The Go Board Game originated in China, where it has been said to have been played for more then three thousand years. It is most popular in Oriental or East Asia, but has been gaining popularity in the rest of the world in recent years.
As it is known as “wéiqí” to the Chinese, “igo” or “go” to the Japanese, and “baduk” to the Koreans.
Though the Go Board Game originated in ancient China, it is known in the West by its the name, “go”. Most Western players learned of the game from the Japanese sources. Most Go Board Game concepts have no English equivalent have become known popularly by their Japanese sources. The name “igo” is linked to the Japanese reading of its Chinese name “weiqi”, which translates as “board game of surrounding”.
Go Board Game is a very strategic board game played by only two players, each placing black and white stones on the vacant intersections of a grid board. The Go board game features several variations of board sizes depending on the level of skill by the player. When you are a new to the game, it is better to start with a smaller board which will help to grasp the concept of the game quicker, the full size board (19″ x 19″) is better suited for the intermediate or advanced players.
Go Board Game is rich in strategic complexity but the rules are simple. It is a plainly a game for Winning Territory. Objective of the game is to control a larger part of the board than the opponent. One of the players uses black stones and the other white stones to mark out their respective territories. The strategies involved can become very abstract and complex. Seasoned players spend years improving their understanding of strategies.
Players strive to place their, black or white, stones in such a way that they cannot be captured, while mapping out their own territories where the opponent cannot invade without being captured.
A single stone or a group of stones is captured and removed, if it has no empty adjacent intersections, the result of being completely surrounded by stones of the opposing color.
The basics of placing stones close together help them support each other and avoid territorial capture. Placing stones far apart may creates influence across more of the board. The strategically challenge of the game stem from finding a balance between such conflicting interests.
Both players strategize to serve between defensive and offensive purposes and choose between tactical urgency and strategic plans. At the end of the game, the final score is counted when both the players consecutively pass on a turn, indicating that neither player can increase any more territory for himself or reduce its opponent’s.
The winner is the one who has captured the most territory at the end of the game. Since the players are to outplay against each other over territory within a limited space, the game involves many variations and forms of strategies and plans. This is what makes “Go Board Game” challenging.
Slideshow with pictures from “Japanese game of GO” book.
The Yunnan Weiqi Factory manufactures Yunzi stones used in the game of Go (aka 围棋, 바둑, 囲碁). The video is narrated in Chinese but contains interesting factory clips of the manufacturing process.
Haven’t been able to play as much since school started, here’s a game i played on KGS for the first time in a while. Nothing special, lots of mistakes.
The following game is known as the Blood Vomiting Game. It is one of the famous games that any aspiring go player should study.
Another game by this western aspiring pro. Thoguh this game shows creativity, it also shows that I have a long way to go. I’ll add a short commentary.