Cho Hun-hyeon's Lectures on Go Techniques: Vol.1, Cho Hun-hyeon, 9 dan

This book provides an understanding of the basic fundamentals of Go. Basic shapes are analyzed covering Surrounding, Escaping, Connecting, Cutting, Attachments, Diagonals, Tigers (Hangs), Empty Triangles, and Hanes at the Head of Opponent’s Stones. Forty five problems are provided (in Volume 1) giving basic techniques for Attachments, Extensions, Establishing A Base, Running Towards Center, Capping, Ataris, Cuts, Tigers (Hangs), and Weaknesses.

Learning to play Go at the dan level is like learning a foreign language. Cho’s lectures provide an analysis and practical exercises for studying and learning the basic techniques (words and grammar) of Go that will enable the low and mid kyu player to begin playing consistently at the higher kyu level.

Cho captured all three of the major international tournament titles and is one of the strongest players of the 1990’s. In this book Cho teaches the basics and fundamentals of Go technique which helped him to become one of the strongest players in the world.

Comments & Reviews

It’s a little disappointing. I think I read it too late, as well. But I have a new interest in haengma, so these simple shapes can also have a fascinating depth.

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This was another difficult book to rate. It sits somewhere between a core book and a good study supplement. Perhaps for most of us, it should be a core book so I gave it 5 stars after a lot of self-debate.

Cho steadily progresses through fundamental responses, shapes and haengma. This is the stuff that you should know and that doesn’t sink in until you’ve lost a few (or several games) because you flaunted the fundamentals. It helps with your understanding of elementary joseki because you begin to see why the moves make sense.

Because it deals with fundamental moves (and mostly local situations), it is deceptively dry at first to the beginner; “hane here”, “extend here”, “this makes good shape that gives B (or W) the upper hand”. Believe it or not, this is good medicine and it might just fit into the literature gap that DrStraw had alluded to.

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This is one of the best Go books I have read. Hicham says he read it a little late – at 11kyu. Well I was 4 dan when I read it, and I still got a lot out of it. Yes, I got all of the answers right. But the beauty of this book is the three wrong answer diagrams. There is a wealth of learning in these diagrams. Yes, the problems were easy – but I gained a better understanding of why my answers were right in this marvelous book.

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This books is quite easy, but does a great job explaing joseki and basic moves. I read it a bit too late (11k), but it still made an impact. It made me understand that joseki are natural most of the time. It is all about making the stretch at the right moment, connecting when you have to, and so on.

I hope they translate the second volume, because this would make a great series. My favorite “Beginner book”.

Target audience IMO: 25k-14K

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