Thread: The game of Go

Any other go players here? A couple of weeks ago I installed a Go app on my phone, and I have been hooked since. Bought a board and set of stones as well. I absolutely love the game. I used to play chess when I was younger, but bored of the game because it is so rigid and unchanging.

Go otoh starts with a large empty board, every player is free to place stones and play according to his or her own strategy, and the game is filled with uncertainty because you never know where your opponent will place his next stone. Additionally, even if one player has a very large advantage, it is possible to turn the game around with one or 2 carefully placed stones in the end game.

The rules of Go are much simpler than the rules of chess. And yet the game is infinitely more complex

I've beencuriouzabout go for many years. This thread could be the encouragement to finally try it.

I used to play very often. In the early 1990s I co-owned a coffeehouse. One of our patrons came in regularly and had been taught by a very experienced Go player. He taught some of us to play.

You're correct the possibilities in Go are staggering compared to Chess.

The other thing I like about Go is that it's so easy for less experienced players to play against experienced players by starting the less experienced player with a handicap (the 9 black dots on the board? Inexperienced player can have stones placed on those spaces at the beginning of the game).

Amazing game.

Chrisl

The handicap system is indeed pretty well thought out according to what I read, giving players of different strength a similar chance of winning. What makes it interesting also is that it is possible to come back from a huge disadvantage and turn the entire game around. With chess, once you are at a significant disadvantage, it's all over but the crying.

On my phone I play go-free.
It's free and runs on android, so no reason not to give it a try, though you might want to read something like go for beginners to make sense of the game

never heard of this game until you mention it Bruno , Im a long time chess player and will get the go app and try this game out ....thanks for sharing

Originally Posted by Bazz

never heard of this game until you mention it Bruno , Im a long time chess player and will get the go app and try this game out ....thanks for sharing

Go is all about controlling territory, rather than taking pieces. In fact it may be beneficial not to capture pieces, or force your opponent to capture yours. The rules are pretty simple, but the implications can be very complex.

Yep I have played

Got interested in the game when I read

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shibumi_(novel)


Pente' is a similar game, if you love Go you might like Pente'

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Yep I have played

Got interested in the game when I read

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shibumi_(novel)


Pente' is a similar game, if you love Go you might like Pente'

Ha ! Yeah I read Shibumi & started playing Go early 80's. Haven't played in ages. Both the book & game were popular in our martial art school in the day.

I will have to try the App....

One of my Thai clients first told me the often used intro:

Go - it takes a few minutes to learn and a lifetime to master...

Thanks for the reminder.

well I must have a metal handicap cause Ive try'd for hrs but I cant seem to get a grasp on how to play this game , even watched some video how to's ....I aint givin up