The Magic of Go
When I am asked by go students how they can become stronger players in the shortest possible time, I first tell them there are no simple, general answers. A player must rely on what he is best at, for example, fighting, the opening, or the endgame, to outplay his opponent. If this describes you, the best way to improve is to leave your strong points alone and concentrate on your weakest points.

In the majority of cases, reading (or calculating) forms the weakest link. Here is some material that can help you.

Geta--capturing in a net

Problem 1: As the white group in the corner is alive, the marked white stone splits the Black stones. How can you capture it?

Problem 2: Black needs to capture the white stones. He can't do so right away. However, with some preparation, he can. How?

Problem 3: The only way for Black to link up his stones is by trapping the marked white stone. How?

Problem 4: Black's marked stones are in trouble. However, he can ensure the capture of White's marked stones. Where should he move?

Problem 5: White's marked stones split the black formations. How can Black trap them?

Solution 1: Black 1 ensures the capture of the marked white stone. Instead of this move, Black can reach the same goal by playing at A. All other moves fail.

Solution 2: Black must force the exchange Black 1 for White 2 before playing at 3 to trap the marked white stones. If he omits the 1-for-2 exchange, White can play at A and Black can't answer at B to prevent the marked stones from escaping (White will cut at C).

Solution 3A: Black 1 is the correct move. White 2 is the strongest counter, but black 3 ensures the capture of the marked stone.

Solution 3B: White can try the strong combination of 4 and 6. While sacrificing the marked black stone, black 7 and 9 capture the marked white stone. Mission accomplished.

Solution 4A: Black 1 traps the marked white stones in a net. White can't escape with a move like A. Black cuts with B, followed by white C, black D, white E and black F. White is out of options.

Solution 4B: White 2 shows more venom. However, black 3 takes away a liberty and freedom in general. White can't escape as the sequence to 9 shows. After this move, White's stones are in atari (down to their last liberty) and he can't connect at 3 either.

Solution 5A: Black 1 captures the marked stones. After the forcing moves 6 and 8, White seems to pull off a major success by capturing with 10. However#0x85# Solution 5B: Black 11 through 15 force White to play 12, 14 and 16. Next, black 17 catches the culprits. The exchange white 18 for 19 is fruitless. White is trapped.

Caution: Problems in go books are much easier to solve than those in real games.

Semi-geta, or squeeze

Have a look at Solution 5 again. Black did trap all of White' stones, but even if he hadn't--for example, if he hadn't been able to connect at 19--the result would still be terrific for him. Black's wall is overwhelming. We often refer to these semi-geta shapes as a "squeeze."

Problem 6: Based on solutions 5A and B, can you find a good combination for Black?

Problem 7: Black has two stones clinging to White's wall. How can Black save one of them using a nice squeeze?

Problem 8: This kind of situation often happens in real life. The marked black stones are dead. How can Black squeeze the most out of their existence? Find the answers to problems 6 to 8 next week.

Want to find out more? Come to Ben's Cafe in Takadanobaba (03-3202-2445 or www.benscafe.com), where the English-speaking go community congregates every Sunday starting at 11 a.m. You can enjoy free lessons until 1 p.m.

Van Zeijst is a four-time European go champion and European representative at the Fujitsu World Championship.

By Richard Bozulich

By Rob van Zeijst

  1. Example of a pro game
  2. Insight to the pro game
  3. The basics of territory
  4. Be proactive
  5. Take the Initiative
  6. The endgame
  7. The Last Points
  8. Last week's problem
  9. The endgame
  10. Endgame Tesuji
  11. As expected,
  12. Kisei Title
  13. Balancing attack,
  14. Balancing attack and defense
  15. Tobi, kosumi, keima
  16. Tobi, kosumi, keima
  17. The end of the game
  18. O Rissei keeps Kisei title
  19. Solutions to last week's problems
  20. Over the next few weeks
  21. Efficiency calls for good shape
  22. Get an eye for shape
  23. Middle of three stones
  24. Kosumi: pros and cons
  25. Defects of kosumi
  26. Kosumi
  27. Hazama
  28. Attacking
  29. Where there is a keima, there is a cut
  30. Cutting keima the right way
  31. Visualization is a must
  32. Function over form
  33. Rationality
  34. Intuition
  35. Realistic approach
  36. Connecting stones
  37. The so-called cosmic style
  38. Ponnuki
  39. Ponnuki
  40. Ponnuki
  41. Sabotage
  42. Ponnuki and Ko
  43. Fighting ko effectively
  44. Handicap go
  45. Handicap go
  46. The nine-stone handicap
  47. Basics of handicap go
  48. 5 more basic principles of handicap go
  49. Yoda defends Meijin Titlego
  50. Original ideas
  51. The third part of the game
  52. In go, it is easier to...
  53. A good way to improve a game
  54. A big gap between genders
  55. World Championship for Women
  56. Hane defends the Tengen Title
  57. 7-stone handicap
  58. Let's start the New Year...
  59. 9x9 pro game
  60. 9x9 pro game
  61. The following is...
  62. The Go player's...
  63. Of the three most prestigious titles, ...
  64. This is the third installment in a series...
  65. Achallenger has to overcome many obstacles....
  66. In the battle for the 42 million yen.....
  67. Only one week after losing his Kisei.....
  68. After recently losing his Kisei title.....
  69. It is a well-established fact that.....
  70. Go--The first step
  71. Some basics about the pro world
  72. How deep can a pro read?.....
  73. Who are the best go players.....
  74. Can computers play go?.....
  75. Last week, we established.....
  76. Computers have led to a flourishing.....
  77. Though I recommend that you join a go club.....
  78. Last week, we finally got to the point where we discovered that.....
  79. Some people like to offer quotations aimed at showing .....
  80. One of the best and most authoritative Web sites for.....
  81. At the beginner levels, go is an easy game to play.....
  82. We often do things in life without thinking.....
  83. We are often told to do the right thing.....
  84. Following a pattern set by others is easy.....
  85. This week's Go Weekly, a Japanese weekly go newspaper.....
  86. How fast can you do a job and do it right.....
  87. When I am asked by go students how they can.....
  88. Books have been written on the subject.....
  89. Go players are always quick to point out that go is a superior.....
  90. The last few weeks were devoted to tactical issues.....
  91. The fifth and final game in the best-of-five Gosei title match .....
  92. The dividing of land, property, and things of .....
  93. Fireworks are expected between current Meijin .....
  94. Dividing land, property or living space in one's own favor is .....
  95. The dream match between the current Kisei .....
  96. Three games have now been completed in the best-of-seven series.....
  97. We have talked strategy over the past few weeks.....
  98. In study, in all branches of sport.....
  99. The most important things a go beginner.....
  100. In many games and sports,.....
  101. How do you do confront your fears?.....
  102. In go, you cannot expect to deal with.....
  103. When your opponent is much stronger than you.....
  104. Using the power of your opponent for.....
  105. The combination of aggressiveness, .....
  106. Last week, there was some good news for.....
  107. On Dec. 18, in the fifth game of.....
  108. Go Weekly, which hits the nation's newsstands every Monday.....
  109. In go, the beginner must try to master the basics of life and.....
  110. Last week, we started a new series on life and.....
  111. This is the third article in a series on life-and.....
  112. In this article, the fourth in a series, we will take.....
  113. This is the fifth installment of tsume go.....
  114. Practice, practice, practice. This is the way to improve.....
  115. The Kisei title match, worth more than $400,000.....
  116. The Kisei title match, worth more than $400,000.....
  117. For a champion, 25-year-old Keigo Yamashita has.....
  118. In two-day best-of-seven matches.....
  119. Naoki Hane has iron nerves.....
  120. The game of go can be as easy or as difficult.....
  121. On April 18 and 25, the TV Tokyo network will.....
  122. Give and take is widely used in daily life to strike.....
  123. Although go has a history of almost 4,000 years.....
  124. The adage "Chess was invented but go was discovered".....
  125. Unlike chess, in which a board position.....
  126. Over the past few weeks we have concentrated.....
  127. Go is sometimes perceived as a more difficult game than chess
  128. Last week, I stressed that the objective of go was to.....
  129. Anyone can learn the basics of go.
  130. Go can be considered a zero-sum game as .....
  131. If you play a strategic game like go, taking or keeping .....