Utilizing Outward Influence
By Jin Jiang, Zhoo Zheng
Cover show/hide
Details show/hide
| Title | Utilizing Outward Influence |
|---|---|
| Authors | Jin Jiang, Zhoo Zheng |
| Translator | Dr. Sydney W. K. Yuan |
| Publisher | Yutopian Enterprises |
| Codes | y07, PAY07 |
| Date | 1995 |
| ISBN | 0-9641847-6-1 |
| Pages | 139 |
| Dimensions | 8 3/8. x 5 7/16. - 212mm x 138mm |
| Publisher's URL | https://www.yutopian.com/yutop/cat?product=PAY07 |
Blurb show/hide
Go - Life, Liberty and the puruit of Territory through Connection and Influence. Each player seeks to discover the strategy and tactics necessary to acquire the most territory. Ideally each move should pose multiple threats to create or destroy Life, Connection, Influence and/or Territory.
Influence directed away from the edge of the board (outward influence) consists of long (broad) or short (narrow) strings of stones that cannot be dsiconnected (thickness) or that can be disconnected (thinness) . The range of influence (power) of outward influence is measure by its direction, broadness, narrowness, thickness and/or thinness. Utilizing Outward Influence by Jin Jiang and Zhou Zhang provides a study of how to efficiently build and use outward influence.
Numerous examples of how to contruct thickness and how to avoid thinness are given. Also included are abundant examples of sacrifice and ko tactics that can be used for constructing large territory frameworks (moyos) from outward influence.
Seizing control of the center is vital for gaining the most territory. Additional examples of using pivet points (an entersection on the edge of opposing moyos which, upon occupation by one side, will expand that sides moyo and reduce the opposing moyo) for seizing control of the center are provided.
Utilizing Outward Influence is a book to help one reach shodan strength by reviewing the tactics and strategies used by dan players. Fifty (50) problems and over fifty (50) examples are included which address: How to create thickness and avoid thinness in building outward influence; using outward influence to create moyos; and using outward influence to create territory by attacking.
Contents show/hide
| Chapter 1 - The Basic Concept of Outward Influence | ...1 | ||
| 1) Analysis of Outward Influence in Common Joseki | ...1 | ||
| 2) The Balance of Territory and Outward Influence | ...1 | ||
| a) Some Basic Shapes | ...16 | ||
| b) Gaining Power by Ko Fights | ...22 | ||
| c) Sacrifice Tactics | ...23 | ||
| Chapter 2 - Outward Influence Problems and Solutions | ...27 | ||
| 1) Elementary and Intermediate Problems | ...27 | ||
| Elementary and Intermediate Solutions | ...39 | ||
| 2) Advanced and Dan Level Problems | ...70 | ||
| Advanced and Dan Level Solutions | ...80 | ||
| Chapter 3 - Good Players Seize Control of the Center and Skillfully Utilize Outward Influence | ...110 | ||
| 1) Constructing Large Moyos | ...110 | ||
| 2) Seizing Control of the Center | ...116 | ||
| 3) Whole Board Positional Judgement | ...125 | ||
| Index | ...137 | ||
Reviews show/hide
Review by Lon Atkins (AGA) show/hide 2/04/2002
| Review Author | Lon Atkins (AGA) | Reviewer Strength | 13k |
The first time I approached this book, I knocked at the gate of learning and was turned away. A year later, after reading a column called "A Taste for Thicknesss" in some old Go Worlds, I realized how painfully sketchy was my understanding of this fundamental way of thinking. Returning to Utilizing Outward Influence was a logical step.
This time the book, which admittedly is not written in as lucid a style as I might wish, began to slowly yield its secrets. Chapter 1 is entitled "The Basic Concept of Outward Influence." It sort of plows the ground. The problems in Chapter 2 plant the seeds of understanding. They show the fruit of contrasting approaches to specific situations where outward influence can be developed or exploited. See the right way, then the wrong ways, and let the differences sink in. I am not yet ready for the advanced problems, which claim to be dan level. The elementary problems are hard enough for me.
Chapter 3 says that good players seize control of the center. It deals with whole board thinking in the use of influence. By beating my head repeatedly against the examples, I am gaining a bit of happy knowledge. If you too are happy after struggling hard to gain new knowledge, then this may be a good book for you.
Review by David Carlton show/hide
| Review Author | David Carlton | Reviewer Strength | 1 kyu |
| Author's Email | carlton@bactrian.org | website | http://www.bactrian.org/~carlton/ |
This is a book on influence. It has a chapter on basic concepts, one of problems, and one with more discussion.
I didn't like the first and third chapters very much. They consisted of diagram after diagram, without very much discussion and without much discussion of consequences. If you're comfortable with why outward influence will help you, then that might not be so much of a problem, and just seeing good positions will be enough; but if you're not very good at using outward influence once you've got it, this book won't help you. (Maybe it should be called `Forming Outward Influence'...)
I did like the chapter of problems, though. It's divided into elemntary/intermediate and advanced/dan level sections. I'm an AGA 2k; I got most of the elementary/intermediate problems right, and I hope that I learned something from the explanations of those that I didn't get right. I didn't have as good a record with the advanced/dan level ones, but the solutions were still helpful and I think that once I improve more (or get more patient at thinking about problems before flipping to the solutions!) I'll get more out of those, too.