Opening Theory Made Easy: Twenty Strategic Principles to Improve Your Opening Game

by Otake Hideo

AA

Genres: Go, Games, Nonfiction

170 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1992

Reviews

[Mark Jeffs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book on the opening principles of Go. It introduces "twenty strategic principles" through a series of diagrams showing the "better" strategic ideas along with mistakes. It's hard when starting to play Go to see why one move is better than another especially in the opening game. This book introduces ideas in a way that shows why certain moves are "weaker" than others through examples and engaging the reader with questions and problems. It will be a book I will review and study to get the most out of.

The grammar and spellings are incorrect on some diagrams but they are minor and still easy to follow.

[Serge Pierro · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for the beginner Go player. Otake Hideo presents twenty strategic principles to guide the player through the opening phase of the game. Outstanding instruction is provided with both the correct line of play, and examples of the incorrect line of play, so that the student can fully understand the material presented and the concepts behind it. Normally when I am done reading a book, I quickly move onto the next (as I usually have a stack of books that I want to read), but in this case, I will be reading it again, as I feel that there is so much beneficial material here, that it is going to take multiple readings to grasp it all. Highly Recommended!

[Tran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Opening, for me, is the most difficult part. Different from chess players who start from having everything on board, Go players start from having nothing. Though intuition may play quite a big role in this stage of the game, there are certain principles (fuseki) that can guide our rational thinking and that what Otake Hideo offered in his book. Very useful.

[Marks54 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an accessible book on effective opening lines in the game of GO.

[Valentyn Danylchuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good "second book to read" on Go game. It covers many aspects of the game in a practical and accessible way, like illustrated proverbs. Aside from what you would expect from "opening theory", it provides a good introduction on things like shape and fighting patterns – enough to play a rich, meaningful game through the first 100 moves. It does ignore the endgame, life&death, details of ko fights and capture races, as expected.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good book on the opening in go. I'll see how it goes in my games. Did I pay attention? Will I remember the 20 principles this book expounds?

[Hieu Dang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rất cơ bản và quan trọng khi mới học cờ vây. Sách viết dễ hiểu nhưng vẫn cần đọc nhiều lần cho nhớ :)

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

A couple useful concepts but mostly examples, as Go books generally are.

[Azalea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book so much that I’ve read it three times in the past two weeks. It suits 15-10 kyu players in my opinion. It covers the fundamental principles to make moves and develop the game. It is concise yet very thoughtful. The examples are clear and straightforward to illustrate principles of Go, not limited to the opening stage.

[Mish · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books on Go I've read so far. Great tips and easily explained examples. Really straightforward and simple to implement into your game.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extremely clear and succinct guide to the principles used in opening play, with well-described examples demonstrating what to do, what not to do, and why.

The principles I found most eye-opening are avoiding "family feuds" (defending in a way that induces the opponent to attack another group), not attaching against weak stones (which induce the opponent to strengthen them), and not clinging to stones that have already achieved the purpose.

On the last point Otake gives a couple of examples of stones that should be protected, which directly applied to a recent game when a "sacrifice" on my part allowed my opponent to settle his group.

This is an excellent text containing principles that are well worth returning to. It is perfect for my post-novice level.

[it me · Rating 4 out of 5]

Must-know concepts. Clear and easy to understand. All the diagrams are short sequences of moves with perhaps a couple of variations. It lives up to it's name.

[Coryke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Opening Theory Made Easy is a solid list of principles that, while focused on the early game, are helpful at the very least through the late mid-game. The principles are laid out clearly and thoughtfully, and most principles build on something offered earlier. Many go books often stop one step too early for me in their explanations, and this book falls into this pattern for me once in a while (though not as often as other books). Yet, either I am getting better at this or the author is better at leading the reader to understand the following steps of an example which he is omitting.

This is a great book on a great game and readers / players will benefit from multiple reads.

[Damon · Rating 5 out of 5]

For those of you interested in improving your game of Go, this is an excellent book that explains with clear detail and good diagrams, different principles and theories of opening moves. This book doesn't go into Joseki's or Fuseki's or fighting, it only covers the first twenty moves of a game and explains why these are the most crucial moves that lead to the middle game. A must have for any Go player interested in improving their game.

[Zach May · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific guide to the opening moves of go. Covers a number of important principles, with enlightening examples. Each idea discussed gets only 5 to 10 pages of coverage, so the real role of this book is not as a reference, but as an introduction to concepts that the reader needs to explore in their own games. That said, Otake's coverage is lucid and accessible.

[Vincent Eisman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly beautiful book for the game of Go. Easy to read, elegant and applicable to a broad range of players, this book is my top suggestion for go books beyond an introduction to the game. Opening concepts are laid out in broad, easy to remember principles. It is also pleasurable to read.

[Leandro Ribeiro]

Clear, sober, to the point. Divided in a set of principles that you will remember when you play - even if you only remember them after playing the wrong move.

[Um umitems · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every time I read this book I learn more!

[Frank · Rating 3 out of 5]

Concise, easy to understand opening theory book for beginners.