Includes interactive CD-ROM.
It's not surprising that Go is one of the oldest games still being played today; it's also one of the most challenging, stimulating, and fascinating games around. Go Basics provides a simple but thorough introduction that's perfect for beginners. With its easy to follow instructions and over 600 diagrams showing examples of how to play, you'll be ready to enjoy this classic game right away.
It starts by focusing on smaller 9 x 9 games, making it easier to understand basic Go tactics and strategies, and introduces fundamental strategies such as invading, sacrificing, using ko, and thinking territorially. It also explains Go's unique handicapping system, making every game even those between beginners and experts exciting. Go Basics also includes a CD-ROM developed by the American Go Association that will help you build your skills before testing them against other players.
Anonymous
Posted November 9, 2006
¿GO Basics¿ is the sophomore effort from the prolific Go writer Peter Shotwell. Following his comprehensive first book, ¿Go! More Than a Game¿, could not have been easy, but ¿GO Basics¿ delivers on its subtitle premise of ¿Concepts & Strategies for New Players¿. Of course, there are many Go primers available, but this book stands out due to the unique approach it takes to teaching the fundamentals of Go. Most fundamentals oriented books teach by using isolated 19x19 board examples. Such an approach may adequately demonstrate a concept but it often fails to provide the new player with an appreciation of the relationship of the concept to the entire game. ¿GO Basics¿ uses a total of 7 professional 9x9 games to teach the reader everything found in a complete game of Go. The book covers the opening game including captures, ladders, nets, and tesuji. The middle game including life & death, eyes, territorial play, running fights, sente, gote, ko, and seki. Finally, the end game is taught with another unique approach, first the beginner¿s play is reviewed by showing the reader what not to do. This is followed by a review of the professional¿s play in the endgame, which of course, is the right way to play. The last section of the book covers advanced concepts such as sacrifice, big kos, cross-cuts, hunting big groups, and invasions. ¿GO Basics¿ is an excellent book for beginners because it introduces all the fundamentals to the new player within the context of complete games. Rather than playing many games with little idea of the proper way to play, new players will play with a foundational knowledge of the complete game. Finally, the American Go Association CD-ROM is included which cements ¿GO Basics¿ position as a complete primer for beginner¿s young and old alike.
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Posted July 28, 2010
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Overview
Includes interactive CD-ROM.
It's not surprising that Go is one of the oldest games still being played today; it's also one of the most challenging, stimulating, and fascinating games around. Go Basics provides a simple but thorough introduction that's perfect for beginners. With its easy to follow instructions and over 600 diagrams showing examples of how to play, you'll be ready to enjoy this classic game right away.
It starts by focusing on ...