Based on 2 ratings. Author: Peter Shotwell ISBN: 0804836884 |
Go Basics: Concepts And Strategies for New Players, Peter ShotwellGo Basics introduces a new way to learn to play the game of go. Comments & Reviews“GO Basics”- A complete Go primer - Written by Vincent Solimine
“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. Similar to "Go Basics: Concepts And Strategies for New Players"Learn to Play Go, Vol. IV: Battle Strategies Key Concepts in Life and Death: Inside Moves and Under the Stones Techniques |


