Many Go books promise to explain the fundamentals: here is one that really keeps its promise. Kageyama's subjects are connectivity, good and bad shape, the way stones should 'move', the difference between territory and spheres of influence, how to use thickness and walls, how to train yourself to read, where to start looking in a life-and-death problems - matters so fundamental that other writers miss them completely. He also points out the right ways to study - how to study josekis, for example. "What changed me from an amateur into a professional was getting a really firm grip on the fundamentals," writes Kageyama. The essence of 7 years an amateur and 22 years professional playing experience are distilled into these pages and they are filled with advice that all Go players will find practical.
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