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Lessons in the Fundamentals of Go
The book’s main themes are the importance of fundamentals, the philosophy of go, and how to study. All the author asks is that the reader not do anything so foolish as to finish it in one day. It should be read deliberately, a chapter a day at the fastest, and a fortnight to finish the whole book. If the reader will then spend another fortnight rereading it and learning from it as he would from a good instructor, I think I can promise that he will surmount the barrier of his present rank.
272 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 1978
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April 24, 2012
Dia. 2. Black blocks at 1, of course. There is no need for him to wonder what White may do afterward. Given a chance like this, only a feeble-minded player would be uncertain where to play - 'not this point, not here either, perhaps I should leave the position as it is.' Black's hand should be trembling with eagerness to play 1. He should be overcome with emotion.
Toshiro Kageyama doesn't mince words. Lessons in the Fundamentals of Go may be visualized as Kageyama-sensei leaning over your go board and smacking the back of your head every time you make a stupid move. (Actually, he seems like quite a nice, if crusty, gentleman; he probably didn't smack people.) This book is neither a tutorial nor a dry textbook laying out go problems and josekis and handholding the student through their solutions. Another way to think of this book is Kageyama pointing at a particularly clever move and saying "Look at that! Isn't that awesome?" He loves go and he wants you to love go, too. But he wants you to stop being such a lazy dumbass about it.
I first read this book way, way back when I was first learning go (in college) and it did nothing for me. Don't be fooled by the title into thinking that "Fundamentals" means "Basics." This book is written for low-ranking kyu players, but ones who have already been playing for a while; Kageyama assumes you don't need any go terminology explained and that you have played enough go that when he says "Have you ever found yourself in this situation?" the reader will nod and say, "Yeah, that looks familiar."
As a (very slightly) more experienced player now, I was able to understand a lot more, but I still couldn't "get" a lot of it. Kageyama's explanations were clear enough, but I definitely got the feeling that fine points that he expected to be intuitive and obvious were... not. So I'll revisit this when I am a better player.
It's definitely worth reading for a low-ranking player. The chapters are:
Ladders and Nets
Cutting and Connecting
The Stones Go Walking
The Struggle to Get Ahead
Territory and Spheres of Influence
Life and Death
How to Study Joseki
Good Shape and Bad
Proper and Improper Moves
Tesuji: the Snap-Back; Shortage of Liberties; the Spiral Ladder; the Placement; the Attachment; Under the Stones
Endgame Pointers
He inserts many personal anecdotes, from watching movies at the theater as a child to lecturing on NHK-TV, and ends the book with a detailed review of one of his own professional games, when as a young, low-ranking professional, he scored an upset victory against the Meijin (one of the best go players in the world at the time). Can't blame him for savoring a game like that! Going over his moves just highlights how much I don't understand; I could kind of follow what each player was doing, but it was nothing like my own games. Many of the moves seemed to radiate invisible lines of force affecting stones halfway across the board in ways I could not comprehend; even though Kageyama explains each move, it's like he's a physicist giving a dumbed-down explanation of string theory to an elementary school science class.
This is a go classic, and one that's meant to be read slowly and then reread.
July 2, 2018
Likely the only book on improving at Go which can also be enjoyably read by someone who doesn't care about the game.
This is far from just a collection of diagrams and technical explanations. Using his Japan of the 1970s for analogies, Kageyama shows you the importance of fundamentals in all areas of the game. He admonished you for being such a scrub and tries his best to open your amateurish mind to the beauty of professional class moves.
It's an often very funny book that deserves its fame in the world of Go.
This is far from just a collection of diagrams and technical explanations. Using his Japan of the 1970s for analogies, Kageyama shows you the importance of fundamentals in all areas of the game. He admonished you for being such a scrub and tries his best to open your amateurish mind to the beauty of professional class moves.
It's an often very funny book that deserves its fame in the world of Go.
July 15, 2018
Kageyama was a crusty old man, but with a dry-as-toast sense of humor. He's just about everything you expect and want from a Go teacher: he rambles about baseball, squeezes in references to long-dead samurai, and playfully badgers his pupils for being dumb enough to make bad moves.
This is the perfect must-read book on Go, except for one thing: it sure ain't for beginners. Kageyama himself explains his mildly wonky definition of who is a 'beginner.' He assumes you're already familiar with joseki, tesuji, sente, gote, and about a dozen other Japanese terms an absolute beginner would not recognize from 'konnichiwa.'
What this book is for are people who have already put in their hundred(s) of games of go, and have now hit a wall and need a hand getting their ass over it. Will it still appeal to beginners (or even people not actually that interested in playing Go)? Maybe! At worst, you get to read a professional's passion for the game. And to be honest, this isn't a book you just read once and 'get it.' I reckon I'll need to come back again and again and say, "Oh, ok. Now I see what the hell he was going on about!"
Plus, it was nice that Kageyama added commentary on his own victory over the Meijin at the time, Rin Kaiho. A good teacher shows he has struggles, aspirations, doubts, and goals, too. And his biggest goal is to just play a good game of go and appreciate the game's simple beauties.
And to watch baseball games and movies in cheapo theaters, when he has the time.
This is the perfect must-read book on Go, except for one thing: it sure ain't for beginners. Kageyama himself explains his mildly wonky definition of who is a 'beginner.' He assumes you're already familiar with joseki, tesuji, sente, gote, and about a dozen other Japanese terms an absolute beginner would not recognize from 'konnichiwa.'
What this book is for are people who have already put in their hundred(s) of games of go, and have now hit a wall and need a hand getting their ass over it. Will it still appeal to beginners (or even people not actually that interested in playing Go)? Maybe! At worst, you get to read a professional's passion for the game. And to be honest, this isn't a book you just read once and 'get it.' I reckon I'll need to come back again and again and say, "Oh, ok. Now I see what the hell he was going on about!"
Plus, it was nice that Kageyama added commentary on his own victory over the Meijin at the time, Rin Kaiho. A good teacher shows he has struggles, aspirations, doubts, and goals, too. And his biggest goal is to just play a good game of go and appreciate the game's simple beauties.
And to watch baseball games and movies in cheapo theaters, when he has the time.
May 9, 2019
I learned a lot about how to play Go from this book, even though many of the lessons went over my head, but I can't imagine a more entertaining instructional book for the game of Go than this one. Kageyama must have been a real character, as this book is filled with personality, jokes, and tricks. Certain passages had me laughing out loud, and people nearby were very confused when I tried to explain how funny this book about the game of Go is. I'll certainly be rereading this one at some point.
July 7, 2024
I've actually been reading this book for decades. Finally finished it today. It first came to my attention when Keith Arnold recommended it at some Go tournament. One can see Keith Arnold in the documentary "The Surrounding Game". He's been a significant part of the American Go Association and has made a major contribution to Go in the United States.
At the time, Keith was arguing that a reading of this book would increase one's playing by one rank. He was not lying. It is a bit amusing in that I recently heard from Craig Brown - founding member of the Phoenixville Go Club that he remembers Keith Arnold pushing reading "Lessons in the Fundamentals of Go as well.
I particularly appreciated Kageyama's references to the world outside of Go; comparing the mastering the fundamentals of baseball to mastering the fundamentals to Go.
I won't say that I have fully understood everything this book has to offer; only that I have finished it. I will need to go back and read it again and again. I started with the earlier yellow addition, and bought the orange edition last year.
Like the game of Go itself it offers what appears to be obvious easy to understand strategies. However reading out the line of thought is mentally exhausting. I think in my next reading I'm going to have to the old Go Board out and actually follow the thinking playing out stone by stone thinking.
All the same glad to say that I finally worked my through my first reading; may the second reading not take nearly as long.
At the time, Keith was arguing that a reading of this book would increase one's playing by one rank. He was not lying. It is a bit amusing in that I recently heard from Craig Brown - founding member of the Phoenixville Go Club that he remembers Keith Arnold pushing reading "Lessons in the Fundamentals of Go as well.
I particularly appreciated Kageyama's references to the world outside of Go; comparing the mastering the fundamentals of baseball to mastering the fundamentals to Go.
I won't say that I have fully understood everything this book has to offer; only that I have finished it. I will need to go back and read it again and again. I started with the earlier yellow addition, and bought the orange edition last year.
Like the game of Go itself it offers what appears to be obvious easy to understand strategies. However reading out the line of thought is mentally exhausting. I think in my next reading I'm going to have to the old Go Board out and actually follow the thinking playing out stone by stone thinking.
All the same glad to say that I finally worked my through my first reading; may the second reading not take nearly as long.
August 29, 2015
Many of the finer points of this book went over my head. I can't quite see when a two-space extension and a three-space extension are totally different moves. But Kageyama puts it best when he says "Experts can finesse their way out, bunglers can bungle their way out, but everybody should break through white's enclosure somehow." This book covers the fundamental concepts that will help you think about Go, even if details and specific applications still elude you, and it does an excellent job. Whether you're a single digit kyu or a novice, Kageyama has some insights to offer you, and his conversational and clear style make this book an easy read.
(This book does assume you know the rules of go and some basic terms like "atari" "hane" etc. So if you're a complete novice, you might want to start elsewhere.)
(This book does assume you know the rules of go and some basic terms like "atari" "hane" etc. So if you're a complete novice, you might want to start elsewhere.)
August 2, 2020
Honestly, this is one of the best books I've ever read. I can't help but think of it not as a book about playing Go, but rather as a book about how to live. I recommend learning Go just to be able to read and understand this book.
September 22, 2023
Kageyama has quite an entertaining way to describe his feelings regarding fortunate and less fortunate moves. Some parts were a little too difficult for me, maybe I'll need to come back some time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 12, 2010
Packed with valuable information about the game of go, and unique for its readability and focus on "approach" to the game, rather than specific skills. Broken up with anecdotes about the author's life as a professional go player, Lessons in the Fundamentals feels like recreational reading at times. Nonetheless, taking Kageyama's lessons to heart will definitely improve your game, at pretty much any level of play.
If you want to improve your game, but don't necessarily know how to go about it, this is an excellent book to read - and you will have fun reading it.
If you want to improve your game, but don't necessarily know how to go about it, this is an excellent book to read - and you will have fun reading it.
February 2, 2014
This and Ishigure's "In the Beginning" were my first Go books. I read this as a 15-20k. It was far beyond my ability to understand, but I did learn from it. It's a very entertaining read. Kageyama has a great attitude about him, and hops from topic to topic in a lightfooted manner.
I've reread it around 10k and got a lot more out of it, but it was still beyond me. 5k now, I anticipate that when I return to it as a 1d, it will still be beyond me, and I will continue to learn from it!
I've reread it around 10k and got a lot more out of it, but it was still beyond me. 5k now, I anticipate that when I return to it as a 1d, it will still be beyond me, and I will continue to learn from it!
April 15, 2009
Of all the books on Go I've ever come across, I've learned more from Kageyama than I have from any other source. I've read this book three or four times now and each time I gain new understanding. Absolutely invaluable source for anyone looking to get stronger.
December 4, 2022
Context - read through the book at ~11 kyu.
Lessons in the Fundamentals of Go is an ambitious book, with advice for pretty much any stage in a game, with an emphasis on real and realistic board positions that I appreciated. Most diagrams are accompanied not just by the correct follow-up sequence, but at least one incorrect sequence to help the reader understand why the answer is that way and not the other way. This is enough detail that I could play through some other variations myself to study further. Each section also includes a teeny bit of chatter to break up the study with some amusing stories related to the author's Go experiences.
The book's strong chapters, the ones that I came away with more, were the more concrete and specific chapters - those on tesuji, endgame and ladders and nets, covering approximately 30% of the book. In these chapters, there are examples, problems, and solutions, along with sufficient commentary explaining the though process for finding the correct solutions.
The weaker chapters, to me, were those on more vague concepts and higher-level strategy such as connecting and cutting and shape. In these chapters, I came away with just a little, as many of the positions were explained by declaring the wrong position obviously wrong or too amateurish or improper without any further details. Perhaps the ambition to cover so much material led to not much detail in each section; or perhaps the intended audience is stronger than I am and these things are clear when given just one or two variations, but I did not take away much useful information from a solid half of the book. Not nothing, mind you, but some vague concepts and no confidence to correctly apply those concepts in-game.
Lessons in the Fundamentals of Go is an ambitious book, with advice for pretty much any stage in a game, with an emphasis on real and realistic board positions that I appreciated. Most diagrams are accompanied not just by the correct follow-up sequence, but at least one incorrect sequence to help the reader understand why the answer is that way and not the other way. This is enough detail that I could play through some other variations myself to study further. Each section also includes a teeny bit of chatter to break up the study with some amusing stories related to the author's Go experiences.
The book's strong chapters, the ones that I came away with more, were the more concrete and specific chapters - those on tesuji, endgame and ladders and nets, covering approximately 30% of the book. In these chapters, there are examples, problems, and solutions, along with sufficient commentary explaining the though process for finding the correct solutions.
The weaker chapters, to me, were those on more vague concepts and higher-level strategy such as connecting and cutting and shape. In these chapters, I came away with just a little, as many of the positions were explained by declaring the wrong position obviously wrong or too amateurish or improper without any further details. Perhaps the ambition to cover so much material led to not much detail in each section; or perhaps the intended audience is stronger than I am and these things are clear when given just one or two variations, but I did not take away much useful information from a solid half of the book. Not nothing, mind you, but some vague concepts and no confidence to correctly apply those concepts in-game.
July 22, 2023
Ok. This is the best Go book.
It may look small, but man, it packs a punch. It’s one of those books that I could read again and again and get something from it every time. Various strategies were presented in ways that were easy to understand.
And then, one of the last things I expected when I picked up this book was to laugh out loud. Not only is the knowledge invaluable in becoming a great Go player, but the writing is also hilarious! What a snarky, grand-fatherly figure the author seems to be!
All in all, a fantastic book on Go that is an easy recommend from me; I will probably be coming back to it soon!
It may look small, but man, it packs a punch. It’s one of those books that I could read again and again and get something from it every time. Various strategies were presented in ways that were easy to understand.
And then, one of the last things I expected when I picked up this book was to laugh out loud. Not only is the knowledge invaluable in becoming a great Go player, but the writing is also hilarious! What a snarky, grand-fatherly figure the author seems to be!
All in all, a fantastic book on Go that is an easy recommend from me; I will probably be coming back to it soon!
June 16, 2024
Honestly, not sure why the hype. The book tried to reach all levels, but to me, if failed. When it comes to fundamentals, it provides nice food for thought, and for advanced players, a reminder of the basics. But at the same time, the examples and some of the concepts are far too advanced; and for advanced players, it might feel too basic or shallow. At the same time, he tries to use language that can be discouraging to some (something in the likes of "If you can't solve this, then you'll have a hard time learning go". I'm not a stronger player, but I'm no beginner either. So, perhaps, I was not the target audience of this book.
October 31, 2018
Perhaps I did not pick up all the insights at my level. The main value for me is the inspiring, persuasive way the author drives the simple principles, like reading ahead with due diligence, or staying true to proper moves. He explains that the main difference between a pro and an amateur is the mind discipline. Pro player acts on 100% confidence, resulting from studying and analysis, without any rushed moves or wishful thinking. Adopting this mindset, even with small knowledge to start, is the best way to improve.
April 26, 2018
Excellent book that I had bought many years ago and never took the time to read, because I preferred playing than studying the game.
Made me want to play Go again, but unfortunately I won't find the time for that hobby. Still, the exercises inside the book were an excellent refresher and quite stimulating. I recommend for all levels up to shodan.
Made me want to play Go again, but unfortunately I won't find the time for that hobby. Still, the exercises inside the book were an excellent refresher and quite stimulating. I recommend for all levels up to shodan.
March 24, 2022
I can see why this remains so popular. Written with a unique and endearing sense of humor, this is surprisingly engaging for an instruction manual. The consistent theme is that the value of studying joseki and tesuji is not in building encyclopedic knowledge but in understanding why they are the best moves.
Currently reading
June 7, 2024Did not finish yet but just saw the passage in chapter 4 that stated that one should never invade at 3-3 immediately under the opponent's star point, with the classic joseki depicted. This is much different than studies today and I think the author emphasizes the moyo a bit too much. My opinions might change after I finish, though.
December 11, 2017
Great book that isn't all diagrams. Kageyama actually gives good advice, resets your head.
June 13, 2019
Văn phong hài hước, d� đọc. Tuy là sách cơ bản nhưng vẫn nên đọc nhiều lần. Mỗi lần đọc lại s� có một góc nhìn khác, ngấm theo một kiểu khác.
December 17, 2020
Somewhat baffling the first time I read it. Still somewhat baffling. Will probs read whenever I get stuck at a stone. It's that kind of book.
January 15, 2022
Very interesting book, but I find the author is often using a dismissive and rude tone in his comments and explanations.
July 22, 2022
Great basic book.
September 20, 2018
My favorite thing about this book is the style. It talks directly to the reader as if the reader were questioning what they were being taught. And this is great because the information can sometimes seem so simple that you do find yourself questioning it.
I would say about 75% of this book is just focusing on its diagrams and examples. The diagrams are well done and the book uses them effectively. I was almost always able to simply read the book and didn't get out a board to look at a position unless I wanted to study it more in depth. Around 5% is an overview of topics without diagrams - such as talking about what a "proper move" is - but it will always quickly get back to examples. I learn well from this kind of teaching - quick discussion and then examples of how it applies - so this book was great for me. And the other 20% is exposition, stories about Kageyama's experiences as a professional and teacher, and general thoughts on go and life. I really enjoy these parts because it is nice to not only take a break from study but to see what it is like to be a pro and how this has impacted Kageyama's life and view of go.
The first chapter of the book discusses ladders and nets. I will admit, I was skeptical. The first day I was taught go I was shown how a ladder works. Yet I am finding more and more that reading ladders is absolutely essential to playing go well. And the same is true for nets. If the net doesn't actually work then it is going to just make your position crumble, so being able to read nets is also essential for effective play.
The second chapter is about cutting and connecting. Again, so simple... but so absolutely important.
And the book goes on like this. It presents a simple topic and shows you the fundamentals. Topics like life and death, joseki, proper moves, tesuji, and, finally, end-game. It discusses none of these in amazing depth with the exception of the tesuji chapter. (That one covers 6 different types of tesuji giving multiple examples over the course of 50 pages.) But it does cover each to a point that it gives you a grasp of the fundamentals. I believe the length of the tesuji chapter is directly related to how much you need to know about tesujis to handle them in your own games.
And really that is what makes this book so great. Nothing in here is theoretical. Every single topic is directly related to something that will come up at least every other game if not every game. It is practical without getting bogged down in too many details.
There are also two sections where the book pauses for Kageyama to discuss his own experiences as a pro. The first is an interlude where he talks about his experience teaching go on TV in Japan. The second is the last chapter where he gives a commentary on his win over the then current Meijin, Rin Kaiho, in the semi-final of the Prime Minister's Cup. Both are very enjoyable and reasonably informative. I found his musings on teaching to be a nice break from the sometimes difficult content and it is always amazing to read a professional's commentary on their own game to see what they are thinking about.
I have no complaints about this book. I find its pacing and structure to be excellent. The content is practical and just challenging enough to be interesting while never going far over the head of someone who has experience with go. The style is fantastic and drives home the necessity of humility when examining ones play. How ever can you grow as a player if you aren't willing to admit that you are making mistakes? I don't see how you can grow if you say things like: "I don't want to be bothered to read!" or "Studying ladders and endgame is beneath me!"
The stories are entertaining. The diagrams are easy to read. The content is valuable. I can't think of a single thing I didn't like. It is not a book for absolute beginners - single digit kyu players are probably the target audience - but I believe players of ranks from 15ish kyu up to amateur dans can find something of value.
I would say about 75% of this book is just focusing on its diagrams and examples. The diagrams are well done and the book uses them effectively. I was almost always able to simply read the book and didn't get out a board to look at a position unless I wanted to study it more in depth. Around 5% is an overview of topics without diagrams - such as talking about what a "proper move" is - but it will always quickly get back to examples. I learn well from this kind of teaching - quick discussion and then examples of how it applies - so this book was great for me. And the other 20% is exposition, stories about Kageyama's experiences as a professional and teacher, and general thoughts on go and life. I really enjoy these parts because it is nice to not only take a break from study but to see what it is like to be a pro and how this has impacted Kageyama's life and view of go.
The first chapter of the book discusses ladders and nets. I will admit, I was skeptical. The first day I was taught go I was shown how a ladder works. Yet I am finding more and more that reading ladders is absolutely essential to playing go well. And the same is true for nets. If the net doesn't actually work then it is going to just make your position crumble, so being able to read nets is also essential for effective play.
The second chapter is about cutting and connecting. Again, so simple... but so absolutely important.
And the book goes on like this. It presents a simple topic and shows you the fundamentals. Topics like life and death, joseki, proper moves, tesuji, and, finally, end-game. It discusses none of these in amazing depth with the exception of the tesuji chapter. (That one covers 6 different types of tesuji giving multiple examples over the course of 50 pages.) But it does cover each to a point that it gives you a grasp of the fundamentals. I believe the length of the tesuji chapter is directly related to how much you need to know about tesujis to handle them in your own games.
And really that is what makes this book so great. Nothing in here is theoretical. Every single topic is directly related to something that will come up at least every other game if not every game. It is practical without getting bogged down in too many details.
There are also two sections where the book pauses for Kageyama to discuss his own experiences as a pro. The first is an interlude where he talks about his experience teaching go on TV in Japan. The second is the last chapter where he gives a commentary on his win over the then current Meijin, Rin Kaiho, in the semi-final of the Prime Minister's Cup. Both are very enjoyable and reasonably informative. I found his musings on teaching to be a nice break from the sometimes difficult content and it is always amazing to read a professional's commentary on their own game to see what they are thinking about.
I have no complaints about this book. I find its pacing and structure to be excellent. The content is practical and just challenging enough to be interesting while never going far over the head of someone who has experience with go. The style is fantastic and drives home the necessity of humility when examining ones play. How ever can you grow as a player if you aren't willing to admit that you are making mistakes? I don't see how you can grow if you say things like: "I don't want to be bothered to read!" or "Studying ladders and endgame is beneath me!"
The stories are entertaining. The diagrams are easy to read. The content is valuable. I can't think of a single thing I didn't like. It is not a book for absolute beginners - single digit kyu players are probably the target audience - but I believe players of ranks from 15ish kyu up to amateur dans can find something of value.
Read
November 27, 2012Regardless of what the title might suggest, this is not a beginner's flavored book. If you still get vertigo at the sight of an empty 19x19 board, then you're better off with - hell, I don't know! This is the first book about Go I've read, so I cannot suggest anything other than playing 100 games, or something, and pick this one up when you're above 15kyu, or something. Kageyama is not teaching the fundamentals of Go, but rather the value and importance of such fundamentals. He's preaching at all the advanced amateurs who start to choose more convoluted moves over the fundamental ones, just because they feel that's what stronger players do. "Don't do that", is what Kageyama says in this book.
And he says it with a great voice, a passionate, emotionally driven voice. You got to love when he writes stuff like "What? Incredible! That would be the acme of bad shape. If White plays 'b', Black ataries him with 'c'. Kindly spare me the gruesome sight", or "Given a chance like this, only a feeble-minded player would be uncertain where to play - `not this point, not here either, perhaps I should leave the position as it is.' Black's hand should be trembling with eagerness to play. He should be overcome with emotion." So the prose is excellent. How about the lessons? They flow quite nicely - most lessons flow quite nicely, anyway. Truth is some of the examples surpassed me completely, and Kageyama won't hold your hand every step of the way. At times, all you get from him is "you should see why diagram 6 is better than diagram 7", and sometimes I can't see that, and sometimes I tell him "Hey, Toshiro (I'm on first name basis with him), I can't see why 6 is better", just to have him answering "Then print both diagrams and look at them every morning, until one day you pop out of bed and say 'Wow!, diagram 6 is better!'" Great guy, he is.
I feel Lessons in the Fundamentals of Go is one of those books to which one comes back every once in a while. I bet I'll dive at it again when I'm two or three k-letters better, finding in it stuff it surpassed me before, and I don't think that will stop until I'm 9dan... 9dan... ah... ah ah ah... AH AH AH AH AH AH AH!!!!!
And he says it with a great voice, a passionate, emotionally driven voice. You got to love when he writes stuff like "What? Incredible! That would be the acme of bad shape. If White plays 'b', Black ataries him with 'c'. Kindly spare me the gruesome sight", or "Given a chance like this, only a feeble-minded player would be uncertain where to play - `not this point, not here either, perhaps I should leave the position as it is.' Black's hand should be trembling with eagerness to play. He should be overcome with emotion." So the prose is excellent. How about the lessons? They flow quite nicely - most lessons flow quite nicely, anyway. Truth is some of the examples surpassed me completely, and Kageyama won't hold your hand every step of the way. At times, all you get from him is "you should see why diagram 6 is better than diagram 7", and sometimes I can't see that, and sometimes I tell him "Hey, Toshiro (I'm on first name basis with him), I can't see why 6 is better", just to have him answering "Then print both diagrams and look at them every morning, until one day you pop out of bed and say 'Wow!, diagram 6 is better!'" Great guy, he is.
I feel Lessons in the Fundamentals of Go is one of those books to which one comes back every once in a while. I bet I'll dive at it again when I'm two or three k-letters better, finding in it stuff it surpassed me before, and I don't think that will stop until I'm 9dan... 9dan... ah... ah ah ah... AH AH AH AH AH AH AH!!!!!
May 8, 2013
This is a very good book. As others have noted it's not a good first book. It explores fundamental concepts, not the rules and mechanics of the game. You should have no doubt what a legal move is, and fully understand Ko & Seki, know how to kill the basic shapes that are either dead or alive depending on who has sente.
One thing I would like to point out is that the chapter on ladders is in many ways the most important, and is NOT to be skipped by any reader of any level. It is easily a helpful chapter even for a 4kyu (as I was when I read it). However, taking it to heart earlier would certainly be beneficial. It does provide a method for learning to read ladders, but more importantly it points out that the reason most people fail at reading ladders is that they don't **actually read** out the ladders, they just guess. He does a good job of explaining exactly what reading it out really entails. In many ways the chapter is more about one's attitude, and that in the end is the key point. Almost everyone who learned to play go in the west did so casually and without good instruction from a serious player, and consequently their advance is usually held back as much by their attitude as anything else.
Kageyama on the other hand does not mince words as others have noted. He tells you in no uncertain terms what the correct attitude is... and that is very helpful, if you are willing to listen to his advice.
The last chapter is probably the most fun, where he explains how he managed to win a game against the top professional of his day, including how he prepared for the game in advance.
One thing I would like to point out is that the chapter on ladders is in many ways the most important, and is NOT to be skipped by any reader of any level. It is easily a helpful chapter even for a 4kyu (as I was when I read it). However, taking it to heart earlier would certainly be beneficial. It does provide a method for learning to read ladders, but more importantly it points out that the reason most people fail at reading ladders is that they don't **actually read** out the ladders, they just guess. He does a good job of explaining exactly what reading it out really entails. In many ways the chapter is more about one's attitude, and that in the end is the key point. Almost everyone who learned to play go in the west did so casually and without good instruction from a serious player, and consequently their advance is usually held back as much by their attitude as anything else.
Kageyama on the other hand does not mince words as others have noted. He tells you in no uncertain terms what the correct attitude is... and that is very helpful, if you are willing to listen to his advice.
The last chapter is probably the most fun, where he explains how he managed to win a game against the top professional of his day, including how he prepared for the game in advance.
June 18, 2007
Not really a beginner's book, but an excellent "second" go book -- excellent to go back to once you've started to figure out how go works. It really does deal with the basics, but at a fairly high level; at least it seems high to this weak player -- probably about 20-18 kyu right now. Although some books hold your hand a little more and might be a little clearer or more organized, I credit this book in particular with my recent improvement. Kageyama has a very engaging, conversational and straight-shooting prose style, often flatly writing things like: "Anyone who does not answer the peep in figure 59 should have his head examined." "Such lazy people do not deserve to play go." and so on. (those are paraphrases from memory) It sounds harsh, but it's part of his dry sense of humor, and besides, what he says is true. This forceful and authoritative style makes his pronouncements stick: they will pop into your head in the middle of your next game ("Answer the peep, you idiot!") unlike the standard bland, impersonal style of most other go authors. I can't recommend this book highly enough, but don't bother buying it until you've read some good beginner's books (the "Learn to Play Go" series, "Graded Go Problems for Beginners") and played a lot of games.
June 19, 2016
Ich kann nicht beurteilen, ob die Go-Lektionen hilfreich sind, gehe aber mal davon aus.
Trotzdem gibt es einen Stern Abzug:
� Das Buch wurde zweimal übersetzt, die deutsche Fassung ist eine Übersetzung der englischen, nicht des japanischen Originals. Kein gutes Zeichen, auch wenn die Go-Einsichten den Prozess überstehen
� Das Kapitel »Leben und Tod« fängt damit an, dass Japan es nicht überleben würde, wenn der kalte Krieg zwischen USA und UdSSR zum Atomkrieg würde. Lektion: Wenn man über ein eigentlich zeitloses Thema wie Go schreibt, sollte man Bezüge zur Zeitgeschichte vermeiden, sonst wirkt das ganze Werk schnell veraltet.
� Der Anhang geht etwa so: Wollen Sie hören, wie ich mal den zweitbesten Spieler Japans besiegt habe? Nein? Pech! Ich erzähl’s trotzdem.
� Gestört hat mich auch, dass die kurzen Kapitel wie »Gute und schlechte Form« aus genau einem Abschnitt bestehen, der genau so heißt, wie das Kapitel. Ein guter Redakteur hätte darauf bestanden, diese redundante Gliederungsebene wegzulassen. Inhaltsverzeichnis und Hauptteil sind sich nicht einig, ob es »Kapitel 8« oder »Kapitel VIII« heißt.
Trotzdem gibt es einen Stern Abzug:
� Das Buch wurde zweimal übersetzt, die deutsche Fassung ist eine Übersetzung der englischen, nicht des japanischen Originals. Kein gutes Zeichen, auch wenn die Go-Einsichten den Prozess überstehen
� Das Kapitel »Leben und Tod« fängt damit an, dass Japan es nicht überleben würde, wenn der kalte Krieg zwischen USA und UdSSR zum Atomkrieg würde. Lektion: Wenn man über ein eigentlich zeitloses Thema wie Go schreibt, sollte man Bezüge zur Zeitgeschichte vermeiden, sonst wirkt das ganze Werk schnell veraltet.
� Der Anhang geht etwa so: Wollen Sie hören, wie ich mal den zweitbesten Spieler Japans besiegt habe? Nein? Pech! Ich erzähl’s trotzdem.
� Gestört hat mich auch, dass die kurzen Kapitel wie »Gute und schlechte Form« aus genau einem Abschnitt bestehen, der genau so heißt, wie das Kapitel. Ein guter Redakteur hätte darauf bestanden, diese redundante Gliederungsebene wegzulassen. Inhaltsverzeichnis und Hauptteil sind sich nicht einig, ob es »Kapitel 8« oder »Kapitel VIII« heißt.
July 10, 2007
This book is an amazing aid for the intermediate level go player, and very readable, to boot.
Kageyama-sensei was easily as gifted a writer as he was a go player, and his sarcastic, chatty style will have you laughing out loud or cringing as one of his barbed comments hits close to home - not that it's a bad thing.
It's more valuable as a tool to teach you how to look critically at your own go and accept your weaknesses than as an instructional book, but that said, it is still a very useful book. My one problem with it is that it covers a lot in very broad strokes, and as a result, it cannot give an in-depth coverage of each of the topics in it.
A 15k player may find it a bit advanced, but keep pushing through it. Right now, I'm 5k, and I still come away from it with lessons. A 15k player won't take the same thing away from it that a 5k player would - but Kageyama has a talent for writing to a large audience. A 15k will take good lessons for a 15k from this book, while a 5k player will take good lessons for that level.
Kageyama-sensei was easily as gifted a writer as he was a go player, and his sarcastic, chatty style will have you laughing out loud or cringing as one of his barbed comments hits close to home - not that it's a bad thing.
It's more valuable as a tool to teach you how to look critically at your own go and accept your weaknesses than as an instructional book, but that said, it is still a very useful book. My one problem with it is that it covers a lot in very broad strokes, and as a result, it cannot give an in-depth coverage of each of the topics in it.
A 15k player may find it a bit advanced, but keep pushing through it. Right now, I'm 5k, and I still come away from it with lessons. A 15k player won't take the same thing away from it that a 5k player would - but Kageyama has a talent for writing to a large audience. A 15k will take good lessons for a 15k from this book, while a 5k player will take good lessons for that level.
August 5, 2011
It's hard to say what I like best about this book. The style is very entertaining; it's like hanging out with an incredibly wise and goofy old man. The humor and sarcasm is no distraction from the lessons, either, but rather serve to underscore the points he's making.
I'm looking forward to re-reading it again. I've already re-read several chapters, and feel like my game has benefited each time I've opened it up.
It's maybe not the first book you should buy about go, but once you understand the basic rules and have a number of games under your belt, and are ready to start improving your game, this book will be well worth your time.
I'm looking forward to re-reading it again. I've already re-read several chapters, and feel like my game has benefited each time I've opened it up.
It's maybe not the first book you should buy about go, but once you understand the basic rules and have a number of games under your belt, and are ready to start improving your game, this book will be well worth your time.
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