I noticed that Rob van Zeijst and Richard Bozulich, authors of Five Hundred and One Tesuji Problems, have a new book coming out in February titled A Survey of the Basic Tesujis. From the description of the latter given at Kiseido (http://www.kiseido.com/road.htm#K85), it almost sounds like a reprint of the earlier book, which I have never seen except for what is written about it at senseis (http://senseis.xmp.net/?FiveHundredAndOneTesujiProblems). Has anyone seen a pre-print of the new book and able to explain how it differs from the authors' earlier book on tesujis? Also, does anyone know of a North American dealer that carries the earlier book?

I'm thinking of getting one of these books by Rob van Zeijst and Richard Bozulich and maybe Get Strong at Tesuji, though I really wish all of them came as SGF or in some protected electronic PC software version. (Yes, I know there are SmartGo versions, but I don't have an iPad, iPhone, or modern Mac, and my Windows version of SmartGo doesn't support SmartGo Books--although the author is open to someone else porting the program over to Windows according to a recent email he sent to me. I wonder how hard it would be to install iOS on my PC in order to run SmartGo books.)

501 Tesuji present the problems in no particular order, whilst the description of the road map book says you get one example followed by 6-12 problems applying the same technique, which might mean it's easier (but I don't have it yet).

Get Strong at Tesuji is at an easier level than 501 Tesuji (501 has been around a long time so there are plenty of reviews around of it - putting it around Dan-ish level if I remember correctly). I'd definately get "Get Strong at Tesuji" first, along with the Elementary Go series volume "Tesuji" - if you haven't got that already.

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I am John. John-I-Am.

Yeah, I did notice that in the description of the forthcoming book. Assuming that the books have the same tesujis and basically the same problems, I'm not sure which is the better pedagogical approach, though. First time, maybe the grouped problems, but I suspect random order would be better for review purposes. (Another reason I would prefer to get SGFs.) But I still wonder if the instruction and/or problems have changed.

I thought this topic was thoroughly treated in Fujisawa's "Dictionary of Tesuji" published in four volumes by Slate and Shell

If you want to learn tesuji, get every English or Asian tesuji book you can find. None covers everything, not even the Nihon Kiin tesuji dictionary. Additionally, read about purposes / functions of moves. The point of the Kiseido books is different: introductions for kyu players. A Survey of the Basic Tesujis seems to intend another approach to such an introduction. The conceptual idea of showing 50 different tesujis is good, but The Basic Principles of the Opening and the Middle Game in the same series is disappointing so that we must await the new tesuji book to know if it can live up to its promise. If you have read no tesuji book so far and are ca. 8 to 12k, don't miss Davies' Tesuji, which has IIRC fewer tesujis but teaches well from two POVs (shapes and functions).

I want something to learn from, not something to use as a reference, which I assume is the case for Fujisawa's four volumes. Correct me if I'm wrong, though!

Also, isn't his book aimed at dan-level players? And, thus, way over my head!!

Thank you for your input, Robert. I'm kinda considering getting all of Tesuji, Get Strong at Tesuji, and 501 Tesuji Problems. Though I am also dreaming about getting an iPad so that I can get the SmartGo versions. Maybe I can talk my wife into getting me it as a gift?

Is "IIRC" in your post a typo? Or an abbreviation for something?

If you are getting problem books, it helps, IMO, to get the right level. I remember my first tesuji book was a small book on basic tesuji by the Nihon Kiin. The first tesuji was the one at move 11 in the following sgf file. It was quite an eye opener for me.

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The Adkins Principle:
At some point, doesn't thinking have to go on?
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Visualize whirled peas.

Everything with love. Stay safe.

Bill, your SGF only goes to move 10. Is discovery of the tesuji in question left as an exercise for the reader?

Aidoneus, IIRC is short for "if I recall correctly."

Also, I'll second James Davies Tesuji as a good start if you've not already read it. I am probably about the same strength as you, and recently completed the book (for the first time; it is certainly deserving of a second reading!). It was a valuable but difficult read, especially if one actually works through all the problems in each chapter. Most of them are difficult but doable for someone around 10k.

Assimilating the ideas in the book effectively was difficult enough that I was ready to spend some time on another topic once I finished it, so I wouldn't necessarily collect a lot of Tesuji books all at once. Working through a general problem book at the same time was helpful, though. I was reading Graded Go Problems for Beginners Vol. 3 as I worked through Tesuji, and it was gratifying to quickly recognize the solution to a problem because I recognized the tesuji involved.

Right you are!

_________________
The Adkins Principle:
At some point, doesn't thinking have to go on?
— Winona Adkins

Visualize whirled peas.

Everything with love. Stay safe.

If you get an iPad you can also get a copy of Tesuji and Antisuji. Buy 20 Go books through smartgo and you'd probably save the cost of a basic iPad.

_________________
I am John. John-I-Am.

_________________
The Adkins Principle:
At some point, doesn't thinking have to go on?
— Winona Adkins

Visualize whirled peas.

Everything with love. Stay safe.

Yeah, I've read the SmartGo blog on this subject. Currently, I'm researching used and refurbished iPad minis. I might spring for a used iPad Mini 2 for $200. I've never actually seen one, though, so I'm going to take a look at Best Buy today.

There are more books on tesuji that should be mentioned.

TESUJI by Davies (Kiseido). This is actually all you need.

The Art of Go, Volume 1 Connecting Stones published by Yutopian. A very useful survey of techniques of connecting stones to safety.

By the way, the Fujisawa dictionary is just what you asked for, a classification of tesuji based on what they are used for. I wouldn't say it's just for dan-level players. Obviously stronger players would get more out of it but kyu-level players can also get a lot and grow into it.

The Segoe & Go Seigen dictionary of tesuji is also highly recommended. It also classifies the material by type of tesuji. It's in Japanese but it is just problems, graded A, B, and C. For kyu-level players the C level would be best. I don't know whether this book (3 volumes) is still in print, though.

If you can 'justify' the expense, get a brand new air 2, or a second hand air.

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OK, I broke down and bought an iPad Mini 2 using a 3-year-old gift card from Best Buy and my educator discount. After some trouble getting it on my wi-fi network, I have purchased SmartGo Kifu and am downloading the SmartGo book app. Next up deciding on my first SmartGo book!