Hi all ...

So as I am narrowing down the selection of items for my go set, I'm having a typically-indecisive moment when it comes to the table board.

Mr Kuroki has suggested a set that has 2 possible boards ... (to go with size 36 moon grade stones and quince bowls)

First is a 1 piece hon-kaya ... Tenchimasa, 1.9-sun (5.7cm thick)
Second is a Hyuga Kaya Masame, 4-piece composition board, 1.95-sun (5.85cm thick)

I had thought that hon-kaya was pretty much the same tree that grew up in a different postal code, but Mr Kuroki wrote to me that:
"hyugakaya is elastic and light at a soft touch compared with honkaya. honkaya is somewhat firmly heavy."


The Hyuga Kaya board is cheaper, but I could select a 2 piece Hyuga Kaya board that would be the same cost as the 1pc Hon-kaya.

Curious to hear preferences from those of you that have seen both kinds of boards up close or played on them.
Unfortunately I don't have the luxury of examining different boards before purchasing.

Excuse my lack of searching - eventually found that there was a thread a couple years ago where many of you chimed in

At least you searched; more than I can say for a lot of threadstarters. Did you find all the answers you were looking for, or were there other questions you still had? Also, you might want to link to that thread. If someone with a similar question visits this forum and neglects to search, they might turn to your post for answers.

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Sincerely, Chad R. Sobodash

Hi Strief, another possibility is Size 38 Regular grade.
May I ask what's your budget for this set, and how long have you been playing Go,
and whether this is your first "luxury" set ?

I ask because it would not be nice if this is your once-in-a-lifetime purchase
and some time later you find out you have some regret with any part(s) of the purchase.

Indeed. Buying a luxury set is often a silly extravagance that is not the same as a legitimate waste of money. I know many cyclists who invested in chi-chi carbon bikes only to find out after a season or two they didn't really want to be big dog bicycling athletes or geeks.

Justq my opinion, of course, I love imperfection in my go equipment.

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David Bogie, Boise ID
I play go, I ride a recumbent, of course I use Macintosh.

Personally I would prefer size 36 moon grade over 38 regular. To each his own though. I have 33 regular and love the size and look. I wouldn't go much over that.

Thanks all for replies ...

csobod - These are the threads where I found the info I needed on Hyuga Kaya vs Hon-Kaya. Interesting reading on the properties of wood and the effect of weather fluctuation on the wood graining.

viewtopic.php?f=19&t=3516
viewtopic.php?f=19&t=6119

EdLee - This is indeed my first 'luxury' go set ... previous set I played on has been one of the North American 20$ "board game" box sets. Technically I have been playing for 10 years but with a 8 year hiatus in the middle. I'm looking for something I can be happy to leave out in my living room to be (as another poster put it so well) functional artwork as I work through problem sets and books (something I didn't even realize I needed to do 10 years ago).

I don't know if it is my "only set ever" as I find the bowls, boards, and stones beautiful in every way . I could see how people turn it into a collecting habit that develops apart from their progress in the game itself. I'm trying to curtail that (with the realization that I'm a novice) while getting something I'll enjoy the feel of while I study the game.

A bit of change in direction on the weekend. At Erythen's suggestion I've been dutifully watching Ebay auctions since I started looking a couple months ago. I bid on and won my first "real" board last night:
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/330936117364

So now the discussion is down to stones and bowls to go with the board ...