89 chapters
8 hour read
Selected Chapters
89 chapters
PREFACE
PREFACE
This book is intended as a practical guide to the game of Go. It is especially designed to assist students of the game who have acquired a smattering of it in some way and who wish to investigate it further at their leisure. As far as I know there is no work in the English language on the game of Go as played in Japan. There is an article on the Chinese game by Z. Volpicelli, in Vol. XXVI of the “Journal of the China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society.” This article I have not consulted. There
8 minute read
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
It is difficult to say which of the two games gives more pleasure. The combinations in Go suffer in comparison with those of Chess by reason of a certain monotony, because there are no pieces having different movements, and because the stones are not moved again after once being placed on the board. Also to a beginner the play, especially in the beginning of the game, seems vague; there are so many points on which the stones may be played, and the amount of territory obtainable by one move or th
4 minute read
I HISTORY OF THE GAME
I HISTORY OF THE GAME
It is remarkable that in the old books it is stated that in the year 300 A.D. a man by the name of Osan was so skilled in Go that he could take all the stones from the board after the game had been finished and then play it over from memory. This is of interest also as showing that in the course of time playing the game has had the effect of strengthening the memory of Go players, because there are now hundreds of players in Japan who can replace a game move for move after it has been disarrange
30 minute read
II DESCRIPTION OF THE BOARD AND STONES
II DESCRIPTION OF THE BOARD AND STONES
The stones or “Ishi” with which the game is played are three hundred and sixty-one in number, corresponding to the number of “Me” or points of intersection on the board. One hundred and eighty of these stones are white and the remaining one hundred and eighty-one are black. As the weaker player has the black stones and the first move, obviously the extra stone must be black. In practice the entire number of stones is never used, as at the end of the game there are always vacant spaces on the boa
37 minute read
III RULES OF PLAY
III RULES OF PLAY
It follows from this rule that stones which are on the same line parallel with the edges of the board are connected, and support each other, Plate 2 , Diagram VII , while stones which are on the same diagonal line are not connected, and do not support each other, Plate 2 , Diagram VIII . In order to surround stones which are on the same line, and therefore connected, it is necessary to surround them all in order to take them, while stones which are arranged on a diagonal line, and therefore unco
43 minute read
IV GENERAL METHODS OF PLAY AND TERMINOLOGY OF THE GAME
IV GENERAL METHODS OF PLAY AND TERMINOLOGY OF THE GAME
and Black has made good his connection, or Black at his fourth move could play at Q 14, then [ 60 ] There are other continuations, but they are still worse for White. If, however, the adversary’s stones are already posted on the line of advance sometimes it is only safe to skip one point, and of course in close positions the stones must be played so that they are actually connected. The Japanese call this skipping of “Me” by the terms “Ikken tobi,” “Nikken tobi,” “Sangen tobi,” etc., which liter
27 minute read
I
I
Plate 14 Comment by Honinbo Shuye : “Black’s twenty-sixth move is premature, and it has the effect of precipitating the contest too early in the game. The territory around that point is dangerous ground for Black. N 17 would have been better.” Comment by Honinbo Shuye : “Black should have played at H 4. White would then play at F 2, and Black would reply at E 1.” Comment by Honinbo Shuye : “Black should still play at H 4.” [ 71 ] Comment by Honinbo Shuye : “This move does not hit the spot. It sh
34 minute read
II
II
and Black has the advantage, because White’s stones at C 7–E 7 can only get one “Me” on the edge of the board, and later on must seek a connection with some other group. By constantly harassing such endangered groups territory is often obtained. would have followed, or White would have answered at K 4. The player who has the “Sente” most of the time will generally be the victor. W. P 16, O 15, N 16, O 14 B. P 15, N 15, O 17, P 18 and White has the advantage. B. S 5, S 6, S 8, R 8, Q 8 W. E 15, S
34 minute read
III
III
The game as published ends at this point, but there still remain moves to be made that are not strictly “Dame.” White must kill the three black stones at E 8, F 8, and G 8, [ 96 ] as that portion of the board is not quite disposed of, and “Seki” might easily occur if White plays badly. The game might continue as follows: The following moves are strictly “Dame”: F 14, H 18, M 8, O 15, T 14. Either side can fill these “Me.” The following stones are dead and can now be removed: White. —K 8, L 17, T
13 minute read
IV
IV
Black wins, the report says, by “Ichi ban,” which means anything up to ten “Me.” According to my continuation, Black won by seven “Me.” [ 99 ] Plate 16 Plate 17 This is a game between a Japanese player and a beginner. It is inserted solely to show the character of the mistakes which beginners are likely to make. Such errors never occur in games between good players, and therefore this game may be more useful to a novice than the games contested between players of greater skill. Played May 7, 190
12 minute read
V
V
[ 105 ] “Dame”—E 5 and C 5. White wins by one hundred and ninety-seven spaces and eighty-eight stones. [ 111 ] Plate 18 White. —Inouye Inseki. Black. —Yasui Shintetsu. Played December, 1835. No handicaps were given. This game is from a Japanese work called “ Kachi Sei Kioku. ” The notes are taken from Korschelt, and as in the previous instance involve the repetition of some things that have been touched on in the preceding chapters. If White had had an opportunity of placing a stone on the line
24 minute read
XVI
XVI
Handicap Again Black has the better of it. He has a chance to [ 138 ] play at J 1 on the next move. The relation of this stone to the stone at F 2 when at the edge of the board is called “Ozaru,” or the “great monkey,” and it generally gains about eight spaces. This is also shown among the examples of end positions. Plate 21...
1 minute read
XX
XX
Handicap Plate 21 ( C ) Black has the corner and White has commenced to envelop his stones. The following continuation might occur: Black’s last move in this continuation is interesting, because [ 141 ] it will make “Kake tsugu” no matter which way White tries to break through. If he should play at D 17, White could get through at E 16....
1 minute read
XXIV
XXIV
Handicap Plate 21 ( D ) Black has a good game. We now come to the “Joseki” where no handicaps are given. In such cases, of course, Black has the first move. The first stone is generally played on an intersection adjacent to the point on which the handicap stone is placed when given. There are, therefore, eight intersections on which the first stone might be played. In the lower left-hand corner, for instance, these would be C 3, C 4, C 5, D 3, D 5, E 3, E 4, E 5. By common consent C 3 has been r
1 minute read
XXV
XXV
We now come to the “Joseki” where no handicaps are given. In such cases, of course, Black has the first move. The first stone is generally played on an intersection adjacent to the point on which the handicap stone is placed when given. There are, therefore, eight intersections on which the first stone might be played. In the lower left-hand corner, for instance, these would be C 3, C 4, C 5, D 3, D 5, E 3, E 4, E 5. By common consent C 3 has been rejected as disadvantageous for the first player
2 minute read
IV
IV
Plate 22 No Handicap The following stones are supposed to be on the board: Black, Q 13, R 13, R 15; White, Q 14, P 16, Q 17. [ 149 ] White has the better of it. Variation commencing at White’s sixteenth move: Black now has secured territory at the bottom of the board and confined White to the corner with the better game....
1 minute read
V
V
Variation commencing at White’s sixteenth move: Black now has secured territory at the bottom of the board and confined White to the corner with the better game. No Handicap Plate 22 ( B ) White has the corner; Black can afford “Tenuki” at move nine because if White cuts at Q 6 Black can still get a good game. In fact Q 15 indirectly defends the connection at Q 6. [ 150 ]...
1 minute read
XXI
XXI
No Handicap Plate 24 ( D ) We will now insert ten examples of openings , as distinguished from “Joseki.” As already stated, these are by Murase Shuho. In these examples Black is supposed to make the best possible moves, and therefore White always finds himself at a disadvantage....
59 minute read
X
X
[ 186 ] A work on the game of Go would not be complete without a chapter especially devoted to the subject of the end game. On the average a game of Go consists of about two hundred and fifty moves, and we might say that about twenty of these moves belong to the opening, about one hundred and fifty to the main part of the game, and the remaining eighty to the end game. The moves which may be regarded as belonging to the end game are those which connect the various groups of stones with the margi
13 minute read
I
I
White retains the “Sente.” Plate 35 Plate 35 ( B ) The following stones are on the board: White, R 9, O 5, O 3; Black, P 7, Q 3, Q 4, R 7. If White has the first move, it makes a difference of six “Me.” White retains the “Sente.” If Black had had the first move, the play would have been as follows: And Black has the “Sente.” [ 191 ]...
1 minute read
VII
VII
Plate 36 ( D ) The following stones are on the board: Black, C 4, D 4, E 4, C 7; White, C 3, D 3, E 3, F 3. Black has the move. These moves seem obvious, but the importance of Black’s opportunity is likely to be underestimated; Black gains about eleven “Me” by this play. If the opposing lines extend one space nearer the edge of the board, the territory gained by a similar attack is not nearly so great....
39 minute read
VIII
VIII
Plate 37 ( A ) The following stones are on the board: White, M 16, N 16, N 18, O 17, P 18, Q 17, 18; Black, N 15, O 15, 16, P 16, 17, Q 16, R 12, R 17. White has the move. White has given up the “Sente,” but these moves make a difference in his favor of about fourteen “Me.” [ 196 ]...
39 minute read
IX
IX
Plate 37 ( B ) The following stones are on the board: White, M 3, O 3, P 2, Q 3, R 2; Black, N 4, O 4, Q 5, R 3, R 4. White has the move. This move is really “Go te,” but if Black neglects to answer it, White can then jump to T 5. This jump is called by a special name “O zaru,” or the “big monkey,” and would gain about eight “Me” for White....
35 minute read
X
X
Plate 37 ( C ) The following stones are on the board: White, C 15, D 15, E 15, 16; Black, C 16, D 16, E 17, 18, F 16, G 17. White has the move. White has given up the “Sente” and has gained somewhat, but if Black now neglects to defend and plays elsewhere, White can jump to B 18, and gain about seventeen “Me” altogether....
36 minute read
XI
XI
Plate 37 ( D ) The following stones are on the board: White, B 8, C 7, 11, D 5, 6, 7, E 6; Black, B 7, C 5, 6, D 3, 4, E 4, 5. [ 197 ] Plate 37 [ 198 ] White has the move. White has given up the “Sente,” but this method of play gains about fourteen “Me,” as it is now no longer necessary to protect the connection at C 8. We will now insert two plates from Korschelt’s book. The notes at the foot of the illustrations are his. [ 199 ] Plate 38 A WORTH SIX “ME” (S 17, 18, 19 ; T 17, 18, 19); SENTE IS
1 minute read
XII
XII
White has the move. White has given up the “Sente,” but this method of play gains about fourteen “Me,” as it is now no longer necessary to protect the connection at C 8. We will now insert two plates from Korschelt’s book. The notes at the foot of the illustrations are his. [ 199 ] Plate 38 A WORTH SIX “ME” (S 17, 18, 19 ; T 17, 18, 19); SENTE IS RETAINED B WORTH FIVE “ME”; SENTE IS RETAINED C WORTH THIRTEEN “ME”; SENTE IS RETAINED D WORTH EIGHT “ME”; SENTE IS RETAINED [ 200 ] Plate 39 A WORTH 2
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I. Saving Threatened Groups
I. Saving Threatened Groups
10. White , B 15, 16, C 17, 18, D 18. Black, A 15, B 14, C 14, 15, 16, D 17, E 17, 18. 11. White, L 18, M 16, 17, N 14, 18, O 13, 19, P 18, Q 12, 13, 17, 18, R 12, 14, 18, S 14, 17, 19. Black , N 17, O 15, 17, 18, P 14, 17, Q 14, 15, 16, R 13, 16, 17, S 13, 18. 12. White , Q 3, R 2, 3, S 3. Black, P 2, 3, 5, Q 2, 4, R 5, 7. 13. White , B 2, C 3, D 1, 3, E 2. Black, B 4, C 5, D 4, E 3, 4, F 1, 2, G 3. 14. White, A 16, B 15, C 15, 16, D 17, E 17, F 18, G 18. Black , B 16, 17, C 17, D 18, E...
5 minute read
II. Killing Groups
II. Killing Groups
11. White , M 16, O 15, 16, 18, P 18, Q 14, R 12, 15, 18, S 16. Black, L 16, P 16, 17, Q 16, 18, S 17, 18. 12. White, Q 2, R 2, S 3, 4, 5. Black , P 2, 3, Q 3, R 4, 5, 7, S 6. 13. White , B 4, C 4, 6, D 4, E 3, F 3, G 2, H 3. Black, B 3, C 3, D 3, E 2, F 2. [ 207 ] Plate 41 [ 208 ] 14. White, C 17, 18, E 16, 17, F 15, G 16, H 16, 17, K 16. Black , B 17, 18, C 16, D 14, 16, 17, E 13, 15, G 14, 15, 17, J 14, 15, K 17, L 16. 15. White , N 17, P 16, 17, 18, Q 15, R 13, 15, S 14. Black,...
3 minute read
III. Playing for “Ko”
III. Playing for “Ko”
Plate 42 [ 210 ] 11. White, N 17, O 18, P 16, 17, Q 16, R 16, S 16. Black , P 18, Q 17, R 17, S 17. 12. White , P 2, Q 2, R 3, 4, S 2. Black, M 3, O 3, P 3, Q 5, R 5, S 3, 4, T 2. 13. White, A 2, B 3, 4, C 5, D 4, 5, F 4, G 2, 3. Black , B 2, C 3, 4, D 3, E 3, F 2. 14. White , C 15, 16, 17, D 16. Black, C 14, D 14, 15, 17, 18, E 16, F 17. 15. White, N 17, O 18, P 16, 17, Q 15, R 15, S 16. Black , P 18, Q 16, 17, S 17. 16. White , R 2, 4, S 3. Black, O 3, P 4, Q 2, 4, R...
3 minute read
IV. Reciprocal Attacks (“Semeai”)
IV. Reciprocal Attacks (“Semeai”)
11. White, O 2, 4, P 2, 4, Q 2, 3, 5, R 5, 7, S 4. Black , M 3, N 2, 3, O 3, P 3, Q 4, R 3, 4. [ 211 ] Plate 43 [ 212 ] 12. White , Q 11, 12, 13, R 11, 14, 15, S 16, T 14. Black, Q 14, 15, R 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, S 11, 13. 1. ( Plate 44 , A) White, K 14, 16, 18, L 18, M 13, N 13, 15, O 16, P 14, 17. Black , M 16, 18, N 14, 17, Q 14, 15, 16, R 17. 2. ( Plate 44 , B) White , N 5, O 4, 6, P 4, Q 3, 8, R 3, 8, S 3, 4, 7, 9. Black, N 6, P 5, 6, 8, 9, R 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, S 5. 3. (...
2 minute read
V. Connecting Groups
V. Connecting Groups
10. White, C 12, 17, D 9, 14, 18, E 10, 12, 13, 17, F 17, G 15, H 12, 14. Black , C 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, D 10, E 15, 16, F 13, 14. 11. White , H 17, J 17, K 17, N 15, O 15, 17, P 17. Black, J 16, K 14, 16, M 14, 16, N 16, O 13, Q 14, 17, R 16. 12. White , Q 8, 9, R 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, S 2. Black, P 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, Q 2, 5, 10, R 2, 7, S 1. 1. ( Plate 45 , A) White , P 18, Q 15, 16, 17, R 17, 18, S 17. Black, O 17, 18, P 14, 16, Q 14, R 14, 16, S 16, 18, T 17. 2. ( Plate 45 , B) White, N 5, O 4, P...
3 minute read
VI. “Oi otoshi”
VI. “Oi otoshi”
Plate 45 [ 215 ] 3. ( Plate 45 , C) White, A 16, B 13, 15, 17, 18, C 14, 19, D 16, 17, 18, E 13, 16, F 16, G 14, 15. Black , B 16, C 15, 16, 17, 18, D 15, E 15, F 15, 17, G 16, 17. 4. ( Plate 45 , D) White , B 3, C 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, D 2, E 3, F 2. Black, A 3, B 2, 4, 5, 6, C 2, 7, D 7, E 4, 6, F 4, G 2, 3. 5. White , A 3, B 4, C 4, D 3, 4, F 2, 3, 4. Black, B 3, C 3, 5, 6, D 2, E 2, 6, F 1, G 2, 4, 5, H 3. 6. White, A 18, B 15, 17, C 14, 18, D 14, 19, E 14, 18, F 15,...
3 minute read
VII. Cutting
VII. Cutting
1. T 19. 2. T 2, S 1, T 4, Q 2, R 1. 3. A 18, A 16, B 16. 4. B 2, C 1, B 1, D 1, C 2. 5. A 2, B 1, A 4 or A 2, A 4, B 1. 6. C 17, C 18, D 17, E 17, B 18, D 18, A 18, B 19, A 12, A 14, B 14. 7. O 18, N 18, Q 17, R 18, P 18, N 17, R 17, O 19, R 19, P 19, T 17 or O 18, P 18, R 18, or O 18, R 18, P 18. 8. S 2, R 1, S 1. 9. B 1, A 2, B 2. 10. A 17, B 19, B 18, A 14, C 19, A 16, A 19, B 17, B 16. 11. T 16, T 18, T 14 or T 16, S...
9 minute read
SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS
SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS
11. T 16, T 18, T 14 or T 16, S 12, T 18. 12. S 5, S 6, T 5. 13. C 1. 14. B 19. 15. S 18, S 19, S 13, T 18, S 15, T 17, T 14 or S 18, S 13, T 16. 16. S 5, T 5, T 4, S 4, T 2, T 6, Q 2, or S 5, T 5, T 4, S 4, T 2, Q 2, S 3, T 4, T 6, T 4, T 5, S 1, S 8. 17. A 3, B 1, B 2, E 3, A 1, A 2, C 1. 18. F 17, G 17, F 18, G 18, D 18, E 18, D 19, E 19, D 16, F 19, B 19, A 18, B 18, A 17, D 14, C 18, B 17, C 19, B 16, or F 17, G 17,...
11 minute read