This book about tesuji is not an encyclopedia but a selection of 17 one-move suji or tesuji and 9 tesuji-like sequences, which are sorted into chapters. Each pattern has a few or up to two dozen examples, mostly one per page with three answer, failure, or variation diagrams on the same page. Although usage as a problem book is possible, it is more an introduction to standard move patterns.
The selection is much smaller than some tesuji dictionaries offer it, however, it is extraordinarily well chosen. The same applies to the examples. Move types start with patterns as fundamental as string-connection and end with playing-under-the-stones. The reader feels as if he is presented with every essential basic pattern; the selection is neither random nor too small. Instead it is like a very broad tree that explores the first steps in all regions of the traditional tesuji universe. It is hard to imagine how a pure selection of traditional move patterns could have been better. This is enough praise for a book with nothing but examples and selection as its teaching methods but without any attempts to go beyond that like Tesuji (Davies) does. Didactics of the latter are better while its selection is not so broad and carefully chosen. Both books should be read by everybody looking for a tesuji introduction.
Date: 17 Jun 2002