Go Reviews

Go++ and Many Faces of Go
Reviewed by David Mechner, 7d
March 1, 2004

Go programs have improved slowly but steadily in the last several years. I recently played two of the leading programs, Go++ and Many Faces of Go (version 11) to catch up with the state of the art

Go++, by Mick Reiss, offers 5 levels of strength, and handicaps through 9 stones. As a former go programmer myself, I love being able to look at the computer's view of the world what it thinks is alive, dead, weak, strong, territory, and so forth. The lack of these features was a little disappointing for me. Go++'s interface is somewhat spartan, but what it lacks in features, it makes up for in raw strength. The first time I played it at 13 stones [Calibration note: I handicap as a US 7d], it kept tenukiing, and I was wrapping up large scale captures of stones it had abandoned, smugly thinking how at least I'd commend it for taking the initiative. But interspersed with what seemed to be dazed capering and wild swings were some devastating K.O. punches. Suddenly, I noticed I was in trouble. Go++ actually killed a huge group of mine. That is a rare experience in a high handicap game, especially against a computer. I estimate Go++'s strength at a solid 7 or 8 kyu.

Many Faces of Go, by David Fotland, has a richer set of features. It has a more attractively rendered board, it will display its view of group strength and territory, has an on line tutorial, and even provides hints and explanations for its moves, which may be particularly useful for learners. For all this refinement, and its price tag at more than double that of Go++, MFOG is not quite as strong as Go++, perhaps 8 or 9 kyu.

These programs are fun to play, and would make great opponents for kyu players. I recommend them both. Go++ costs $39.95 and is available from http://www.goplusplus.com/, and Many Faces of Go costs $89.95, and is available from http://www.smart games.com/retail.html.