This is a valuable book is an excellent introduction to the middle game for go players who know the basics. It takes for granted that you are familiar with some basic openings and begins at that point. Focusing on the strategy and tactics of large scale fighting, the authors use the balance between territory and influence to show the reader how to best attack an opponent's stones while defending one's own framework. This book helps novice players develop workable and potent strategies utilizing influence and teaching defense against common attacks. Middle to high kyu players would easily benefit from this volume.

I first read this book when I was about 19K and found it immensely helpful. It sets out basic ideas on how to choose a successful strategy during the middle game. With those principals in mind it gives you specific tesujis or techniques to help put that strategy in play. Next it teaches a few essential defensive moves and three fundamental principals on reducing and invading frameworks. This book helps the novice player place priorities on moves during the chaos that starts to grow during the middle game and encourages players to use their creativity to find their own moves.

For me, reading Akira Ishida's "Attack and Defense" was the beginning of being able to discern indirect ways of playing in situations in the middle game where before I had seen only somewhat clumsy straight-forward moves. The authors begin with a discussion on the difference between territory and power and then turn to chapters on attacking, presenting both general concepts as well as specific attacking moves. Next come chapters on defense, forcing moves, inducing moves, reduction and invasion, and specific information on invading three-space extensions and on fighting ko. There is also a chapter of problems. I have read the book twice, once at about 22k and again at 15k. With each reading, I feel I ran across concepts to mull over as well as practical moves to use in my next game. I look forward to yet another reading in the near future.

This book is an introduction to the middle game. Its chapters are on Territory and Pawer, Attacking Strategy, Attacking Moves, Defense, Forcing Moves, Inducing Moves, Reducing and Invading Large Frameworks, Invasions into Three-Space Extensions, Ko Fights, and Problems. So it gives an introduction to all of the things that you should think about in the middle game.

I was a lot less confused about the middle game after reading this book than before. I still wasn't very good at it, but at least I had a framework to think about my moves. I've found this a useful one to come back to, as well - each time I read it, I think I understand the middle game, then I play some more, slowly get more and more confused about the middle game, at which point I go back and read this book again, and learn something new that I didn't understand the last time.