Understanding How to Play Go
By Yuan Zhou
Cover show/hide
Details show/hide
| Title | Understanding How to Play Go |
|---|---|
| Author | Yuan Zhou |
| Publisher | Slate & Shell |
| Code | ssyz003 |
| Date | 2000 |
| ISBN | 0-9706193-0-8 |
| Pages | 210 |
| Dimensions | 8 1/2. x 5 1/2. - 217mm x 140mm |
| Sample pages | ssyz003.pdf |
| Publisher's URL | http://www.slateandshell.com/ssyz003.html |
Blurb show/hide
Yuan Zhou is one of the strongest Go players in America. Before coming to the US in 1989, he was recognized in his native China as having unusual talent and received professional training for three years. Shortly after settling in MAryland, Zhou began to rise to the top of US Go. Among his achievements are winning the mid-Atlantic Championship in 1990 and 2000, the Eastern Open in 1992, the University of MAryland Open in 1993 and 1994, a NOVA quarterly Tournaments in 1993 and 1999, the New Jersey Open in 1995, 1996 and 1997, and the Pennsylvania Open in 2000. In 1992 Zhou placed 5th in the World Youth Championship Senior Division as the US representative, and he has been an invited participant in the North American Fujitsu Tournaments five time, in 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997 and 2001. He is also a regular participant in the annual US Ing Invitational Tournament.
Zhou's commentaries on his games included in this book were first presented to the HoCoGo Club in Maryland in the Summer of 1995, with the exception of the Fujitsu game with Jimmy Cha, which was presented to the Greater Washington Go Club in January of 1996. Since the commentaries are directed at both kyu and dan level players, they are unusually accessible as well as quite thorough. This book is based on video tapes of those presentations.
Zhou discussed each game with his opponent and also went over every game with a professional. As a result, he is able to talk about what both players were thinking at each stage of the game and also provide a high level critique of the play. In order to make the commentaries easier to follow and enjoy, we show very few moves per game diagram, usually only one or two. This way it is not necessary to set the games up on a board in order to study them effectively, although doing so allows you to consider variations more thoroughly.
Contents show/hide
| Game 1: Versus Peng Liu (Black) | ...1 | |
| Final Round, US Open, August 1994 | ||
| Game 2: Versus Michael Zeng (White) | ...41 | |
| Fourth Round, US Open, August 1994 | ||
| Game 3: Versus Jimmy Cha (White) | ...79 | |
| Second Round, North American Fujitsu, November 12, 1995 | ||
| Game 4: Versus Jae Moon Kim (Black) | ...113 | |
| Fourth Round, Maryland Open, May 26, 1995 | ||
| Game 5: Versus I-han Lui (Black) | ...139 | |
| Open Section, HoCoGo Picnic Games, June 11, 1995 | ||
| Game 6: Versus Soo Il-kim (Black) | ...167 | |
| Third Round, North American Fujitsu, November 22, 1992 | ||
| Game 7: Versus Kevin Young Lee (Black) | ...187 | |
| Open Section, HoCoGo Picnic Games, June 11, 1995 | ||
Reviews show/hide
Review by Michael Turk (AGA) show/hide 15/10/2001
| Review Author | Michael Turk (AGA) | Reviewer Strength | 10k |
For a long time there has been a need for kyu-level commentaries of games between strong players and this book hits the target dead-center.
Providing blow-by blow descriptions of seven high-level amateur games, the book presents the material in a fashion designed to make all moves clear to kyu level players. Each diagram contains very few moves and most moves are commented. Variations are also discussed.
I found that I did not have to set out the game on a board, but could read the book and commentary while commuting. I expect that I will read and re-read this book and look forward to the foreshadowed companion book on commented handicap games.
My congratulations to the publishing team at Slate and Shell for producing yet another long- needed book that is designed not only to be read by those players destined to become strong dan level players but also for those of us who may never reach those lofty heights and who play go for the sheer thrill and enjoyment of the game regardless of our strength. Look out stronger players, us low kyu's have a secret weapon! By discussing the reasons behind virtually every move, our understanding of the game is going to grow and we are going to get stronger.