Pure and Simple: Takao's Astute Use of Brute Force, Takao Shinji

In 2006 Takao Shinji became only the sixth player in history to win both the prestigious Honinbo and Meijin titles in the same year. In this book Shinji explains how he used the concept of ’’thickness’’ to win these titles, and analyzes his and his opponents play from those matches.

Theme Positions are presented in this book illustrating multiple aspects of thickness, and the reader is asked to analyze those situations and choose continuations. Over the course of the following pages, those positions are broken down simply and their components explained so that the essence of thickness can be completely discerned.

Takao Shinji is a new superstar on the go scene and only the sixth player in history to win the prestigious titles of Honinbo-Meijin in the same year. In the final chapter he analyzes the games from the match that gave him the Honinbo title, showing how he used thickness to fine effect in order to emerge victorious. This book is filled with insights that invite multiple readings.

All go players will enjoy it.

Available at Yellow Mountain Imports

Preview pages from the book are also available at Yellow Mountain Imports

See sample pages and purchase this and all Hinoki Press books at Slate & Shell

Comments & Reviews

I think this book has some good and fairly thorough game reviews in the back, and the earlier sections are also taken from fairly recent (post 2000) games of Takao’s, so I’d consider it a modern supplement to books such as “The 1971 Honinbo Tournament,” but with less historical content. It’s just not the same quality as that book, though.

---

---

I did enjoy this book. The games were fascinating (obviously) and the author selected telling moments to illustrate his theme of simplicity in play.

There were several print errors, diagrams in the wrong places, etc, which I felt were avoidable with a bit of proofreading, and really were distracting. I know I can just refer to the game record online to fill in most of the missing diagrams, but it detracts from the enjoyment and usefulness of the book.

---

Similar to "Pure and Simple: Takao's Astute Use of Brute Force"

Let's Play Go! A Simple Introduction to the Game of Go

All About Thickness: Understanding Moyo and Influence

Attack and Defense: Elementary Go Series, Vol.5

Whole Board Thinking in Joseki Volume Two: 3-4 point, high kakari & far kakaris

The Breakthrough to Shodan