This book features an all-too-rare combination, an author who not only a strong player but a good teacher, too. Based on four principles - two of attack and two of defense, "ABCs" is designed for weaker middle-level kyu players. Chapter 1 illustrates four basic principles of attack and defense in relation to the sanrensei (three star points in a row) formation. Chapter 2 applies these principles to handling the two-sided two-space-high and the two-space- high and knight's move double approaches. The basic principles are clearly reinforced and some supplementary principles are also expounded. Chapter 3 demonstrates the movement of the stones in accordance with the four basic principles when black uses a pincer within 4-stone handicap games, again reinforcing the basic principles. It also briefly looks at building a moyo. The final chapter looks at 3-stone handicap games and illustrates the use of miai. And, again, the basic principles are reinforced with examples of fighting. One of the skills that I lack at my level is the ability to fight effectively or consistently, particularly against stronger players in a handicap game. This book is a sort of fighting primer. It contains examples from illustrative games and various joseki and tesuji for attack and defense. The emphasis is on understanding rather than memorization. I am looking forward to surprising my regular opponents in the Sydney Go Club and on kgs with an improved ability to fight in the next few months as the result of applying the principles contained within this book.

Handicap go is extremely valuable because it emphasises the fundamentals. Here, Michael Redmond uses typical handicap sequences to illustrate the essentials of fighting-the ABCs of attack and defence. These are sealing the opponent in and disconnecting his stones, getting out into the open and connecting one's own stones, respectively. He shows you how these basics apply in different circumstances, such as double approaches, aiming at weak points, and moyo building. He also includes chapters on setting up miai points in the opening and on countering plays on the 5-3 and 5-4 points (these chapters are short but very welcome since they show alternatives to the usual joseki in which one invades the corner but ends up getting shut in).

Redmond's style is thorough but economical: he shows you how to play simply but correctly, without unnecessary adventures. Although he takes his examples from handicap games, everything he says can and should be applied to even games. What makes this a great book is that he articulates the simplest and most fundamental concepts in the clearest imaginable way: he has a way of making the things you "kind of know sort of vaguely" come into sharp focus. For example, I had been trying to make my play more "multi-purpose" for a while but with indifferent results. Then, I read this book and found myself making multi-purpose moves naturally, since Redmond's ABCs of attack and defence had shown me what I ought to be aiming at.

I'd recommend this book to anybody who wants to improve their fighting skills, not because it teaches you tesuji or clever techniques, but because it shows you how to apply them.