Community Reviews

Rating(4.1 / 5.0, 65 votes)
5 stars
21(32%)
4 stars
27(42%)
3 stars
17(26%)
2 stars
0(0%)
1 stars
0(0%)
65 reviews
July 15,2025
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This was my second reading of the first and second volumes of this series.

I truly cannot recommend this book, and the entire series, highly enough to anyone who has an interest in learning Go.

Go is a game that, despite having relatively few actual rules, can pose a significant challenge when it comes to understanding how to play it in practice.

By reading these volumes, not only will you acquire the skills to play the game, but you'll also begin to formulate some rather clever tactics.

The remaining volumes in the series are of equal quality, presenting increasingly advanced strategies that will further enhance your understanding and proficiency in the game of Go.

Whether you're a beginner or have some prior experience with Go, this series is an excellent resource that will help you take your game to the next level.
July 15,2025
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A great book for learning the rules and basic strategies of Go.

It has truly been a valuable resource for me. I was able to improve my game to the point where I can be competitive with the easiest computer player on small boards.

However, it might be even better if they provided a more detailed, step-by-step explanation through some of the examples and problems.

Nevertheless, with a little focus, I was able to understand and follow them all.

And the fact remains that if you're not willing to put in that necessary focus and effort, you simply won't achieve a high level of proficiency in this game.

Go is a complex and challenging game that requires dedication and concentration to master.

This book serves as a great starting point for those who are eager to learn and improve their skills.

It provides a solid foundation and introduces the fundamental concepts and strategies that are essential for success in Go.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning Go.
July 15,2025
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This is an outstanding resource for learning Go.

It offers a wealth of information and practical examples that can help beginners and intermediate learners alike to master the language.

The content is presented in a clear and concise manner, making it easy to understand even for those who have no prior programming experience.

With its comprehensive coverage of the Go language, this resource provides everything you need to know to start writing efficient and effective Go code.

Whether you are looking to learn Go for a specific project or simply want to expand your programming skills, this is definitely a resource that you should check out.

July 15,2025
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Go is a fascinating and strategic game, and for beginners, finding the right educational resource is crucial. This particular book on Go is truly excellent for those just starting out.

Part I of the book delves into the very fundamentals of the game, providing a solid foundation for beginners to build upon. It presents the basic rules and concepts in a clear and understandable manner. However, it's in Part II that the book really shines. It delves a bit deeper by exploring some connecting and capturing techniques. These techniques are not something that beginners would easily pick up on their own, and the book does a great job of explaining them in a way that is accessible and easy to follow.

The book also has some other great features. It might even be suitable for children, yet it never comes across as childish. The graphics of the Go boards are very nice, which enhances the overall reading experience and makes it even more pleasant to read the book from cover to cover.

That being said, the book is not without its flaws. Here and there, there are some "informational boxes" that contain side information about various aspects of Go, such as its relationship with computers, the history of Go, and Go stars. While this additional information is interesting, many of these boxes are simply out-of-date. It's clear that the authors did not take the time to update them when revising the 2nd edition in 2010. However, despite this shortcoming, the rest of the book is so good that it's not worth subtracting a full star.

If you're a beginner and you're looking for a single book to get you started on your Go journey, this is definitely the one to choose. It provides a comprehensive introduction to the game, covering both the basics and some more advanced techniques, all in an engaging and accessible format.
July 15,2025
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The first book in Janice Kim's "Learn to Play Go" series is truly a gem. It is written in a very engaging manner and is richly illustrated with numerous examples that are thoroughly explained. This makes it an ideal book for a complete novice to the game of Go. Even though I already have a basic understanding of the game, I still found it extremely interesting to read.

The author does a great job of breaking down the complex rules and strategies of Go into simple and easy-to-understand concepts. The examples provided are not only helpful in clarifying the concepts but also make the learning process more enjoyable. The illustrations are also very well done and add to the overall clarity of the book.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning how to play Go. It is a great resource that will help you get started on your Go-playing journey.

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