**Product Description:** A comprehensive collection of 135 questions selected by Shinji Takao to improve your skills in "combat." Learn the techniques and patterns of offense and defense to gain an advantage in your games. **Features of this book:** - Understand when and where to strike and disrupt your opponent. - Develop the "eye" to identify crucial points. - Cultivate decision-making skills—should you attack or defend? Focus on becoming sensitive to the strength and weakness of stones in the middle game, which is more critical than merely expanding your territory. **Supervised by:** Shinji Takao **Size:** B6 format **Page Count:** 288 **ISBN:** 978-4-262-10479-9 **Table of Contents:** **Chapter 1: Middle Game from 2-Star and 3-Star Openings** 1. Strikes to the sides 2. Entering patterns 3. Entering 3-Star formations 4. Aiming for 2-Space Openings 5. Offense and defense after a 1-Space Pinch **Chapter 2: Middle Game from 4-Point Openings** 1. Offense and defense of the Attachment & Pull Back joseki 2. The concept of high openings 3. Special strikes to the 4th line 4. Strikes to the 3-Space Openings **Chapter 3: Middle Game from Chinese Openings** 1. Strikes into Chinese formations 2. Eliminating patterns and strikes 3. Tips for offense and life-and-death situations 4. Choosing the right joseki **Chapter 4: Middle Game from Small Knight's Move Openings** 1. Entering patterns 2. Strikes that will become effective later 3. Good shapes depend on the surrounding situation 4. Aims after joseki **Message:** This book explains the shapes that commonly appear in actual games and the middle game strategies following joseki from various openings. The structure is designed to clarify the basics of combat, such as strikes and disruptions. Since all content is formatted as questions, you can think and solve them with a sense close to real matches. For amateurs, it might feel daunting to initiate strikes rather than be struck. However, there are patterns and techniques for successful strikes. Embracing these strategies in practice is the shortcut to improvement. Once mastered, you will surely gain an advantage in combat and enhance your playing strength.