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Learn and Play the Game of Go
4652 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington DC 20016

HomeGame of Go

Picture of go boardGo (Weiqi, Baduk) is . . . an ancient board game which takes simple elements: line and circle, black and white, stone and wood, combines them with simple rules and generates subtleties which have enthralled players for millennia. Go's appeal does not rest solely on its Asian, metaphysical elegance, but on practical and stimulating features in the design of the game.


Go's few rules can be demonstrated quickly and grasped easily. The game is enjoyable played over a wide spectrum of skills. Each level of play has it charms, rewards and discoveries. A unique and reliable system of handicapping bring many more players "into range" for an equal contest. Draws are rare, and a typical game retains a fluidity and dynamism far longer than comparable games. An early mistake can be made up, used to advantage, or reversed as the game progresses. There is no simple procedure to turn a clear lead into a victory -- only continued good play. The game rewards patience and balance over aggression and greed; the balance of influence and territory may shift many times in the course of a game, and a strong player must be prepared to be flexible but resolute. Go thinking seems more lateral than linear, less dependent on logical deduction, and more reliant on a "feel" for the stones, a "sense" of shape, a gestalt perception of the game.


Beyond being merely a game, Go can take on other meanings to its devotees: an analogy for life, an intense meditation, a mirror of one's personality, and exercise in abstract reasoning, a mental "workout" or, when played well, a beautiful art in which black and white dance in delicate balance across the board. But most important for all who play, Go, as a game, is challenging and fun.


 

Go board from Chinese tomb ca. 600 C.E.Go combines beauty and intellectual challenge. In Asia, it is often played on a traditional, carved wooden board, with black and white stones made from slate and clamshell, but good affordable equipment is also available. In either case, the patterns formed by the black and white stones are visually striking and can exercise an almost hypnotic attraction as one "sees" more and more in the constantly evolving positions.


The game appeals to many kinds of minds -- to musicians and artists, to mathematicians and computer programmers, to entrepreneurs and options traders. Children learn the game readily and can reach high levels of mastery.


Because go lends itself to a uniquely reliable system of handicaps, players of widely disparate strengths can enjoy relatively even contests.  

Thanks to our national association the American Go Association for the above.

The best way to learn to play is in person with more experienced players. You can find places to play locally in DC on our Calendar. The AGA club listing is a good way to find places to play across the US.

Below are a few of the many good resources that can be found online for Go:

Learning to Play

• Sensei's Library is a Wiki for Go with many great pages. A good place to start is this single page covering the basic rules of Go. After you study this page you will know how to play Go!

• A convenient way to learn is this nicely produced introductory video by Goshawk Heron. Besides the rules you will learn some of the history and terminology of the game.

Improving Your Play

• Nick Sibicky at the Seattle Go Center has produced hundreds of video lectures with lots of material for beginning players. This is a terrific way to rapidly improve.

• Stephanie Yin and Ryan Li are professional Go players at the New York Institute of Go. They have been producing great video content for players of all levels with plenty for beginners.

Playing Online

There are numerous sites where you can play Go online and get matched with someone at a similar level across the globe. This includes both real-time play and correspondence play (a move made each time a player logs in). Some popular sites include:

• Online Go Server (OGS)
• Pandanet (IGS)
• KGS Go Server
• Dragon Go Server (DGS) correspondence only