Go Reviews

Making Good Shape
By Rob van Zeijst and Richard Bozulich
Kiseido Publishing Company
Reviewed by Lon Atkins, 12k
March 24, 2003

This new book is the missing piece of the puzzle. Yes, empty triangles are bad and dumplings are horrible, and never get split apart - but isn't all that rather obvious? After reading endless game comments stating that "Black makes good shape" or "White has bad shape," but never why, finally I am given rules and many examples concerning shape-thought. Following the section on theory and practice come 245 problems to pound the concepts into one's skull. Reasons and alternatives are provided with the answers. This is real teaching. The problems are a delight to work out. I set them up on a board and try various lines until I understand how to handle the situation. Many of the problems were encountered in other books, but never were explanations so lucid and valuable. The final section contains two games buttressed with very thorough commentary. Again, the "whys" are emphasized. This is terrific study material.

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