Disdain for Internet Go

[Subotai]

I have been playing go on and off for years, recently I have decided to take go seriously and have been studying as much as I can. Most of time with go has been on KGS but a few months back I finally bought a decent board to better study pro games, joseki, playing, etc.

I have come to really enjoy the game of go on a physical board, it makes thing ever so clearer; and of course when playing the social aspect aspect is great. Now I avoid playing on KGS as much as I can as I find the online experience so much less satisfying.

While internet go and especially KGS has done absolute wonders for the international Go community it can not compare to smacking those stones on a real wooden board.

Has anyone had this happen to them or perhaps maybe even the reverse?

[Kirby]

In terms of the game, I prefer Internet go. I feel I can concentrate better.

If I want a social experience, then I prefer face-to-face playing. But for some reason, it's harder for me to take that as seriously.

[speedchase]

I prefer in person go much better, but I play online alot, because I don't have time to play in person.

[Lamp]

In terms of the game, I prefer Internet go. I feel I can concentrate better.

If I want a social experience, then I prefer face-to-face playing. But for some reason, it's harder for me to take that as seriously.

I'm the exact opposite. I feel my internet strength is about 2-3 stones weaker than my in-person strength. With internet go there's too much of a temptation for me to say 'screw it, just click'.

[Subotai]

You get to think more in face-to-face go, because every time you want to play a stone you actually have to take the time to do it rather than as the above poster stated to just click it.

I also feel much stronger on a real board.

[bleep]

If it wasn't for internet go, I would have no go at all. I've played a few games on a board, but prefer the crispness of internet go. It makes it easier to see what's going on, although I suppose a bit more practice on a real board would solve this?

[ProtoJazz]

I enjoy both, I find Im more often focused when Im playing online
I find Im not usualy focused when Im playing a friend in person its harder to stay
focused on the game, I start to chat and joke, and usualy decide to take a break, get a snack
That kind of thing.

I also find online that its easier to give up on a game when it starts to go bad.

In person its easier to take the game seriusly if Ive never met the person before, or
were not really friends

[Codexus]

I prefer internet go. It's easier to visualize and concentrate. Over the board games feel a bit more special and memorable but that's probably because I don't play them often.

I haven't payed on a real board in something like 5 years. Going to the go club was fun but I just don't have the energy for that anymore. After a day at work, I just want to be home.

[Solomon]

Let's just say there are some moves I play online that I dare not play over a real board...

[Falcord]

I enjoy both equally, but I'm stronger at internet go.

There is an irrational feeling I can't shake off when playing in person. For some reason I feel that I'm wasting my opponent's time. It's irrational as I'm quite a fast player, but if I think a move for too long I start getting nervous, as if I didn't want my opponent to feel bored.

[gowan]

I almost only play in person. I play a lot stronger in person than on line. It's something about the physical feel of the stones, the motions of playing, the body language of my partner, etc. I also do a lot better solving problems when I lay the stones out on a board rather than just look at a diagram in a book. I'm sure this all varies from person to person, YMMV as they say.

[oren]

Let's just say there are some moves I play online that I dare not play over a real board...

I've seen you play some amusing things on a real board...

[Codexus]

Yet your picture is a beautiful Go table in a traditional Japanese setting.

Yes, I'm not anti-goban or anything. They look great and I own a nice goban from Kuroki with shell and slate stones. I just don't get the occasion to use it that much.

[TheBigH]

I find I'm much weaker on KGS than on a real board, probably by 3-4 stones. The club environment brings out the best in me I think.

Also there's a lot of KGS players who are stronger than their rank suggests. Sometimes, in my cynical moments, I suspect that the 15-20k users on KGS can be divided into exactly three groups of people:
1. Sandbaggers.
2. Dan level players with new accounts, working their way up the ranks.
3. Me.

[Samura]

Also there's a lot of KGS players who are stronger than their rank suggests. Sometimes, in my cynical moments, I suspect that the 15-20k users on KGS can be divided into exactly three groups of people:
1. Sandbaggers.
2. Dan level players with new accounts, working their way up the ranks.
3. Me.

As a 18k, that is how I feel to at KGS. I think the solution is to regard the games against sandbaggers as a fortunate chance to play against stronger players and learn , even if it wasn't the intention when you started the game