Mastering Mini Go: A Complete Guide to the 9×9 Go Board

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Hi all,

I’m thrilled to announce the release of my book exploring the 9×9 Go board! After years of playing on the 9×9 site ladder and contributing to various 9×9 projects, I’ve poured everything I’ve learned into this guide. Inside you’ll find:

Fundamentals and tactics: from estimating and counting the score to the basic strategy for each color, plus essential tesujis and exercises

Opening theory: deep coverage of tengen, hoshi, and takamoku openings, plus territorial approaches (mokuhazushi, komoku, sansan), with analysis of 30+ named openings

Midgame and endgame: reading, attacking, invading, furikawari, life and death, corner shapes, and endgame flexibility

Professional game commentaries: Annotated games by Murakawa Daisuke, Iyama Yuta, Yamada Kimio, and Cho Chikun

The book contains 266 pages and over 400 diagrams and is written with both newer players and experienced players in mind. Each opening includes difficulty ratings (beginner-friendly, intermediate, or advanced) to help you prioritize your study.

9×9 Go is fascinating. It’s the smallest board size that captures the full essence of Go (invasions, sacrifices, ko fights, everything) yet is complex enough for even professionals to find difficult. It’s been described as a “tsumego factory,” and that’s no exaggeration!

This book draws on analysis from KataGo, decades of theory development, and my own experience. Whether you’re looking to improve your 9×9 play, use it as a teaching tool, or just enjoy quick, intense games, I hope this book helps you appreciate the unique beauty of 9×9.

Available now from Smart Go! Available formats include EPUB and syncing a web purchase within the SmartGo One app!

Here are the purchase and sample options for the book:

Introduction

Chapter 1: Basic Principles

Counting the Score

The First Move

Black’s Basic Strategy

White’s Basic Strategy

Finding Territorial Balance

The Group Number Limitation

Chapter 2: 9×9 Tactics

Attachment

Belly Attachment

Nose Tesuji

Cut Across

Clamp

Shortage of Liberties

Wedge

Two-Step Hane

Footsweep

Squeeze

Eye-Making Tesuji

Exercises

Introduction to 9×9 Openings

Chapter 3: Tengen Openings

Sword

Orthodox

Windmill

Hand Fan

Curveball

Soccer Juggling

Jump Attack

Cross Line

Almost Equilateral 1

Headbutt

Almost Equilateral 2

Pendulum

Almost Equilateral 3

Side Attachment

Other Tengen Openings

Chapter 4: Hoshi Openings

Black Boomerang

Bean Throwing

Big Flower

Flower

Lunar Eclipse

Blackjack

Swing

Horse Head

Airship

Submarine

Other Hoshi Openings

Chapter 5: Takamoku Openings

New Orthodox

Andromeda

Slider

Secret Agent 033

White Slice

Kodachi

Jump Attachment!

Zazen

Boots

Other Takamoku Openings

Chapter 6: Territorial Openings

Mokuhazushi Main Line

Sea Fairy

Avoiding Transpositions

Other Mokuhazushi Openings

Komoku

Sansan

Chapter 7: Midgame

Reading

Attacking

Cutting

Invading

Handling Invasions

Trading Spaces

Chapter 8: Endgame

Life and Death

Common Corner Shapes

Prioritizing Endgame Threats

Calculating Move Values

Endgame Flexibility and Reading

Chapter 9: Game Commentaries

Murakawa Daisuke v. Iyama Yuta (2013)

Yamada Kimio v. Cho Chikun (1994)

Appendix A: Glossary

Appendix B: Resources and Further Study

Acknowledgements

No hardcopy has been produced yet. If that situation changes, I’ll be sure to announce it here as well. And if you have any questions about the book or 9×9 Go in general, feel free to reach out!