Customer Reviews

Graded Go Problems for Beginners

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I had one lesson from a high ranking go amateur, and after it he gave me this book. At the same time I bought the first book in Janice Kim's series. It took me about a week to solve these problems, and at now I feel I've learned the basic concepts quite well. The first book of JK's series is far simpler, but I don't think her puzzles are as instructive.

If you think you're fairly clever, you can do without JK's first book and get this. If you really want to be thorough, first read JK's book and then get this. But either way this is the better book for learning the concepts because you get much more practice.

As a total beginner (I started playing three months ago), this book has been satisfying in a number of respects. It has built my confidence by seeing many of the situations described in the book arising in my own games. It has more importantly taught me how to look at other problems I encounter within a game a see solutions I wouldn't have even thought of before. The layout of this book is really great, it's just approx 300 problems with short descriptions and solutions for each one. Solving the problems are nearly as much fun as playing the game. Anyway, buy this book and study it, it's really great! I look forward to the next three.

This is a quote from the great go site Sensei's Library ... :

"I was reading volume 1, and noticed how well the author introduces Go concepts to the complete beginner. For example:

Problem 1: capture
Problem 2: capture using the edge of board
Problem 3: capture using a corner, capture with a stone in atari
Problem 4: capturing multiple stones
Problem 5: local area may have unequal numbers of stones?
Problem 6: capturing multiple stones with a group in atari
Problem 7: as above, but away from an edge
Problem 8: capturing two groups at once
Problem 9: capturing big groups
Problem 10: capturing a big group with stone becoming atari"

Yes, some of the problems are simple, but there is something to be learned from all of them, regardless of the difficulty level. Even if some problems are simple to solve for a beginner, spotting them in the first place, specially in a real game situation is not always easy.

The key determinant of playing strength is the ability to read out a problem. This comes from practice. Playing gives us this practice, but playing alone results in bad habits, when moves go unpunished by weaker opponents.

The graded go problems are an excellent series, based on teaching problems used in Japan. Volume three continues where volume two leaves of and the problems are grouped getting less easy towards the end. If you are a beginner, you should buy volumes one to four and work through them. If you have volume two, buy three and four today.

Research shows that we learn from our successes. We learn from developing the reflex of looking in the right place for successful moves.

For this reason volume three,ostensibly for players of 15 - 20 kyu, will profit even low kyu players.

How do you get to Carnegie Hall. Practice, practice, practice.

This book is intended for beginning players at the 25k - 20k level. Players at that level probably do have the most to gain from a book at this level. But slightly stronger players of up to 15k or so will also have something to learn from many of the problems.

There are over 300 problems here, each with just a few sentences of explanation. The introduction claims that no problem should require more than a minute of study. Many, perhaps most, are indeed that straightforward. But quite a few of them will require 5-10 minutes of study for readers at the targeted 25k-20k level.

First off, I must be clear. I am a terrible go player. I have been playing for about six months; however, I found this book to be very easy. There are countless problems on how to complete an atari or put your opponent in atari. Nevertheless, a couple of problems here and there tricked me so buying the book wasn't a complete waste. If you are completely new to the game then get this book. If you have been playing for a while, you are undoubtedly better than I and should order book 2 which I am eagerly awaiting.

This volume goes beyond the basic mechanics of the game that are covered in Volume 1. The focus is now on life and death problems (though not extremely hard ones), and other localized situations in go. However, it does not cover influence or whole board situations much. However, the book's focus is useful for players looking to drill themselves.

This is a good book for players who have gotten beyond the basic mechanics and patterns of the game, and wish to enhance their board reading ability.

This book is excellent. Is it pitched to a basic level? Yes. It even says: "30-kyu to 25-kyu". So if you're a 13 kyu player, just skip it. Don't complain that it's too basic. Although, once I make a better rank, I think I could come back to this book with pleasure. Even now, some of the problems seem simple - but the way that they build upon one another to lead the reader to a greater understanding is sublime.

As a beginner, I found this book to be delightful. Yoshinori, through his selection of problems and the order of presentation, actually teaches you how to play the game well. If I had known, really known, what this book would do for me, it would have been the only beginning book (and series) that I purchased. It also includes the rules of the game, so it isn't merely problems. If you are just starting out in Go, do yourself a huge favor and get this book. It really opened my eyes to the beauty of the game. I can't really gush enough about it.

I was befuddled with the explanations provided in even beginner GO books. These problem books take all that away! Just example upon example, and either you get it or you don't. There is no need to scratch your head. This book is an excellent confidence builder.

When I first started reading about GO, every time i tried to put into practice something I read in a book, there was some exception, or a principle really did not apply, and I got thrashed.

Giving up misleading (to me) explanations, I turned to this book. It, and the second volume, got me out of my rut.

For beginning players: Learn the rules, read no other book but this one. Finish this and the second volume of this series and you will be better prepared to read traditional GO books, even those aimed at beginners.

This book has a set of problems aimed at the beginning player. It would probably be ideal for someone who had _just_ learned the game. I am 26k* on IGS, and I felt that the problems were a little too easy. It would be wrong to say that I learned nothing from this book, but I don't feel I received $15 worth of new information.

I would advise anyone who has some experience with go and is considering buying this book to think about starting with volume 2 of the series. If it turns out to be too complicated, you can come back to this one.