Regarding substances which affect your mental performance.

[daal]

Taking something in order to improve one's performance just seems like a bad idea. It can easily be seen as cheating, especially in a tournament context, and if it is not in a tournament context, why bother? If it's not being prescribed for some disorder, it might even affect your health adversely.

As to the consumption of recreational drugs where permitted, it's probably better if neither party is sober. Somebody else's drunk bad moves might look funny if you are inebriated as well, but if you aren't, then they are just bad moves. Stoners should beware of boring their non-partaking opponents to death while they ponder deeper meaning.

For smokers the biggest go-related problem is mistaking the bowl for the ashtray.

[tj86430]

Why is e.g. scotch worse than wine, given that you drink equal amount of alcohol?

Because you get drunk from scotch, even from drinking a little bit, but with wine or beer, you can have a glass and not get drunk.

If you read my message carefully, you noticed it said "given that you drink equal amount of alcohol". That means e.g. 4cl of scotch vs (roughly) 16cl of wine or 40cl of beer. You will get equally (not) drunk from each.

[drmwc]

At a European many years ago, I played a Chinese professional in a simultaneous game. He won all his games by a small margin (against me by 1 point).

The next day, I played him again. We bought him (and us) quite a lot of beer beforehand. He giggled a lot whilst playing, which he didn't do the day before. He won all his games by resignation.

[joellercoaster]

Why is e.g. scotch worse than wine, given that you drink equal amount of alcohol?

Because you get drunk from scotch, even from drinking a little bit, but with wine or beer, you can have a glass and not get drunk.

I think we need to have a talk about physiology.

Getting drunk and playing Go is a bad idea.

Actually it's a really good idea, if you like to play Go that way.

I would say that with a glass of really good Scotch (enough to affect me subjectively as well as objectively) I lose two or three stones or so, but it's very enjoyable. Quite a few people have separate KGS accounts (or whatever server) that they use when they're drinking. I haven't gone that far but the fact that it's a thing at all makes me think that the combination is a common one.

I have a friend with whom I play occasionally and we like to drink together as well. But we make sure I drink a little more; we call this the Whisky Handicap.

[Bonobo]

[..] Stoners should beware of boring their non-partaking opponents to death while they ponder deeper meaning.

I pondered over a funny reply to this for hours … still didn't find one.

For smokers the biggest go-related problem is mistaking the bowl for the ashtray.

And vice versa. Same goes for having some snacks like Japanese rice crackers … when at a time we all were smokers at our local Go club, we had all possible combinations of stones/bowls/lids/board/crackers/fingers/cigarette stumps/ash/mouth/coffee or tee mug/ashtrays. Later non-smokers joined and now smoking is not allowed in our Go salon as soon as one non-smoker is present.

[BaghwanB]

I never flicked cig ash into my bowl or lid, but more than once I've reached for a stone and found my fingers in my coffee cup instead.

VERY disconcerting the first few times it happens. You are expecting hard and smooth and get warm and wet instead. Bwwsffhsth!

Bruce "Little Dipper" Young