andrew@stc.UUCP (Andrew Macpherson) (05/09/85)
Go Facts (A BGA Pamphlet) Wed, 8-May-85 Volume 1 : Issue 1
Index by section:
1 Introduction to the Game of Go
2 How does Go compare with Chess?
3 A brief history of Go
4 Go in Japan today
5 Go in Europe
6 Go in Britain
7 What does the BGA do?
8 Services provided mainly for beginners
9 How does the BGA help Go players to improve
10 Services provided for strong players
11 How do I find out more information
Addendum Go in the USA
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Date: 8-May-85
From: andrew@stc.UUCP
Subject: Introduction to the Game of Go
Go is unique amongst games. Not only does its history stretch back
4000 years but the rules have remained unchanged throughout that very
long period.
Go is a game of territory. The Go board, marked with a grid of 19
lines by 19 lines, can be thought of as representing a piece of land to
be shared between the two players. One player has a large supply of
black disks, known in the language of the game as ``stones''. The
other player has a supply of white stones.
Starting with an empty board, they play alternately by placing their
stones on the crossing points of the lines on the board. Initially
they stake out their respective claims to different areas of the board
which they intend eventually to surround and control. Enemy stones can
also be surrounded and captured, but primarily Go is a territorial game
and the player with the greater total area under his command at the end
of the game is the winner.
The rules of Go are fairly simple and are contained in the leaflet
``How to play Go'', which includes an example game.
------------------------------
Date: 8-May-85
From: andrew@stc.UUCP
Subject: How does Go compare with Chess?
It is interesting to compare Go with other ``classic'' board games for
two players, such as Chess. Like Chess, Go is a game of pure skill,
but there the resemblance ends. Obviously people will have differant
views on which is the better game, but there are at least three reasons
for preferring Go.
1 To become even moderately strong at chess, a player
needs to learn many different openings. Failure to do
this can lead to games that are lost at a fairly early
stage. Go also has its own set of corner openings,
known as ``joseki'', but players can become quite
strong without learning more than a few basic
patterns. Hence there is more scope for intuition in
the opening.
2 The objectives in Go are to surround territory and
capture stones; the winner of the game is the player
who does this better over the whole board. It is thus
possible to have a bad result in one part of the
board, but to win the game by doing much better in
another part of the board. This also gives a player
many chances to recover from a bad start.
3 A major feature of Go is the very effective
handicapping system, which without distorting the game
allows players of widely differing strengths to play
each other. The less experianced player has a chance
to learn from the stronger (and to win), while the
stronger must use his skill to the limits if he is to
overcome the handicap.
------------------------------
Date: 8-May-85
From: andrew@stc.UUCP
Subject: A brief history of Go
The game probably originated in central Asia whence it spread
eastwards. There are anciant records of Go in both Nepal and Tibet and
from there the game reached China. The earliest referance to Go in
literature is found in the works of about 400 BC. The game of Go
reached Japan at about 500 AD. In both countries Go was initially
played only by the aristocracy, but the game gradually spread among the
other educated classes.
Although the standard of play in Japan was continually increasing,
significant advances in Go theory did not take place until the start of
the 17th centuary, when schools of Go operated by Buddhist priests
received official sponsorship by the feudal government to assist their
studies. A ranking system was also instituted at this time. The four
major Go schools were the Honinbo, Hayashi, Inoue and Yasui schools.
The top players from these schools competed for supremacy in a series
of official games, some of which were played in the presence of the
Shogun in his castle.
The patronage of Go by the government and the growing popularity of the
game amoung the upper classes combined to provide a secure environment
for the development of Go. The four schools competed in discovering
promising pupils and devoted great effort to study. A leading player
in the 17th centuary was Honinbo Dosaku, who developed the concept of
pincer play. Another famous player was Shusaku (1829-1862), who
invented an opening pattern that is still popular today.
With the fall of the Tokugawa Shogunate and the restoration of the
Emperor in 1868, Go faded in importance. The Go schools lost their
annual allowances and met hard times. Fortunately, a reaction soon set
in and at the beginning of the 20th centuary Go was bieng played by all
classes of people. Newspapers started to print go articles and to
sponsor major games. Enthusiasm for Go began to rise rapidly.
------------------------------
Date: 8-May-85
From: andrew@stc.UUCP
Subject: Go in Japan today
The first modern Go organisation, the Nihon Kiin, was founded in 1924
with the help of Baron Okura and did much to unite Go circles. The
last of the great Honinbos, Shusai, joined the fledgling Nihon Kiin.
His great rival Karigane joined a smaller group called Kiseisha and the
confrontation between the organisations culminated in the famous match
between Shusai and Karigane. Shusai won and thus assured the
ascendancy of the Nihon Kiin.
Upon his retirement in 1938, Honinbo Shusai ceded his title to the
Nihon Kiin for an annual tournament between all leading players. Since
then, other major contests have been introduced; the two most important
are the Meijin and Kisei tournaments. Sponsorship for these
tournaments is provided by major newspapers, while Go is also covered
on television. There are now about 10 million Go players in Japan, of
whom 500 are professional.
------------------------------
Date: 8-May-85
From: andrew@stc.UUCP
Subject: Go in Europe
Although the game of Go had been described by Western travellers in the
17th centuary, it was not played in Europe until 1880, when a German,
Otto Korschelt, wrote a book about the game. After this, some Go was
played in Germany and Yugoslavia. However, the game was slow to spread
and it was not until 1957 that the first European Championship was
held.
Nowadays Go is played in most European countries. The standard of play
is significantly below that of professionals in the Far East, but the
gap is steadily closing. One reason for this is that several of the
top European players have spent time studying the game in Japan.
------------------------------
Date: 8-May-85
From: andrew@stc.UUCP
Subject: Go in Britain
Go has been played in Britain since about 1930, but not on an organised
basis until 1964, when the British Go Association (BGA) was formed.
There are now about 1000 members of the BGA, and over 40 Go clubs in
Britain. The standard of play campares reasonably well with the rest
of Europe; for example, the British champion, Mattew Macfadyen, won the
European Championship in 1980 and 1984.
------------------------------
Date: 8-May-85
From: andrew@stc.UUCP
Subject: What does the BGA do?
The British Go Association is a voluntary organisation with elected
officials which promotes the game of Go within the British Isles.
Membership is open to all Go players on payment of a small annual
subscription. The BGA aims to support Go players of all standards and
to promote interest in the game. The three most important activities
of the BGA provide benefit to all its members.
A bi-monthly newsletter is distributed to all members.
Each member receives the British Go Journal, a quarterly magazine
containing news, game commentaries and instructional articles.
The BGA buys books and equipment that are available to members at
moderate prices. Goods may be obtained by post or collected at most
tournaments (see below).
------------------------------
Date: 8-May-85
From: andrew@stc.UUCP
Subject: Services provided mainly for beginners
The BGA maintains a list of members and Go clubs. Both lists are
circulated to all members (who may ``opt out'' of inclusion on the
membership list). The club list is also circulated to people who
write to the BGA asking for information.
The BGA encourages the formation of clubs (including school Go
clubs) by distributing ``starter packages'' and lending equipment.
------------------------------
Date: 8-May-85
From: andrew@stc.UUCP
Subject: How does the BGA help Go players to improve?
There is an extensive programme of Go tournaments, some of which are
organised by the BGA. Other tournaments are organised by Go clubs, who
are supported by the BGA in various ways. Most Go tournaments are run
using the ``MacMahon system'', a method for determining pairings that
allows players of all strengths to take part by matching them against
opponents of approximately the same strength.
The BGA runs a game analysis service, provided by some of the country's
strongest players.
Strong players are encouraged to visit clubs for lectures and
teaching/simultaneous games - the BGA subsidises travel expenses.
------------------------------
Date: 8-May-85
From: andrew@stc.UUCP
Subject: Services provided for strong players
The BGA records the results of top-level tournament games and organises
a grading system. Diplomas are awarded to those players who achieve
``dan'' ranking.
A three stage British Championship is organised annually.
The BGA liases with the European go Federation, and the International
(World) Go Federation.
------------------------------
Date: 8-May-85
From: andrew@stc.UUCP
Subject: How do I find out more information?
Please email me for any simple info, a full list of Go clubs,
a copy of the Leaflet "How to play Go", the latest price list and a
membership application form, can be obtained by writing to:
British Go Association Membership Secretary,
5 Glebeland Drive,
Brendon,
Gloucestershire,
GL20 7QF
------------------------------
Date: 8-May-85
From: andrew@stc.UUCP
Subject: Addendum: Go in the USA
The BGA has received notice of the 1st US Open, to be held at Western
Maryland College on 10th-18th August. Perhaps someone more local could
post details in case there are any European players who are going to
be in the vicinity?
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End of Go Facts a BGA Pamphlet
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--
Regards,
Andrew Macpherson. <andrew@stc.UUCP>
{creed, idec, root44, stl, ukc}!stc!andrew