The best way for amateurs to learn how to become stronger is to improve their sense of fuseki, to develop their reading skills, and to have a clear understanding of life and death. This ability to read and understand life-and-death can be improved by memorizing the shapes of tsumego (alive, dead, and unconditional). This is a great advantage in short games such as tournaments, and can bring you closer to the top class of amateurs." Go Seigen