Customer Reviews

Invincible, The Games of Shusaku (Game Collections)

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Without a doubt the best book on go in the English language for any player above rank beginner. A compendium of masterpieces by a player whom many feel was the greatest of all time. Shusaku's games contain literally thousands of lessons on every phase and aspect of the game, with each lesson fixed in perfect context - a real game. His characteristic clarity makes playing good go seem much like other Truths, simple, pure and quite easy once illusion falls away. One needs to study no other go book to become strong, and certainly studying no other go book would be as much fun.

I am playing Go a little over a year now, and I must admit that Shusaku is way beyond my level of thinking. However, going over his games (and not spending so much time on the alternatives in the commentaries) has helped me tremendously. Even though I am not in the above 10 kyu rank, I am very thankful for Shusaku helping me to jump from the lowest rank to 15kyu - and because of my profession, I do not play that often. I have studied his games repeatedly and will continue to do so, because there is always something new that I didn't get the last time reviewed the games. I feel gratified that if I am still just a novice and have profited from his games and broadened my thinking - I look forward to the greener fields I will receive from this book as I grow more in the knowledge of the game. This book is just plain THE book.

FYI all who want this, go google this book, or go to one of the major suppliers, i.e kiseido or samarkand(both sold for under 50$ new,) but $80-100+ is ridiculous. I advise Honinbo Shusaku - Complete Game Collection for a companion for higher ranked players, every game(471 of shusaku's finest,) with translations. This book is amazing, but so much money on amazon.

As soon as one reaches the low kyu ranks, it becomes extremely useful to study professional games (and it doesn't hurt to do so earlier). This book presents the games of Shusaku, one of the best players ever, who lived in the mid-19th century. Eighty games are given with detailed commentary (I like the commentaries by Miyamoto Naoki the best). In addition, there is a good discussion of the historical context, rivalries, and drama surrounding the games.

The openings in these games are dated (although it is nonetheless interesting to see Shusaku making innovations in opening theory), but the middle and end games are not. Current professional Kobayashi Koichi 9-dan has said that one of the keys to his success is that he studied Shusaku's games 10 times.

The book is beautifully designed and laid out. Every go player should treasure it.

It is great history book about the superb master of go. It is huge collection of commented games of the master. One of the best go books I ever read.

I ordered this book for my son, and have no idea what this game is all about, but my son was thrilled to get it and read it, so thats all that matters to me. The shipping was fast and the item was delivered just a s described.