Absolute Counting

This book is a guide to counting unresolved territory using O Meien's method of Absolute Counting. It provides a detailed explanation of how to value and count boundary plays (yose). Amateurs will benefit from this method as they will lose their fear of things such as sente, gote, reverse sente, and even ko. They will also learn new things like the margin of error and certainties! And, above all, they will learn how to think about the endgame in practical, full-board play. Once you understand counting, you will be able to judge board positions accurately.

"In the endgame, counting (evaluating the position) is less strenuous than seeking the correct move. To find the correct move it is necessary to read through to the very end, but if you select a move based on counting, even if that move is not the most valuable it comes within the margin of error."

O Meien

"De-iri (move counting) has long been the standard way to approach yose (boundary play) in Japan, going back to early Edo times. Miai was considered even in Meiji times but did not become part of the mainstream until the 1950s, and even then was mainly an amateur topic. It was intended as a way of adding territory counting to move counting. It is imperfect. Absolute Counting is a way of trying to iron out the imperfections."

John Fairbairn