Go – Presentation Outline

Go – Presentation Outline • Go. What is it • Equipment • Go Skills • Go History • Players – Random Names and Faces • Computers and Go, Internet • The Rules of Go • A Game (a Glimpse)

Go – What is it? From Wikipedia • Go, also known as Weiqi in Mandarin Chinese (Traditional Chinese: 圍棋; Simplified Chinese: 围棋), and Baduk in Korean (Hangul:바둑), is a strategic, deterministic two-player board game originating in ancient China, before 200 BC. The game is now popular throughout East Asia and on the Internet. • The object of the game is to place stones so they control a larger board territory than one's opponent, while preventing them from being surrounded and captured by the opponent.

Go – Unique features • Handicap system • Unmatched players can still play • Ranking system • Start as a 30Kyu • Advance to 1Kyu and then 1Dan • Strongest player in SA is 7dan • Professionals have own ranking scale.

The Equipment Photo shows an 8-inch thick tenmasa kaya board. The scroll in the background features calligraphy by the Nobel Prize-winning writer Kawabata Yasunari. The characters read Shin'o Yugen, which mean `subtle and profound mysteries'. It is a term often used to refer to the fascination of go. Photo from Kiseido.com

Go – Skills Developed and Needed • Businessman • Negotiation, Risk/reward • Soldier • Defend and attack, Territory and influence • Artist • Good shape from bad shape, spatial perception • Accountant • Debits and Credits, Account balance • It helps to be human. • Computers not very good yet!

GoMore than just a game • Way of life for 30 Million people in the east • Growing rapidly in the west • . . . And in Africa ! • Not a gambling game. • No chance involved • Many hundreds of professionals in the east.

In other Languages Japanese – Igo Mandarin Chinese – Weiqi Korean – Baduk (or Paduk)

History of Go(Cho Chikun) • Many legends • Emperor Yao (c. 2357 BC) • For his son • Emporer Shun (c. 2255 BC) • For his son • Wu, during Chieh (c. 1818 BC) • as a court game. • Astrologers – Chou (c. 1045 BC)

Go History • Japan • May have come from Korea c. 600 by refugees, artists and students. • Grand Minister Kibi in 735. • First book in 913 • Golden era mid to late 1800’s • Over 400 professionals

Go History • Korea • Only been played professionally since 1956 • Many players moved to Japan to play • Now retaining many of skills • Major power in Go

Go History • Go in China • Was not always popular • Discouraged during the “Cultural Revolution” • Rebirth in 1970’s • Still on the increase.

Go History • Go in the west • Described in 1600’s in ItalyExplosive growth • Go schools appearing all over the world • San Francisco • Argentina • Russia • Soweto in South Africa

Some Random Pics (From Gobase.org) Chinen Kaori - Honinbo Takao Shinji - Honinbo Gu Li Chen Yaoye Fernando Aguilar Rui NaiWei Cho U Lee SeDol Cho Chikun Victor Chow Lee ChangHo

Computers and go • Matsushita prize • $5 000 000 in ’80s • Beat the best Japanese 7 year old • Still many years away from being claimed • GNUGo project • Annual computer tournament • “SGF” recording system

Go and the Internet • Go Servers • KGS, • IGS, • Dash Baduk ?

Go and the Internet

Go Rules • Played on a board with 19x19 Lines • Smaller boards (13x13) (9x9) may be used by beginners • Players use black and white stones • Board starts empty – Black moves first • Handicap may be given • Stones are alternately placed on the intersections • Stones are not moved • May pass or play • Two consecutive passes end the game

Rules of Go • Stones are captured by filling in all surrounding liberties Captured stones are kept and counted at the end of the game. • It is illegal to play on a point with no liberty D, E & F are illegal moves

Go Rules • It is allowed to play on a point with no liberty if capturing results in liberty. A & B are legal capturing moves E and F are not legal as they do not remove the last black liberty – The black group is safe.

Go Rules • The rule of Ko • If recapturing a stone would recreate the same board position from a previous move, the position is called “Ko”, and the recapturing move is illegal. Black is allowed to capture a stone by moving at “A” White may not immediately recapture at “A” He/She must make a move elsewhere first. The move made elsewhere is usually a “Ko threat”

Go Rules • When both players pass the game is over and the score is counted. White 5 captures – Black 1 capture

Go Rules • Sum the territory + captures + komi. • Highest number wins. Komi: 5.5, Captures: White 5 , Black 1

Example Game • Cho Chikun vs Kato Masao – • 1988 • Game 5 of 22nd Judan Title • From “Go, a Complete Introduction” by Cho Chikun.

Go – Presentation Outline