Go Reviews

Childrens Baduk Training Volumes 1-6
The Hankuk Kiwon
Reviewed by Michael Turk, 9k

           My first problem books were Kano Yoshinori's Graded Go Problems for Beginners.  I am presently struggling with early volume 4 so I have been looking for collections of closely-related problems on specific themes at or near my level to improve my recognition and for practicing.  The first few volumes of Childrens Baduk Training fit the bill precisely, although be aware that they are Korean-language books of go problems produced for sale at the Hankuk Kiwon, the Korean National Go Association.  Volume 1 is very basic, while Volumes 2 and 3 lift the level of problems in a graduated fashion to provide good drill/practice problems.

           My Korean pen-friend completed her degree in Baduk Studies and now produces go lessons and comments on international and local amateur games on Baduk TV.  When I discussed these six books during a recent visit to Korea, she smilingly informed me that I would be challenged by Volume 4 and that foreign strong kyu/low dan level players will find Volumes 5 and 6 quite tough.

           There are close to a thousand problems in each of the six volumes, approximately 6,000 problems in all. Volume 2, for example, contains the following problems: 93 fuseki, 570 life and death; 25 ko and 115 capture problems (after which I stopped counting). It also contains collections of problems on contact fighting, connection tesuji, defense, jungsuk (joseki) lessons and problems, haengma (movement/flow of stones/shape) and endgame. More recently I approached my Korean pen-friend to find me the answer booklets.  She obtained the answer booklets to Volumes 4, 5 and 6 but said of Volumes 1, 2 and 3 that "They are so simple, a Baduk Teacher would not need them" so I dont know if there are solution books for the first three volumes. The graduated problems are logically organized around specific themes and provide excellent drill/practice examples.

           Each volume of problems is 5,000 won (less than $4.50US).  I highly recommend these volumes and hope that some enterprising importer will start importing them!  There would be no need to reprint them in English as it would not be much trouble to produce and include a simple word-processed English language key to each separate volume of problems. Meanwhile, you can find them at Het Paard, the Dutch supplier of Go books:
http://www.schaakengo.nl/

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