LESSONS IN THE FUNDAMENTALS OF GO - Toshiro Kageyama

Aug 7, 2026

A practical Go study guide distilling Toshiro Kageyama’s decades of amateur and professional experience into a disciplined approach to mastering the fundamentals. The book emphasizes connectivity, reading, shape quality, and proper movement of stones, while explaining how to distinguish territory from influence and how to use thickness and walls. Readers are guided to study deliberately—one chapter at a time—then re-read to overcome their current rank barriers.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages137

Reading Time5 h 45 min

AccessFree to download

Preface

Table Contents

Chapter 1 - Ladders and Nets

Introduction

About the Author

# LESSONS IN THE FUNDAMENTALS OF GO TOSHIRO KAGEYAMA 7-DAN THE ISHI PRESS Many Go books promise to explain the fundamentals;here isone that really keeps its promise.Kageyama's subjects are con-nectivity,good and bad shape,the way stones should ‘move',the difference between territory and spheres of influence,howto use thickness and walls,how to train yourself to read,whereto start looking in a life-and-death problem-matters so fundamental that other writers miss them completely.He also pointsout the right ways to study-how to study joseki,for example.'What changed me from an amateur into a professional was get-ting a really firm grip on the fundamentals,'writes Kageyama.The essence of seven years of amateur and twenty-two years ofprofessional playing experience are distilled into these pages,and they are filled with advice that everyone will find practical. LESSONS IN THEFUNDAMENTALSOF GO # LESSONS IN THEFUNDAMENTALSOF GO About the Author Toshiro Kageyama was born in 1926 in Shizuoka Pre-fecture in Japan.A go player since his youth,he won theAll-Japan Amateur Honinbo Tournament in 1948 andturned professional the following year.His promotionrecord is: by Toshiro Kageyama Shodan 1949 2 dan 1950 3 dan 1951 4 dan 1953 5 dan 1955 translated by 6 dan 1961 James Davies 7 dan 1977 In 1953 he took first place in the second division ofthe Oteai,(the professional ranking tournament),andin 1965 and 1966 he was runner-up in the KodanshaTournament (a competition among 5-to 7-dan profes-sionals).In 1967 he won the Takamatsu-no-miya Prize. He is known for his steady style of play and accuracyat calculation.He is still active in the amateur go world,where he has many contacts,and is the author of severalgo books. THE ISHI PRESS,INC.Tokyo Also available in English is Kage's Secret Chronicles ofHandicap Go. OCopyright 1978 in Japan by The Ishi Press All rights reserved according to international law.Thisbook or any parts thereof may not be reproduced in anyform without written permission from the publisher. Originally published in Japanese by the Nihon Kiin asAma to Pro(Go Super Books,Vol.11) First prin ting July 1978Printed in Japanby theSokosha Printing Co.,Ltd. PREFACE 'If you want to get stronger,read this book.'This call isaddressed to a wide range of go players,from beginnerswho have barely learned the rules to experts with danrankings.In the following pages I bequeath to the worldthe essence of all the experience and knowledge that sevenyears as an amateur and twenty-two more as a profes-sional have given me. The book's main themes are the importance of funda-mentals,the philosophy of go,and how to study.All I askis that the reader not do anything so foolish as to finishit in one day.It should be read deliberately,a chapter aday at the fastest,and a fortnight to finish the wholebook.If the reader will then spend another fortnight re-reading it and learning from it as he would from a goodinstructor,I think I can promise that he will surmount thebarrier of his present rank. Toshiro Kageyama Summer,1970 TABLE CONTENTS Chapter 1……………………………………………………………………………………9 Chapter 2………………………………………………………………………………35 Chapter 3………………………………………………………………………………55 Chapter 4 ………………………………………………………………………………65 Chapter 5 ………………………………………………………………………………87 Interlude ………………………………………………………………………………………………110 Chapter 6 ………………………………………………………………………………117 Chapter 7 ………………………………………………………………………………139 Chapter 8………………………………………………………………………………159 Chapter 9……………………………………………………………………………………179 Chapter 10 ………………………………………………………………………………191 Chapter 11………………………………………………………………………………243 Appendix………………………………………………………………………………………255 CHAPTER 1 Ladders and Nets INTRODUCTION The wish to become stronger -half a stone stronger.one stone stronger -is shared by all lovers of go,ama-teur and professional alike,regardless of their rankIt is one manifestation of human spirit and ambition.which c

FAQs

Who is Toshiro Kageyama and what qualifies him to write this Go fundamentals book?

Toshiro Kageyama is a Go professional with a long career and a reputation for accuracy in calculation. His amateur and professional experience is summarized and distilled into the book’s guidance.

What main fundamentals and skills does the book focus on?

The book highlights connectivity, good and bad shape, how stones should move, the difference between territory and influence, and how to use thickness and walls. It also stresses training yourself to read and knowing where to look in life-and-death problems.

How does the book recommend readers study to get stronger?

It recommends studying deliberately: read a chapter per day at the fastest pace, finish the whole book in about a fortnight, then re-read for another fortnight while learning as from a good instructor.

Aug 7, 2026

Uploaded by Evangeline