mwm@ucbopal.BERKELEY.EDU (Mike (I'll be mellow when I'm dead) Meyer) (10/26/85)
This list was originally prepared by Neal Gafter from the Sabaki Go
Company catalog. Some of the descriptions attributed to BGC are from
the original, with comments on the quality from BGC. I reorganized it
into bibliography format, and expect to do maintenance on the list.
New entries, or additional comments on current entries, should be sent
to the addresses listed for the Berkeley Go Club; please be sure and
let us know what strength you are with the entry.
This list may be freely distributed, so long as the information
concerning the contributers and this comment remain with the list. A
current copy of the list can be obtained by sending a SASE to the
address listed for the Berkeley Go Club. It should be available over
the internet via anonymous FTP. Contact the e-mail address for the
Berkeley Go club for information.
The Format for entries is the Sabaki Catalog Number, the price from
from the Sabaki catalog (unless otherwise noted), the title, the
author in parentheses, then paragraphs of comments with initials as to
the contributer in square brackets. See the appendix for a list of
contributers.
This version created Sun Sep 15 02:34:59 PDT 1985.
Mike Meyer
<mike
Some definitions:
Fuseki: The opening moves of the game where the players form their
respective areas of influence and prospective territory. The Fuseki
ends when the real fighting begins.
Joseki: Literally "fixed stones". These are known sequences of moves
near the corner that result in near-equal positions for white and black.
Reading: The process of analyzing, in one's head, the possibilities
resulting from a move or sequence of moves. [Minimaxing]
Strength: A complimentary adjective describing playing ability.
Yose: The endgame. During this final phase of the games borders
between territories become well defined. Because it is last, this
phase of the game is decisive.
S-1 $8.00 An easy introduction to GO (Otake and Futakuchi)
(I do not have this book)
S-2 $9.95 The Theory and Practice of GO (Korschelt)
This is the first book I got on the subject; it it a
translation from the original German 18??. It was the
first book on GO written in a western language. I
would not recommend it. [NG]
Recommended for 6 kyu and stronger, as an unsurpassed
source of problems. Also has some classic games. [BGC]
S-3 $6.25 The Game of GO (Smith)
Do not recommend. [BGC]
S-4 $6.95 Stepping Stones to GO (Kishikawa)
Do not recommend. [BGC]
S-5 $4.50 GO and Go-Moku (Lasker)
Lasker is a Chess whiz; this book is an ok introduction
to the game. [NG]
Not nearly as good as Iwamoto. [BGC]
S-6 $5.95 Go for Beginners (Iwamoto)
This is an excellent first book on the game. I like to
keep an extra copy to give to people I think I might be
able to get involved in the game. At my rank it is of
little value. [NG, BGC]
S-7 $8.00 Basic Techniques of GO (Haruyama and Nagahara)
This is the companion volume to S-11. It is a brief
(but detailed) survey of tesuji, even game and handicap
fuseki, and yose. It is sometimes easy for a beginner
to get lost in detail here, but these books are
definitely of value.
This good has depth, and is a good way for 1 to 8 kyu
players to get to shodan. [BGC]
S-8 $10.00 Modern Joseki and Fuseki I (Sakata) S-9 $10.00
Modern Joseki and Fuseki II (Sakata)
These books cover in detail a few representative games
and analyze the Fuseki and the results of using
possible Joseki. It is an analysis of classical even
game fuseki. Book I covers "Parallel Fuseki" where
black and white occupy opposite sides of the board;
Book II covers "Diagonal Fuseki," and the "Shusaku
fuseki". These books contain an extensive collection
of Joseki. It is easy to get lost in detail in these
books, but they are the most comprehensive works on the
subject. S-10 continues where these books leave off. [NG]
Excellent for 8 kyu or stronger. [BGC]
S-10 $10.00 The Middle Game of GO (Sakata)
This book covers some of the standard techniques of the
"chubansen", or middle game. It does this by analyzing
continuations of some games discussed in S-8 and S-9. [NG]
Excellent. [BGC]
S-11 $8.00 Strategic Concepts of GO (Nagahara)
This book is an introduction to the eight major
strategic concepts of Go: Miai (two moves such that if
one player occupies one, the other player must occupy
the other); Aji (the latent possibility of a sequence
or sequences of play); Kikashi (forcing move);
Thickness; Korigatachi (overconcentration); Sabaki
(light play); Fiurikawari (exchange); and Yosu-miru
(probe) These concepts are illustrated with specific
examples and with actual game records. An excellent
book. [NG]
Excellent for 6 kyu or stronger. [BGC]
S-12 $8.00 The 1971 Honinbo Tournament (Iwamoto)
The game records with a detailed analysis of the games.
Reviewing games of this kind is important. This is an
excellent book for 4 kyu and stronger players. [BGC]
The following seven books comprise the Ishi Press "Elementary Go
Series." They have all improved my game. <mike
S-15 $8.00 In the Beginning (Ishigure)
An excellent beginners book describing techniques of
the Fuseki. This book does not stay on the shelf much. [NG]
An excellent introduction to fuseki. [BGC]
S-16 $8.00 38 Basic Joseki (Kosugi and Davies)
An excellent introduction to Joseki. [BGC]
S-17 $8.00 Tesuji (Davies)
An excellent book by a western writer covering many
basic tesuji. This book is easy to read, though the
problems are not always easy (for me). Of course, the
stress is on reading. [NG]
Excellent. [BGC]
S-18 $8.00 Life and Death (Davies)
An excellent book covering basic shapes arising in
life-and-death situations. Many problems. An
excellent book. [NG, BGC]
S-19 $8.00 Attack and Defense (Ishida and Davies)
A well organized survey of basic middle game
techniques. Another excellent book. [NG]
Will improve anyone's fighting style. [BGC]
S-20 $8.00 The Endgame (Ogawa and Davies)
The endgame is the final, and therefore decisive part
of the game. This is an excellent book teaching about
the techniques of the endgame. [NG, BGC]
S-21 $8.00 Handicap GO (Nagahara, Bozulich)
A good book describing the strategy for high handicap
games, both from white's and black's point of view. [NG, BGC]
S-22 $8.00 Kage's secret chronicles of Handicap GO (Kageyama)
Good book - useful but not great. [BGC]
S-23 $8.00 What's your rating? (Miyamoto)
Good book - useful and fun, but not great. [BGC]
S-26,27,28 Dictionary of Basic Joseki
This is the most comprehensive work in English on
Joseki. It is in dictionary format, and is easy to
follow. [NG]
Necessary for any Go library. [BGC]
S-26 $14.00 Dictionary of Basic Joseki I
The 3-4 point
The small knight approach. The large knight
approach. The two-space high approach.
S-27 $14.00 Dictionary of Basic Joseki II
The 3-4 point
The one space high approach. The 5-3 point
The 3-4 approach. The 4-5 approach. Entering at the
3-3 point.
S-28 $14.00 Dictionary of Basic Joseki III
The 5-4 point
The 3-4 approach. Entering at the 3-3 point. The
Star Point
The small knight approach. The one space high
approach. The two space high approach. Positions
with no approach move. The 3-3 point
The shoulder hit. The large knight approach.
S-29 $8.00 Enclosure Joseki (Takemiya)
Standard sequences for invading and living in enemy enclosures.
Necessary for any dan. [BGC]
S-30 $8.00 Appreciating Famous Games (Ohira)
A detailed commentary of some famous games. Fun and
instructive. [BGC]
S-31 $8.00 The Direction of Play (Kajiwara)
Excellent book. It will improve your intuition. [BGC]
S-32 $8.00 Kato's Attack and Kill (Kato)
Techniques for chasing weak enemy groups to gain
advantage. Excellent book. It will make you dangerous. [BGC]
S-33 $8.00 Lessons in the Fundamentals of GO (Kageyama)
A good book covering some of the fundamentals, but
necessarily briefly. Ladders and Nets; Cutting and
Connecting; Walking ("ordinary" moves); The struggle to
get ahead (running and pushing battles); Territory and
Influence; Life and Death; How to study Joseki; Good
and Bad Shape; Proper and Improper moves; Tesuji; the
Endgame. [NG]
Great book for 1 to 8 kyu. [BGC]
?-?? $?.?? The Breakthrough to Shodan (Naoki Miyamoto, 9-dan)
(trans. by Jas. Davies)
Excellent book. [BGC]
This book may be out of print.
S-80 $7.95 The Protracted Game: A Wei-Ch'i Interpretation of
Maoist Revolutionary Strategy (Boorman)
Interesting, but not that instructive. [BGC]
S-81 $5.95 The Master of GO (Kawabata)
Interesting, but not that instructive. [BGC]
S-82 $2.50 The Rules and Elements of GO (Davies)
Not as good as Iwamoto. [BGC]
S-84 $2.50 World Amateur GO Championship Rules (The Nihom Ki-in)
Not necessary. [BGC]
S-85 $7.00 GO Proverbs (Mitchell)
S-87 $60.00 Invincible, the games of Shusaku (Power)
A well commented collection of Shusaku's games. This
is a clothbound book. [NG]
A real master in action. Fantastic. [BGC]
S-88 $9.50 Go! (A reprint of Takagawa's "How to Play Go" and "The
Vital Points of Go")
This book is worth buying for "Vital Points", which teaches
some intuition for the fuseki. [NG, BGC]
S-89 $7.00 Go: International Handbook and Dictionary (Tilley)
(I don't have this)
S-90 $7.00 Go: Introduction (The Nihon Ki-in)
(I don't have this)
S-91 $16.00 The Treasure Chest Enigma (Nakeyama)
A delightful collection of Go anecdotes, problems, and
some of Nakeyama's famous ladder problems. [NG, BGC]
The contributers:
BGC The Berkeley Go club, as a group. A copy of the original was
passed around to the stronger players (3-6 dan), and their
comments were added to the list. The Berkeley Go club can be
reached by sending e-mail to mwm@ucbvax. US mail should be
addressed to
Berkeley Go Club
2612 Hillegass Av., Apt. B
Berkeley, CA 94704
NG Neal Gafter. The originator of the bibliography. 4 kyu at that time.
Reachable via e-mail as neal@Rochester.arpa, or at:
Department of Computer Science
U. of Rochester
Rochester, N.Y. 14627
716/275-2569 (office) or 716/275-5377 (lab)
Neal Gafter recommends the Sabaki Go Company, reachable at:
Sabaki Go Company
PO Box 23
Carlisle, Pennsylvania 17013
717/245-2808
"We sell the most remarkable game in the world"
His comments are:
The Sabaki Go Company is a mail order company specializing in books
and equipment for the game of Go. It has been my experience that
their mail order service is prompt and reliable. They will supply
you with a catalog at no charge. Ask for some extras for your
friends.
Their prices are higher than what I get from Games of Berkeley. Games
of Berkeley will take mail orders, and carries most of the Ishi Press
books. They may be reached at:
Games Of Berkeley
2110 Shattuck Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94704
415/843-9436
800/424-GAME (Continental US, outside of California)
800/525-LINE (Inside California)