SHONEN JUMP PREVIEW: The latest issue of SHONEN JUMP features "Getting Go" columnist Janice Kim 3P profiling major American professionals: James Kerwin 1P, Michael Redmond 9P "and a third player whom SHONEN JUMP fans already know very well," reports Managing Editor Marc Weidenbaum. "And this month the column is in full color!" Meanwhile in the manga, Hikaru continues his life as an insei, and literally crosses swords with his ghostly mentor, Sai. On sale February 7: 384 pages for $4.99.

2008 IN YOUR TOWN? "It's February in Chicago, the cold and bleak month that makes local go players pine for August and the annual Go Congress," reports Congress Liaison Bob Barber. "This year the Congress will be in a brand new venue, North Carolina, where the Congress team is hard at work already." Barber is working with organizers in Pennsylvania (2007), Washington, D.C. (2009) and Colorado (2010) to organize future Congresses. "You will notice a gap in that list," says Barber. "Long before we get to soak up the culture and excitement of D.C., or breathe the fresh air of the mountains of Colorado, we need someone to step up and host a Congress in 2008." Contact him at komoku@earthlink.net or 773-467-0423.

NEW AGA STRUCTURE APPROVED: The American Go Association Board of Directors has approved a new AGA administrative structure "to better match actual AGA functions and programs with administrative leadership, and to set up a structure to support their future growth," reports AGA President Mike Lash, who proposed the new structure. Long-range planning is a key part of the change with a Vice President for Planning to develo p many unattended issues. The Board unanimously approved the new organizational chart (which will be posted online soon) at the January 29 AGA Board meeting. The new VP Planning position -- which is currently open -- is part of a broader realignment of the AGA's administration to refine the portfolios for Vice Presidents of Services, Operations and Administration, International Relations, Publications and Communications and now, Planning. Lash urges all members, full and limited, who hold "an interest or experience in the areas of Planning and Services who can provide leadership and guidance for planning and implementing national programs" to take this opportunity to participate in the management of the AGA. Contact him directly at president@usgo.org. The same applies to several other positions in service and administrative areas.

AGF DRIVE BEST EVER: "This has been the best general fundraising drive ever," reports Am erican Go Foundation President Terry Benson. Returns so far total $9,040 from 76 donors (both records). "It was great to see the many $10 and $20 contributions along with the larger gifts. Steve Stringfellow and the Congress organizers made it easy to give and 81 players put in another $3,300 at the US Go Congress. This is the kind of broad-based support American go needs." For more information about the work of the AGF and how to donate, go to the AGF pages at http://www.usgo.org/agf/donation.asp

COMING UP MONDAY: A profile of Luo Xihe, a rising star in China, Janice Kim on How to know whether to play for territory or thickness, Joel Turnipseed on the Dictionary of Basic Joseki (Volume 1) and Bill Cobb on Learning to Read.

WEEKEND GO ACTION: Piscataway & Seattle
- February 4: Piscataway, NJ
Feng Yun Go School Monthly rated tourna ment
Feng Yun GoLesson@yahoo.com 973-992-5675
- February 5: Seattle, WA
Ratings Tournament
Jon Boley jon@airsltd.com 206-545-1424

GAME COMMENTARY: Feng Yun 9P on Yang-Ho Fujitsu Game
       Kwo-Ping Ho 6d takes on Huiren Yang 1P in today's original game commentary, in which Feng Yun 9P reviews their Round 1 game from the North American Fujitsu Qualifier, played last weekend. Yang leads after just 50 moves, but don't miss the exciting large-scale attack and kill that ends the game decisively.
       To view the attached .sgf file(s), simply save the file(s) to your computer and then open using an .sgf reader such as Many Faces of Go or SmartGo. Readers who need .sgf readers can get them for most platforms at Jan van der Steen's http://gobase.org/sgfeditors.html

GO REVIEW: Michael Ham's "Impressive 5"
by Michael Hamm 11k
       I don't have a top 10 list of books, but I've been very impressed with these:
- Graded Go Problems for Beginners (4 volumes: Introductory Problems, Elementary Problems, Intermediate Problems & Advanced Problems; http://www.kiseido.com/Begin.htm)
       This series starts with 30-kyu problems and works its way up. Problems grouped by life/death, ko, connection, opening, endgame, etc., at each level. I didn't have much trouble with the first volume, but in the second volume I from time to time come across one that -- no matter how hard I study it - I haven't a clue. In those cases, I go to the solution and study it until I think I really understand it. My idea is that when I finish this volume, I'll go thr ough it again, and this time be able to solve all the problems, thanks to what I learned from those I couldn't solve the first time.
- The Fundamental Principles of Go; Yilun Yang (www.slateandshell.com)
       Where the series above deals with tactics, this astonishing book focuses on strategy. Remarkably free of the endless niggling analysis of possible variations, instead focussing on general ideas and principles, with illustrative diagrams. I can read it in my chair without a go board. Highly recommended.

GO CLASSIFIED

PLAYERS WANTED: Venice, Fl. Looking for go players at the high-school level. Just need enough responses to begin a local go club. Kyle Weeks cooliopartyfool@yahoo.com (1/27/06)

WANT TO BUY: Used go books; ruth_ellen_thomson@seagate.com (1/27/06)

FOR SALE: Equi pment: 1) ceramic stones and plastic bowls (181 white and 181 black); 2) 1-inch thick shin Kaya go board , sturdy and good-looking (seldom used, bought it new online). The stones, bowls, go board are an $80 value. Asking $40 plus shipping fee. Contact atomoptics@gmail.com (1/27/06)

Published by the American Go Association

Managing Editor: Chris Garlock
Assistant Editor: Bill Cobb

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