Anyone out there know how to play Go?

[Gav]

I'm stuck on night shift and I downloaded a version of Go (chinese board game). Anyway, I read through the tutorial and I understand the rules but I can't seem to get my head around what you're supposed to do. There I am playing away and then all of a sudden the computer will put down one seemingly inocous piece and BAM 1/2 my men are captured. It's getting frustrating!

[lochinvar]

The idea is to capture territory, not pieces.

Try to think of it as building fences to surround land which you are excluding the enemy from, not as capturing pieces. As you are building your fence, the opponent may be building a bigger fence that includes you and your fence, and so you lose.

It takes a while to get the hang of it, but after you do I think you will like it.

[Gav]

Yeah... I sort of... see that. The computer is still whooping me but I'm getting there. The program I'm using has a ranking systenm built in and I'm already up from 25 to 16 kyu (whatever that is). I downloaded a pamphlet from the US go society and it makes perfect sense on paper but when you try and apply it... sheesh! I keep thinking, "yeah I've got you" then all of a sudden the games over and my fences (as you've pointed out) are fenced in by the computers. I just can't seem to see how it gets there.

This is just a training program I'm using called 'The many faces of go'. It's only a 9*9 board so my choices get limited pretty quick.

[lochinvar]

Well, just be patient with yourself, and you'll get it. It's kinda like learning to see the zebra as a black animal with white stripes, or learning to look at the holes and not the bars. It's a completely different mind-set from western thought, so it takes a while.

If it's any consolation, the more you play the more you understand the game. Kinda like fencing...

[The Crazy Wacker]

Pass Go, Collect $200

[swordsen]

According to some friends of mine no one in america knows how to play Go. I thought I did untill I played them.
And they are americans, they include themselves in that condemnation.
stranger and stranger....

[three_hundred_fifty_five]

...

[ 05-17-2002: Message edited by: three_hundred_fifty_five ]</p>

[three_hundred_fifty_five]

Since it's 9 x 9, it's not "real" Go. Therefore, all those strategy things you are reading are based on playing on a real Go board and may not help.
I won't go into detail since you have your Go pamplets and stuff.

[three_hundred_fifty_five]

...

[ 05-17-2002: Message edited by: three_hundred_fifty_five ]</p>

[carlos]

Enjoy the game!
Try materials from Ishi Press in California, try downloading other Go programs like Go Master. When searching on the Web, also use synonyms "Igo" and "Wei-Chi" to help cut down on spurious results.
Hints from a perpetual raw beginner: do not directly attack strength. Leave yourself some room. Begin near the corners. Build some strong eyes. Watch our for false eyes. A completely encircled 3-point eye is invincible.

[Gav]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I decided to learn Go because I was on night shift and bored. I'd been meaning to learn it for a while so as I had plenty of time on my hands I indulged myself. [I hope my boss doesn't read this over my shoulde]

Even had a good experience on the web. I jumped onto MSN gaming zone (it's the client software that happens to be on my work machine) and had a game against a guy really helpful guy rom America. When he realised I was a complete newbie he gave me a decent advantage then played me on the 9*9 board. At the end he even took me through the game step by step to show me where I went wrong. Really helpful.

Funnily enough one of my friends turned out to be a a Go player! He hasn't played in long while but when the the topic popped up in conversation he was really keen to get some games going. So I had a good afternoon playing the game.

Carlos: Thanks for the tips.

355: I realise that the 9*9 isn't full Go. It's intended to teach you the aspects of the game without being overwhelmed by the size of the Go board. I found that of all the things I'd read about and done in tutorials, I maybe get to do one in a [9*9] game. I have played on the the full size board since then.

The thing that gets me is the apparent simplicity of the rule and at the same time it's complexities. I've played Chess since I was 5 and found that no help at all...

[135711]

<img src="graemlins/jawa.gif" border="0" alt="[Jawa]" />

[ 05-22-2002: Message edited by: 135711 ]</p>