Learn the Fundamentals

Focus on the basics. If you want to play basketball or soccer well, you must first learn to dribble and pass well enough so these actions become second nature as you play. It is the same with Go. You must internalize the fundamentals well enough that they become part of your nature. I am sometimes frustrated when a stronger player points out a move of mine that demonstrates my lack of understanding of the fundamentals. I can only smile when I play games with weaker players and see them groan when they realize they have made a "dumb" mistake, one that I saw long before they did. I know then that I am slowly gaining knowledge of the fundamentals.

The fundamentals consist of things like understanding ladders and nets, principles of connecting and cutting, the difference between territory and influence or invading and reducing. Good shape, proper study of joseki (corner patterns), spotting tesuji (exquisite moves), and even solid end game plays are all fundamentals.

The problem with playing Go in the United States (or anywhere outside of East Asia, really) is that few players, even strong players, have a solid foundation in all of the fundamentals. We learn by playing other people. Unfortunately, most Westerners are learning from people who don't have the traditional framework of the fundamentals given by a teacher in a formal setting.

So, how do we then learn the fundamentals? Fortunately, today there are many English language Go books available from bookstores and Go equipment retailers. These books, typically written by professional players provide a way to study sound fundamental principles. Also available are teachers who are either professional Go players or very strong amateurs. These teachers can guide us through the pitfals of erroneous thinking and help us cement the fundamental principles that we read about and see in our games and the games of others.

I have a number of books that I would recommend as a place for newer players to begin their study of the fundamentals. These books can and should be revisited as you get stronger, just as some dan-level amateurs need continued improvement in the fundamentals. Information about these books and others I have personally read are available by clicking the "Books" tab to the left.