The Games of Honinbo Shuei, Volume 4

This is the final volume of commentaries on the games of Honinbo Shuei which constitutes Part 2 of a trilogy on the famous go payer known as "the Meijin of Meijins". Part 1 was "The Life of Honinbo Shuei". Part 2, now complete, covers commentaries on about 80 of his games. Part 3, forthcoming, is devoted to commentaries by Shuei on games by his pupils.

This Volume 4 covers the period of Shuei's life when he reigned so supreme that only one player, Tamura Yasuhisa (the future Honinbo Shusai), could get close enough to play on Black. Even his second best pupil, Karigane Junichi, was forced to take two stones. This volume can therefore be said to show the best of Shuei. Unfortunately it may also show the worst of Shuei, given that there are indications that, for once in his life, he indulged in a little but of skulduggery off the board.

As usual, the commentaries on the eighteen games presented here are a composite based on many professional commentaries collected by the author.