How to motivate new players?

Mike · **#21**

Harleqin wrote:

A small board is absolutely necessary. 9x9 is common, but it feels already big for a beginner, as he has no idea how stones on one side of the board affect those on the other. Anything bigger is just a bore. I myself would start on 3x3 nowadays (after explaining 1x1 and 2x2...).

I've never understood this small-board approach. I'm sure it's nice for some people, but personally I started on a 19x19 and when my friend who taught me the game suggested we play some 9x9 I got bored out of my bloody mind in 1 or 2 games. Had he shown only that to begin with and insisted we play on it(or even smaller) I would not be here right now...

PYves · **#22**

Mike wrote:

I've never understood this small-board approach. I'm sure it's nice for some people, but personally I started on a 19x19 and when my friend who taught me the game suggested we play some 9x9 I got bored out of my bloody mind in 1 or 2 games. Had he shown only that to begin with and insisted we play on it(or even smaller) I would not be here right now...

This is a great example of different players enjoying differing ways of playing go to start off. Main thing is have fun, I know I loved bringing igowin up to professionnal, I know some guys hate it.

Bantari · **#23**

Mike wrote:

I've never understood this small-board approach. I'm sure it's nice for some people, but personally I started on a 19x19 and when my friend who taught me the game suggested we play some 9x9 I got bored out of my bloody mind in 1 or 2 games. Had he shown only that to begin with and insisted we play on it(or even smaller) I would not be here right now...

Same here.

As I got stronger, I realized there is a big conspiracy here:
Its the teachers who push for 9x9 boards so they don't get bored by playing beginners on 19x19.

As for beginners, you just tell them: that's the game, lets play. And they are usually happy to start plonking stones...

calm · **#24**

Nothing
If you need to do something to motivate someone to play go, then they shouldn't be playing go.

OTOH. There are things that you can do to unmotivate/demotivate someone, but do you really need me to tell you what they are?

Bantari · **#25**

calm wrote:

Nothing
If you need to do something to motivate someone to play go, then they shouldn't be playing go.

I dunno... a 6-pack of beer used to do wonders for my motivation...
But that's just me.

balmung · **#26**

you could use zen go to get them used to 19x19 flow of stones. Zen Go is where 3 players take turns being different colors. The stronger player is always second and it would go like this: player one black first move, player 2 white, player 3 black, player 1 white, player 2 black, player 3 white, etc.

How to motivate new players?

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