Promoting Go in the UK and beyond
Internet Go
This page describes the common ways in which you can use a computer to play Go with other people over the Internet. There are two fundamental ways to do this - real-time and correspondence. On a real-time server, both players are logged on at once, possibly playing under a strict time limit. Under correspondence play, the players do not need to be logged on at the same time, instead they simply send their move at their own leisure.
Real-time Go Servers
By far the most common way to get a game of Go on the Internet is by the use of a real-time Go server. Here are some general notes for using all such servers.
Many of the servers only support a particular language, but some of the foreign ones also support English. If you use a Korean language server, you may find the Guide to Hangul useful. Of course it is easier to use a server where English is the main or one of the main languages.
The real-time servers most used by English speakers are Pandanet (IGS) and KGS, both of which we describe below.
Many other servers, including the general games servers that include Go, are listed in the Sensei's Library listing of Go Servers.
KGS (previously known as the Kiseido Go Server) has a client that is relatively easy to use, as the user interface is based upon a point-and-click philosophy rather than manual typing of commands.
Another benefit is that KGS has a facility, rarely found on Go servers, allowing the players to review and discuss their game together afterwards. This makes KGS a good choice for beginners and for other people wanting comments from stronger players after games with them, or wanting to offer such comments.
KGS has a British room and has hosted BGA on-line tournaments. It is also often used to relay the moves of British Championship title match games, with commentary by professional or strong amateur Go players.
To use KGS, you can simply point your browser to the KGS Server. This will download a java applet to your computer to serve as a client. But in order to avoid this being downloaded every time you connect, you can instead download the Cgoban3 client to your computer and install it there. It uses Java Web Start (which is also available from there). You can also use the client to edit locally held game records that are in SGF format.
For those interested in more technical Go matters, KGS supports multiple rulesets and overtime systems.
Pandanet or IGS is probably the oldest Go server, and one of the most popular. It has a global membership and players of all strengths and abilities. Many professional players are members, so you may get to see professionals at play. Pandanet often transmits live the moves from professional title matches and interesting amateur events such as games from Pandanet Go European Cup tournaments and the European Pair Go Championship.
To use Pandanet, you will need a client program running on your computer to display the board and send and receive moves between your computer and the server. Download one such as glGo from the Pandnet home page. Alternatively Jan van der Steen's gobase.org web site has a comprehensive listing of Pandanet clients with links for downloading. Jan is Pandanet's dedicated European administrator.
Pandanet is command-based - for example, to challenge the player someguy to a match on a 19x19 board with you as black, a 20 minute time limit, and a byo-yomi period of 10 minutes, you would type "match someguy B 19 20 10". There are many other commands as well. This may be a little intimidating to a beginner, but learning the commands gives you a wide range of features. Some clients will issue more common commands for you.
You may need to know the address and port of Pandanet to get your client to connect. You can use any of the following:
Telnet: 210.155.158.200:6969
Telnet: 210.155.158.200:7777
The document Getting Started - An Introduction to IGS Pandanet gives more details of the server.
Pandanet offers a subscription magazine whereby subscribers receive emails of 6 amateur game records per month, commented by professionals. (See the original announcement, and also this more recent description.)
Correspondence Go
Instead of playing in real time, it is also possible to play correspondence games where you wait until your opponent makes a move in his or her own time. This is a less common way to play Go on the Internet.
Turn-Based Go Servers
A number of servers exist that will store the current state of the game for you, allowing you to log on at will and make a move. The Turn-Based Go Guild maintains a list of such servers, and of people who play on them.
Another list of turn-based servers, but not of players, is the Sensei's Library listing of turn-based Go servers. Among the servers in these listings, about 130 British players play on the Dragon Go Server, and the newer Online Go Server is also very popular. The Free Internet Correspondence Games Server (FICGS) also features Go.
Users of the Facebook social network can play Go using their Go application. To download as sgf files the games you have played use David Cantrell's code.
The AGA Email List
The American Go Association maintains a list of people interested in playing Go via email. They range from total beginners to amateur 4-dans. Some play at a rate of several moves per day and some at one move per week. Some only want to play 19x19, while others might not have time for more than 13x13 or 9x9. If you are interested in playing Go via email and making contact with people who share your interest, contact the maintainer of this list: jjw6@psu.edu. Your name will be added to the list. You will receive a copy of an updated contact list for your use. You should specify your:
- email address
- name
- strength
- desired opponent's strength
- when available to play