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Invincible: The Games of Shusaku
THE SAINT OF Shusaku was the leading player of the golden age of go in the mid-19th century. He has become known to later generations as the Saint of Go (Kisei or Gosei) and is recognized by modern players as one of the greatest geniuses in the history of the game. His victories over his contemporaries in a number of matches contributed to his reputation, but its main foundation is his perfect record, not even approached by any other player, of nineteen successive wins in the annual castle games played in the presence of the shogun. SHUSAKU'S Shusaku is considered the best model for aspiring professional players to study, especially his games with black. He was unexcelled in his complete mastery of the strategic principles and the practical techniques of go. His games are a treasure house of all the varied elements of the game, from the fuseki to the endgame, but in particular they provide amateur players with ideal material for studying the art of fighting in the middle game. Here are some 20th century views of "Shusaku simplified the complexity of go, concealing his great strength and profound analysis beneath the smooth surface of his game... It is not an exaggeration to say that all the principles and all the techniques of go are embodied in concentrated form in Shusaku's go." - Segoe Kensaku 9-dan "The speed and forcefulness of Shusaku's play with black are like lightning striking the go board; his skill at finishing off his opponent once he took the lead is unrivalled." - Hayashi Yutaka, go historian
420 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1982
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 19, 2009
Shusaku was one of the leading players of the mid 19th century, who's innovations and style in joseki's and fighting are still played today. This book contains eighty reviewed games from his early career to the last games of his life. Highlighted in this collection, are all of his Castle games in which he played in the presence of the Shogun, and many of his famous games such as his twenty three game match series against Ota Yuzo, (which contains some of the most facinating games I've ever studied,) and even his famous game against Gennan Inseki in which he played "the ear-reddening move of Shusaku."
These games are reviewed by a number of professional Go players, including Go Seigen, Ishida Yoshio, Kato Shin, Miyamoto Naoki, Kitani Minoru, and many others. The commentary is very deep and comprehensive. The commentators offer up many diagrams showing alternative results of certain plays, and how that effect the out come. In this way, the commentators are able to give precise examples of why certain moves are played and not others. They also offer up many alternative scenarios that may have worked better to the benefits of one player or the other. In the second section of the book are another fifty-eight non-commentated games for further study.
Shusaku's games provide countless lessons to be learned about all areas of the game, including openings, josekis, tesujis, middle game fighting, Ko battles, and the end game. Though it has taken me hundreds of hours to work through this book for the first time, I can easily see myself coming back time and again for further study for many years to come. This book is worth more than it's weight in gold to all students of Go and I recommand this book very highly. I eagerly await further books that cover the careers of today's hottest and best Go players in the same manner that John Power has covered Shusaku.
These games are reviewed by a number of professional Go players, including Go Seigen, Ishida Yoshio, Kato Shin, Miyamoto Naoki, Kitani Minoru, and many others. The commentary is very deep and comprehensive. The commentators offer up many diagrams showing alternative results of certain plays, and how that effect the out come. In this way, the commentators are able to give precise examples of why certain moves are played and not others. They also offer up many alternative scenarios that may have worked better to the benefits of one player or the other. In the second section of the book are another fifty-eight non-commentated games for further study.
Shusaku's games provide countless lessons to be learned about all areas of the game, including openings, josekis, tesujis, middle game fighting, Ko battles, and the end game. Though it has taken me hundreds of hours to work through this book for the first time, I can easily see myself coming back time and again for further study for many years to come. This book is worth more than it's weight in gold to all students of Go and I recommand this book very highly. I eagerly await further books that cover the careers of today's hottest and best Go players in the same manner that John Power has covered Shusaku.
June 21, 2012
This is an amazing collection. The print version is now basically obsolete because of the SmartGo edition. Trying to replay a game with 50-move deep diagrams is awful.
BUT: the amazing usability of the SmartGo edition actually makes this an even better book. Now that I can follow the games in a reasonable way, this collection is PERFECT.
BUT: the amazing usability of the SmartGo edition actually makes this an even better book. Now that I can follow the games in a reasonable way, this collection is PERFECT.
March 31, 2019
It has been said that this is the best go book ever written in English, and that can very well be true. A thoroughly deep commentary on the legendary Shusaku, his games and his playing style. It’s the kind of book one can (and should) come back to time and time again during one’s go career, and always come away with new lessons.
May 8, 2020
Invincible: The Games of Shūsaku is a biography of Shūsaku and a collection of over one hundred and thirty Go game records (kifu) compiled, edited, and translated by John Power. Commentary of only eighty games are given and played by Shūsaku, which is framed by a biography of the Go master.
Shūsaku, born as Kuwabara Torajiro, was a Japanese professional Go player from the 19th century. He is known for his undefeated streak of 19-games during the annual castle games, his thirty-game match with Ōta Yūzo, the eponymous Shūsaku opening, and his posthumous veneration as a Go Sage (Kisei). Next to his teacher, Hon'inbō Shūwa, he is considered to have been the strongest player from his era. He was nicknamed Invincible Shūsaku because of his castle games performance.
The first three chapters focus on the life of Shūsaku, Go in the Edo period, and the style that Shūsaku used and popularized. A helpful chronology of the Hon'inbō House, statistics of Shūsaku’s career, and a glossary of game terms are listed in the preface. His life is further explored as Powers frames the games during that particular point in his life and career.
The eighty plus kifu are categorized into six chapters: Shūsaku's Debut (13), The Encounter with Gennan Inseki (2), Heir to the Hon'inbō House (22), The Sanjubango with Ōta Yūzo (23), Unvanquished (20), and Miscellaneous games (58). All games are analyzed rather well and use language that is for a causal player.
Invincible: The Games of Shūsaku is written extremely well. These kifu are reviewed by a number of professional Go players, including Go Seigen, Ishida Yoshio, Kato Shin, Miyamoto Naoki, Kitani Minoru, and others notables. The commentary is very deep and comprehensive and offers many diagrams showing alternative results of certain plays, and how that could affect the outcome. Furthermore, the commentators are able to give precise examples of why certain moves are played and not others and also offer up many alternative scenarios that may have worked better to the benefits of one player or the other. The second section of the book is another fifty-eight non-commentated games for further study.
All in all, Invincible: The Games of Shūsaku is a wonderful commentary of the life, times, and games of Hon'inbō Shūsaku – a definitive reference to the Kisei.
Shūsaku, born as Kuwabara Torajiro, was a Japanese professional Go player from the 19th century. He is known for his undefeated streak of 19-games during the annual castle games, his thirty-game match with Ōta Yūzo, the eponymous Shūsaku opening, and his posthumous veneration as a Go Sage (Kisei). Next to his teacher, Hon'inbō Shūwa, he is considered to have been the strongest player from his era. He was nicknamed Invincible Shūsaku because of his castle games performance.
The first three chapters focus on the life of Shūsaku, Go in the Edo period, and the style that Shūsaku used and popularized. A helpful chronology of the Hon'inbō House, statistics of Shūsaku’s career, and a glossary of game terms are listed in the preface. His life is further explored as Powers frames the games during that particular point in his life and career.
The eighty plus kifu are categorized into six chapters: Shūsaku's Debut (13), The Encounter with Gennan Inseki (2), Heir to the Hon'inbō House (22), The Sanjubango with Ōta Yūzo (23), Unvanquished (20), and Miscellaneous games (58). All games are analyzed rather well and use language that is for a causal player.
Invincible: The Games of Shūsaku is written extremely well. These kifu are reviewed by a number of professional Go players, including Go Seigen, Ishida Yoshio, Kato Shin, Miyamoto Naoki, Kitani Minoru, and others notables. The commentary is very deep and comprehensive and offers many diagrams showing alternative results of certain plays, and how that could affect the outcome. Furthermore, the commentators are able to give precise examples of why certain moves are played and not others and also offer up many alternative scenarios that may have worked better to the benefits of one player or the other. The second section of the book is another fifty-eight non-commentated games for further study.
All in all, Invincible: The Games of Shūsaku is a wonderful commentary of the life, times, and games of Hon'inbō Shūsaku – a definitive reference to the Kisei.
September 17, 2012
They say that you need to be around a 4 kyu or better before reading it. . . I say if you love Go, you will respect the great players, and what better place to do that than this book that has great commentaries?
August 21, 2023
80 in depth analysis of famous Shusaku games. It's a treasure trove if you have the time for it.
October 3, 2018
I finished reading what was "usual book content" within it. The rest are solid reviews that will take me years to study. Great book :)
October 19, 2023
An amazing man, the highlights of his life and what we know about him, followed by fantastic analyses and recreations of his games. A delight to leaf through at any time and the best way I know to keep the game fresh and interesting.
November 16, 2023
I will be reading this book for a long time.
October 22, 2013
Actually not fully read, but I'm very confident that this book is extremely good book for Go-players.
June 3, 2012
An incomparable resource.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews