Handicap variation & other variations
Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2017 1:58 am
I've had a few ideas for some variations in the game of Go. Neither of them should/would become official, but regular players might play them just to mix things up a bit and further improve their skills in playing Go a little bit different.
Handicap Variation
The handicap variation is as follows: the game is played at a regular game of go, but the strongest player gets the weakest player's handicap stones in his basket. (The actual amount should be less than the current handicap, because the impact is more severe I think) The stronger player isn't allow to look at his stones before he plays them. He then plays the game as usual but at one point he'll play a move and "accidentaly" play a black stone there instead of his white stones. Bam, handicap.
Colored Gems Variation - Strategy
There are colored gems on the board before the game begins. This could be on a few spaces, but this could also be full-board. There are different colors. The board can be divided into zones of these colors.
Players get additional points or lose points for playing in a specific zone/color.
That way you could challenge players to mix up their playing style.
For example in one game you could have the 4-4 and 3-3 points neutral stones but the 5-4 point a 0,5 point stone. Players would be encouraged to open with 5-4, while they wouldn't do that in a regular game.
I'd take a lot of test-playing and good readers to figure out the exact value of the colored gems, though.
Colored Gems Variation - Real Time
The other variation is where there is some sort of judge/referee following the game and the colored gems appear during the game for a few moves. They change depending on the game situation. This could also be a handicap rule, as the referee might make the stronger player's obvious moves negative points.
That way, a player will have a real strong answer to a problem but that gem might turn into a -3 points. Does he still play it? Is it worth losing 3 points? Is there an alternative to get the same position but from another angle?
Don't take these ideas too seriously. I just had them in my head and I thought they might be fun for some people. I understand some of these concepts drastically change the game but some could even be used to teach or might just turn into a lot of fun and big laughs (I can already imagine a big capture but realizing you played a black stone instead of white)
Handicap Variation
The handicap variation is as follows: the game is played at a regular game of go, but the strongest player gets the weakest player's handicap stones in his basket. (The actual amount should be less than the current handicap, because the impact is more severe I think) The stronger player isn't allow to look at his stones before he plays them. He then plays the game as usual but at one point he'll play a move and "accidentaly" play a black stone there instead of his white stones. Bam, handicap.
Colored Gems Variation - Strategy
There are colored gems on the board before the game begins. This could be on a few spaces, but this could also be full-board. There are different colors. The board can be divided into zones of these colors.
Players get additional points or lose points for playing in a specific zone/color.
That way you could challenge players to mix up their playing style.
For example in one game you could have the 4-4 and 3-3 points neutral stones but the 5-4 point a 0,5 point stone. Players would be encouraged to open with 5-4, while they wouldn't do that in a regular game.
I'd take a lot of test-playing and good readers to figure out the exact value of the colored gems, though.
Colored Gems Variation - Real Time
The other variation is where there is some sort of judge/referee following the game and the colored gems appear during the game for a few moves. They change depending on the game situation. This could also be a handicap rule, as the referee might make the stronger player's obvious moves negative points.
That way, a player will have a real strong answer to a problem but that gem might turn into a -3 points. Does he still play it? Is it worth losing 3 points? Is there an alternative to get the same position but from another angle?
Don't take these ideas too seriously. I just had them in my head and I thought they might be fun for some people. I understand some of these concepts drastically change the game but some could even be used to teach or might just turn into a lot of fun and big laughs (I can already imagine a big capture but realizing you played a black stone instead of white)