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Korea. China. Japan & others. Wei Qi, Baduk, Go a game of strategy. Fred Hansen The Official Fred Spring 05. Why play go?. Fun Challenge Think differently not procedural A window to the orient Only one rule Warning: It takes time to “get” go. What does go look like?.
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Korea China Japan & others Wei Qi, Baduk, Goa game of strategy Fred Hansen The Official Fred Spring 05
Why play go? • Fun • Challenge • Think differently • not procedural • A window to the orient • Only one rule Warning: It takes time to “get” go
What does go look like? • Board with 19 x 19 lines • White and black stones in bowls • On your turn, put a stone on an intersection
What is the goal? • Get the most stones on the board • surround bigger empty space • keep groups alive • The game ends when neither player wants to play • there’s no more space to grab • In practice not all intersections are filled • when it is clear what color goes there
How a game might begin • Players take turns putting stones black’s potential territory – 29 points white’s potential territory – 38 points • White is ahead
Cannot be part of an immortal group; effectively dead black’s territory – 35 points white’s territory – 46 points • White wins How a game might end • Neither player can gain points
Could black do better? • Second move too “low” • Better to be higher; push white lower
How does a stone die? • A “liberty” is an empty intersection adjacent along a line • A stone without liberties is dead • It is removed from the board No liberties dead
those of adjacent same-color stones 2 2 • Empty intersections count only once 3 3 3 6 So, what is a liberty? • A stone’s total liberties are • its own, plus Liberties for the black stones 4 3 2 3 2 1 When it is played, a stone’s own liberties are checked after making any captures.
One Rule: No repeat The board pattern must not repeat • A move is illegal if it leaves a board identical to what it was ever before • Hence: cannot recapture simple “ko” If white captures, sometimes black makes a threat, white responds, & black recaptures black cannot recapture on the next turn a “ko threat”
Immortality • A group with two holes is immortal Black could capture only by playing in both holes. • The possibility of two holes is enough If black plays b, white plays a, and vice versa a b
“First capture” • Goal – understand capture rules • Method – play first capture • First player to capture a stone wins • 7 x 7 board makes it faster