Dear colleagues,

I have recently began to solve a lot go problems per a day, but the problem is that they have became much difficult, and I do not know the principles of them. When I read Janice Kim's books, I knew a lot of principles for solving a tsumego, like for example, the pivot, the killing shape and so on, but now I am totaly lost and I am trying to solve a single 6k difficulty stumego for days and I can't, and to be honest I am starting to think that I do not fit for a go player, which might be true giving the fact how little I have achived so far.
So please recommend me a book about the principles of solving tsumego, and I would also appriciate to recommend me a good general go book, because now at my level I am pretty confused what book is the best for me. Here is the list of books I have read so far.
Thank you very much!
1. All the books of Janice Kim
2. Opening Theory Made easy - Otake Hideo ( My favorite go player )
3. In the begining - I forgot the author's name

Best Regards
Stefany

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Stefany, web programmer

Davies life and death is probably right up your alley at this point. (though I still find it tedious and absurdly difficult at points) 1001 life and death problems is probably the best way to learn the "principles" of solving life and death, due to the way it scales in difficulty, though it is just a problem book.

I second "1001 Life-and-Death Problems". It starts very easy and repeats every killing- or living-move douzen times, so that you mostly have a hint where to start looking.

What I always suggest is the Graded Go Problems For Beginners series. Here you will find the most common Tesujis and Life-and-Death shapes, plus problems on opening, endgame, Ko, Seki and capturing races.
Overall the series is just great.

Then there is of course "Tesuji" by James Davies. It introduces (explains it and let you practice it right away) every "common" Tesuji for various situation.
You are going to read this book someday, so better sooner than later because it offers a lot ; )

I wrote reviews for "1001 Life-and-Death Problems" and "Tesuji", if you want to read them.

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My "guide" to become stronger in Go

1001 Life and Death Problems is the best for improving your basic reading skills. If you're having so much difficulty solving a 6k problem, that is probably where the issue is. (It is also possible that the problem is under ranked, it may be helpful if you post it, and the source.) As far as improving in general, and especially improving your reading and sense of vital points, I would recommend the Speed Baduk series, or the Level Up! series. The Level Up! series is currently more extensive, but it is designed for children and has irritating doodles. Keep in mind I do not have them, but I have seen enough of the layout and contents I think to judge them. The Speed Baduk series is similar, but currently has some gaps in coverage at the low to mid dan level, though I realize this should not be an issue for you yet. I have volumes 10-12 of these, and the design is absolutely outstanding. I've never seen a better series of books in English for improvement. It drills particular patterns and sequences relating to every aspect of the game till you know them well enough that you can pick them out almost instantly. There are several speed drills at the end of each book to gauge your progress. Slate and Shell has previews that should give you and idea of which set would be appropriate to start with.

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"Those who calculate greatly will win; those who calculate only a little will lose, but what of those who don't make any calculations at all!? This is why everything must be calculated, in order to foresee victory and defeat."-The Art of War

1001 life & death is very good, but maybe a bit too hard still (depending on how much you like struggling over problems!). I also highly recommend Graded Go Problems for Beginners (http://senseis.xmp.net/?GradedGoProblemsForBeginners), volume 2 or 3 is probably right up your alley.

Don't get too upset if you can't solve a problem: skip it, find some easier ones, maybe come back to it later. Others may disagree, but I think if you spend an hour on a problem without finding a solution, it's too hard.

Good luck with your studies!

Vol. 2 is already too easy for an 8k player. Vol. 3 is excellent!

Many of the people that improve quickly have the benefit of a local club with many strong players to learn from. It's not always the same circumstances, so don't belittle your progress.

I recommend "Essential life and death" volume one, published by baduktopia. Each page introduces a new theme - and there six similar problems to illustrate the theme.

Also, there are no answers in the book, so you have to really push yourself to be confident in your answer. (I believe answers can be downloaded online from the publisher).

Of course, I am starting to sound like a broken record.

do 1001. they are great, and there are problems that will be fit for you when you become stronger and problems that you can solve now. just read and dont look at the solutions until you read out. even if you dont solve the problem, your reading improved.

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Thank you very much for the help, guys. I think I might start to study more hard right away since I am back to 9k.

Thank you again!

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Stefany, web programmer

Check out this thread too about books to read at certain levels...

viewtopic.php?f=17&t=91

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I'm thinking...

Hi Stefany93

Im only reading Iwamoto at the moment although i got a few books for Xmas. As beginner's books on the fundamentals it's very good and clear.


Can I ask what you thought of Opening Theory made Easy? I havent actualy found a copy anywhere online (apart fromm Japan) and would be interested to know what its like.

Regards and good luck with your further Go endeavours

markeemark

You can get it here...

http://www.kiseido.com/go_books.htm

Hmm, there's your problem, have you read what Janice Kim said about how to do tsumego?

http://www.stuorg.iastate.edu/cygo/How%20to%20Study%20Go%201.pdf
http://www.stuorg.iastate.edu/cygo/How%20to%20Study%20Go%202.pdf

I was thinking of composing an answer, and saw this one by emeraldemon hits the nail on the head accurately. Graded Go Problems for Beginners Vols. 2 & 3 are the right thing for you. Don't worry if others think Vol 2 is too easy for you. Buy it, and set yourself a limit of 3 minutes a problem. If you can't do it in that time, look at the answer. ( Remember, you won't get as much as 3 minutes a move in your games ). You will find that Vol 3 builds on the key moves you have learnt in Vol 2, so they are really a pair. Vol.2 will make Vol. 3 easier for you.

Once you have been through both volumes twice, you will strangely find your opponents kindly playing poor moves that invite you to take advantage of them. On your 3rd time through these volumes, perhaps tick the ones you get wrong with a pencil. You may find its a remarkably small number that you get wrong by then.

Don't worry about your kyu rating/rank. It will improve when you aren't watching it.

Once you have done the 3 runs through suggested, go back to a few of the problems you mentioned above where you are spending over an hour on it. You should find some of them are now solvable in under 5 minutes, because they are made up of a combination of 2 problems in GGPB V2&3. So you have extended your ability to read by partial sequences in the problem as known elements you now see as immediately obvious, rather than reading them out stone by stone. So now you only use your previous 'stone-by-stone' variation analysis to check a solution you are fairly sure is going to work, not as your method of finding a candidate solution.

The result is the game stops being a strain, you just see good moves nearly instantly, start to wonder why your opponent is gifting you so many stones, and your opponent is falling apart with no effort on your part.

After that books i greatly recommend some problems books like:
Get strong at tesuji.
Cho chikun encyclopedia of life and death 2.

Or something like:
Attack and defense for middle game analysis.

I think that direction of play or Shape up! are very good at your level, also i would think in a colection of matches like Winning a won game, to be honest that is one of my favorites books of go.

Good luck and don't forget to play.

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Do all you can and to enjoy this game and you will get better at it.