This book features the first five games of the historic ten-game match between Gu Li and Lee Sedol (the remaining games are featured in Part Two of this series), two players who have dominated go in the first decade of the 21st century. For years, these two have been rivals, competing for the top spots in numerous international go tournaments. Both are famous for their severe attacks and their fighting skills. Gu has a thick style, accompanied by an exquisite feeling for the opening from which he often emerges with an advantage. In contrast, Lee plays a fast, profit-oriented game, leaving...

Good shape is a subject that has received scant attention in Japanese go literature. Although references to shape are made in most books, there is no one book devoted exclusively to this subject. However, understanding and recognizing good shape is important for becoming a strong player and developing intuition that will instantly guide you to find the strongest moves in the opening and the middle-game fighting. Shapes are the building blocks of your groups. They determine whether your stones are working together efficiently or are sitting in each other's way. Good shape is a source of...