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The Game of Go

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“The rules of Go are so elegant, organic, and rigorously logical
that if intelligent life forms exist elsewhere in the universe
they almost certainly play Go.” - Edward Lasker

Go is one of the oldest board games in the world, and the ultimate game of pure strategy. Two players, black and white, take turns placing stones on the intersections of a square grid in an effort to surround territory. If a group of stones is completely surrounded on all sides by the opposing color, it is captured and taken off the board. The player with the most points of territory at the end of the game wins. From these simple rules emerges an incredible depth of strategy and creativity, manifested in the beautiful patterns that swirl and spread across the board.

At it’s heart, Go is about balance: you want to enclose territory as quickly and efficiently as possible, but if you overextend your stones will be cut and captured. Playing Go well requires a surprising breadth of thought, utilizing both ‘left-brain’ analytical calculation and ‘right-brain’ intuition and judgment. It’s the most beautiful game I know, and I’m always happy to introduce others to the game!

There is an online tutorial starting from the very beginning here. Below are some other resources to learn more about the game and get connected to the Go community:

• Learn the basics
• Play now on KGS or OGS
• Explore Go history and culture on Sensei’s Library, the online Go encyclopedia
• Find tournaments and events through the American Go Assiciation
• Go Puzzles
• The Surrounding Game: a documentary film

Last but not least, if you’re in the Minneapolis–St Paul area, the Twin Cities Go Club meets on Thursdays and Saturdays. Beginners welcome!