09.17.07
Playing Go against the computer
Ben notes that he’s been playing against the 9×9 Go program igowin. Igowin is free and offers a quick game for a break, but 9×9 is a strange game. There are in fact 9×9 tournaments (usually a section in a regular tournament), but that format has some disadvantages—it’s almost like a single large corner.
13×13 gives a much better feel for Go, though this format lacks sides—when you back out of one corner, you find that your advancing already into the other corner. But at least you can play a more Go-like game. (Go itself is played on a 19×19 board.)
The best program—most lifelike, making the fewest seemingly random moves—that I’ve found is Go++. The latest version is version 7, and it’s just US$40. Well worth it if you want to increase your playing strength.
You can adjust the program’s playing strength, set a handicap, and choose which color the computer plays. Quite nice.
Of course, playing against other players (for example, on Kiseido Go Server) is probably best, but it’s quite understandable that one wants to practice enough to present a good showing, and Go++ is probably the best way to do it.
Ben said,
17 September 2007 at 3:24 pm
Thanks for the link! I will have to consider buying that program.
I didn’t think playing on a smaller board would change the game so much (it’s all I know right now), but I can tell by your post it does.
One practice technique that is working for me so far: go back and re-read about techniques and problems in between games. Your new experience lets you see the same problem in a new light.
One question: how long do games last?
Ben
LeisureGuy said,
17 September 2007 at 3:55 pm
It would be interesting to see the average game length on Kiseido for all players at, say, 15-kyu and above. I would say that the typical game runs 20-40 minutes, an intense game for an hour. Professional play, of course, tends to run longer.
If you happen to live in a city that has a Go club, attending meetings is a great way to improve your game, since more experienced players will happily go through the early part of the game afterwards and explain strengths and weaknesses of various moves.