Go intro

Go's legendary history is as a teaching tool, when an ancient Chinese Emperor designed the game for his son, who he thinks is a little bit dense, and needs to learn something of discipline, concentration, and balance. The son goes on to be the first great player, a good emperor, and a balanced human being.

Go is deep, as playing against any stronger player will show. Rising to each new rank comes the gain of a deeper appreciation for the subtlety involved, and the depth of stronger players. Games can provide a scaffold for the developing personality, where issues such as patience, and observance, are quickly developed with go.

Beginners always start by randomly placing stones on the board, as if it were a game of chance - and they certainly are destroyed. Soon, an understanding of how stones connect to form strength develops, and shortly afterward a few basic joseki (corner sequences) are understood.

Further experience yields an understanding of the board, the importance of the edges, then the efficiency of developing (in the corners first, then walls, then center). At last, a deeper kind of strength - influence, and its radiant effect on play in that vicinity. And this is still, only the beginning.

Soon, the advanced beginner understands that territory and influence are somewhat interchangeable. But there needs to be a balance; develop more or less at the same rate as your opponent, in both territory and influence. Thus the game is highly dynamic.