Introduction

A number of years ago, Peter and I were giving a Go workshop to a group of my high school students as part of a three-day study of Japan. As I looked around the room, there were 20 students in deep concentration over their boards. I was surprised and curious by their level of interest and involvement. I asked several players what they liked about the game and one young man came up with an answer that the others agreed said it all: "It makes you think."

Games have been played throughout time by children and adults and seem to have been a part of every culture. Archeological records tell us that people have played games for thousands of years, so there must be something in the human brain that is attracted to challenges, new experiences, and being involved in creative competition.

There are physical games which challenge skill, strength, and strategy; there are games of chance where winning is often a function of luck; there are word games; there are board and computer games with a story element attached to them. And then there are strategic games where thinking, learning, and focus are essential parts of truly understanding their infinite variations.

I have asked friends and colleagues the question "Why do you think people play games?" Answers have ranged from "They're fun, relaxing, challenging, interactive, social; they focus your intelligence and reduce stress." I'm sure you have and will have many reasons of your own to add to the list.

Go is a game of patterns, territory, strategies, and focus. It is equally appealing to adults, teenagers, and children. With its special handicapping feature, a reasonable game can be played between beginners, novices, and experienced players. I have watched the enjoyment of strong Go players as they introduce the game to children and pass the mysteries of this unique activity to another generation.

I also remember working with a sixth grader on her writing skills, and before each session, I would spend fifteen minutes teaching her Go. This was time well spent because she was then able to move right into our writing work after the calming effect that Go seemed to have on her. By the way, at the end of the school year, she was a far better player than me, and her parents bought her a Go set of her own.

We live in a world where we are bombarded with distractions, noise, and visual images that often make it difficult.to think about just one thing at a time. The young girl I mentioned hit upon one of the wonders of bringing your attention to focus tightly on a single process and idea. I believe there is a positive outcome that rewards the brain for that singular attention.

But enough philosophy and psychology! Go is our favorite game and I hope that this introduction and book will spark your interest. And most importantly, don't forget that Go is not only interesting, it's FUN!