Life In 19x19

I’ve known how to play Go for about 5 years now but I have never put any time into learning the art of the game. I don’t know anything about strategy or tactics. I’ve probably played about 200 games on a 9x9 board but never played a full 13x13 or 19x19 game. I’m not sure what it’s called but I once had a free download (Maybe IGOWIN?). On it, if you won you went up a level in Kyu and if you lost, you dropped back down. I don’t know how accurate it was but I am able to get to around 9 Kyu on that program playing on a 9x9 board. I’m now looking to deepen my knowledge of this game and invest in a book or two and maybe some software. I’m not sure what the protocol is for learning Go as I come from a chess background.

I already have two beginner books:

GO A complete introduction to the game by Cho Chikun
GO Basics Concepts & Strategies for New Players by Peter Shotwell

Where do I go from here? Could someone advise me on a couple of books for someone at my level? I’d prefer these recommended books to be packed with information about all aspects of the game, not just focusing on one area. I want something that is going to give me good all round knowledge of the game. What I’m trying to say is - if I was asking this in a chess forum I wouldn’t want people recommending me a book just on chess openings or just on the end game. Saying that I don’t know what the best way to learn Go is maybe focusing on separate sections individually and in order is the best route? I don’t know.

I’d also like a software package that has tutorials and the possibility to play against a Go engine too. Something like a Go version of Chessmaster if such a thing exists?

All advice is welcome.

A couple of suggestions: First, get and play on KGS (gokgs.com) to play against people on any size board. Second, for a wide-level overview, consider the "So you want to play go" series. http://senseis.xmp.net/?SoYouWantToPlayGoLevel3 . Without an accurate rank for you, it's hard to guess which volume you should start at, but volume 2 might be best. Another book that I find really useful is "In the Beginning." (http://senseis.xmp.net/?InTheBeginning) While this book is focused on the opening, it presents a lot of ideas, like group safety, that begin in the opening but carry throughout. The Speed Baduk for Beginners (http://senseis.xmp.net/?SpeedBadukForBeginners) series is one final overview option, that treats the subject more as a textbook/workbook, training your way through.

Basically, the thing that will help most is to play games, ideally against people. The more experience you get in games, the more help the books will be to you. I love studying the strategy, so I practice reading less than I should. However, if you study the game in the way that is most interesting to you, you will enjoy yourself while you improve. While reading is a huge part of what determines your rank, I would burn out in no time if I only practiced reading problems, so at some point you just have to do what lets you enjoy the game.

Graded Go Problems for Beginners, Volume II & III

Thank you for the replies, I'm going to look deeper into them now.

One problem: Why, everytime I click on this site and only this site (http://www.gokgs.com) does my internet explorer shut down? Is it just me?

It works fine with Firefox. I have no idea if your IE problem is widespread.

Welcome!

It is hard to judge without an accurate rank. Play some people on KGS to get a better rank, but don't be disappointed if you're rank there is about 10 stones weaker than igowin (that is, closer to 20 kyu).

But, I would imagine that Graded Go Problems for Beginners volumes I and II, the Learn to Play Go Series (Janice Kim), and Opening Theory Made Easy. My two cents, anyway.

Hello,

in my case, when i was around your level, the second book of go prooved very useful for me. Even now, when i read it again, i'm still finding myself learning a thing or two. If you apply the principles taught in it, you can easily reach 3 or 4 kyu

http://senseis.xmp.net/?TheSecondBookOfGo

Someone has collected a few sample problems from Graded Go Problems. I think volume 1 might be appropriate, but you can look for yourself.

It's a good series--I spent a lot of time on book 3 and enjoyed it greatly.

Considering that you are coming from a chess background and are presumably somewhat diligent in studying boards games from books, I suggest: Attack and Defense. It is above your current level, but it's the best book in print on "how to play go" and what to think about during different phases of the game.

My second recommendation would be: Opening Theory Made Easy, which is not really a book about openings as much as it is a book about shape ideal for your level.