Go Books News
Two exciting new books, one on a topic that has not been discussed in Go Books so far, and one with extraordinary opening moves.
Mastering Mini Go: A Complete Guide to the 9×9 Go Board
by Mark Tomlinson
The 9×9 board distills Go to its essence—a knife fight in a phone booth where every move counts and games finish in minutes, not hours. Mastering Mini Go is your complete guide to this compact battlefield, transforming it from a beginner’s training ground into a sophisticated tactical arena. Drawing on cutting-edge AI analysis and his years of experience at the top of the OGS 9×9 ladder, attorney and amateur dan Mark Tomlinson reveals why the center dominates, how Black must pressure relentlessly, and why White’s patient style can exploit the tiniest mistakes.
Packed with over 400 diagrams, professional game commentaries, and dozens of named openings, Mastering Mini Go delivers actionable knowledge for players of all levels. Whether you’re relatively new to Go or a dan player seeking a fresh challenge, Mastering Mini Go provides the tactical principles you need to win on the small board, where reading depth trumps opening memorization and games are often decided by half a point.
This is a must-read if you play any 9×9 go. Check out the sample chapter as EPUB at gobooks.com or in the SmartGo One app.
Weird and Wonderful, vol. 2: Unusual Opening Patterns and Techniques through the Eyes of AI
by Kim Ouweleen
Joseki and go techniques are subject to change. They evolve and are refined over time in the constant search for perfection. Since AI has come onto the scene, joseki and superhuman computer-go programs have become inseparable. We can no longer play the sequences that were familiar to us without wondering what AI has to say about them. Many established corner patterns have recently been refuted, and some lesser-known ideas have risen to the surface and become the new standard.
This book brings together a range of unusual opening patterns, tested against AI. Inside, you will find cherished techniques from the past that AI has overturned, alongside fresh innovations and rare variations now confirmed as sound. In the Weird and Wonderful series, the extraordinary is never far away: feed the tiger on the first line, meet the monkey jump's big brother, break through your opponent's wall with three unstoppable moves, rediscover the once-forbidden hane, and explore Korea’s traditional sunjang baduk from a modern perspective. If you are curious about AI go and eager to surprise your opponents, this is the book for you.
Syncing issue
I’m currently working on an issue where books bought in SmartGo One don’t properly sync to the Go Books Account server. This happened due to some recent changes by Apple, and I’m still trying to find a good solution. If you run into this problem, please contact me, and I can add your books manually.
Staying connected
Any questions or suggestions, please reach out with an email to support@smartgo.com. And you can follow me on Mastodon: @smartgo@mastodon.social
Enjoy!
Anders Kierulf