These are the books that I bought from someone on GD.com a long while back. Since then I have been so all over the place and I never really gave myself the chance to read them and improve my game. Since buying my new home and finally having some time for myself I decided its time to study and improve the way I had always wanted/imagined I would.

I've read reviews on most of them but thought maybe you guys would have better insight as to which to read in what order. Currently I'm about 15 kyu. I know that playing as much as humanly possible is the best way to improve at my level. Yet I do travel alot and can spend a good amount of time ready so I want to make use of this. If there is anything that I should add please feel free to suggest those books as well. Especially with Slate and Shell having their sale right now. Should I buy anything that would be of great benefit? Maybe the Dictionary of basic Tesuji series?

Here is the list:

Elementary Go Series
In The Begninning
38 Basic Joseki
Tesuji
Life and Death
Attack and Defense
The End Game
HandiCap Go

Graded Go Problems Vol 1-3

Kato's Attack and Kill

Go Problems for Kyu players Vol 1-6 from Slate and Shell

Kyu Level Commentaries on Professional Games Vol 1-2

4-4 Point Joseki: A brief Introduction from Slate and Shell

Playing The Endgame: A Brief Introduction from Slate and Shell

Improve Your Intuition vol 1-3 from Slate and Shell

Mastering the Basic, Vol 2: One thousand and One Life and Death Problems

Jonathan Hop's So you want to play Go Vol 1-4

I may be forgetting one or two but I think that's pretty much all of them.

Thanks a bunch friends!

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My understanding of the four volumes of Dictionary of Basic Tesuji is that they are too tough for those weaker than around mid kyu level. However, others on here could speak more accurately than I could to what level those books are geared towards. At your level I would suggest GGPB vol. 2 & 3. You could also start looking at Davies' Tesuji to familarize yourself with tactics and also to try and stretch your ability to visualize more than a few stones. I think a look at the first few chapters in Attack and Defense wouldn't hurt either as it gives you an idea of how to attack indirectly such as through leaning attacks, etc.

For a 15k, RJ's First Fundamentals can be quite an eyeopener.
http://senseis.xmp.net/?FirstFundamentals

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Go is such a beautiful game.

My suggestion:

Graded Go Problems Vol 1-3
Go Problems for Kyu players Vol 1-6 from Slate and Shell
Mastering the Basic, Vol 2: One thousand and One Life and Death
Tesuji
In The Begninning
The End Game
Attack and Defense
Life and Death

Thanks all.

@ Dazz: I know the dictionaries are a bit above my level I just thought with the sale it was worth it. I imagine I do have alot to study before then tho xD

@ Tchan001: Yes. RJ's books have peaked my interest I had already intended to buy them, with you backing them I surely will make them a priority.

@jts: Thanks! Thats exactly what I was looking for.

_________________
**We're living in a world that's make believe, they made; we believed.**
Please note: My KGS handle is different from my L19 username.

Are vols. 5 and 6 out of print? They are not listed on the website.

I think this order is quite good. I personally would just switch a little bit ^^

1. In The Begninning
2. Graded Go Problems Vol 1-3
3. Tesuji
4. Go Problems for Kyu players Vol 1-6 from Slate and Shell (I don't know these books)
5. Attack and Defense
6. Mastering the Basic, Vol 2: One thousand and One Life and Death
7. The End Game
8. Life and Death

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My "guide" to become stronger in Go

I find that these books get more difficult as you get further into them, so why not try reading 3 chapters of each before moving on to the next one, or reading them more-or-less concurrently.

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Regards,

Peter

It's actually a very good point.
I haven't read them all, but it's certainly true of both "Attack and Defense" and "Tesuji".

Spine: Maybe the Dictionary of basic Tesuji series?


Here's my notes on when some dictionaries kick in:

K81 A Dictionary of Modern Fuseki The Korean Style - 15 kyu
G21/G22/G23 Dictionary of Basic Joseki, Volume 123 - 10 kyu
Dictionary of Basic Tesuji - Fujisawa Shuko - 4 Volumes - 7 kyu
Y38/Y40/Y46/Y50 Dictionary of Basic Fuseki Volume 1234 - Rin Kaiho - 2 kyu


That's how i'd plan my shopping list....

For 15 kyu these books are approchable:

Ishi
G25 Appreciating Famous Games
G16 Handicap Go - Elementary Go Series - Book 7
G33 The Chinese Opening
G37 Beyond Forcing Moves - Takagi Shoichi
K58 Get Strong at Life and Death
K71 Five Hundred and One Opening Problems
K73 Making Good Shape
K81 A Dictionary of Modern Fuseki The Korean Style
H7 Mathematical Go Endgame: Nightmares for the Professional Go Player

Yutopian
Y22 Essential Joseki - Rui Naiwei
Y30 Star Point Joseki - The Nihon Kiin
Y33 Handicap Go - The Nihon Kiin
Y36 Even Game Joseki - The Nihon Kiin
Y44 Cho Hun-hyun's Lectures on the Opening Volume 1 - Cho Hun-hyun

Others
Come Up to Shodan - Rin Kaiho
Cross-Cut Workshop - Richard Hunter
200 Tesuji Problems - Shirae Haruhiko
Magic on the First Line - Noriyuki Nakayama

Spine: Should I buy anything that would be of great benefit?

Elementary Go Series

20 kyu - In The Begninning
30 kyu - 38 Basic Joseki
20 kyu - Tesuji
20 kyu - Life and Death
19 kyu - Attack and Defense
10 kyu - The End Game
15 kyu - HandiCap Go


30/25/20/8 kyu - Graded Go Problems Vol 1-4
30 kyu/19 kyu/9 kyu/1-Dan - Jonathan Hop's So you want to play Go Vol 1-4

---

something like Graded Go Volume Three

some teachers like Feng Yun think it's good to read at 20 kyu to 15 kyu
others felt it was 15 kyu to 8 kyu

and Graded Go Volume Four

Feng thinks book 4 is good 10 kyu to 3 kyu
yet others think it's still useful to 1-Dan

---


i'd wait on these for a bit:
10 kyu - Improve Your Intuition vol 1-3 - Kaku - Slate and Shell
8 kyu - Kato's Attack and Kill
7 kyu - Dictionary of basic Tesuji


Unsure what the ideal kyu rating would be to start these books:

Go Problems for Kyu players Vol 1-6 from Slate and Shell
Kyu Level Commentaries on Professional Games Vol 1-2
4-4 Point Joseki: A brief Introduction from Slate and Shell
Playing The Endgame: A Brief Introduction from Slate and Shell
Mastering the Basic, Vol 2: One thousand and One Life and Death Problems


----

For 15 kyu

think about

Kiseido
K58 Get Strong at Life and Death
K71 Five Hundred and One Opening Problems
K73 Making Good Shape
K81 A Dictionary of Modern Fuseki The Korean Style

[also]

20 kyu - K55 Get Strong at Invading
20 kyu - K72 One Thousand and One Life-and-Death Problems [5-Dans too]
25 kyu - K56 Get Strong at Tesuji

Yutopian
Y22 Essential Joseki - Rui Naiwei
Y30 Star Point Joseki - The Nihon Kiin
Y33 Handicap Go - The Nihon Kiin
Y36 Even Game Joseki - The Nihon Kiin
Y44 Cho Hun-hyun's Lectures on the Opening Volume 1 - Cho Hun-hyun

[also]

24 kyu - Y20 Cho Hun-hyeon's Lectures on Go Techniques
24 kyu - Y48 Cho Hun-Hyeon Lectures on Go Techniques Volume Two


Slate and Shell
Come Up to Shodan - Rin Kaiho
Cross-Cut Workshop - Richard Hunter
200 Tesuji Problems - Shirae Haruhiko
Magic on the First Line - Noriyuki Nakayama


---------

books to look forward to

12 Kyu
---------
K74 501 Tesuji Problems
Y37 Step Up to a Higher Level - Abe Yoshiteru
Counting Liberties and Winning Capturing Races - Richard Hunter - Slate and Shell
Fundamental Principles of Go - Yilun Yang - Slate and Shell

10 kyu
---------
K52 Get Strong at Joseki, Volume 1
K60 Get Strong at Attacking
K70 The World of Chinese Go
K76 All About Ko
Y29 Tricks in Joseki - Yang Yilun
Whole Board Thinking in Joseki Volume 1 - Yilun Yang - Slate
Whole Board Thinking in Joseki Volume 2 - Yilun Yang - Slate
Understanding How to Play Go - Yuan Zhou - Slate
How Not To Play Go - Yuan Zhou - Slate
200 Endgame Problems - Shirae Haruhiko - Slate
Vital Points and Skillful Finesse for Sabaki - Norimoto Yoda - Hinoki

9 kyu
-------
G2 Basic Techniques of Go - Isamu and Yoshiaki


------

I would say, finish up the Elementary Go Series, start piling in the Kiseido Get Strong Series, and the Hop books will take you to Dan, and all the other books will help you plop smoothing into G2 The Basic Techniques of Go.

You have an impressive list of books. They cover a good deal about the game.

Here is the simple truth. Order hardly matters. If you find a book too difficult, set it aside for later. You do not even have to read a book cover to cover. You do not have to read the chapters in order. You can read a little in one book, a little in another.

Read and review. And review. And maybe review again. (You can skim during reviews.)

Go has many different skills, many insights to gain. It does not hurt to get a thorough grounding in the basics. Overlearn them. I once read a book by a famous pro sports coach. He said that at the start of practice every season, he drilled his players on the basics. Pros. Basics. Who would have thunk it?

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Visualize whirled peas.

Everything with love. Stay safe.