Robert Jasiek
2015-12-21 11:46:31 UTC
My 12th book Positional Judgement 2 - Dynamics teaches the dynamic
aspects of the middle game (reductions, invasions, influence, aji,
fights etc.) and the related positional judgement with theory and
examples, and also has 100 problems. The book is for 5 kyu to 5 dan
and is available for EUR 26.50 (printed) or EUR 13.25 (PDF file).
Information:
http://home.snafu.de/jasiek/PositionalJudgement.html
Cover:
Loading Image...
Table of contents:
http://home.snafu.de/jasiek/PositionalJudgement_2_TOC.pdf
Sample pages:
http://home.snafu.de/jasiek/PositionalJudgement_2_Sample.pdf
Review:
http://home.snafu.de/jasiek/PositionalJudgement_2_Review.html
***************************************************************************
Positional Judgement 2 / Dynamics
Review by the Author
General Specification
* Title: Positional Judgement 2 / Dynamics
* Author: Robert Jasiek
* Publisher: Robert Jasiek
* Edition: 2015
* Language: English
* Price: EUR 26.5 (book), EUR 13.25 (PDF)
* Contents: positional judgement
* ISBN: none
* Printing: good
* Layout: good
* Editing: good
* Pages: 276
* Size: 148mm x 210mm
* Diagrams per Page on Average: 4.5
* Method of Teaching: principles, methods, examples
* Read when EGF: 5k - 5d
* Subjective Rank Improvement: +
* Subjective Topic Coverage: +
* Subjective Aims' Achievement: ++
Overview
While Volume 1 describes accurate assessment of territory in peaceful
positions, this book explains correct judgement of every dynamic
aspect in dynamic positions: options, major reductions, invasions,
aji, potential, influence, thickness and fights. The fundamentals of
development directions, numbers of neutral stones, and statuses of
groups and regions are not neglected. This includes life and death
statuses of envisaged invading groups.
Positional Judgement 2 / Dynamics is built on these three columns: 1)
good play in the middle game, 2) its evaluation and 3) 100 life and
death problems. Although each foundation could have filled its own
book, the combination raises the level of insight further. Since
correct status assessment is a requirement for every positional
judgement, the problems improve the reader's tactical reading skill.
Good play and its evaluation rely on imagined move sequences whose
quality depends on one's understanding of the dynamic strategic
concepts and the judgement of the dynamic changes during a sequence
and its resulting follow-up position. The comparison of different
sequences and positions is the key to deciding on the best next move.
Besides an introduction of the presumed terms and a very detailed
index, there are four short chapters about development directions,
neutral stones, options and local potential, and six long chapters
about statuses, invasions, aji, reductions, influence and thickness,
and fights. 184 of the many examples discuss positions and sequences
from professional games. The text and diagrams of examples and the
answer diagrams are as detailed as necessary, up to dozens of
variations.
Theory
The theory is presented as 86 principles, 3 methods, a few essential
definitions and explanatory text. Although each of the principles is
important, they vary from simple fundamental statements ("Invasions
require verifying the life status of the invading group by reading.")
via special purpose commands (such as those specifying which stones
are the influence stones) to detailed, advanced advice (for example,
listing the major cases of reductions in terms of sente and gote, and
relating them to the judged positions).
Markup in the carefully selected, very instructive diagrams and
explanations in the text relate the examples to the principles and
methods so that the reader learns by seeing the theory applied. While
there is only one example for the simplest theory (sente invasion),
the more difficult and detailed theory is illustrated with more
examples (up to 27 for the topic 'use of thickness').
This degree of paying attention to details and the general power of
the carefully designed principles make the book an excellent tool for
studying the middle game. This is so even if the reader ignores the
extra level of theory about positional judgement which is, of course,
the major theme. For every dynamic strategic concept, its use for
assessing positions is explained well. How must sequences be
constructed? Which positions are evaluated? What do the evaluations
tell us if territory, influence, aji and other aspects must be related
to each other? The book answers all such questions.
Has the English literature ever explained 'local potential' instead of
hiding it in ambiguous translations? - Why is it important to study
neutral stones? Aren't dame uninteresting? Every superfluous neutral
stone played during the opening or middle game is like a pass.
Instead, we must play valuable stones. The book reveals that even this
minor topic is essential because every wasted move loses one rank.
Fundamentals, Watson, fundamentals!
Positional Judgement 2 / Dynamics studies the statuses of connection,
life and death, stability and regions, whose territory or moyo nature
is characterised by the possibility of a successful invasion. Besides
ordinary invasions, other discussed types include those being tests or
exploiting aji. A special evaluation applies to invading groups
changing their life status. The book explains the types of reductions
of ordinary regions, big moyos, spheres of dominating influence,
influence and local potential, and assigns the appropriate techniques.
Influence and thickness are another major topic. The 'influence stone
difference', which compares the players' numbers of influence stones,
is applied to josekis and the middle game. When this tool is
insufficient, we can use the elegant definitions of the three types of
strong groups, concepts for transforming thickness and principles for
its best use. Finally, the book teaches the dynamic positional
judgement of one-sided fights, exchanges as well as unpredictable,
complex fights.
Problems
Almost all of the problems are new, although they have been derived by
modifying actual game positions. 89 of the problems study the life and
death of 10 of the professional example positions in depth. Although
this results in groups of problems with similar shapes, every problem
is demanding. The aforementioned compilation of problems achieves two
additional purposes: 1) the reader learns the necessary volume of
tactical reading in intermediate to advanced real game positions; 2)
the book dissolves the mystery by revealing how deeply professional
players should read before starting a successful deep invasion.
There are 1 to 44 answer diagrams per problem - just as much as
necessary to clarify the answer for everybody. The problems are for
players from 5 kyu (easiest problems) to 6 dan (the most difficult
problems). The answer variations contain many spectacular tesujis. The
book leaves no doubt: a reader wishing to become a strong player must
also practise reading seriously.
What the Book Is Not
The book hardly teaches counting territory because this is explained
in Volume 1. The book is not for players weaker than 5 kyu because the
easiest failure variations are often omitted. Circa 1/4 of those
diagrams showing game continuations have more moves than pleasant so
that, whenever details matter, additional other diagrams ease
understanding of the theory.
Usually the book ignores the earlier order of moves and concentrates
on predicting the future game development. The task is to judge the
current position and follow-up positions - not the earlier positions.
Traditional go theory suggests an alternative approach to positional
judgement by also studying the earlier positions and considering the
current position as fair if there are no flaws in the efficiency of a
player's groups. Except for the related topics of development
directions, neutral stones and options, the book does not fully
represent the aspect of traditional theory concerned with earlier
moves. There is, however, a chance that a Volume 3 might do so.
Conclusion
Positional Judgement 2 / Dynamics fills a gap in the (English)
literature. This ground-breaking treatise teaches much that cannot be
found elsewhere, including a few new inventions. Since the author has
learnt much while exploring and writing the contents, in his opinion,
this is the first English theory book also specifically written for
dan players. Nevertheless, eager kyu players benefit much because the
greater part of the theory allows its easy understanding.
aspects of the middle game (reductions, invasions, influence, aji,
fights etc.) and the related positional judgement with theory and
examples, and also has 100 problems. The book is for 5 kyu to 5 dan
and is available for EUR 26.50 (printed) or EUR 13.25 (PDF file).
Information:
http://home.snafu.de/jasiek/PositionalJudgement.html
Cover:
Loading Image...
Table of contents:
http://home.snafu.de/jasiek/PositionalJudgement_2_TOC.pdf
Sample pages:
http://home.snafu.de/jasiek/PositionalJudgement_2_Sample.pdf
Review:
http://home.snafu.de/jasiek/PositionalJudgement_2_Review.html
***************************************************************************
Positional Judgement 2 / Dynamics
Review by the Author
General Specification
* Title: Positional Judgement 2 / Dynamics
* Author: Robert Jasiek
* Publisher: Robert Jasiek
* Edition: 2015
* Language: English
* Price: EUR 26.5 (book), EUR 13.25 (PDF)
* Contents: positional judgement
* ISBN: none
* Printing: good
* Layout: good
* Editing: good
* Pages: 276
* Size: 148mm x 210mm
* Diagrams per Page on Average: 4.5
* Method of Teaching: principles, methods, examples
* Read when EGF: 5k - 5d
* Subjective Rank Improvement: +
* Subjective Topic Coverage: +
* Subjective Aims' Achievement: ++
Overview
While Volume 1 describes accurate assessment of territory in peaceful
positions, this book explains correct judgement of every dynamic
aspect in dynamic positions: options, major reductions, invasions,
aji, potential, influence, thickness and fights. The fundamentals of
development directions, numbers of neutral stones, and statuses of
groups and regions are not neglected. This includes life and death
statuses of envisaged invading groups.
Positional Judgement 2 / Dynamics is built on these three columns: 1)
good play in the middle game, 2) its evaluation and 3) 100 life and
death problems. Although each foundation could have filled its own
book, the combination raises the level of insight further. Since
correct status assessment is a requirement for every positional
judgement, the problems improve the reader's tactical reading skill.
Good play and its evaluation rely on imagined move sequences whose
quality depends on one's understanding of the dynamic strategic
concepts and the judgement of the dynamic changes during a sequence
and its resulting follow-up position. The comparison of different
sequences and positions is the key to deciding on the best next move.
Besides an introduction of the presumed terms and a very detailed
index, there are four short chapters about development directions,
neutral stones, options and local potential, and six long chapters
about statuses, invasions, aji, reductions, influence and thickness,
and fights. 184 of the many examples discuss positions and sequences
from professional games. The text and diagrams of examples and the
answer diagrams are as detailed as necessary, up to dozens of
variations.
Theory
The theory is presented as 86 principles, 3 methods, a few essential
definitions and explanatory text. Although each of the principles is
important, they vary from simple fundamental statements ("Invasions
require verifying the life status of the invading group by reading.")
via special purpose commands (such as those specifying which stones
are the influence stones) to detailed, advanced advice (for example,
listing the major cases of reductions in terms of sente and gote, and
relating them to the judged positions).
Markup in the carefully selected, very instructive diagrams and
explanations in the text relate the examples to the principles and
methods so that the reader learns by seeing the theory applied. While
there is only one example for the simplest theory (sente invasion),
the more difficult and detailed theory is illustrated with more
examples (up to 27 for the topic 'use of thickness').
This degree of paying attention to details and the general power of
the carefully designed principles make the book an excellent tool for
studying the middle game. This is so even if the reader ignores the
extra level of theory about positional judgement which is, of course,
the major theme. For every dynamic strategic concept, its use for
assessing positions is explained well. How must sequences be
constructed? Which positions are evaluated? What do the evaluations
tell us if territory, influence, aji and other aspects must be related
to each other? The book answers all such questions.
Has the English literature ever explained 'local potential' instead of
hiding it in ambiguous translations? - Why is it important to study
neutral stones? Aren't dame uninteresting? Every superfluous neutral
stone played during the opening or middle game is like a pass.
Instead, we must play valuable stones. The book reveals that even this
minor topic is essential because every wasted move loses one rank.
Fundamentals, Watson, fundamentals!
Positional Judgement 2 / Dynamics studies the statuses of connection,
life and death, stability and regions, whose territory or moyo nature
is characterised by the possibility of a successful invasion. Besides
ordinary invasions, other discussed types include those being tests or
exploiting aji. A special evaluation applies to invading groups
changing their life status. The book explains the types of reductions
of ordinary regions, big moyos, spheres of dominating influence,
influence and local potential, and assigns the appropriate techniques.
Influence and thickness are another major topic. The 'influence stone
difference', which compares the players' numbers of influence stones,
is applied to josekis and the middle game. When this tool is
insufficient, we can use the elegant definitions of the three types of
strong groups, concepts for transforming thickness and principles for
its best use. Finally, the book teaches the dynamic positional
judgement of one-sided fights, exchanges as well as unpredictable,
complex fights.
Problems
Almost all of the problems are new, although they have been derived by
modifying actual game positions. 89 of the problems study the life and
death of 10 of the professional example positions in depth. Although
this results in groups of problems with similar shapes, every problem
is demanding. The aforementioned compilation of problems achieves two
additional purposes: 1) the reader learns the necessary volume of
tactical reading in intermediate to advanced real game positions; 2)
the book dissolves the mystery by revealing how deeply professional
players should read before starting a successful deep invasion.
There are 1 to 44 answer diagrams per problem - just as much as
necessary to clarify the answer for everybody. The problems are for
players from 5 kyu (easiest problems) to 6 dan (the most difficult
problems). The answer variations contain many spectacular tesujis. The
book leaves no doubt: a reader wishing to become a strong player must
also practise reading seriously.
What the Book Is Not
The book hardly teaches counting territory because this is explained
in Volume 1. The book is not for players weaker than 5 kyu because the
easiest failure variations are often omitted. Circa 1/4 of those
diagrams showing game continuations have more moves than pleasant so
that, whenever details matter, additional other diagrams ease
understanding of the theory.
Usually the book ignores the earlier order of moves and concentrates
on predicting the future game development. The task is to judge the
current position and follow-up positions - not the earlier positions.
Traditional go theory suggests an alternative approach to positional
judgement by also studying the earlier positions and considering the
current position as fair if there are no flaws in the efficiency of a
player's groups. Except for the related topics of development
directions, neutral stones and options, the book does not fully
represent the aspect of traditional theory concerned with earlier
moves. There is, however, a chance that a Volume 3 might do so.
Conclusion
Positional Judgement 2 / Dynamics fills a gap in the (English)
literature. This ground-breaking treatise teaches much that cannot be
found elsewhere, including a few new inventions. Since the author has
learnt much while exploring and writing the contents, in his opinion,
this is the first English theory book also specifically written for
dan players. Nevertheless, eager kyu players benefit much because the
greater part of the theory allows its easy understanding.