Reading

Reading is the mental process of analysing lines of play (also known as variations or branches). This process requires backtracking to try all necessary possibilities. Normally one reads to see if one can achieve a particular objective such as a capture. Some people experience difficulty reading, but it is a necessary skill to develop in order to improve.

After reading the same move many times, it becomes instinctual. We simply see the move, and our appreciation of the game grows.

One way to develop reading skills is to set up a situation on a goban or one of the Go Editing Programs that supports variations. Work out as many variations as you like. Restore the situation and then read out the variations in your mind. This is a good way to teach yourself go.

Reading is also a city in the UK which has a Go Club. The pronunciation is different, though ("Redding" in the case of the city).

See also

• How to read: What is supposed to be 'reading'
• Reading depth and Reading width: Basic definitions
• Reading Problems: Some problems to train on
• How Does Reading Ahead Correlate to Rank: Talk about this interesting subject
• About Reading Things Out: A problem from a real game
• Difficulty Reading: Problems we share when reading
• Improving Reading: Not finished, feel free to improve it
• Ladder/Reading Techniques: Some interesting ideas about reading ladders
• Tactical Reading: book by Robert Jasiek
• The Important Skill of Calculation Starts With Doing Life and Death Problems Requires password.