At which level should you get to a Go Club?

[deja]

Depends on the club.

At my club (Baltimore), you have to walk up a half flight of stairs.

In Washington, you need to walk down a full flight.

The bigger the building, the more important it is to know which level.

Words of wisdom. I'm only able to participate in 3 joist clubs. Anything higher and I get winded.

[wms]

I never went to my local go club until I was around 4k or 5k. This had a lot to do with me being shy about meeting groups of new people. If I had started going sooner, I would have enjoyed it a lot I think.

Like all clubs, ours has its ups and downs. Lately the attendance has been on the "down" side; around 10 people is common. I have even heard some grumbling about the club dying, but just three years ago we would often have around 20 people showing up, so I'm hoping that the current lull is only temporary...I really enjoy playing face to face, and I enjoy the people I have met at the club. I will be sad if it comes to an end.

[daniel_the_smith]

I run my club; I consider it part of my job to make sure everyone gets to play someone. I give teaching games to beginners if people can't give them enough stones.

[fwiffo]

Ten is "down"? I think we got ten people at our club, like once. "Down" for us was like two. Or just me showing up and reading go books by myself.

[wms]

Ten is "down"? I think we got ten people at our club, like once. "Down" for us was like two. Or just me showing up and reading go books by myself.

Yes, it's all relative I guess. But when you remember seeing 20 people showing up every week, and running out of boards and table space constantly, then when you have 3 or 4 boards and a couple onlookers it feels pretty dead.

The good thing (for me) is that about half of the Portland go club seems be in the 2k..3d range, so even when there are only 10 people showing up I can usually get a good, close game (I'm about 1k/1d). But of course it's best for the club to have a wider range of people, so that newcomers are more likely to have a good time. I don't think it's hard for weaker players to find stronger players willing to give games (I know that I end up playing white in high-ish handicap games on a fairly regular bases), but it's always best if you can find an even game when you want it.