Go players?

[euclid]

Curious to know if there are any Go players on the forums.

I have only played a few times as there are very few people in my town that I have found that are interested in learning , but it is a fascinating game whose blend of apparent simplicity but underlying complexity would seem to draw many parallels to not only Kendo, but many other arts as well.

If you have not tried it, I recommend giving it a try. Easy to learn the basics, but exceedly difficult to play with any level of skill.


Hmmm...mighty long run on sentence, but I think you get the idea.

[Spendius]

I like to play occasionnaly. I also know very few go players around, except for my uncle (who taught me the rules), and a couple of dojomates. Can't play on the Internet unfortunately (no connection at home).

[euclid]

I've found that on the internet, like with most online endeavours, there are an inordinate number of jackasses who don't seem to grasp the idea of BEGINNER. For that reason, I tend to avoid playing online...plus, it's just not the same as sitting around the table with some booze and hearing the click of the stones and the look of concentration on the other player's face as they try to figure out why you played that move.

The hardest thing I've found explaining to people is when and why the game is over. Takes a while to get a hold of, but is immensely entertaining once you understand the basics and start to realize the complexity of it all.

:D

[Spendius]

Well shouldn't go be like kendo ? You progress when playing against GOOD players, and try to mimic them ?
I second that online play is completely different from real life, but it would just make it soooo easier to have a small game from time to time... Otherwise, gnugo is a free AI that's not too bad (kicks my a** even on low level, but I'm a beginner).
I think there is a bar in Brussels where people gather to play chess and go, but the go night is also kendo night :(

[euclid]

Well shouldn't go be like kendo ? You progress when playing against GOOD players, and try to mimic them ?
I second that online play is completely different from real life, but it would just make it soooo easier to have a small game from time to time... Otherwise, gnugo is a free AI that's not too bad (kicks my a** even on low level, but I'm a beginner).
I think there is a bar in Brussels where people gather to play chess and go, but the go night is also kendo night :(


I agree, I would love to play against good players. However, playing against jackasses, no matter HOW good they are, is just not fun.

[ginger_justice]

might be worth having a look at

http://www.kendo-world.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6519

but probably not.

[euclid]

might be worth having a look at

http://www.kendo-world.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6519

but probably not.


Thanks for the link ginger.

:cyclops:


I have no idea why I used that, aside from I'm new and figure to use each smiley at least once.

[ginger_justice]

ah, the one-eyed warrior...

[xvikingx]

I play go every once in a while. I am terrible at it but I enjoy it. I agree about online play; it just losses something. They have parlor just down the street from my house but the old men play for money and I would get smoked.
I can hold my own in shogi though. It was hard at first because I was always thinking in chess terms.

[Manuka]

I have not played on the big board for some years.
Do still play the computer 9x9 igowin by David Fotland, and the daily problem on www.gobase.org.
I also have most of the Ishi press go books in English and a couple of others plus copies of most of the early issues of -GO World-. I have issues 1-12, 14, 16-17, 19-21, 23-27, and 29 printed between 1977-82.


An erratic chess player and a beginner at kendo.
I see the difference between chess and go as opposites between the means and the goal. Chess you control space to kill a piece, in go you (occasionally) kill a piece or group to control space.
In chess counter attack is viable, but in go while it is better to play away from strength, unless you aggressively map out territory you will generally lose.

I do not know enough kendo yet to comment on the psychological aspects comparing go to kendo other than concentration and attacking opponents weaknesses. Of course I do not yet have the skill to do much about opponent weaknesses in kendo even when recognized.