I'm Learning Strategy from this Go Book

[@dialecticsjunkie7653]

We should give props to Ma Xiaochun for having such accurate analysis because keep in mind, he wrote this book before AI was even on the horizon! A lot of books written by "famous pros" are actually ghostwritten largely by weaker players, lightly edited by the big name, and put out. This is one of those rarer go books where it's extremely clear that the pro that lent his name actually painstakingly did all the work himself. That's why its quality stands out.

[@TheBlazers68]

As an 8kyu, I was really happy that the first move I saw was the move that was suggested! I wonder if this is one of those moves that's easier for beginners to find, because it's often not a good move, but here it does work. Its like the bell curve meme: 8 kyu - 'make knight move extension from my alive group so I can attack a dragon' 1 dan - 'Noooo, it's too slow! you need to be lighter and more efficient' 9p - 'make knight move extension from my alive group to attack a dragon'

[@hushvirginia]

Also an 8k here. And I also found this move immediately. I was shocked when it was the right one.

[@ryuuguu01]

I saw a knight's move but not the right one. I chose H15, not the correct J16. Probably too close to white strength and not attacking the weak stone as much.

[@knotwilg3596]

I had this book before I donated my library to the local club. I was a big fan of both the content and the author but I could not rationally make sense of it. So I'm very interested to see what you found so valuable about it.

[@semyonNomis]

I got this book! I haven't gone through it yet, it got some dense diagrams. It's great that you recommend it, now I have more motivation to read and play out the diagrams in the book!

[@Ojja78]

I learned go years ago and read about 15 books, studied really hard and got better incredibly quickly, but I stalled out at around 1k-2k because the people I was playing with were at that level and I just could never get past it. I never read this book, but I like learning basic principles and applying them.

[@thumper8684]

I love this book, even though it is a touch above my level. Ma Xiaochun uses precise readings of life and death situations that frankly I find intimidating. If I were to start my own go channel, this book would feature heavily at the start. There are a lot of very dense diagrams that you need to play out on a board to follow. Also the chapter headings are so click-baity.

[@ewallt]

This is one of my favorite books!

[@Vinyl-Go-Pilates_Reiner]

Thank you !

[@user-qn9ku2fl2b]

Super clear as always, thanks! Given your description of the problem I thought that the turn at H10 (or J9) was the pivotal point of the board, so I'd be curious to know how this would fare with AI. It wasn't an attack though so it didn't fit the theme. I feel like the described strategy ends up being: attack white's top G14 group to force it to lean on black's center H11 group so as to get a J9-ish move in sente, then attack K3 (or attack the top if white refuses to take gote there) Also this game position is an interesting case of why we should be wary of AI score estiamtes-black is only +5 ahead conditionally on their finding of a cunning move, and if black does find the move white's only able to stay afloat with insane strategies. So for all of us amateurs, it would be more accurate to say that the game is currently balanced. Unless black can find J16 then all of a sudden black is 15 points ahead. When the score estimate depends on sequences that are inhuman (or inaccesible to amateurs) it's not very useful really

[@telegraphgo]

Turning is just a bit slack, white connects the top side and black's forced to play a slow territory-oriented game with nothing too special. Black would still be leading a bit according to my AI. Regarding AI score estimates, being wary is generally fine. This is a case where I and most strong dan players could easily agree with Ma Xiaochun about the positional judgement, though. Black doesn't need to be cunning to be leading, just if he wants to win on the spot. I think the worse common tendency among players these days is more subversive. Those who respect AI too much tend to disregard some of the things they don't understand as "magic". Because there are very occasionally some things AI will tell you that even the best humans wouldn't truly comprehend, players will assume they're walking into a literal dead end of inhumanity whenever the going gets tough. I think almost every score estimate and judgement AI gives in relatively normal positions (not moves, just judgements) could be approximately understood by even DDK players with the dedication and motivation to try.

[@hushvirginia]

😮😮😮 I guessed J16 right away before even looking at the bottom. I’m shook.

[@FinnRoozendaal]

Buying this

[@hippophile]

I found the first move! I had the right idea! Unfortunately I didn't find the second move ( I wanted to hane) or the third move (I wanted to turn)... LOL!

[@ewallt]

K15 is what I thought of.

[@godkingcthulhu138]

🐙

[@thecommiesareincontrol9263]

Don’t overextend. Don’t chew off more than you can handle. Don’t spaz out.

[@Fanaro]

Machiavelli would have been quite the player.

[@sandybarnes887]

Invincible is the only Go book I have