Go: A Complete Introduction to the Game (Beginner and Elementary Go Books) [Paperback]

Chikun Cho (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 138 pages
• Publisher: Kiseido Publishing Co; 1 edition (March 10, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 4906574505
• ISBN-13: 978-4906574506
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #319,742 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book for those just starting out., September 14, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Go: A Complete Introduction to the Game (Beginner and Elementary Go Books) (Paperback)

I'd recommend this book if you don't know much about the game yet. It covers the rules of the game and most of the basic tactics. After reading it, I felt I had a good foundation to build on. Although I still have a lot to learn.

One thing especially nice about the book is that the chapters are separated by short articles describing a little of the history and culture of go and how it developed into it's current state.

The only drawbacks were that the author went a little too fast once or twice and the book lacked any questions for the reader to solve his/herself. (Well, it had three.)

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book for a beginner, March 11, 2007

By 

L. F. Smith (E. Wenatchee, WA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Go: A Complete Introduction to the Game (Beginner and Elementary Go Books) (Paperback)

I'm just getting started playing Go, and I found this book to be an excellent introduction. The author is an internationally prominent player, and his passion shows on nearly every page. However, he never forgets that he's writing an introductory book. The book is authoritative without ever being condescending or assuming that the readers know more than they do. It seemed nearly perfectly "pitched" to me.

The book very clearly lays out the rules of the game, most of the basic tactics, and some of the variations. It also makes clear a simple fact about Go: It doesn't take very much time to learn to play, but it probably takes a lifetime to truly master. When I finished reading the book, I truly felt I had a pretty good foundation for playing other similarly experienced players. However, I also felt that I still had a LOT to learn.

I really liked the short articles about the history of Go and the culture that has grown around it that are inserted between the chapters. They provide some context for what is being taught, and they're also a nice break in the "heavy" material.

Like all introductory books about all games, there is a drawback: There's no way to ask for more clarification or more examples. However, the pacing is good, the examples are clear, and the organization is logical.

After reading this book, you won't be a tournament-quality player. However, you will understand and enjoy the game, and you'll probably be inspired to learn more about it.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A practical book for the biginners and skilled players, November 25, 2001

By 

Shigenori Adachi (Osaka Japan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Go: A Complete Introduction to the Game (Beginner and Elementary Go Books) (Paperback)

I have played GO for a long time.
Although this book is a introduction to the game, it is also a great help for skilled players.
It's usefull studying again the actual method and the meaning of the moves.
It is great fun reading the historical story of the Honnoji Temple affair related to the tripple ko.
Anyone of you might found it important to study the josekis and memorise them.
But I found it important to replay the actual games.
Learning all of the moves by heart, then repeat to put stones to the end of the game.
This book has an excellent example game, which was played between Cho Chikun and Kato Masao, who is a rival of Cho.
It's usefull studying and also worth learning all of the moves by heart.