What's New?
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New In Go: A collection of more than forty
articles on a wide range of offbeat subjects -- everything
from a six-group seki to how people without arms play go.
Written and compiled by John Fairbairn and T. Mark Hall,
the authors of the GoGoD Encyclopedia and Database, a much
larger compendium of such essays on CD.
Coffee Break Go: A different problem
"almost every working day", from the authors of
the GoGoD Encyclopedia and Database.
The International Go Fourm: This newsgroup is hosted in Russia.
"GOAMA" International Newsletter: A free weekly newsletter from
Russia. Includes attachments.
GoDiscussions.com : A moderated, hence more civilized, place to
discuss all matters related to go.
Guo Juan's Internet Go School: Lessons by e-mail, online
teaching games and game analysis from the Amsterdam-based author
of The World of Chinese Go (Kiseido).
World's largest game: Talk about big moves!
Played in a Japanese field with stones the size of bicycle wheels.
Hutch's Go Pages: Craig Hutchinson offers his unique
perspective on the game.
Random Proverb Generator: Get a different
silly proverb every time you hit this site.
Flashmedia presentation: A colorful,
easy-to-follow review of the basics, featuring the so-called
"Strasbourg Rule".
Ben's Cafe: A Tokyo club for English-speaking players.
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Getting Started
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The
Way to Go: Thousands of American players have learned the basics
from this brief but complete introduction.
Video Go Tutorial: This four part series for the serious novice runs a little under two hours. Click on the name to view Part I, Part II, Part IIIA and Part IIIB.
Flashmedia Introduction to Go: by Mindy McAdams.
Flashmedia presentation: Another colorful,
easy-to-follow review of the basics from the French Go Association,
highlighting the so-called "Strasbourg Rule".
Pacific Go Monthly: This emerging community
of young players in the Pacific Northwest publishes a
website/newsletter with lots of good information for beginners.
The Magic of Go: This series of newspaper articles by Richard Bozulich
and Rob Van Ziejst takes the reader from the beginning to a complete
understanding of the basics. There are 426 installments in the series. Click here
to browse or download them.
IGS Introduction to Go:
The Internet Go Server offers a nice basic description of the rules.
An ftp site -- to download, right-click and "Save to Folder."
The Capture Game: A simple instructional method, especially good
with children. Click here to download more detailed material on
this method.
Commented Games for Beginners: This page contains four commented 9x9 game
records and an "ideal" 19x19 game, all by American master teacher
Yi-lun Yang 7-dan. In sgf, a standard format that most game review
software can read.
Interactive Go Tutorial: Hiroki Mori's huge online teaching machine.
Go-Red: An attractive, well-written essay for the complete beginner.
A Beginner's Introduction to Go: Basic information from John Bate,
a Canadian player.
Hutch's Go Pages: Craig Hutchinson offers his
unique perspective on the game.
Introduction to the Game of Go: From the British Go Association's website.
Tutorial on the Rules of Go: The rules demonstrated on a 5x5 board.
The Fun Way to Learn Go: An English-language tutorial in English
from the Japan Go Association.
Tradgames.org.uk: The origins of Go and many other classic games
are described in this set of linked pages.
Tel's Go Notes: A series of links pages packed with everything
a novice needs to know.
Shape Up!: An easy-to-read introduction
to the elusive concept of "shape."
Power Point Slide Show: Use these 12 attractive slides
to back up a talk for complete beginners.
Virtual Museum: This brief discussion of the game is part
of a much larger, highly informative discussion of the Meiji
Restoration and the emergence of modern Japan.
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Getting Serious
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Guo Juan's Internet Go School: Lessons by e-mail,
online teaching games and game analysis from the
Amsterdam-based author of The World of Chinese Go (Kiseido).
Egoban: View, share, upload, search, tag and comment go game records.
GoBase Database:
Game records from top pro tournaments, historical essays,
instructional articles, collections of corner sequences,
full-board openings, and much more!
Sensei's Library: A huge communally maintained
archive of nearly 3000 pages on every conceivable go-related
topic.
BruGo.BE: Online Joseki Dictionary.
Sanrensei opening. Is it a good choice for you?
GoProblems.com:
Thousand of problems you can sort by type and skill level.
Go World Index: Archival listings
for the premier English-language go source. Analysis of top
level play, how-to articles for all levels and much more,
listed in detail. Some back issues are available from the
publisher, Kiseido.
Samarkand's Gamebase: Review thiry pro games online
Jigo: Download the Gamebase software including software,
and thousands more games for review.
Go Teaching Ladder: Free analysis of your game record,
or look at other reviewed amateur games.
My Friday Night Files: Jan Van Rongen offers a huge archive of over 1300
Cho Chikun game records, along with other collections, including
all the pro games used in the Hikaru No Go anime.
13x13 handicaps: The Cambridge Go Society's
system for handicapping 13x13 games between players of different
ranks. CGS runs a yearly 13x13 national tournament in Great
Britain using this system.
Drennen 13x13 System: Drennen Consulting's
site offers another set of guidelines for handicapping 13x13
games between players of different ranks. No info available
to support the accuracy of this system.
Go4Go: Detailed news of big Asian tournaments
and 1000's of pro game records, mostly from 2000
onward, easy to sort by player or event.
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Getting Strong
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BIgo
Assistant: OCR "Info-donationware." Scan games and send them,
and the authors send back sgf files and keep copies of the games. They
also sell their archive of 700,000 (mostly amateur) games
and offer review/recording software.
Game Records from the British Go Journal: sgf files based on material
from the magazine.
Go Base: Online go dictionary with many features,
including a vast array of instructional
materials, many commented pro games, and records from all major
international tournaments. Some downloads require that you register
by sending an e-mail to account@gobase.org.
Jigo: Game review software, including Java source code, or just download 200+
pro game records in sgf format.long with many free commented games.
Joseki Tutor:
Tell the tutor the sequence you're thinking of, and see if it's
any good. Online (requires ShockWave) or for Pocket PC
MasterGo:
Pattern-based searchable database of 12,000+ professional game records.
Downloadable demo includes 800 games that contain the san-ren-sei
(three star point) opening.
Momoyama's
Go Scene: Player lists and game result for dozens of Japanese,
Chinese, Korean and International tournaments, with downloadable
game records.
My Friday
night files: Over 1300 games of Cho Chikun in sgf format, along
with other interesting collections (e.g. game records from Hikaru
No Go)
Screen saver:
Replay games from your collection or use the internal games to put
a little more go in your life.
Sensei's Library:
Informative pages on almost 1200 go-related topics.
The Teaching Ladder:
Free review of your games by dan-level amateur players.
Samarkand
Gamebase: More game records from Korean professional players.
Go Game World:
Commented professional games.
Kogo's Joseki Dictionary: Thanks to Gary Odom of Portland, Oregon for
creating this free database.
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Go Terms
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Go Term Dictionary (incomplete but useful)
The Internet Go Dictionary
Glossary Of Japanese Go Terms
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Problems
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Problem
of the Week: Minoru Hirada has been posting two new problems
per week -- one elementary, one intermediate -- since 1996. The
archive of more than 600 problems is also available for review.
Problem of the Month: Steve Bailey's problems are more advanced. You may
need the whole month to solve some of them! Archive of problems
posted since 1996 available for review.
Problem of the Day: These life and death problems are generated
by "GoTools", a computer program intended for use studying
and solving life and death problems.
Coffee Break Go: A different problem
"almost every working day", from the authors of
the GoGoD Encyclopedia and Database.
Perfect Tsumego Play: Dave Dyer says his program
plays "perfectly", if the pattern is in the program' database.
GoProblems.com:
Thousands of problems of all kinds sorted by level of difficulty.
Go Tools: A computer program intended
for use studying and solving life and death problems.
Picture Problems: Is it go or is it art?
Japanese amateur enthusiast Tanaka Takayuki makes problems
out of shapes that resemble real objects.
Harry Fearnley's Weird Go Problems: More than thirty offbeat and oddball
problems.
Cyclic Go configurations: Animated illustrations of six illegal "ko"
positions.
Repeating Go Positions: Another animated playout of six repeating positions,
some different from the above.
Matthew Macfadyen's Bestiary: Molasses ko, ko/seki, non-removable threats
and the "time-waster."
Brain-busting bestiary: Sixteen more oddities.
Multistage Kos: Zippers, Wheels, Loops, etc.
You may not see these in a
game, but they are fun to look at just the same.
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History & Culture
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Fairbairn's
Historical Essays: John Fairbairn tackles twenty important historical
topics, from analysis of an ancient Tibetan game to the history
of newspaper sponsorship of go tournaments, with downloadable records
of important historical games.
History
of Go: Links to pages describing the role of go in Chinese,
Japanese and Korean society through the ages.
Sensei's
Library: User-maintained coverage of historical go. Spotty but
there is some interesting stuff here.
Tales from
Go History: Anecdotes involving Iwamoto, Albert Einstein and
others.
Bob High Memorial Library: Contains
articles on the origins of go and its relationship to ancient Tibet,
Chinese poetry and philosophy, Buddhist philosophy and other subjects.
New In Go: A collection of more than forty
articles on a wide range of offbeat subjects -- everything
from a six-group seki to how people without arms play go.
Written and compiled by John Fairbairn and T. Mark Hall,
the authors of the GoGoD Encyclopedia and Database, a much
larger compendium of such essays on CD.
Internet Go Filmography: Many films,
TV shows and anime containing go equipment are listed.
The IGS Art
Gallery: The Internet Go Server site includes an extensive collections of
nearly 100 Japanese and Chinese works of art featuring a go theme.
The Pinckard Collection: William Pinckard was an avid collector of go art.
Highlights from his collection can be seen at this page maintained by Kiseido,
the Japan-based purveyor of books and equipment to the Western world.
AGA Archives: The American Go Association maintains one of the most
extensive collections of Western go materials in the world.
Go Song Archive: many European song parodies.
rec.games.go: A freewheeling, unmoderated forum for discussion and debate.
Visit this ftp site to read FAQ's that will
help you get started.
GoDiscussions.com: A moderated, hence more civilized place to to discuss all
matters related to go.
The International Go Fourm: This newsgroup is hosted in Russia.
"GOAMA" International Newsletter: A free weekly newsletter from
Russia. Includes attachments.
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Go in the United
States
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American Clubs and AGA Chapters:
Over 100 active groups of players throughout the US are listed.
The American Go Foundation: A tax-deductible
foundation that supports the growth and development of American go.
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International Go
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The International Go Federation The worldwide governing
body of national go associations.
The International Mind Sports Association Formed by the
international associations for backgammon, bridge, chess and
go, in order to promote a worldwide mind sports competition
and "further realise the inclusion of the mind sports
in the Olympic Movement."
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Rules |
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A Note to Beginners
Yes, at least six rule sets are in use today in various
parts of the world, but don't worry. You don't have to
learn them all. In fact, if you know how to play, you
don't even have to know which rules you use! Just so
you and your partner agree beforehand on a few issues
like komi, handicap, and whether territory is vacant
spaces only or stones and spaces.
Some players become more interested in the fine points
of various rule sets as they become stronger. Go is so
profoundly simple and yet complex at the same time that
the quest for a "perfect" rule set fascinates
them. These links are largely by and for them - and you,
if this applies to you . . .
AGA RULES
The
Concise AGA Rules of Go: The official rules of the the AGA.
The
Complete AGA Rules of Go: A more thorough discussion of the
unique characteristics of the AGA Rules.
Commentary/Clarification
of the AGA Rules of Go: Further comments and analysis written
and compiled by AGA Rules Committee member Fred Hansen.
AGA Rules Committee Memorandum Regarding Change in Komi:
What is the value of the first move? "Komi" refers to the practice of compensating
White for permitting Black to make the first move. This memo reviews recent changes
in the Asian system and their implications for Western go.
ING "SST LAWS"
Ing's
SST Laws of Wei-chi: Rule set developed and promulgated by Taipei-based
philanthropist and go aficionado Ing Chang-ki. Translated by James
Davies.
Spaces + Stones
= Territory: Further discussion and clarification of the Ing
rules by Janice Kim, Michael Simon and Phil Straus.
JAPANESE RULES
Japanese
Rules of Go: The current Japanese rules were adopted
in 1989. Translated by James Davies.
World Amateur Go Championship Rules: Similar to the 1949 Japanese rules.
CHINESE RULES
Chinese
Rules of Weiqi: Modern Chinese rule set described in The Go
Player's Almanac by James Davies.
NEW ZEALAND RULES
New
Zealand Rules of Go: Similar to Ing rules, with a few minor
differences.
Simple
Rules: A simpler description of the essence of the New Zealand
rules.
The Tromp-Taylor
Rules: Another description of the New Zealand rules.
OTHER RULE SETS
Ancient Korean Rules: Click on "Korean Rules" for a brief discussion of a rule set used in Korea more than 1000 years ago.
Tibetan Rules: How go was played in ancient
Tibet on a 17x17 board.
IGS Rules: Rules of play on the Internet Go Server.
Survivor Wins: Probably the shortest description of the rules.
Proposed International Rules: Robert Jasiek's unofficial proposed rules for international use.
ANALYSIS OF RULE SETS
Comparison
of six rule sets: The British Go Association offers a comparison
chart and extended discussion of the six distinct rule sets - AGA,
Ing, Japanese, Chinese, Korean and New Zealand.
Basic
comparison of rules: Another comparison of six rule sets --
omits Korean rules and includes IGS rules and a "Simple Rules" description
of the New Zealand system.
Comparison
of Four Major Rule Sets: David Fotland includes four rule sets
in his program Many Faces of Go AGA, Ing, Japanese and Chinese. Here he
compares and contrasts these methods.
Gnarly problems: A collection of propositions, mostly unlikely to appear
in a real game, but certain to confound various rule sets.
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Variations and Unusual Rule Sets |
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Go Variants: Some unusual things to do on a go board.
Other Go Variants: Some additional games you can play using
standard go equipment.
Still More Go Variants: Another listing of variants from
the user-maintained "Sensei's Library" site.
Elwyn Berlekamp's Coupon Go: In this streaming video, the prominent combinatorial game theorist descibes his attempts as a mathematician to measure the exact value of go moves, culminating in the creation of "Coupon Go."
Berlekamp Q&A: Dr. Berlekamp answers questions from the UC Berkeley faculty following his "Mathematics and Go" lecture.
FiveGo-like Games: Additional variations on the theme of territory.
Gess: Played by placing stones in the squares on an 18x18 board . . .
A Round Goban: Download and print out your own round go board. No corners -- every intersection connects to four other points!
FreedGo: Twelve functional, computerized three-dimensional go boards.
Pente: A patented game resembling go-moku, played on almost-a-go-board. You can play Pente online here.
Abalone: Chinese checkers-type game using round black and white pieces.
DiamondGo: Henry Segerman has invented equipment forplaying three-dimensional go..
3DGO: More on how to play go in three-dimensional space, including a number of suggested board configurations.
World's largest game: Talk about big moves! Played in a Japanese field with stones the size of bicycle wheels.
Conversion Go: An Othello-like variant -- captured stones change color and remain on the board.
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Go in Print/Film/Video
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AGA Annotated Bibliography: The complete
listing of go books available in English, briefly described.
AGA Go Filmography: Briefly noted appearances
of go in film and on TV and video.
David
Carlton's Go Bibliography: Detailed descriptions and impressions
of many English language go books.
Download Three
Go Books: The Wings Go Club offers annotated games of Go Seigen
and a translated series on "How to Play the Stronger Player" for
download at no charge, courtesy of the AGA. Click "Books" on menu
on the left hand side of the page.
Hikaru
No Go: Fabulous story from Japan depicting a young man's coming
of age in the world of go. Read the manga,
view the anime.
If you download, you may be violating copyright laws. Click here to download a Hikaru No Go poster for your personal use.
Internet
Go Filmography: A comprehensive list of films and other visual
media references to go.
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Computer Go
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Go-Related Software: A complete list
of dozens of programs that play and teach go as well as software
for other functions like creating game records and pairiing tournaments.
Mick's
Computer Go Pages: Detailed information on international computer
go tournaments.
Go Servers: Thousands of people are playing Go online right now! Here's where to find them.
Samarkand's
Software Selection: includes many commercial go-playing programs
and an extensive selection of Zhu-jiu Jiang's instructional CD-ROMs.
Yutopian
Software Center: Another good collection of playing and instructional
software.
OpenGo:
A workbench for programmers interested in writing automated playing
software.
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Go Vendors
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Makers and distributors of books and equipment
Click here to find playing equipment and instructional materials
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Go People
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Feng Yun's Go School: This former World Women's Champion, one of
only 2 female 9-Dans in history, lives and teaches actively in the
New York area, and offers online lessons.
Alexander Dinerchtein: A Russian-born 1P in the Korean system who teaches
online in Russian, English and Korean.
Harry Fearnley's Homepage: A vast store of links, information and oddities.
David
Mechner's Homepage: A former insei offers advice on getting stronger.
Milt's
Go Page
John
Fairbairn
Terri Schurter
Steve Bailey's Go Pages
Henry Segerman's three-dimensional go board
Jun's collection of Takemiya's games -- over 60 games in the
collection
Waller's
World of Go
David
Dyer's Computer Go Pages
Jay Burmeister's Go Pages
I am Dosaku: The life of the first great go genius (1645-1702),
who remains one of the great players of all time. With game records
from his famous matches.
Jasiek's
Go/Baduk/Weiqi Home Page: Lots of information about rules, and
a few other things.
John
Tromp's Go Page: Another rule-oriented set of pages.
Daniel
Bump's Go Page: Daniel and Reid Augustin have written a program
to convert sgf files to tex format.
Yuki Shigeno's Italian Diary: The European-based professional reflects
on this and that.
Sven Tissot's Go Pages
Matthew MacFadyen's
Go Pages: One of Europe's top players offers instruction and
other materials.
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Go Blogs
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Mr. Ooijer blogs: Friday Night Files author Jon Van Rongen
poses as the Dutch player in Hikaru no Go, sort of..
Chiyodad Learns Go: A massive collection of material, including
links to instructional videos for beginners.
NannyOgg's Shodan Challenge: A beginner discovers a quest for excellence.
Maruseru No Go: Another "journey into the infinite depths of
go/baduk/weichi." (In English.)
Snakeeater On Go: Need we say more?
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Related Links
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Web site archive: Search for www.usgo.org to view
snapshots of how we used to look, as far back as 1997..
Shogi.net: Links and information concerning the Japanese
chess antecedent.
Xiangqi: The Chinese ancestor of Western chess.
Liubo: Xiangqi evolved from this even
more ancient game.
Korean Chess: Very similar to xiangqi,
but with slightly different rules.
Hex: Black and white stones
on a go-like board with hexes instead of squares.
The object is to create an unbroken chain of stones
from one side of the board to the other. Invented
by John Nash, the brilliant, erratic subject of the
Academy-award-winning film A Beautiful Mind.
Pits: Learn the rules of the 5-player card game that
has become a popular side attraction at Go Congresses
in Europe and the US.
Liar Dice: Another game often played at Congresses
and go events.
Daoqi: Go variant in which the edge of the board
is eliminated.
Amazons: Part chess, part go.
Konane: "Hawaiian checkers"
can be played on a standard go board.
Random Proverb Generator: Get a different
silly proverb every time you hit this site.
Renju International Federation: Renju (Go-Moku) is a
"five-in-a-row", tic-tac-toe-style game played
using go equipment. The RIF site includes over 2000 pages
on various aspects of this deceptively simple-looking game.
Mind Sports Organization: Although not
updated since March of 2001, this site contains lots of good
information on Asian and international tournaments, as well
as many downloadable game records and several interesting
articles -- an interview with Go Seigen, a description of
go in North Korea and so on.
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