Life and Death vol.1

You might have heard that to become a better Go player, you have to solve problems. Repetition, hard work, memorization… it all sounds a bit daunting. It might even make you wonder: is Go really that creative of a game if it relies on tedious exercises and rigid “life and death” rules?
Don’t worry — it’s not all that dreary!

1. It saves you time and energy. By learning basic life and death knowledge, you won’t have to reinvent the wheel during a match. You’ll instantly recognize standard shapes and know exactly how to handle them without second-guessing yourself.
2. It sharpens your reading skills. Solving problems acts like a workout for your brain. It helps you visualize sequences, anticipate your opponent’s responses, and read the board several moves ahead.
3. It’s actually fun! Tsumego (life and death puzzles) can be a fun activity, almost a mini-game, if you frame it the right way.

In this course, we will cover the absolute basics of tsumego, explore the most common standard shapes, and discuss how to shift your mindset to truly enjoy the process. I hope that by the end of our time together, you’ll love these puzzles as much as I do!

Suitable for: 20–13k who feel frustrated by many blunders.

The first four lessons are available. The entire course will be published this summer.