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Jeanne Shepard
07-02-2006, 05:36 PM
I recently started to learn to play Go and wonder if anyone else plays too.
An Aikido friend directed me to igowin which gives you free software to learn to play against the computer:http://www.smart-games.com/igowin.html
and to Keisido, which allows you to watch and play games with people all over the world:http://kgs.kiseido.com/

Jeanne :p

jeff.
07-02-2006, 06:34 PM
go rules!! i've been playing for several years, and can never really seem to get enough. nor every really find many people to play with!

i've also been trying to play with aikido stratagies in the game, finding them incredibly useful.

Jess McDonald
07-02-2006, 07:38 PM
:confused: What the #@%$ is Go? Am I the only one confused or have I once again been left out of the loop?

Jeanne Shepard
07-02-2006, 11:33 PM
Go is, I believe, the oldest board game devised by man, I believe in China. It migrated to Japan.
The rules are simple, but the game is complex.
I am not qualified to say more.

Jeanne :)

Yann Golanski
07-03-2006, 02:53 AM
I like to play go. It's a great game. There are lots of severs you can play on and there are lots of clubs around the country. I'd suggest getting a few books to learn the ropes. While the rules are really simple, mastering the game is hard.

aikispike
07-05-2006, 01:22 PM
i've also been trying to play with aikido stratagies in the game, finding them incredibly useful.

Go is a great game. Unfortunately it takes a while to learn how to play and it is hard to find anyone to play against.

One of the things i learned playing go is about distance. The stones have power that extends varying distances depending on what stage in the game you are. When there are few pieces on the board the influence of each stone extends far; when the board is getting full there is little extension.

Same in life. If you are on a deserted street and someone crosses over just in front of you you feel their influence in your personal space - even if they are still 10 feet away. But if the street was crowded you wouldnt notice them.

Spike

Neal Earhart
07-05-2006, 09:17 PM
If you get the chance you should read "The Master of Go" by Yasunari Kawabata...

Neil Mick
07-06-2006, 11:52 AM
Go rocks. 'Nuff said. ;)

Mark Freeman
07-06-2006, 12:35 PM
Go rocks. 'Nuff said. ;)

I'd like to add to Neil's accurate assessment of the game by saying that it is a good game for aikidoka as it relys on seeing the big picture, and being too aggressive in your play, normally counts against you! ;)

regards

Mark

Erick Mead
07-06-2006, 04:39 PM
I'd like to add to Neil's accurate assessment of the game by saying that it is a good game for aikidoka as it relys on seeing the big picture, and being too aggressive in your play, normally counts against you! ;)

Says you. Sente (initiative) is life. Irimi works in Go like in physical contests, the blending is in deciding where to exercise sente when you have it. I find the aikido concept of kuzushi helpful in Go, because it tells you when you can shift the focus of sente (tedomari).

But you are right about the limits of aggression. Great Go is played with sente up to the point of kuzushi (tedomari) and then reestablishing sente elsewhere working to kuzushi, etc. etc. This is like omote technique in aikido.

The most exceptional masters can play urawaza, simulating gote with a larger goal in mind and essentially leading even capable players around in a false sente ... If you can even just see how it is done, (and I cannot do it very well at all in Go), you will have tremendous insight into the working of aiki in perception and decisionmaking.

Not at all like that bloody cricket ...

"How you English say, I one more time-a unclog my nose in your direction, sons of a window-dresser! So, you think you could out-clever us French folk with your silly knees-bent running about advancing behavior! ... Now go away or I shall taunt you a second time-a! (' Fetchez la vache! )"

crickel
07-07-2006, 12:35 AM
Woot! Go! Play against me, I still mostly suck. ;)

More seriously, how should we find each other on those things? I wonder if we could form an Aikido group on there...

Craig

Mark Freeman
07-08-2006, 06:24 AM
Says you. Sente (initiative) is life. Irimi works in Go like in physical contests, the blending is in deciding where to exercise sente when you have it. I find the aikido concept of kuzushi helpful in Go, because it tells you when you can shift the focus of sente (tedomari).

But you are right about the limits of aggression. Great Go is played with sente up to the point of kuzushi (tedomari) and then reestablishing sente elsewhere working to kuzushi, etc. etc. This is like omote technique in aikido.

The most exceptional masters can play urawaza, simulating gote with a larger goal in mind and essentially leading even capable players around in a false sente ... If you can even just see how it is done, (and I cannot do it very well at all in Go), you will have tremendous insight into the working of aiki in perception and decisionmaking.

Not at all like that bloody cricket ...

"How you English say, I one more time-a unclog my nose in your direction, sons of a window-dresser! So, you think you could out-clever us French folk with your silly knees-bent running about advancing behavior! ... Now go away or I shall taunt you a second time-a! (' Fetchez la vache! )"

Once again Erick your multilingual prowess leaves me gasping in admiration :rolleyes:

Mark bows out, ducking the falling cow as he goes..... ;)

p.s. you can say what you like about cricket, I find watching paint dry a more stimulating use of my time :D

aikispike
07-10-2006, 11:54 PM
is there any good GO software out there now - perhaps released in the past year or two. I have played a few different ones but they all seemed too easy to beat.

Spike

aikispike
07-10-2006, 11:57 PM
how about websites too? what sites are decent to play on?

I played on yahoo a few times but i didnt like it too much.

Spike

Erick Mead
07-11-2006, 09:39 AM
how about websites too? what sites are decent to play on?

I played on yahoo a few times but i didnt like it too much. For internet play IGS is among the best:: http://www.pandanet.co.jp/English/

Or you could get something like GoWrite2, and just play a good friend by emailing the board back and forth. It works great. :: http://gowrite.net/

As to AI computer-play software I am fond of my old "Cosmos" Go program ca. 1996: low end on graphics but very good for play. The same data engine is in the present day "Many Faces of Go", which is probably the best AI Go program out there.

See here:: http://www.smart-games.com/manyfaces.html

For a list of some available Go software with some reviews:: http://www.britgo.org/gopcres/gopcres1.html
And for others:
http://www.usgo.org/resources/computer.html

Chuck Clark
07-11-2006, 10:25 AM
But you are right about the limits of aggression. Great Go is played with sente up to the point of kuzushi (tedomari) and then reestablishing sente elsewhere working to kuzushi, etc. etc. This is like omote technique in aikido.

The most exceptional masters can play urawaza, simulating gote with a larger goal in mind and essentially leading even capable players around in a false sente ... If you can even just see how it is done, (and I cannot do it very well at all in Go), you will have tremendous insight into the working of aiki in perception and decisionmaking.

"The larger goal in mind" that you mention is only possible when you no longer see separateness such as "reestablishing sente elsewhere...". There is no "elsewhere" on the goban. One encounter.

Erick Mead
07-12-2006, 03:52 PM
"The larger goal in mind" that you mention is only possible when you no longer see separateness such as "reestablishing sente elsewhere...". There is no "elsewhere" on the goban. One encounter. Kihon -- ki no nagare. The goal is always to be the center -- a particular point of entry into the center at the moment may be the arm.

Tsume, joseki are still worthwhile exercises -- but it is true -- they are not the game.

aikispike
07-16-2006, 09:05 PM
this thread got me playing again! good cause i am enjoying it but bad because i have waaaay to much work to do to be playing games...

igowin seems to be a strong game on the 9X9 board. If The Many Faces of Go is stronger i think it would be worth the money.

Michael

Erick Mead
07-17-2006, 04:15 PM
this thread got me playing again! good cause i am enjoying it but bad because i have waaaay to much work to do to be playing games...

igowin seems to be a strong game on the 9X9 board. If The Many Faces of Go is stronger i think it would be worth the money.

Michael


The older "Cosmos" engine version is great, and the updated Many Faces AI plays independently on IGS under its own name and is even reputed to chat to a limited degree. Where is Asimov when you need him?