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.Mandarin ChineseTraditional ChineseSimplified ChineseKoreanHangul deterministicboard gameChinaEast Asia –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 from Kiseido.com 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.

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!

Go More 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 BC) For his son –Emporer Shun (c BC) For his son –Wu, during Chieh (c BC) as a court game. – Astrologers – Chou (c 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 Italy Explosive growth –Go schools appearing all over the world San Francisco Argentina Russia Soweto in South Africa

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

Computers and go Matsushita prize –$ 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 It is illegal to play on a point with no liberty Captured stones are kept and counted at the end of the game. 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 22 nd Judan Title From “Go, a Complete Introduction” by Cho Chikun.