Taking notes during play

[tundra]

Re: this AGA rule, that you may take notes during play, provided you show them to your opponent. I have been searching for it, in both the AGA Rules of Go, and the AGA Tournament Regulations.

As far as I can tell, there is no such rule. (If it did exist, it looks like it would have appeared in the tournament regulations, section VI.A.5.) If I am overlooking it, could someone point out where it appears?

[Zombie]

In Magic, there are effects that reveal the opposing player's hand. Like the size of a group in Go, this is essentially public information that you just have to memorize, and it is important to. They found out it's faster to just let people take notes during play. Otherwise people would spend a long time memorizing the contents of the opponent's hand. With notes, it's a non-issue. I don't see why private notes would have to be forbidden as long as they are made during the game and can be checked by a judge if necessary.

[HermanHiddema]

Do I have to show them while playing or just afterward?

Seems like it would be tempting to write something like "Black loses by y=45, black sucks by x=30, black's hair = frizzy, white is awesome = 25..." just to obfuscate the text.

Which then runs the risk of you getting your game forfeited by a referee...

[Zombie]

The relevant parts of note-taking rules from Magic Tournament Rules. Seem pretty ok for Go in my opinion if note-taking is to be allowed. What do you think?

(A single tournament match in Magic is typically a Best of Three set)

2.11 Taking Notes
Players are allowed to take written notes during a match and may refer to those notes while that match is in progress. At the beginning of a match, each player’s note sheet must be empty and must remain visible throughout the match. Players do not have to explain or reveal notes to other players. Judges may ask to see a player’s notes and/or request that the player explain his or her notes.
Players may not refer to other notes, including notes from previous matches, during games.

Between games, players may refer to a brief set of notes made before the match. They are not required to reveal these notes to their opponents. These notes must be removed from the play area before the beginning of the next game. Excessive quantities of notes (more than a sheet or two) are not allowed and may be penalized as slow play.

The Head Judge is the final arbiter on what cards and notes are acceptable for a tournament.


2.12 Electronic Devices
Players may use electronic devices to do the following:
• Keep track of life totals or other game-relevant information.
• Take and review notes (as outlined in section 2.11).
• Generate a random number when the game calls for one.
• Briefly answer personal calls not related to the game (with permission of the opponent).
Players may not use electronic devices to access outside strategic sources (websites, forums, etc) or communicate with others in order to receive outside assistance. Players that spend excessive time on any of the above uses of electronic devices may be subject to Slow Play penalties.
Players wishing to view information privately on electronic devices during matches must request permission from a judge.
The Head Judge of an event may further restrict or forbid the use of electronic devices during matches.

[Phelan]

Players do not have to explain or reveal notes to other players.

This is the part I disagree with. While this might make sense in Magic, where there is hidden information (composition of deck, current hand, etc.), Go is a perfect information game. The only hidden information is what your opponent is thinking.
Adding extra hidden information would introduce another layer to the game: how good are the notes you take, how much processing/memory power can you save by writing things down?

So, I think using public visible and understandable notes is the only way to keep the game the same. If you want to save your memory when counting, your opponent should get access to that information.

[Zombie]

How would it change? If I write my thoughts on the size of a group (which we both may well disagree on) or whether some tricky situation might in fact be dead I am just cluing my opponent on my thinking, which entirely defeats the purpose of any and all note-taking. I don't see how using a paper extension of your own memory necessarily changes the nature of the game. It's still your own private thoughts, just with a little reminder.

[oren]

I think taking notes is very different from the nature of the game. When two people play go the only equipment are the board and stones. Over time as people wanted to improve, they would record games to ask others where they could get better. The intent is not to use paper and pencil for anything but game recording.

[jts]

How would it change? If I write my thoughts on the size of a group (which we both may well disagree on) or whether some tricky situation might in fact be dead I am just cluing my opponent on my thinking, which entirely defeats the purpose of any and all note-taking. I don't see how using a paper extension of your own memory necessarily changes the nature of the game. It's still your own private thoughts, just with a little reminder.

Do you think people should be allowed to play out the game on a second board, as well?

[Mef]

The relevant parts of note-taking rules from Magic Tournament Rules. Seem pretty ok for Go in my opinion if note-taking is to be allowed. What do you think?

I would be wary of drawing parallels here. Go is a perfect information game. Magic, by design, is not.

[SmoothOper]

How would it change? If I write my thoughts on the size of a group (which we both may well disagree on) or whether some tricky situation might in fact be dead I am just cluing my opponent on my thinking, which entirely defeats the purpose of any and all note-taking. I don't see how using a paper extension of your own memory necessarily changes the nature of the game. It's still your own private thoughts, just with a little reminder.

Do you think people should be allowed to play out the game on a second board, as well?

Yes, but only if the board is a tattoo and the stones are pocket lint.

[cyclops]

Next time I will have some colored rings on my fingers. I'll turn them to represent the score of the groups. Right hand my own groups, one finger each. Left hand the opp's.

[Annihilist]

Keeping notes with pencil and paper seem like a bad crutch to start using. It's best to just keep things in your head. Paper and pencil is generally allowed in order for people to record games.

I agree. You develop the ability to memorise notes better if you keep track in your head, and good habits become second nature over time.