Go Basics: Concepts And Strategies for New Players, Peter Shotwell

Go Basics introduces a new way to learn to play the game of go.
Designed by well-known go writer Peter Shotwell, author of Go! More
Than a Game, it is the first book to concentrate solely on 9×9 games
for ease and simplicity. Without the distractions that larger boards
create, this unique approach can quickly bring younger kids into the
game with the guidance of parents, while older ones can learn from
the book on their own. Time-harried adults will also enjoy it because
they will quickly grasp the main principles of go, which are the same
for all sizes of boards.

The first half is a specially-chosen tournament game, played by
professionals, that takes readers from the opening to the end game,
while covering the fundamental moves and strategies.

The second half has six more professional tournament games that
spectacularly illustrate advanced concepts and prepare readers for
playing on bigger boards. These include the techniques of large and
small sacrifices, how to invade, how to play ko, and how to think
territorially. It is hard to believe that what takes place in these
games is on small boards, so Go Basics will also appeal to
experienced players who like the speed and excitement of "lunch-time" go.

Another big bonus is that Go Basics is the first book to include the
American Go Association CD-ROM. Its hundreds of features include
how to find other players on and off the Internet, more teaching games,
and an e-library with many articles on the world of professional and
amateur go. There is also the story of the game’s considerable influence
in Eastern and Western history, science, literature and art.

But perhaps the best feature of the CD is Igowin, an interactive 9×9
game program that gives handicaps so readers can begin playing
immediately. By taking a short-cut and following the lessons in the
last chapter of Go Basics, they can quickly bring their games down to
even and begin playing ‘real’ go, while they learn from the rest of
the book!

Go Basics is available at www.Tuttlepublishing.com, by phone at
1-800-526-2778 in the USA, and in bookstores and on the Internet
throughout the world.

Comments & Reviews

“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 19×19 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 9×9 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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