Book Review

BGJ 175 Spring 2016

Reviewer: Roger Huyshe

Mastering the Basics Vol 1; 501 Opening Problems
by Richard Bozulich and Rob van Zeist

Published 2002 by Kiseido, 250pp

BGJ 175 Spring 2016
Reviewer: Roger Huyshe

by Richard Bozulich

Published by Kiseido, 1996, 165pp

BGJ 175 Spring 2016
Reviewer: Roger Huyshe

Elementary Go Series; Vol 1 - In the Beginning

by Ikuro Ishigure

Published 1985 by Kiseido, 150pp

BGJ 197 Autumn 2021
Reviewed by Francis Roads

Author: David Mitchell
ISBN: 9780645076509

Those who were around at the time of the first London Go Centre at Belsize Park (1974-78) will remember the Assistant Manager, David Mitchell, 4 dan. I am proud to say that I taught him Go when he was a pupil at my Comprehensive school. Following the closure of the centre he emigrated to Australia, where he now serves as President of the AGA.

BGJ 176 Summer 2016
Reviewed by Tony Atkins

by Michiel Eijkhout
220 pages
ISBN 978-4-906574-80-3

BGJ 194 Winter 2020-2021
Reviewed by Tony Atkins

Author: Robert Goddard
Publisher: (Paperback version) Penguin
ISBN: 9780552172615

BGJ 191 Spring 2020,
Reviewed by Colin Maclennan

How AI is Learning to Write, Paint and Think
by Marcus du Sautoy

BGJ 173 Autumn 2015, Reviewer: Roger Huyshe

by Takao Shinji

This is a 2010 update of the respected Ishida’s Dictionary of Basic Joseki (3 volumes).

There are two substantial volumes of nearly 300 pages each, the first of which addresses 3-4 point openings and the second deals with others. The book gives much more space than earlier ones to 4-4 point joseki in line with the increased frequency in the modern game. The books are well laid out with both a textual and a pictorial index.

The explanations are clear enough to be accessible to anyone from say 10kyu or stronger who wants a solid reference work.

BGJ 173 Autumn 2015, Reviewer: Roger Huyshe

by Richard Bozulich

There are three volumes, each covering a different set of common joseki. The books are divided so that the problems explore three themes.

One is ‘choosing the right joseki’ in the context of the whole board. Second is ‘joseki variations’, which include both proper variations and non-standard moves from the opponent. And third is a group of problems titled ‘after joseki’, which focus on remaining aji or endgame opportunities.

All these are vitally important topics but it means that the books function essentially as problem books, rather than reference books.

BGJ 173 Autumn 2015, Reviewer: Roger Huyshe

by Yilun Yang

This comes in two volumes, the first on 3-4 point low kakari and the second on 3-4 point high and far approaches. The cover beautifully illustrates the thinking behind the book. Problems come in a group of 2 or 3, each with the same corner position but with differing situations in the other corners. We are invited to choose the joseki continuation appropriate to each circumstance.

The concepts are accessible to most SDK, but getting the correct answer to a good number of problems requires significant joseki knowledge and probably dan-level strength.