Go Reviews

Traditional Yunzi Go Set
The Go Game Store: http://www.go-gamestore.com
Reviewed by Anton Ninno

       The traditional Yunzi Go Set from The Go Game Store includes the famous flat-sided, Yunzi stones (22.5mm!) and a 1-inch, spruce board that accommodates their larger size: Yunzi stones are 1.0 mm larger than Japanese stones (21.5mm). A Chinese chess board is on the back of the solid board (no hinge), constructed with several pieces of wood glued together. The stones come in traditional Chinese straw  baskets. Overall, this set is a very appealing combination. My first impression after opening the Fedex box was simply, "Wow!" My second thought was that the price was right. Not cheap, but good.
       Obviously well-made, this equipment has high production values. The board is a beautiful bright color with a pleasant satin finish and mine had no manufacturing errors. Likewise, the stones are well-formed, and must have been carefully checked for imperfections, as I couldn't find any. Tightly woven, the straw baskets are much nicer than I expected. The Yunzi set drew a lot of attention at our weekly CNY Go Club meeting when I first got it last Fall. Players were delighted to discover that if you hold a black Yunzi stone up to the light, it actually appears dark green.
       After playing a game with the Yunzi set, one player said he enjoyed having more room on the larger board. He was also surprised to see that once he got immersed in the game, the "odd" shape of the flat-sided stones didn't seem to matter. Here's a little bonus: if you want your opponent to notice a clever move, flat-sided stones can make a very loud snap! Visit these websites to learn more about Yunzi go stones. Ft. Wayne Go Club: http://www.fwgc.net/showtn.php?type=equip&title=Equipment and The Sensei's Library: Goishi http://senseis.xmp.net/?path=MakingYourOwnEquipment&page=MaterialStonesl.