GO

[thomasallencummins]

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Go is a strategic board game for two players. It is also known as Weiqi in Chinese (Traditional Chinese: 圍棋; Simplified Chinese: 围棋), Igo or Go in Japanese (Kanji: 囲碁 or 碁), and Baduk in Korean (Hangul:바둑). Go originated in ancient China, possibly centuries before it was first mentioned in writing c. 548 BC. It is now popular throughout the world, especially in East Asia.

Go is played by two players alternately placing black and white stones on the vacant intersections of a 19×19 rectilinear grid. A stone or a group of stones is captured and removed if it is tightly surrounded by stones of the opposing color. The objective is to control a larger territory than the opponent's by placing one's stones so they cannot be captured. The game ends and the score is counted when both players consecutively pass on a turn, indicating that neither side can increase its territory or reduce its opponent's; the game can also end by resignation.

[Avatar]

On the Watch I wrote:

Go is an ancient precursor of chess, about four thousand years old in fact. And unlike chess, its play is essentially unchanged in all that time. It too is divided into the same basic phases of the game, but where in chess you start with the option of +/- 35 moves, in Go, you have a choice of 361 possible 1st moves.

It’s a deceptively simple game, with only about four real “Rules,” which you can learn in about 10 minutes. All you do is place Black or White stones on a 19x19 grid. The object is to enclose as much territory as possible with your stones. Once placed, the stones are never moved unless captured by the enemy, resulting in patterns of startling complexity.

More popular than chess in Asia, and still relativley unknown in the west, a rich and complex tradition has surrounded it over the millennia.

The strategies and techniques are literally endless, and the Asian devotion to culture has ensured that much of it survives. Records still exist of famous games played over 2000 years ago, and there are Go Dojo’s where people devote their entire lives to understanding the complexities of this easy game.

They say that, like snowflakes, no two games of Go have ever been the same, and as an example of the intricacy of the game, there is a standing prize of one million dollars for anyone who can create a computer program that can defeat even an experienced amateur player.

It is believed that this would be a significant step toward AI. According to a recent article, it would take Deep Blue 18 months to make a single move, and even then, it would have no advantage over a human player.

Sun Tzu mentions it, albeit in a slightly derogatory way, in his Art of War, Iain M Banks features it in Feersum Endjinn, and of course, it's the game that "Stones" is based on in Robert Jordans Wheel of Time.

Links to Freeware beginner Go programs:

IgoWin--9x9 beginners board, nice interface:
www.smart-games.com/igowin.html

HandTalk--9x9, more powerful, lousy interface: www.yutopian.com/go/soft/ECC19.html

--A

[ram]

Hey, chocolate and vanilla M&M's! I'll play if I get to eat the pieces after.

Don't know anything about Go. I just like candy.

[danlo]

My record is 6-210

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Practice makes perfect danlo.

--A

[danlo]

Hey, it's an extremely tough game. I played against some really good guys, who got the snot beaten out of them by really good players...

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Some people take whole lifetimes to master it. AFAIK, Go dojos still exist where children go at a young age.

Anyway, my point isn't about being beaten...the guy who taught me used to thrash me seriously. But the more you play, the better you get at recognising the best move to make.

--A