The Game of Go

What is Go

● Board game● Takes an afternoon to learn and a

lifetime to master.● Rules are simple, but game has an

almost infinite set of strategies.

History of Go

● Invented in China over 2,500 years ago.● Spread to Japan, Korea and later U.S.

And Europe● Alternate names: Wei-Chi, Baduk

Go In modern times

Go Etiquette

● Holding a Go Stone

Go Equipment

● Go Board– When learning 9x9

– Full size 19x19 when playing at club level

● Go Stones– Plastic

– Glass

– Clamshell and Slate

Japanese Goban

Goal of Game

● To surround more board territory than your opponent

Basic Rules

● Black plays first● Stones are placed on intersection points● Stones are never moved but can be

captured.– Surrounding a stone captures that

stone (prisoner)

– Surrounding a connected group captures that group (prisoners)

● A stone cannot 'commit suicide'● The game ends with 2 passes in a row

or a resignation

Aspects of Strategy

● One Eye vs Two eyes● 'In the land of Go – The one-eyed king is

dead'● A group with two eyes (or more) cannot

be killed– Why not?

Eye Examples

Further Resources

● Reference:– http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Go_game

● Turn based Go Site– http://www.dragongoserver.net/

● Real-time based Go site– http://gokgs.com/