Tryphon wrote:
BUT WHERE IS KAGEYAMA ???????
This was my first and only thought, and it bears repeating until everyone reads him. I'm especially finding him helpful because a lot of his examples of bad play look like my games
I have to do better!
The way he doesn't just go "this move is best" but also explains WHY in a way that's actually comprehensible is amazing. Plus he actually understands what it's like to play against people stronger than you, he knows how to make you see what you're doing wrong in a way that isn't just "this is wrong" for impenetrable reasons.
Go people love to speak in code to seem smart, but not him. I finally understand what thickness actually is, for instance, and why you don't use it to make territory. All sorts of things like this are becoming clear, more and more with each page.
The yellow book? More like the golden book.
I don't know if I would have gotten the same benefit if I'd read it as a 30k just starting out. I probably would have just thought it was great, not outright amazing. It's very very VERY good for mid-teens DDK though. And strong fundamentals can benefit anyone imo.
I found Kageyama very entertaining and also very motivational about the fact that fundamentals matter. As for what the fundamentals are, he doesn't really provide much insight. "Look at this position and repeat to yourself, Black's thickness is superior" or "What does The Stones Go Walking mean? Exactly what it says: they go walking". Maybe a concept like "getting ahead". Or that one should read. Anyway, don't want to downplay what has been a great book for so many, but I find its entertainment and simplicity is somewhat deceptive.