GO Invasion et reduction

   

GO: Invasion et réduction
By: Lee Chang-Ho
Translator: Francis Juh, Jean-Philippe Leduc
Publisher: Chiron?, 2003
ISBN10 978-2-7027-1020-3 and 2-7027-0977-X
303, 326 pp.

Reviews

Robert Jasiek's [ext] review.

A short review by Minismurf: Minismurf/ On Korean Go Books, including a link to a sample.

Blitzcrank: (this review refers to the french issue of the book) In his book GO: Invasion & réduction, divided in two volumes, Lee Changho describes various techniques of invading and reduction through examples taking entirely from his games. Each volume consists of two chapters, chapter 1: Invasion and chapter 2: Réduction. The material is not organised any further, instead each sub-chapter deals with one particular situation in which an invasion or a reduction were expedient.

As mentioned above, the material is taken entirely from Lee Changho's games, notably very important title matches and other, now "legendary" games, from the decade 1990 - 1999. For example, a moyo invasion from the match against Takemiya Masaki during the 3rd Fujtsu Cup, 1990-04-09, is presented. Most of the presented games were played against Cho Hun-hyeon.

Each sub-chapter starts with a diagram of the situation to be assessed. On the following page, the moves leading to the situation are given. Then, possible and actual variations are presented and discussed in meticulous detail. As the reader will notice, many of the games start with nirensei vs. nirensei, the mini-chinese fuseki comes up often, too. I think this is a great plus for the amateur reader, since the nirensei pattern comes up often in amateur play and it is not so easy to find material about it. I encouter the nirensei often on KGS.

As an example, I want to show a sample invasion:

[Diagram]
Sample invasion  

Black's answers a, b, c, d and e to white's invasion are examined, but a, b, c and d are discarded.

[Diagram]
Follow-up  

Then, the various possible follow-ups are examined. One good variation is shown here. Then the possible moves are again assessed and so on.


All in all, the different situations are very thoroughly explained. As a plus, many of these invasion often occur in "normal" games which is very useful to amateur players, and standard invasion techniques are explained, similar to Fundamental Principles of Go. Also, Lee Changho makes often use of probes and explains the ideas behind them. It is explained through the examples when to invade and when to reduce, and in general how to use accumulated thickness to create profit.

One must say that the level of the book is quite high. Lee Changho critisizes his own moves and these of other 9 dan pros. But even if I, a KGS 2 kyu, had troubles following all the explanations, I think people around my level or stronger can get something out of the book. I think it is comparable to a book like, say, A Way of Play for the 21st Century, which you read to get inspired, new ideas etc. I prefer the chapter invasion over the chapter reduction, probably because I deem it a little easier...

The material is not very well organised, but I think the idea is to go through the book once. Then, I just marked my favourite pages with labels...

As mentioned at the beginning, the book is in french language, which is my not my mother tongue, but even I noticed the excellent translation, carefully translating japanese go terms to french. A Quote from History Of Go In France 1965-2007:

"[2003] The first volume of "Invasion & Réduction", written in 1998 by Lee ChangHo, is translated by Francis JUH, a 3-dan korean player living in France, and Jean-Philippe LEDUC, a french 2-dan. This is the first time such an important body of high-level material is published in french."

These two books are among my favourite go books, maybe because I love Lee Changho, but also because I think in this book everything matches: the language style, the diagrams, the big pages, the content...


GO Invasion et reduction last edited by 81.134.22.123 on January 9, 2014 - 22:26
RecentChanges · StartingPoints · About
Edit page ·Search · Related · Page info · Latest diff
[Welcome to Sensei's Library!]
RecentChanges
StartingPoints
About
RandomPage
Search position
Page history
Latest page diff
Partner sites:
Go Teaching Ladder
Goproblems.com
Login / Prefs
Tools
Sensei's Library