Book Review: Graded Go Problems for Beginners, Vol. 1

Overall Rating: 5 / 5 Ponnuki

Basic Information

• Title: Graded Go Problems for Beginners, Volume 1
• Author: Kano Yoshinori
• Translator: Richard Bozulich
• Publisher: Kiseido
• Publication Date: February 1985
• Page Length: 216 pages
• Number of Problems: 239

Synopsis

• This is the perfect book for beginners.
• A fantastically well rounded book with lots of different material.
• Appropriate for 30 kyu and stronger.
• Recommended for any go player.

Detailed Review

Readability - 10 / 10

One of my favorite aspects about this book is the fact that the diagrams are so large (in comparison to typical tsumego you might find). The use of smaller boards (e.g., 13x13) and bigger pieces makes the problems very inviting and less intimidating.

For overall readability explanation, see the readability section in the review on the entire series.

Content Quality - 10 / 10

The problems in this volume are a remarkable collection of fundamental concepts that every go player should know (regardless of your approach to the game).

While the cover states that the book is appropriate for 30 kyu to 25 kyu players, if you can do all the problems in these book, you are most likely going to be in the 20 kyu range.

For overall content quality explanation, see the content quality section in the review on the entire series.

Table of Contents

1. Preface
2. How to Play Go
3. Glossary

4. Part One: Problems

   1. Introductory Problems: Level One

      1.  Section 1\. How to Capture Stones
      

      1. Section 2. How to Save Endangered Stones
      2. Section 3. Recognizing Atari
      3. Section 4. Connecting and Separating Stones
      4. Section 5. Ko
      5. Section 6. Ladders
      6. Section 7. Living Groups and Dead Groups
      7. Section 8. How to Play in the Opening

      8. Section 9. Endgame and Other Moves

      9. Introductory Problems: Level Two

         1. Section 1. How to Capture Stones
      10. Section 2. How to Save Endangered Stones
      11. Section 3. How to Give Atari
      12. Section 4. Ladders
      13. Section 5. Snapback and Related Moves
      14. Section 6. Connecting and Separating Stones
      15. Section 7. Living Groups and Dead Groups
      16. Section 8. Ko
      17. Section 9. How to Play in the Opening

      18. Endgame

      19. Introductory Problems: Level Three - Life and Death Problems

          1. Section 1. Making Life
      20. Section 2. How to Save Endangered Stones
      21. Section 3. How to Give Atari
      22. Section 4. Ladders
      23. Section 5. Snapback and Related Moves

      24. Section 6. Connecting and Separating Stones

      25. Introductory Problems: Level Four

          1. Section 1. Atari
      26. Section 2. Capturing Races
      27. Section 3. Nets
      28. Section 4. Snapback
      29. Section 5. Oiotoshi
      30. Section 6. Brilliant Moves and Bad Moves
      31. Section 7. Seki
      32. Section 8. Connecting and Separating Stones
      33. Section 9. Living Groups and Dead Groups
      34. Section 10. How to Play in the Opening
      35. Section 11. Endgame

5. Part Two: Answers

Recommended Vendors:

1. GoGameGuru - $20.99 (S&H not included)
2. Kiseido - $21.00 (S&H not included)
3. SmartGo Books [E-book] - $5.99 (Apple users only)

Last updated December 26th, 2012 - 6 kyu