Hello there - my daughter (15) and I have both taken up Go - she sees things much quicker than me but I will study harder to catch up!


Anyway we both use SmartGo for 9x9 games against the program and also to challenge each other.

We have also both got the SmartGo versions of Learn to play Go by Janice Kim and Vol 1 of Graded Go Problems.

When do you recommend we consider playing online - we don't want to just go online and lose every single game we play so is there a way of knowing when we would be ready - perhaps at a certain level on the SmartGo program?

Also when we play online where would be the best choice for us?

We are both interested in trying to improve at this fascinating game.

I'm not familiar with SmartGo, but I'd say that if you've played a few games on 19x19 against each other you're definitely able to play online.

I play on KGS and I quite like it. After you play some games your rank adjusts itself to a level where you're winning about half your games. So don't worry about losing every game you play. There's also some very, very stupid computer programs there; including one that can recognize when it's in atari and will try to get out but otherwise just plays randomly. You can't lose to it unless you really try.

Welcome to the forums.

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Poka King of the south east.

There are always a lot of beginners out there, so just jump right in and go from there. No need to be scared. You will soon zero in on your playing level where you'll win about 50% of your games.

I would recommend DGS, you don't have to be concerned about thinking time and there are plenty of beginners.
http://www.dragongoserver.net

If you want to play realtime games, try KGS. I don't play there myself, but from what I've read, people speak english and are helpful.
http://www.gokgs.com

These are very good suggestions and perhaps the best places to start for English-speaking beginners. On KGS, if you are losing a lot, you may consider playing an easy robot player for confidence (but many will likely suggest to not get too used to playing bots, as your game will suffer).

This Sensei's Library page on KGS bots might be helpful. But you could start with IdiotBot, WeakBot50k, HelloBot, and SimpleBot perhaps in that order. Mix with a lot of human opponents and by the time you are winning against SimpleBot, you can probably leave the bots behind.

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Founder, Central Mississippi Go Club
Free tips and resources for clubs and teaching
Go Kit Club Pack - pack of 13x13 go sets for clubs
Go Tin - very portable go

As has been previously mentioned, KGS is a very beginner friendly server. Many of the stronger players would be happy to help you out with game reviews/teaching games. Particularly good places to find these charitable chaps are the KGS Teaching Ladder, and of course the L19x19 Room.

I also recommend both DGS and KGS. If you want to start a teaching game with me on DGS, send me a PM and I'll help you get set up

As Twitchy Go mentioned, stop by the L19x19 room on KGS and someone can give a real-time teaching game if you want.

In addition to the above, I can say that I've been treated quite well as a beginner on kaya.gs so far.

The server doesn't have a whole lot of beginners, but there is a strong core of DDK & SDK players who are frankly enthusiastic about coaching beginners.

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Central Mississippi Go Club
http://www.cmgo.org

Seconding kaya. It's quickly becoming the best server there is simply by virtue of actually being constantly upgraded.

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PLAY GO EVERY DAY

In respect to kaya. I've had pleasant experiences playing there but it is a very new server(either still in beta, or just out of it. I can't recall).
So while I'd say it's a server to know about KGS is probably going to be easier to get games on, it being a much older server.

http://www.tygemgo.com/ If you are in for style go

Cheers,
Otenki

You might not find those bots online at the moment. They've been offline since 02-12-12. The next weakest bot appears to be mfgo18kyu. You'll still be able to find other beginner human opponents though.

I don't suppose anyone knows if the weaker bots will be back? They were a good way for beginners to get a rank.

Welcome to Go and this forum. I recommend IGS (the gIgo client), KGS, and this forum.
Each server (like any other Go server) has its own pluses and minuses --
you have to experiment and experience them to find out which one(s) you like.
I like all three (IGS, KGS, and this forum), for different reasons. Good luck.

I'm surprised that no one mentioned the Beginners' Room on KGS. I guess that would be a good place for finding supportive people.

I would add to this that you can start playing competetive games on IGS (17k) after you have achieved around 10k on KGS. If you start on IGS, be prepared to get smashed for the next hundred games or so.

But oh the things you'll learn

the monkey jump was the first of many hard lessons i learned growing up in igs

Heh. Mine was: Wow, all those guys at the club never invaded there, I assumed its safe. I guess its only really safe if I actually know how to defend against an invasion (which at the time I didn't). Short version: club politeness versus internet relentlessness.

Oh yeah i forgot about that one.

My play is distinctly lacking any jump farther then 2 space on the third line.

Or are you talking about the invasions between two thick walls or inside your solid territory.

Anything bigger than a 2 space jump But my primary thought was solid or semi-solid territory. Not the stupid "I'd have to ignore 3 moves for you to live" moves (although people try that too). But things like I should be able to kill, or respond with profit, if I just play correctly. The difference feels like an opponent not invading because they see how it fails and an opponent invades just to see if it works. The constant pressure kept me honest on what truly was and wasn't my territory. It also taught me: when in doubt, protect

WELCOME TO GO/BADUK/WEIQI/IGO!

i recommend a youtube search for

yukari sensei go go igo

it's entertaining, fun, and go-educational!