Emanuel Lasker, chess grandmaster
"No, it is not like Othello," is how I responded once again to the question that is always asked when I bring up the topic of Go. There are white and black round pieces, although not reversible like in Othello. Beyond the colors of the pieces, the similarities end. Go is a primal game, simulating life itself on the board with growth and death, battles and peace, construction, daring rescues and apocalyptic mistakes. It has been said that the final pattern of pieces on the Go board represents the crystallization of thought from the clashing of two minds.
I have always had a vague knowledge of this game but never any solid idea about how to play it. But a chance discovery of some Go software on a computer at work led me deep into the world of Go. I am still just a beginner, but the more I learn the more fascinating the game becomes.
Go is an ancient game. It was invented in China about 4000 years ago, and came to Japan around 1,300 years ago, where it became fully developed. Japan has long dominated the game, but now Chinese and Korean players are on top. Here in Japan the game is also known by the name "Igo." which is the reading of the characters at the top of the page.
Go is played all over the world and its popularity is spreading with the help of the Internet. Even so, none of my Japanese friends or students at the school I was teaching at knew how to play. Ironically the first human opponent I found here in Japan was a new teacher from Canada. But eager players of all levels are always willing to play over the Internet.
The rules of Go are elegantly simple, and can be reduced to only two fundamental rules. But from these simple rules spring a staggeringly deep game of strategy. Comparisons are often made between Go and Chess because they are the oldest and most highly developed strategy board games of the east and west. I have played Chess since I was 10, but after discovering Go I have to say I have lost all my interest in Chess. The rules of Chess are arbitrary and based on tradition. But the rules of Go, with its beginning of an empty board, and simple black and white pieces seem deeply fundamental.
Go is played on a grid usually of 19 by 19 lines. The object of Go is to surround territory. The black and white pieces, called stones, are placed on the board and never moved, but can be killed. The stones are like seeds drawing air through the lines of the grid. As more stones are placed shapes form and grow surrounding territory. If your opponent surrounds your stones, thereby cutting off your supply of air, your stones will die. If your stones form a safe pattern that can never be killed, the points of territory they surround , along with any killed stones, become your score at the end of the game.
Games on smaller boards are possible for beginners or professionals in search of a quick game. Traditionally, Go boards are made of thick and expensive wood. The Go stones are made from white clam shells and black slate. Altogether a set could cost thousands of dollars, but cheaper sets are available, and quite nice glass stones can be bought for a few thousand yen. Because of the simplicity of Go you could play with a paper and pencil if necessary.
Go can be easily learned by children, and can be enjoyed by players of all levels. The game has an effective handicap system where the weaker player starts with a number of stones already on the board making fair games possible between players of significantly different strengths. But even players with only a very basic knowledge of the rules and little idea of strategy can enjoy playing a quick game on a 9x9 board.
The spark that started my interest in the game of Go started with a computer program, but computers are actually poor opponents for any but the most raw beginner. Whereas computers have defeated the greatest chess champions, they are not even close when it comes to Go. Some experts claim computers will never beat the best players, and others say it will happen someday but will require a significant advance in artificial intelligence.
If you are interested in learning to play Go, the Internet is the best place to start.
First try this site; it will teach you the rules and strategy step by step with
interactive Java Aplets.
http://playgo.to/interactive/index.html
Then download "Igowin" a free program that plays 9x9 Go and rates your progress.
It is the perfect way to get the basic idea of how to play the game.
http://www.smart-games.com/igowin.html
After you have battled your way up the handicap levels of Igowin you may want to
test your strength against some human opponents. The easiest way is through Yahoo Games:
http://games.yahoo.com/
Other servers are available that require clients to play.
I like Kiseido (whose website has a lot of good information) but IGS is the largest:
http://kgs.kiseido.com/en_US/
http://www.pandanet.co.jp/English/
One of my favorite sites and the source of some of the information in this essay,
is Milt's Go Page. Authored by an enthusiastic Go teacher and promoter,
he has plenty of information, essays and links, and an interesting comparison
between Go and Chess.
http://users.eniinternet.com/bradleym/index.html
"Sensei's Library" is a huge and ever evolving database of Go information:
http://senseis.xmp.net/
Recently there has been a Go boom among Japanese young people due to the popularity
of a comic book, and now animation, called "Hikaru no Go".
It is an entertaining story about a boy's advancement into the ranks of the pros with
the help of the ghost of an ancient Go master. You can read the English translation at:
(2003.11.25 Update: The English translation is no longer available at this link because
the comic has been licensed for English publication.)
http://www.toriyamaworld.com/hikago/
You can always find hundreds of other links by searching for 'The Game of Go' on Google.
Good luck!