Learn to Play Go: A Master's Guide to the Ultimate Game by janice kim

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

The "Base" on Go. It is still relevant because it is fundamental.

In general, one can look at the 9x9 and 13x13 courses from Gomagic and reinforce with this book.

Go is a complex and strategic board game that has been enjoyed for centuries. The "Base" provides a solid foundation for understanding the game's principles and strategies.

The 9x9 and 13x13 courses offered by Gomagic are designed to help players improve their skills at different levels.

By studying these courses and using the "Base" book as a reference, players can enhance their understanding of Go and become more proficient in the game.

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced player, the "Base" and the Gomagic courses can be valuable resources for improving your Go skills.

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fluo-ado

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Excellent for those who are completely new to the game.

There are numerous beginner books available, and this one is well-suited for those who have never played a game before and need to learn about the objective and rules. Beginners who have already played a few games and understand captures and basic life and death may be better off going straight to Volume 2 of this series or looking for a different beginner book, such as Go for Beginners by Iwamoto.

The book is divided into two parts. The first part focuses on Fundamentals, and the second part on Basic Techniques. In the Fundamentals section, the authors do an excellent job of explaining the basics of the game. This is why I recommend this book for those who don't even know the rules, as they will receive a step-by-step explanation of the game's objective, how play works, capturing, illegal moves, the ko rule, and counting territory at the end of a game. They use diagrams liberally, so even beginners won't need to grab a board to follow the explanations. They also handle terminology very well, which can be overwhelming. They use the English names for many terms and only revert to the Korean or Japanese names in important cases, with a clear explanation of their meanings.

Compared to the book by Iwamoto mentioned above, the examples here are much simpler. When explaining connecting and cutting, the authors focus on the basics and stop there. At least in the Fundamentals part, when they move on to Basic Techniques, there is a slightly deeper examination of capturing (ladders, snapbacks, throw-ins, etc.), connecting, life and death, capturing races, ko fights, and the endgame. In Iwamoto's book, the examples are much deeper and require the reader to have some experience with reading (being able to mentally calculate a sequence of moves) to understand some of them.

I particularly liked the test questions at the end of each chapter, as they allow the reader to check if they have properly understood the concepts presented. There are also special sections throughout the book with additional information, such as where to play on the internet, how go rankings are defined, and many others.

Those who are brand new to the game can seriously benefit from reading this book, but those who already have some experience will likely find it too basic and may be better served by looking at the options mentioned above.

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HetaliaTrash101

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I have re-read this book at least 3 times in the past 8 years.

It has become an essential part of my ritual whenever the desire to play go hits me.

This series, along with the graded go problems for beginners, is truly invaluable.

It helps to firmly drill in the basics, which is crucial for my progress.

By repeatedly going through these materials, I can strengthen my understanding and skills.

Moreover, it prepares me to engage in deeper reading and exploration of the game.

The more I read and practice, the more I realize the depth and complexity of go.

This book and the related problems have been my trusted companions on this journey of learning and rediscovering the beauty of go.

I look forward to many more readings and continued growth in my go-playing abilities.

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Geeb2988

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Go is an ancient and fascinating board game. This easy-to-read and understand guide provides a series of exercises and tests to teach the game and improve play at a beginner's level.

It starts by introducing the basic rules and setup of the game. You'll learn how to place stones on the board and capture your opponent's pieces.

The exercises are designed to help you practice different strategies and techniques. They range from simple to more complex, allowing you to gradually build your skills.

After going through the exercises, you can take the tests to assess your progress. These tests will challenge you and show you where you need to improve.

Now that you have a good understanding of the game and have practiced some skills, all you need is someone to play with. Look for a friend, family member, or join a local Go club to find opponents and start enjoying the game.

Have fun and good luck with your Go journey!

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SuccHunter

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

This book serves as a comprehensive and solid introduction to the game of Go.

While it might not be an ideal refresher for those who already play the game without easily forgetting the rules, it holds great value for beginners.

I am a 12 kyu player on OGS (Online Go Server), and my teacher recommended that I read this series from the very start.

After going through it, I firmly believe that it is an excellent introduction to the game.

Another highly recommended introduction is the lessons available on the phone app "BadukPop."

The book is well-written, with clear and concise explanations. The presentation is also top-notch, making it easy for readers to follow along.

I am eagerly looking forward to the other books in this series, which I assume are around four in number.

I have high expectations that they will continue to provide valuable insights and help me further improve my understanding and skills in the game of Go.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning Go.

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Zirotaku

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Go is a fascinating and powerful programming language, and this book provides an excellent introduction to its basics.

It is written in a clear and accessible style, making it suitable for both beginners and those with some programming experience.

The author does a great job of explaining the fundamental concepts of Go, such as variables, data types, control structures, and functions.

Each topic is illustrated with simple examples that are easy to understand and follow.

In addition to the core language features, the book also covers some important aspects of Go programming, such as memory management, concurrency, and testing.

Overall, this is a great book for anyone who wants to learn the basics of Go. It is well-written, informative, and engaging, and it provides a solid foundation for further study and exploration of the language.

Whether you are a student, a developer, or just someone who is interested in programming, this book is definitely worth reading.

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PinkGin

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I would really struggle to think of a more effective way to teach the fundamental aspects of Go.

Although in some parts the language might seem a bit clumsy, on the whole, I would highly recommend this series to anyone who is just beginning.

It provides a great introduction to the game, covering all the essential elements in a way that is accessible and easy to understand.

Whether you are completely new to Go or have some basic knowledge, this series can help you build a solid foundation and improve your skills.

So if you are looking for a good resource to learn Go, give this series a try. You won't be disappointed.

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Jerakor

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

As I delved into book 3 of the series, I started to have a sense of longing for some of the fundamental aspects that I had initially overlooked. I had thought I was already well-versed in all those basics. So, I decided to purchase this particular volume as well, and I'm truly glad I did. I have a genuine enjoyment for the entire series. There is a clear and logical progression within the books, and the writing style is highly readable. The books do an excellent job of clearly explaining all the common patterns, techniques, and things that one should be vigilant about. Moreover, it offers helpful and often humorous advice regarding one's mental attitude. I believe I found the latter to be the most beneficial. (Such as staying calm, being graceful, and not giving up after making a blunder.) My proficiency in the game of Go has shown a noticeable improvement. However, one of the last sentences of the book is unfortunately quite outdated. As things stand now, the best Go computers play only at the level of an experienced beginner. If you've read this book, you are already around the level of the most sophisticated computer. The challenging field of Go computing remains wide open. (This was written in 1994.)

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Learn to Play Go: A Master's Guide to the Ultimate Game

janice kim jeong soo-hyun adam lee

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