[Russell]

Hia all,

Have you ever played the oldest game still being played? It's lasted so long for a good reason - it's simple to learn and a lifetime of enjoyment trying to master.

It may have started in China, become immensely popular in Korea and Japan (it even has its own tv station), but now people the world over are realising the pleasure of GO.

The Aberdeen Go Club meets Mondays at the Zoology Building in Tillydrone. It's a fun and friendly affair with the full range of abilities - including the winner of last years Scottish Championship.

Check the website http://awordinyourear.net/GoClub
to get a flavour of us and the game.

Then come and join us

[JM fustin]

We played great games again yesterday evening. We were 4 players, as opposed to nearly 15 last week. We need new members for more fun!

[Glesgalass]

What is it? Please explain the game and the rules.

Elda

[BikeOnBye]

How to play
http://www.britgo.org/intro/intro2.html

[Glesgalass]

Sounds very similar to draughts.

Elda

[Russell]

It's similar to draughts in that it's as simple to learn.


In a nutshell:
Start with a blank board with a 19x19 grid

Black and white take turns at placing a stone on an intersection

they make walls which enclose territory

at the end the person with the most territory wins


Plus if you surround all the intersections of one (or a connected group) of your opponents stone/s you take it/them off the board. These are prisoners which are counted against your opponents final tally.

The only other rule, connected to that last one, is that the board cannot be the same two moves running.

And that's it. Simple huh?

I taught a guy in 5 mins at a recent Japan day at the Robert Gordon's gym and he played a decent game straight away.

I think it's a bit age discriminatory in Japan but I believe you have to be under 30 to take the exam they set to become a 'Pro' - which guarantees a career in the game. The majority sit the exam in their young teens ... clever kids

This was in today's Guardian, about how Go remains the only game computers are still to conquer..
http://technology.guardian.co.uk/online/insideit/story/0,,1835570,00.html

[JM fustin]

The shop Forbidden Planet close to Bon Accord Gallery in Aberdeen is selling Hikaru no Go mangas, a cartoon about a gifted boy who starts playing Go.
The shop staff accepted to have a poster of the go club displayed in their shop.
Maybe we will reach Hikaru no Go fans who don't know yet they can play Go in Aberdeen!

JM

[Glesgalass]

Strange how you can go your whole life without having heard about something then hear about it twice in one week

Last night I was watching the return of the new series of the American programme "Criminal Mind". They were searching the suspected serial killers room and found a "GO" board set up. He had been playing against himself.
"Difficult game" one of them commentated.
"They're often highly intelligent", another said.


Elda

[anax]

That's amusing to hear Elda, as most Monday's I hear a lot of "I'll kill you". A game often has several "life and death" problems within it.

Disappointed though it didn't successfully sublimate the homicidal tendencies of the nutter you saw a report about

[JM fustin]

Next monday we are pleased to welcome in the club a venerable Japanese Go player, 5th dan (a bit like black belt), who will come to teach us for a couple of hours.
We already had such event in the past, but it has always been too short.
Let's hope everybody will benefit from his visit this time!