fits well with a variety of playing
- styles... In tournament GO, it enjoys the best winning
- percentage for black of any opening." [Ishi flyer]
-
- G34 $12.95 All About Thickness (Ishida Yoshio)
- "2-color diagrams make the advanced concepts of
- thickness and influence instantly clear. How to build
- thickness and how to use it to attack or to make
- territory. Large diagrams and simple explanations are
- clear to everyone from novice to dan-level players."
- [Ishi Flyer]
-
- G40 The World of GO (edited by Richard Bozulich)
- "Here is a reference on just about everything having
- to do with your favorite game. There is history and
- philosophy, a who's who of current and historical
- players, a complete glossary of GO terms, a directory
- of GO tournaments, computer GO, complete Chinese and
- Japanese rules, information on playing equipment and
- more. Hardbound." [Ishi Flyer]
-
- G41 $7.95 The Magic of GO (Cho Chikun)
- "A unique introduction to the game and culture of GO.
- This book's step-by-step approach takes the reader
- from the most basic rules to playing his or her own
- games. All of the fundamentals are covered in detail.
- [Also includes] essays scattered through the book
- introducing the world of GO - history, tournaments,
- computer GO, playing equipment, and more." [Ishi flyer]
-
- G44 $12.95 The 3-3 Point, Modern Opening Strategy (Cho Chikun)
- "Today in professional GO, more and more openings are
- being played that emphasize tight territorial control.
- In both cases, the 3-3 point if crucial, whether
- played to secure or destroy territory. This book
- shows you 3-3 josekis in relation to the whole board,
- then delves into parallel and diagonal fusekis. A
- chapter of problems will challenge your understanding
- of the concepts discussed. Examples are drawn from
- approximately 100 of Cho's own games." [Ishi Flyer]
-
- G45 $12.95 Positional Judgement (Cho Chikun)
- "An accurate assessment of the board position during
- the middle game is key to deciding your play strategy.
- To become an expert GO player, you must develop
- positional judgement. This book provides the first
- comprehensive treatment of this subject in English."
- [Ishi flyer]
-
- $9.95 The Theory and Practice of GO (Korschelt)
- This is the first book I got on the subject; it it a
- translation from the original German 18??. It was the
- first book on GO written in a western language. I
- would not recommend it. [NG]
- Recommended for 6 kyu and stronger, as an unsurpassed
- source of problems. Also has some classic games. [BGC]
-
- $6.25 The Game of GO (Smith)
- Do not recommend. [BGC]
-
- $6.95 Steppingstones to GO (Kishikawa)
- Do not recommend. [BGC]
-
- $4.50 GO and Go-Moku (Lasker)
- Lasker is a Chess whiz; this book is an ok introduction
- to the game. [NG]
- Not nearly as good as Iwamoto. [BGC]
- Recommended for historical interest
- only. [BA]
-
- $5.95 Go for Beginners (Iwamoto Kaoru 9-dan)
- This is an excellent first book on the game. I like to
- keep an extra copy to give to people I think I might be
- able to get involved in the game. At my rank it is of
- little value. [NG, BGC] This is the truly immortal
- beginner's book. Useful for every kyu level - you'll
- learn something every time you read it. *** A must! *** [OL]
- You are moderately likely to find this in the games
- section of a good bookstore.
-
- G?? $10.00 The 1971 Honinbo Tournament (Iwamoto)
- The game records with a detailed analysis of the games.
- Reviewing games of this kind is important. This is an
- excellent book for 4 kyu and stronger players. [BGC]
- An well-written book. Does a fine job of relating the
- fuseki and the middle-game, so that the reader can
- understand the result as a whole. [BA]
- Currently out of print.
-
- (Out of print)
- What's your rating? (Miyamoto)
- Good book - useful and fun, but not great. [BGC]
-
- $7.95 The Protracted Game: A Wei-Ch'i Interpretation of
- Maoist Revolutionary Strategy (Boorman)
- Interesting, but not that instructive. [BGC]
- (Out of print but may still be available)
-
- $5.95 The Master of GO (Yasunari Kawabata)
- Interesting, but not that instructive. [BGC]
- An all time classic. Since Kawabata (b. 1899, d.
- 1972) won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1968, it is
- not usually difficult to come upon a translation of
- this (mine was done by Seidensticker for Perigee books
- back in 1981). (Seidensticker also translated the
- Nobel Prize acceptance speech under the title ``Japan,
- The Beautiful, and Myself'' for Kodansha International
- Ltd. in 1981.) [webber@athos.rutgers.edu (Bob Webber)]
- A good novel. Not interesting as a Go-book.
- Seidensticker didn't understand Go when he translated
- it; help with the Go was offered him, and he refused
- it :-( [BA]
-
- $8.00 GO Proverbs (Mitchell)
-
- H1 $69.95 Invincible, the games of Shusaku (Power)
- A well commented collection of Shusaku's games. This
- is a clothbound book. [NG]
- This book contains more than 160 games by the
- Edo-period player who is recognized kisei (Go saint).
- About half are commented, level of commentary ranging
- from very good to truly excellent.
- *** !! Truly a MUST !! *** (though not before about
- about 5 kyu :-) [OL]
- A real master in action. Fantastic. [BGC]
-
- $10.00 Go! (A reprint of Takagawa's "How to Play Go" and "The
- Vital Points of Go")
- This book is worth buying for "Vital Points", which teaches
- some intuition for the fuseki. [NG, BGC]
- Published by Sabaki, which has since gone out of business.
-
- H2 $24.95 The Treasure Chest Enigma (Nakeyama)
- A delightful collection of Go anecdotes, problems, and
- some of Nakeyama's famous ladder problems. [NG, BGC]
-
- Graded Go Problems for Beginners (Kano Yoshinori)
- H3 $12.95 Volume 1: Introductory Problems (30-25 kyu)
- H4 $12.95 Volume 2: Elementary Problems (25-20 kyu)
- H5 $12.95 Volume 3: Intermediate Problems (20-15 kyu)
- H6 $12.95 Volume 4: Advanced Problems (15-10 kyu) (available soon)
- Other volumes to appear as they are translated.
- Excellent problems for teaching basic situations and
- even the rules to beginners. Very highly recommended. [OL]
- The best book for beginners to own. The problems
- actually range about 5 kyu higher and lower than
- listed. [BGC]
-
- ==========================================
-
- The contributors:
-
- NG Neal Gafter. The originator of the bibliography. 4 kyu at
- that time, possibly 1 kyu now.
- Reachable via e-mail as gafter@csc.ti.com, or at:
-
- 752 Monticello Circle
- Allen, Texas 75002
- 214 727-2082
-
- HL Howard A. Landman. Reachable by email at landman%hanami@eng.sun.com
-
- BGC The Berkeley Go club, as a group. A copy of the original was
- passed around to the stronger players (3-6 dan), and their
- comments were added to the list. The Berkeley Go club can be
- reached by sending e-mail to mwm@ucbvax. US mail should be
- addressed to
-
- (This address is obsolete)
- Berkeley Go Club c/o Herb Doughty
- 2412 Atherton St.
- Berkeley, CA 94704
- phone: (415) 548-3024
-
- BA ayers@src.dec.com (Bob Ayers)
- Bob Ayers (rma) -- 2 dan in L.A.
-
- OL olounela@cc.helsinki.fi (Olli Lounela) 3 dan.
-
- Others are identified by full name.
-
- ==========================================
-
- Periodicals:
-
- Go World
-
- A slick quarterly covering professional games with in-depth
- commentary, tournament news, articles on strategy and tactics,
- problems, and other news. Published by Ishi Press and
- available on a yearly basis. Most back issues also available.
- $15/1 Year $26/2 Years $35/3 Years
-
- American GO Journal
-
- The Newsmagazine of the American GO Association, also
- published Quarterly. Free as part of membership in the AGA:
- $20/1 Year [has gone up to $25, I think. -NG]
-
- The American Go Association
- Box 397
- Old Chelsea Station
- New York, New York 10113
-
- Computer Go
-
- A Quarterly about Computers and Go. Go playing programs,
- Electronic Go boards, algorithms, tournaments, and so on.
- Back issues available.
- $15/1 Year
-
- Computer Go
- c/o David W. Erbach
- 71 Brixford Crescent
- Winnipeg, Manitoba R2N 1E1 Canada
-
- Kido Yearbook (in Japanese)
-
- J1-87 $27.00 Kido Yearbook 1987
- J1-88 $30.00 Kido Yearbook 1988
- J1-89 $32.00 Kido Yearbook 1989
-
- Published around May each year. It contains most of the games
- from all the major Go tournaments held in Japan during the
- previous year, plus lots of biographical information
- (including a complete listing of all active pros, with a
- picture and brief listing of accomplishments). Even though I
- cannot read Japanese, I still enjoy studying the games. The
- major problem is that all the games are recorded in 1 to 2
- diagrams. Thus, some of the moves are hard to find. Anyway,
- it is a good book for strong kyu to dan players, containing
- *hundreds* of recent games each volume.
- [hwc@sigma.UUCP (Hon-wah Chan, 2 dan)]
-
- ==========================================
-
- The mail order houses:
-
- I recommend Ishi Press, the major publisher of GO Books in English and
- Japanese, that now has an office in the US where books can be ordered.
- Their prices are often the lowest and their service is prompt. Once
- you order from them, you will be on their mailing list and receive
- monthly offerings and specials.
-
- Ishi Press International
- 76 Bonaventura Drive
- San Jose, CA 95134 (USA)
- (408) 944 - 9900
-
- For those of you in the Berkeley area, Games Of Berkeley carries GO
- books, and will take mail order. The prices are generally in line
- with those listed here.
-
- Games Of Berkeley
- 2010 Shattuck Avenue
- Berkeley, CA 94704
- 415/540-7822
-
- Gamescape generally has a better inventory than GOB, and will also
- takes orders by mail.
-
- Gamescape
- 333 Divisadero
- San Francisco, CA 94117
- 415/621-GAME
-
- Kinokuniya book stores (SF, LA, NY) carry Go books and magazines. They are
- fairly expensive (e.g. old issues of Go World are $6.50, whereas they are
- only $4.00 from Ishi Press), but they carry a lot of stuff. One series I
- first found there, and like a lot for dan-level players, is the
- Gendai Igo Mei Shobu shirizu (in Japanese), see above [HL]
-
- For those of you near Rochester, New York, there are a couple of
- places to get Go books and equipment. Park Avenue Bookstore (370 Park
- Avenue; 271-6120) carries Ishi Press books, and Archimage (668 Monroe;
- 271-2789) carries both books and equipment.
-
- [pauls@inco.UUCP (Paul Stygar)]
- If you happen to be in Germany, you can get books from a company
- called "Spielbrett." Mail order overseas has met with mixed success.
- They do have some out-of-print books in English (Modern Joseki and
- Fuseki I & II; 1971 Honinbo Tournament; Go Proverbs; How to Play
- Go/Vital Points of Go in a volume entitled "Go!") If you want to try
- your luck, write for a copy of "spielbrett news":
-
- Spielbrett-Versand
- Postfach 610246
- Kortestr.10
- 1000 Berlin 61
- --
- Internet: gafter@csc.ti.com (Neal Gafter)
- USnail: Texas Instruments MS 238, PO BOX 655474, Dallas, TX 75265
- phone: (214) 995 - 0696 (office) or (214) 727 - 2082 (home)
-
-