learn igo




	GoBan dimensions and calculations : Dimension SI Imperial Japanese (mm) (inch) Board width 424.2 16 23/32 1.4 shaku Board length 454.5 17 29/32 1.5 shaku Board thickness 151.5 5 31/32 0.5 shaku Line spacing width-wise 22 7/8 7.26 bu Line spacing length-wise 23.7 15/16 7.82 bu Line thickness 1 1/32 0.3 bu Star point marker diameter 4 5/32 1.2 bu Stone diameter 22.5 29/32 7.5 bu

hello, do you want to learn to play IGO - Badook - WeiQi ? well, it is time to play IGO directly, learn later ! How to play Go.. let ës see some pictures.

Firstly, I need to say that you can play on a real Go Board, or you can also play on Internet, or play GO against your computer.

On the real GO Board, surely you need a wooden board, actually a paper-type or magnetic board would be good also, and one set of stones, 180 white, 181 black. Why these numbers ? well, Weiqi is played mostly and most interesting on 19x19 lines board, so we will have 19 * 19 places to put the stones, so 361 places. Since the game is played with two colored stones, and the black starts, black will have 181, white 180. Now, it is not a problem if you loose some, because actually not as many stones will be necessary in a real game, because we need to surround TERRITORY - blank places on the board.

Play igo on internet does not have much problems with the number of the stones, hihi, just put as many as you think it is necessary, sure ONE at a time. If you want to play using internet, there are a few servers, called Internet Go servers, that allows multiple connections and this is how same as you, other people are connected in the same place. You can find people from many countries, beginners as well as professionals, that is why it is a very good place for Anybody that wants to progress in Igo, and to understand it deeper. For more details, you will find here a quick guide of how to play igo online, advantages and disadvantages of some meeting places.

There are a number of software that can play igo, if you do not have much of internet access to play online, and not much friends to play with, then you might want to play against your computer. I need to add that playing igo with computer, can be a good way to self-improvement, but, keep in mind that NOT YET, igo software are strong enough. Computer can play same as a ..good beginner player, yet, winning against it, is fun, and stimulative. Then you can give him handicap stones, and see your own improvement.

I need to write about this very interesting topic, mostly because whenever I think about these, I kind of play better, not neccesary winning, but better anyway. And it is very good for an igo beginner that just started to play, on KGS, IGS, or on the board, to learn how and why stones should be placed where.

Firstly, an igo game has 3 parts, the beginning of the game, called Fuseki, middle part play, called Chuban, and the end of game play, called Yose. So, I shall start from beginning, how to start an igo- badook - weiqi game.

  Fuseki
  Chuban
  Yose

Fuseki, or the first moves, opening theory in igo.

In the first part of the game, the black and white stones almost do not have contact with eachother, they just draw some lines MOYO on the board, marking the player�s intentions. The opening takes about 20-30 moves, then, inevitable the two armies will have to face eachother, and start some local battles, influenced and influencing the total Go board.

Where is the best place to play at the beginning ? In the corners, on sides, or in the center ? This question received many answers in time, due to various arguments. The center has equal influence on all the parts of the board, but the corners can be taken more easily and the territory is quite large there. A complete answer might be: The first moves should ocupy the corners, Without losing the center, so, here we are again at the beginning of same question !

Sure, there are many other Shimari formations that can be used, depending on the opponent, on the game, on eachother�s temperament. In any case, the stones Must be spread as much as possible, to have a minimum of influence all over the board.
After placing a new stone in the corner to make a shimari formation, a good idea is to prevent your opponent in doing same, one way is already presented, the a and b points in the previous diagrams. Attacking a formations in the corner has the name of Kakari.

Just a few more words I will add here, that after the corners, an igo game continues with taking the sides, usually the 3rd and the 4th line are to be taken. The direction of play must be considered regarding the whole board, and not to forget that a too advanced move will leave a large space, where the enemy can invade. Therefore, the extensions on sides must not be too far, nor to close, continuing later with moving over the center. But surelly, there are many cases when a game will go to center earlier, or have important local fight with running through the center and so on. There are 2 who can decide how to play, you, and your opponent.

Chuban, middle game

In this part of the igo game, we need to strengthen our groups, extend as muchas possible, carry on some fights and invade, check where is best to play for the greatest amount of points, attack all the no-man-lads, until the situation on the board is almost finished, remaining parts should be some KOs, and borderlines, the rest of the things on the board needs to be decided already.
Therefore, this part is the main place to fight, have hard times, and use your sense in observing good moves, not to let yourself cut, tricky play and tesuji, connections. Surelly this part you will love it, when you can see what you ..planned, when finally you can collect your merrits. Mostly, at the end of this part, igo is in a sunrising situation, obscure fights are ending, territories are established.
Experience needs to learn you how is best to play here, but also observing games of stronger players, and professionals. Ask yourself why they played here or there, and try to find some reasons.

Yose, end of play

Sente and Gote concept, these words means Attack Move and Defense Move - respectivelly. Therefore, during all the game there is an exchange of the role the opponents have, one is Sente - attacking, the other one is Gote- defending, andswering the otherone�s move. I repeat, this concepts are very important for all the fases of a game, and it is Not to be neglected. While attacking, we can also make territory, same with defending, since the purpose is Not to KILL, but to gain territory. Well, if we kill some stones- that is also very good for us, just let�s not forget about territory. So, Sente is attacking, Gote is forced to answer to his move. Then later, one player will lose Sente and he will have to answer the opponnt threath. If answer to his move (accept the Gote) or not, depends on you, If you do not consider last move as sente, then you can move elsewhere(tennuki), taking Sente.
Let�s see why I remembered about this. Well, at the end of game play, there are borders to be fixed, Ko situations, and others, and actually, the one who starts is surely in advantage. the difference in sente and gote in end of play can be up to 10-15 points, so we have to be careful.
Always try to consider the many-points-situations, the the less valuable, and so on, until nothing is left to play, and here you Go, the game is finished.
Then we start counting the territory, after removing the dead stones, and placing the prisoners in the opponents territory. After adding KOMI to white, (say 6.5), we can see the resut, win or lose.


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