Abstract game board game fo' two playas

This article be bout tha board game. For other thangs named "Go", peep Go (disambiguation)

Go Go is played on a grid of black lines (usually 19�-19). Game pieces, called stones, is played on tha lines' intersections. Years active Zhou dynasty ta present Genre(s) Board game

Abstract game game

Mind sport Players 2 Setup time Minimal Playin time Casual: 20�"90 minutes

Professional: 1�"6 hours[a] Random chance None Skill(s) required Strategy, tactics, observation Synonym(s)

Igo

Paduk / Baduk a Some professionizzle game exceed 16 minutes n' is played up in sessions spread over two days.

Go be a abstract game board game fo' two playas, up in which tha aim is ta surround mo' territory than tha opponent. Da game was invented up in China mo' than 2,500 muthafuckin years ago n' is believed ta be tha crazy oldschool board game continuously played ta tha present day.[1][2] A 2016 survey by tha Internationistic Go Federationz 75 member nations found dat there be over 46 mazillion playas ghettowide whoz ass know how tha fuck ta play Go n' over 20 mazillion current playas, tha majoritizzle of whom live up in Eastside Asia.[3]

Da playin pieces is called stones. One playa uses tha white stones n' tha other, black. Da playas take turns placin tha stones on tha vacant intersections ("points") of a board. Once placed on tha board, stones may not be moved yo, but stones is removed from tha board if tha stone (or crew of stones) is surrounded by opposin stones on all orthogonally-adjacent points, up in which case tha stone is "captured". Da game proceedz until neither playa wishes ta make another move. When a game concludes, tha balla is determined by countin each playaz surrounded territory along wit captured stones n' komi (points added ta tha score of tha playa wit tha white stones as compensation fo' playin second). Game may also be terminated by resignation.

Da standard Go board has a 19�-19 grid of lines, containin 361 points, n' you can put dat on yo' toast. Beginners often play on smalla 9�-9 n' 13�-13 boards, n' archaeological evidence shows dat tha game was played up in earlier centuries on a funky-ass board wit a 17�-17 grid. Y'all KNOW dat shit, muthafucka! But fuck dat shiznit yo, tha word on tha street is dat boardz wit a 19�-19 grid had become standard by tha time tha game reached Korea up in tha 5th century CE n' lata Japan up in tha 7th century CE.

Go was considered one of tha four essential arts of tha cultured aristocratic Chinese scholars up in antiquity. Da earliest freestyled reference ta tha game is generally recognized as tha oldschool annal Zuo Zhuan[8] (c. 4th century BC).[10]

Despite its relatively simple rulez, Go is straight-up complex. Compared ta chess, Go has both a larger board wit mo' scope fo' play n' longer games, and, on average, nuff mo' alternatives ta consider per move. Da number of legal board positions up in Go has been calculated ta be approximately 2 �- 10170,[11][a] which is vastly pimped outa than tha number of atoms up in tha known, observable universe, estimated ta be bout 1080.[13]

Etymology [ edit ]

Da word "Go" be a gangbangin' finger-lickin' dirty-ass short form of tha full Japanese word igo 囲碁. Da Japanese word igo probably derives from tha Middle Chinese ɦʉi gi 圍棋 (Mandarin: wéiqí), which literally means "encirclement board game" or "board game of surrounding". To differentiate tha game from tha common Gangsta verb to go, "g" is often capitalized,[14] or, up in events sponsored by tha Ing Chang-ki Foundation, it is spelled "goe".[15]

Da Korean word baduk derives from tha Middle Korean word Badok, tha origin of which is controversial; tha mo' plausible etymologies include tha suffix "dok" added ta "Ba" bustin tha meanin "flat n' wide board", or tha joinin of "Bat", meanin "field", n' "Dok", meanin "stone". Less plausible etymologies include a thugged-out derivation of "Badukdok", referrin ta tha playin piecez of tha game, or a thugged-out derivation from Chinese 排子 (páizi), meanin "to arrange pieces".[16]

Tha 411 [ edit ]

Da first 60 movez of a Go game animated. Y'all KNOW dat shit, muthafucka! This type'a shiznit happens all tha time. This particular game quickly pimped tha fuck into a cold-ass lil fucked up fight up in tha lower left n' bottom. (Click on tha board ta restart tha play up in a larger window.)

Go be a adversarial game wit tha objectizzle of surroundin a larger total area of tha board wit onez stones than tha opponent. As tha game progresses, tha playas posizzle stones on tha board ta map up formations n' potential territories. Put ya muthafuckin choppers up if ya feel dis! Contests between opposin formations is often mad complex n' may result up in tha expansion, reduction, or wholesale capture n' loss of formation stones.

Da four libertizzles (adjacent empty points) of a single black stone (A), as White reduces dem libertizzles by one (B, C, n' D). When Black has only one liberty left (D), dat stone is "in atari". White may capture dat stone (remove from board) wit a play on its last liberty (at D-1).

A basic principle of Go is dat a crew of stones must have at least one "liberty" ta remain on tha board. Y'all KNOW dat shit, muthafucka! A "liberty" be a open "point" (intersection) borderin tha crew fo' realz. An enclosed liberty (or liberties) is called a "eye", and a crew of stones wit two or mo' eyes is holla'd ta be unconditionally "kickin it". Such crews cannot be captured, even if surrounded.

Da general game is ta expand onez territory, battle tha opponentz weak crews (groups dat can be capped), n' always stay mindful of tha "life status" of onez own groups. Da libertizzlez of crews is countable. Right back up in yo muthafuckin ass. Situations where mutually opposin crews must capture each other or take a thugged-out dirtnap is called capturin races, or semeai. In a cold-ass lil capturin race, tha crew wit mo' libertizzles (and/or betta "shape") will ultimately be able ta capture tha opponentz stones. Capturin races n' tha elementz of game or dirtnap is tha primary challengez of Go.

A playa may pass on determinin dat tha game offers no further opportunitizzles fo' profitable play. Da game endz when both playas pass, n' is then scored. Y'all KNOW dat shit, muthafucka! For each playa, tha number of captured stones is subtracted from tha number of controlled (surrounded) points up in "liberties" or "eyes", n' tha playa wit tha pimped outa score wins tha game.[26] Game may also be won by resignation of tha opponent.

In tha openin stagez of tha game, playas typically establish positions (or "bases") up in tha corners n' round tha sidez of tha board. Y'all KNOW dat shit, muthafucka! These bases help ta quickly pimp phat shapes which have nuff options fo' life (self-viabilitizzle fo' a crew of stones dat prevents capture) n' establish formations fo' potential territory. Players probably start up in tha corners cuz establishin territory is easier wit tha aid of two edgez of tha board. Established corner openin sequences is called "joseki" n' is often studied independently.

"Dame" is points dat lie up in between tha boundary wallz of black n' white, n' as such is considered ta be of no value ta either side. "Seki" is mutually kickin it pairz of white n' black crews where neither has two eyes fo' realz. A "ko" (Chinese n' Japanese: 劫) be a repeated-posizzle shape dat may be contested by makin forcin moves elsewhere, so peek-a-boo, clear tha way, I be comin' thru fo'sho fo' realz. Afta tha forcin move is played, tha ko may be "taken back" n' moonwalked back ta its original gangsta position. Some "ko fights" may be blingin n' decizzle tha game of a big-ass group, while others may be worth just one or two points, n' you can put dat on yo' toast. Right back up in yo muthafuckin ass. Some ko fights is referred ta as "picnic kos" when only one side has a shitload ta lose. Da Japanese call it a hanami (flower-viewing) ko.[32]

Playin wit others probably requires a knowledge of each playaz strength, indicated by tha playaz rank (increasin from 30 kyu ta 1 kyu, then 1 dan ta 7 dan, then 1 dan pro ta 9 dan pro) fo' realz. A difference up in rank may be compensated by a handicap�"Black be allowed ta place two or mo' stones on tha board ta compensate fo' Whitez pimped outa strength. There is different rule-sets (Japanese, Chinese, AGA, etc.), which is almost entirely equivalent, except fo' certain special-case positions.

Rulez [ edit ]

Aside from tha order of play (alternatin moves, Black moves first or takes a handicap) n' scorin rules, there be essentially only two rulez up in Go:

Rule 1 (the rule of liberty) states dat every stone remainin on tha board must have at least one open "point" (an intersection, called a "liberty") directly orthogonally adjacent (up, down, left, or right) , or must be part of a cold-ass lil connected crew dat has at least one such open point ("liberty") next ta dat shit. Right back up in yo muthafuckin ass. Stones or crewz of stones which lose they last liberty is removed from tha board.

(the rule of liberty) states dat , Rule 2 (the "ko rule") states dat the stones on tha board must never repeat a previous posizzle of stones. Moves which would do so is forbidden, n' thus only moves elsewhere on tha board is permitted dat turn.

Almost all other shiznit bout how tha fuck tha game is played be a heuristic, meanin it is hustled shiznit bout how tha fuck tha game is played, rather than a rule. Other rulez is specialized, as they come bout all up in different rule-sets yo, but tha above two rulez cover almost all of any played game.

Although there be some minor differences between rule-sets used up in different countries,[35] most notably up in Chinese n' Japanese scorin rules,[36] these differences do not pimped outly affect tha tactics n' game of tha game.

Except where noted, tha basic rulez presented here is valid independent of tha scorin rulez used. Y'all KNOW dat shit, muthafucka! Da scorin rulez is explained separately. Go terms fo' which there be no locked n loaded Gangsta equivalent is commonly called by they Japanese names.

Basic rulez [ edit ]

One black chain n' two white chains, wit they libertizzles marked wit dots, n' you can put dat on yo' toast. Libertizzles is shared among all stonez of a cold-ass lil chain n' can be counted. Y'all KNOW dat shit, muthafucka! This type'a shiznit happens all tha time yo. Here tha black crew has 5 liberties, while tha two white chains have 4 libertizzles each.

Da two playas, Black n' White, take turns placin stonez of they colour on tha intersectionz of tha board, one stone at a time. Da usual board size be a 19�-19 grid but fo' beginners, or fo' playin quick games, tha smalla board sizez of 13�-13 n' 9�-9 is also popular. Da board is empty ta begin with. Black skits first, unless black is given a handicap of two stones or mo' (in which case, white skits first). Da playas may chizzle any unoccupied intersection ta play on, except fo' dem forbidden by tha ko n' suicide rulez (see below). Once played, a stone can never be moved n' can be taken off tha board only if it is captured. A playa may also pass, declinin ta place a stone, though dis is probably only done all up in tha end of tha game when both playas believe not a god damn thang mo' can be accomplished wit further play. When both playas pass consecutively, tha game ends n' is then scored.

Libertizzles n' capture [ edit ]

If White skits at A, tha black chain loses its last liberty. Well shiiiit, it is captured n' removed from tha board.

Vertically n' horizontally adjacent stonez of tha same color form a cold-ass lil chain (also called a string or group), formin a gangbangin' finger-lickin' discrete unit dat cannot then be divided.[44] Only stones connected ta one another by tha lines on tha board create a cold-ass lil chain; stones dat is diagonally adjacent aint connected. Y'all KNOW dat shit, muthafucka! This type'a shiznit happens all tha time. Chains may be expanded by placin additionizzle stones on adjacent intersections, n' can be connected together by placin a stone on a intersection dat be adjacent ta two or mo' chainz of tha same color.[45]

A vacant point adjacent ta a stone, along one of tha grid linez of tha board, is called a liberty fo' dat stone. Stones up in a cold-ass lil chain share they liberties. A chain of stones must have at least one liberty ta remain on tha board. Y'all KNOW dat shit, muthafucka! When a cold-ass lil chain is surrounded by opposin stones so dat it has no liberties, it is captured n' removed from tha board.

Ko rule [ edit ]

An example of a thang up in which tha ko rule applies

Players aint allowed ta cook up a move dat returns tha game ta tha previous position. I aint talkin' bout chicken n' gravy biatch. This rule, called tha ko rule, prevents unendin repetition. As shown up in tha example pictured: Black has just played tha stone marked 1, capturin a white stone all up in tha intersection marked wit tha red circle. If White was allowed ta play on tha marked intersection, dat move would capture tha black stone marked 1 n' recreate tha thang before Black made tha move marked 1 fo' realz. Allowin dis could result up in a unendin cycle of captures by both playas. Da ko rule therefore prohibits White from playin all up in tha marked intersection immediately. Instead White must play elsewhere, or pass; Black can then end tha ko by fillin all up in tha marked intersection, bustin a gangbangin' five-stone black chain. I aint talkin' bout chicken n' gravy biatch. If White wants ta continue tha ko (that specific repeatin position), White tries ta find a play elsewhere on tha board dat Black must answer; if Black lyrics, then White can retake tha ko fo' realz. A repetizzle of such exchanges is called a ko fight.

While tha various rule-sets smoke on tha ko rule prohibitin returnin tha board ta a immediately previous position, they deal up in different ways wit tha relatively uncommon thang up in which a playa might recreate a past posizzle dat is further removed. Y'all KNOW dat shit, muthafucka! See Rulez of Go: Repetition fo' further shiznit.

Suicide [ edit ]

[51] n' New Zealand rules,[52] White may play A, a suicizzle stone dat kills itself n' tha two neighborin white stones, leavin a empty three-space eye. Black naturally lyrics by playin at A, bustin two eyes. Under aiiight rules, White cannot play at A cuz dat point has no liberties. Put ya muthafuckin choppers up if ya feel dis! Under tha Ingn' New Zealand rules,White may play A, a suicizzle stone dat kills itself n' tha two neighborin white stones, leavin a empty three-space eye. Black naturally lyrics by playin at A, bustin two eyes.

A playa may not place a stone such dat it or its crew immediately has no liberties, unless bustin so immediately deprives a enemy crew of its final liberty. In tha latta case, tha enemy crew is captured, leavin tha freshly smoked up stone wit at least one liberty. This rule is responsible fo' tha all-important difference between one n' two eyes: if a crew wit only one eye is straight-up surrounded on tha outside, it can be capped wit a stone placed up in its single eye.

Da Ing n' New Zealand rulez aint gots dis rule,[54] n' there a playa might fuck wit one of its own groups�""commit suicide". This play would only be useful up in a limited set of thangs involvin a lil' small-ass interior space. In tha example at right, it may be useful as a ko threat.

Komi [ edit ]

Because Black has tha advantage of playin tha straight-up original gangsta move, tha scam of awardin White some compensation came tha fuck into bein durin tha 20th century. This is called komi, which gives white a 6.5-point compensation under Japanese rulez (number of points varies by rule set).[56] Under handicap play, White receives only a 0.5-point komi, ta break a possible tie ("jigo").

Scorin rulez [ edit ]

A simplified game at its end yo, but it ain't no stoppin cause I be still poppin'. Blackz territory (A) + (C) n' prisoners (D) is counted n' compared ta Whitez territory (B) only (no prisoners). In dis example, both Black n' White attempted ta invade n' live (C n' D groups) ta reduce tha otherz total territory. Only Blackz invadin crew (C) was successful up in living, as Whitez crew (D) was capped wit a funky-ass black stone at (E). Da points up in tha middle (F) is "dame", meanin they belong ta neither playa.

Two general typez of scorin system is used, n' playas determine which ta use before play. Both systems almost always give tha same result. Territory scoring counts tha number of empty points a playaz stones surround, together wit tha number of stones tha playa captured. Y'all KNOW dat shit, muthafucka! Area scoring counts tha number of points a playaz stones occupy n' surround. Y'all KNOW dat shit, muthafucka! Well shiiiit, it be associated wit contemporary Chinese play n' was probably established there durin tha Min Dynasty up in tha 15th or 16th century.[57]

Afta both playas have passed consecutively, tha stones dat is still on tha board but unable ta stay tha fuck away from capture, called dead stones, is removed.

Area scorin (includin Chinese): A playaz score is tha number of stones dat tha playa has on tha board, plus tha number of empty intersections surrounded by dat playaz stones.

Territory scorin (includin Japanese n' Korean): In tha course of tha game, each playa retains tha stones they capture, termed prisoners fo' realz. Any dead stones removed all up in tha end of tha game become prisoners. Da score is tha number of empty points enclosed by a playaz stones, plus tha number of tha slammaers captured by dat playa.[b]

If there is beef bout which stones is dead, then under area scorin rules, tha playas simply resume play ta resolve tha matter n' shit. Da score is computed rockin tha posizzle afta tha next time tha playas pass consecutively. Under territory scoring, tha rulez is considerably mo' complex; however, up in practice, playas generally play on, and, once tha statuz of each stone has been determined, return ta tha posizzle all up in tha time tha straight-up original gangsta two consecutizzle passes occurred n' remove tha dead stones. For further shiznit, peep Rulez of Go.

Given dat tha number of stones a playa has on tha board is directly related ta tha number of tha slammaers they opponent has taken, tha resultin net score, that is tha difference between Blackz n' Whitez scores, is identical under both rulesets (unless tha playas have passed different numberz of times durin tha course of tha game). Thus, tha net result given by tha two scorin systems rarely differs by mo' than a point.[58]

Life n' dirtnap [ edit ]

While not straight-up mentioned up in tha rulez of Go (at least up in simpla rule sets, like fuckin dem of New Zealand n' tha U.S.), tha concept of a living crew of stones is necessary fo' a practical understandin of tha game.

Examplez of eyes (marked). Da black crews all up in tha top of tha board is kickin it, as they have at least two eyes. Da black crews all up in tha bottom is dead as they only have one eye. Da point marked a be a gangbangin' false eye.

When a crew of stones is mostly surrounded n' has no options ta hook tha fuck up wit thugged-out stones elsewhere, tha statuz of tha crew is either kickin it, dead or unsettled fo' realz. A crew of stones is holla'd ta be kickin it if it cannot be captured, even if tha opponent be allowed ta move first. Conversely, a crew of stones is holla'd ta be dead if it cannot stay tha fuck away from capture, even if tha balla of tha crew be allowed tha straight-up original gangsta move. Otherwise, tha crew is holla'd ta be unsettled: tha representin' playa can make it kickin it or tha opponent can kill it, dependin on whoz ass gets ta play first.

An "eye" be a empty point or crew of points surrounded by one playaz stones. If tha eye is surrounded by Black stones, White cannot play there unless such a play would take Blackz last liberty n' capture tha Black stones. (Such a move is forbidden accordin ta tha "suicizzle rule" up in most rule sets yo, but even if not forbidden, such a move would be a useless suicizzle of a White stone.)

If a Black crew has two eyes, White can never capture it cuz White cannot remove both libertizzles simultaneously. If Black has only one eye, White can capture tha Black crew by playin up in tha single eye, removin Blackz last liberty. Right back up in yo muthafuckin ass. Such a move aint suicizzle cuz tha Black stones is removed first. In tha "Examplez of eyes" diagram, all tha circled points is eyes. Da two black crews up in tha upper corners is kickin it, as both have at least two eyes. Da crews up in tha lower corners is dead, as both have only one eye. Da crew up in tha lower left may seem ta have two eyes yo, but tha surrounded empty point marked a aint straight-up a eye. White can play there n' take a funky-ass black stone. Right back up in yo muthafuckin ass. Such a point is often called a false eye.

Seki (mutual game) [ edit ]

Example of seki (mutual game). Neither Black nor White can play on tha marked points without reducin they own libertizzles fo' dem crews ta one (self-atari).

There be a exception ta tha requirement dat a crew must have two eyes ta be kickin it, a thang called seki (or mutual game). Where different colored crews is adjacent n' share liberties, tha thang may reach a posizzle when neither playa wants ta move first, cuz bustin so would allow tha opponent ta capture; up in such thangs therefore both playas' stones remain on tha board up in mutual game or "seki". Neither playa receives any points fo' dem groups yo, but at least dem crews theyselves remain living, as opposed ta bein captured.[c]

Yo, seki can occur up in nuff ways. Da simplest are:

each playa has a crew without eyes n' they share two liberties, and each playa has a crew wit one eye n' they share one mo' liberty.

In tha "Example of seki (mutual game)" diagram, tha circled points is libertizzles shared by both a funky-ass black n' a white group. Neither playa wants ta play on a cold-ass lil circled point, cuz bustin so would allow tha opponent ta capture fo' realz. All tha other crews up in dis example, both black n' white, is kickin it wit at least two eyes. Right back up in yo muthafuckin ass. Seki can result from a attempt by one playa ta invade n' bust a cap up in a nearly settled crew of tha other playa.

Tactics [ edit ]

In Go, tactics deal wit immediate fightin between stones, capturin n' savin stones, game, dirtnap n' other thangs localized ta a specific part of tha board. Y'all KNOW dat shit, muthafucka! Larger issues, not limited ta only part of tha board, is referred ta as strategy, n' is covered up in they own section.

Capturin tactics [ edit ]

There is nuff muthafuckin tactical constructs aimed at capturin stones. These is among tha straight-up original gangsta thangs a playa learns afta understandin tha rules. Recognizin tha possibilitizzle dat stones can be captured rockin these steez be a blingin step forward.

A ladder n' shit. Black cannot escape unless tha ladder connects ta black stones further down tha board dat will intercept wit tha ladder.

Da most basic technique is tha ladder. To capture stones up in a ladder, a playa uses a cold-ass lil constant seriez of capture threats�"called atari�"to force tha opponent tha fuck into a zigzag pattern as shown up in tha adjacent diagram. Unless tha pattern runs tha fuck into thugged-out stones along tha way, tha stones up in tha ladder cannot stay tha fuck away from capture. Experienced playas recognize tha futilitizzle of continuin tha pattern n' play elsewhere, so peek-a-boo, clear tha way, I be comin' thru fo'sho. Da presence of a ladder on tha board do give a playa tha option ta play a stone up in tha path of tha ladder, thereby threatenin ta rescue they stones, forcin a response. Right back up in yo muthafuckin ass. Such a move is called a ladder breaker n' may be a bangin strategic move. In tha diagram, Black has tha option of playin a ladder breaker.

A net. Put yo muthafuckin choppers up if ya feel this muthafucka! Da chain of three marked black stones cannot escape up in any direction.

Another technique ta capture stones is tha so-called net, also known by its Japanese name, geta. This refers ta a move dat loosely surroundz some stones, preventin they escape up in all directions fo' realz. An example is given up in tha adjacent diagram. Well shiiiit, it is generally betta ta capture stones up in a net than up in a ladder, cuz a net do not depend on tha condizzle dat there be no opposin stones up in tha way, nor do it allow tha opponent ta play a strategic ladder breaker.

A snapback fo' realz. Although Black can capture tha white stone by playin all up in tha circled point, tha resultin shape fo' Black has only one liberty (at 1), thus White can then capture tha three black stones by playin at 1 again n' again n' again (snap back).

A third technique ta capture stones is tha snapback. In a snapback, one playa allows a single stone ta be captured, then immediately skits on tha point formerly occupied by dat stone; by so bustin, tha playa captures a larger crew of they opponentz stones, up in effect snappin back at dem stones fo' realz. An example can be peeped on tha right fo' realz. As wit tha ladder, a experienced playa do not play up such a sequence, recognizin tha futilitizzle of capturin only ta be captured back immediately.

Readin ahead [ edit ]

One of da most thugged-out blingin game required fo' phat tactical play is tha mobilitizzle ta read ahead. Readin ahead includes thankin bout available moves ta play, tha possible responses ta each move, n' tha subsequent possibilitizzles afta each of dem responses. Right back up in yo muthafuckin ass. Some of tha strongest playaz of tha game can read up ta 40 moves ahead even up in fucked up positions.[65]

As explained up in tha scorin rules, some stone formations can never be captured n' is holla'd ta be kickin it, while other stones may be up in tha posizzle where they cannot stay tha fuck away from bein captured n' is holla'd ta be dead as fuckin fried chicken. I aint talkin' bout chicken n' gravy biatch. Much of tha practice material available ta playaz of tha game comes up in tha form of game n' dirtnap problems, also known as tsumego.[66] In such problems, playas is challenged ta find tha vital move sequence dat kills a crew of tha opponent or saves a crew of they own. I aint talkin' bout chicken n' gravy biatch. Tsumego is considered a pimpin way ta train a playaz mobilitizzle at readin ahead,[66] n' is available fo' all skill levels, some posin a cold-ass lil challenge even ta top playas.

Ko fighting [ edit ]

A simplified ko fight on a 9�-9 board. Y'all KNOW dat shit, muthafucka! Da ko be all up in tha point marked wit a square�"Black has "taken tha ko" first. Da ko fight determines tha game of tha A n' B groups�"only one survives n' tha other is captured. Y'all KNOW dat shit, muthafucka! White may play C as a ko threat, n' Black properly lyrics at D. White can then "take tha ko" by playin all up in tha square-marked point (capturin tha one black stone). E be a possible ko threat fo' Black.

In thangs when tha Ko rule applies, a ko fight may occur. If tha playa whoz ass is prohibited from capture iz of tha opinion dat tha capture is blingin, cuz it prevents a big-ass crew of stones from bein captured fo' instance, tha playa may play a ko threat. This be a move elsewhere on tha board dat threatens ta cook up a big-ass profit if tha opponent do not respond. Y'all KNOW dat shit, muthafucka! If tha opponent do respond ta tha ko threat, tha thang on tha board has chizzled, n' tha prohibizzle on capturin tha ko no longer applies. Put ya muthafuckin choppers up if ya feel dis! Thus tha playa whoz ass made tha ko threat may now recapture tha ko. Their opponent is then up in tha same thang n' can either play a ko threat as well, or concede tha ko by simply playin elsewhere, so peek-a-boo, clear tha way, I be comin' thru fo'sho. If a playa concedes tha ko, either cuz they do not be thinkin it blingin or cuz there be no moves left dat could function as a ko threat, they have lost tha ko, n' they opponent may connect tha ko.

Instead of respondin ta a ko threat, a playa may also chizzle ta ignore tha threat n' connect tha ko. They thereby win tha ko yo, but at a cold-ass lil cost. Da chizzle of when ta respond ta a threat n' when ta ignore it aint nuthin but a subtle one, which requires a playa ta consider nuff factors, includin how tha fuck much is gained by connecting, how tha fuck much is lost by not responding, how tha fuck nuff possible ko threats both playas have remaining, what tha fuck tha optimal order of playin dem is, n' what tha fuck tha size�"points lost or gained�"of each of tha remainin threats is.[67]

Frequently, tha balla of tha ko fight do not connect tha ko but instead captures one of tha chains dat constituted they opponentz side of tha ko. In some cases, dis leadz ta another ko fight at a neighborin location.

Strategy [ edit ]

Yo, game deals wit global influence, interaction between distant stones, keepin tha whole board up in mind durin local fights, n' other thangs dat involve tha overall game. Well shiiiit, it is therefore possible ta allow a tactical loss when it confers a strategic advantage.

Novices often start by randomly placin stones on tha board, as if it was a game of chizzle fo' realz. An understandin of how tha fuck stones connect fo' pimped outa juice pimps, n' then all dem basic common openin sequences may be understood. Y'all KNOW dat shit, muthafucka! I be fly as a gangbangin' falcon, soarin all up in tha sky dawwwwg! Learnin tha wayz of game n' dirtnap helps up in a gangbangin' fundamenstrual way ta pimp onez strategic understandin of weak groups.[d] A playa whoz ass both skits aggressively n' can handle adversitizzle is holla'd ta display kiai, or fightin spirit, up in tha game.

Basic concepts [ edit ]

Basic strategic aspects include tha following:

Connection: Keepin onez own stones connected means dat fewer crews need ta make livin shape, n' one has fewer crews ta defend.

Cut: Keepin opposin stones disconnected means dat tha opponent need ta defend n' make livin shape fo' mo' groups.

Stay kickin it: Da simplest way ta stay kickin it is ta establish a gangbangin' foothold up in tha corner or along one of tha sides fo' realz. At a minimum, a crew must have two eyes (separate open points) ta be "kickin it". [68] An opponent cannot fill up in either eye, as any such move is suicidal n' prohibited up in tha rules.

An opponent cannot fill up in either eye, as any such move is suicidal n' prohibited up in tha rules. Mutual game (seki) is betta than dying: A thang up in which neither playa can play on a particular point without then allowin tha other playa ta play at another point ta capture. Da most common example is dat of adjacent crews dat share they last few liberties�"if either playa skits up in tha shared liberties, they can reduce they own crew ta a single liberty (puttin theyselves up in atari ), allowin they opponent ta capture it on tha next move.

), allowin they opponent ta capture it on tha next move. Death: A crew dat lacks livin shape is eventually removed from tha board as captured.

Invasion: Set up a freshly smoked up livin crew inside a area where tha opponent has pimped outa influence, means one reduces tha opponentz score up in proportion ta tha area one occupies.

Reduction: Placin a stone far enough tha fuck into tha opponentz area of influence ta reduce tha amount of territory they eventually git yo, but not so far up in dat it can be cut off from thugged-out stones outside.

Sente: A play dat forces onez opponent ta respond ( gote ) fo' realz. A playa whoz ass can regularly play sente has tha initiatizzle n' can control tha flow of tha game.

) fo' realz. A playa whoz ass can regularly play has tha initiatizzle n' can control tha flow of tha game. Sacrifice: Allowin a crew ta take a thugged-out dirtnap up in order ta carry up a play, or plan, up in a mo' blingin area.

Da game involved can become straight-up abstract n' complex yo. High-level playas spend muthafuckin years pimpin-out they understandin of game, n' a novice may play nuff hundredz of game against opponents before bein able ta win regularly.

Openin game [ edit ]

In tha openin of tha game, playas probably play n' bust territory up in tha cornerz of tha board first, as tha presence of two edges make it easier fo' dem ta surround territory n' establish they stones. From a secure posizzle up in a cold-ass lil corner, it is possible ta lay claim ta mo' territory by extendin along tha side of tha board. Da openin is da most thugged-out theoretically hard as fuck part of tha game n' takes a big-ass proportion of professionizzle playas' thankin time. Da first stone played at a cold-ass lil corner of tha board is generally placed on tha third or fourth line from tha edge. Players tend ta play on or near tha 4-4 star point durin tha opening. Playin nearer ta tha edge do not produce enough territory ta be efficient, n' playin further from tha edge do not safely secure tha territory.

In tha opening, playas often play established sequences called joseki, which is locally balanced exchanges;[74] however, tha joseki chosen should also produce a satisfactory result on a global scale. Well shiiiit, it is generally advisable ta keep a funky-ass balizzle between territory n' influence. Which of these gets precedence is often a matta of individual taste.

Middlegame n' endgame [ edit ]

Da middle phase of tha game is da most thugged-out combative, n' probably lasts fo' mo' than 100 moves. Durin tha middlegame, tha playas invade each otherz territories, n' battle formations dat lack tha necessary two eyes fo' viability. Right back up in yo muthafuckin ass. Such crews may be saved or sacrificed fo' suttin' mo' dope on tha board.[75] It be possible dat one playa may succeed up in capturin a big-ass weak crew of tha opponent's, which often proves decisive n' endz tha game by a resignation. I aint talkin' bout chicken n' gravy biatch. But fuck dat shiznit yo, tha word on tha street is dat mattas may be mo' complex yet, wit major trade-offs, apparently dead crews reviving, n' skillful play ta battle up in such a way as ta construct territories rather than kill.[76]

Da end of tha middlegame n' transizzle ta tha endgame is marked by all dem features. Near tha end of a game, play becomes divided tha fuck into localized fights dat do not affect each other, wit tha exception of ko fights, where before tha central area of tha board related ta all partz of dat shit. No big-ass weak crews is still up in straight-up dark shiznit n' shit. Moves can reasonably be attributed some definite value, like fuckin 20 points or fewer, rather than simply bein necessary ta compete. Both playas set limited objectives up in they plans, up in makin or beatin tha livin shiznit outta territory, capturin or savin stones. These changin aspectz of tha game probably occur at much tha same time, fo' phat playas. In brief, tha middlegame switches tha fuck into tha endgame when tha conceptz of game n' influence need reassessment up in termz of concrete final thangs up in dis biatch on tha board.

History [ edit ]

Origin up in China [ edit ]

Da earliest freestyled reference ta tha game is generally recognized as tha oldschool annal Zuo Zhuan[8] (c. 4th century BC),[10] referrin ta a oldschool event of 548 BC. Well shiiiit, it be also mentioned up in Book XVII of tha Analectz of Confucius[10] n' up in two books freestyled by Mencius[78] (c. 3rd century BC).[10] In all of these works, tha game is referred ta as yì (弈). Today, up in China, it is known as weiqi (simplified Chinese: 围棋; traditionizzle Chinese: 圍棋; pinyin: ; Wade�"Gilez: wei ch'i), literally "encirclement board game".

Go was originally played on a 17�-17 line grid yo, but a 19�-19 grid became standard by tha time of tha Tang Dynasty (618�"907). Legendz trace tha origin of tha game ta tha mythical Chinese emperor Yao (2337�"2258 BC), whoz ass was holla'd ta have had his counselor Shun design it fo' his unruly son, Danzhu, ta favorably influence his muthafuckin ass.[79] Other theories suggest dat tha game was derived from Chinese tribal warlordz n' generals, whoz ass used piecez of stone ta map up comin' at positions.

Biatch Playin Go (Tang Dynasty c. 744), discovered all up in tha Astana Graves

In China, Go was considered one of tha four cultivated arts of tha Chinese scholar gentleman, along wit calligraphy, painting n' playin tha musical instrument guqin[82] In ancient times tha rulez of go was passed on verbally, rather than bein freestyled down.

Spread ta Korea n' Japan [ edit ]

Go was introduced ta Korea sometime between tha 5th n' 7th centuries CE, n' was ghettofab among tha higher classes. In Korea, tha game is called baduk (hangul: �"둑), n' a variant of tha game called Sunjang baduk was pimped by tha 16th century. Right back up in yo muthafuckin ass. Sunjang baduk became tha main variant played up in Korea until tha end of tha 19th century, when tha current version was reintroduced from Japan.[84]

Korean couple, up in traditionizzle dress, play up in a photograph dated between 1910 n' 1920

Da game reached Japan up in tha 7th century CE�"where it is called go (碁) or igo (囲碁). Well shiiiit, it became ghettofab all up in tha Japanese imperial court up in tha 8th century,[86] n' among tha general hood by tha 13th century.[87] Da modern version of tha game as we know it todizzle was formalized up in Japan up in tha 15th century. In 1603, Tokugawa Ieyasu re-established Japanz unified nationistic posse. In tha same year, he assigned tha then-best playa up in Japan, a Buddhist monk named Nikkai (né Kanō Yosaburo, 1559), ta tha post of Godokoro (Minista of Go).[88]

Nikkai took tha name Hon'inbō Sansa n' dropped tha Hon'inbō Go school.[88] Several competin schools was dropped soon after.[88] These officially recognized n' subsidized Go schools pimped outly pimped tha level of play n' introduced tha dan/kyu steez system of rankin playas.[89] Players from tha four schools (Hon'inbō, Yasui, Inoue n' Hayashi) competed up in tha annual castle games, played up in tha presence of tha shōgun.[90]

Internationalization [ edit ]

Despite its widespread popularitizzle up in Eastside Asia, Go has been slow ta spread ta tha rest of tha ghetto. Right back up in yo muthafuckin ass. Y'all KNOW dat shit, muthafucka! Although there be some mentionz of tha game up in westside literature from tha 16th century forward, Go did not start ta become ghettofab up in tha Westside until tha end of tha 19th century, when German scientist Oskar Korschelt freestyled a treatise on tha ancient Han Chinese game.[91] By tha early 20th century, Go had spread all up in tha German n' Austro-Hungarian empires. In 1905, Edward Lasker hustled tha game while up in Berlin. I aint talkin' bout chicken n' gravy biatch. When he moved ta New York, Lasker dropped tha New York Go Club together wit (amongst others) Arthur Smizzle, whoz ass had hustled of tha game up in Japan while tourin tha Eastside n' had published tha book Da Game of Go up in 1908.[92] Laskerz book Go n' Go-moku (1934) helped spread tha game all up in tha U.S.,[92] n' up in 1935, tha Gangsta Go Association was formed. Y'all KNOW dat shit, muthafucka! Two muthafuckin years later, up in 1937, tha German Go Association was founded.

Ghetto Battle Pt II put a stop ta most Go activity, since dat shiznit was a game comin from Japan yo, but afta tha war, Go continued ta spread.[93] For most of tha 20th century, tha Japan Go Association (Nihon Ki-in) played a leadin role up in spreadin Go outside Eastside Asia by publishin tha Gangsta-language magazine Go Review up in tha 1960s, establishin Go centers up in tha U.S., Europe n' Downtown America, n' often bustin professionizzle mackdaddys on trip ta Westside nations.[94] Internationally, tha game had been commonly known since tha start of tha twentieth century by its shortened Japanese name, n' terms fo' common Go concepts is derived from they Japanese pronunciation.

In 1996, NASA astronaut Daniel Barry n' Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata became tha straight-up original gangsta playas ta play Go up in space. They used a special Go set, which was named Go Space, designed by Wai-Cheung Willson Chow. Both astronauts was awarded honorary dan ranks by tha Nihon Ki-in.

Az of December 2015 , tha Internationistic Go Federation has 75 member countries, wit 67 member ghettos outside Eastside Asia.[96] Chinese cultural centres across tha ghetto is biggin' up Go, n' cooperatin wit local Go associations, fo' example tha seminars held by tha Chinese cultural centre up in Tel Aviv, Israel together wit tha Israeli Go association.[97]

Competitizzle play [ edit ]

Ranks n' ratings [ edit ]

In Go, rank indicates a playaz skill up in tha game. Traditionally, ranks is measured rockin kyu n' dan grades, a system also adopted by nuff martial arts. Mo' recently, mathematical ratin systems similar ta tha Elo ratin system done been introduced.[99] Such ratin systems often provide a mechanizzle fo' convertin a ratin ta a kyu or dan grade.[99] Kyu grades (abbreviated k) is considered hustla grades n' decrease as playin level increases, meanin 1st kyu is tha strongest available kyu grade. Don Juan grades (abbreviated d) is considered masta grades, n' increase from 1st dan ta 7th dan. I aint talkin' bout chicken n' gravy biatch. First dan equals a black belt up in eastsideern martial arts rockin dis system. Da difference among each amateur rank is one handicap stone. For example, if a 5k skits a game wit a 1k, tha 5k would need a handicap of four stones ta even tha odds. Top-level amateur playas sometimes defeat professionals up in tournament play.[100] Professionizzle playas have professionizzle dan ranks (abbreviated p). These ranks is separate from amateur ranks.

Da rank system comprises, from tha lowest ta highest ranks:

Rank Type Range Stage Double-digit kyu 30�"21k Beginner Double-digit kyu 20�"10k Casual playa Single-digit kyu 9�"1k Intermediate/club playa Amateur dan 1�"7d (where 8d be a special title) Advanced playa Professionizzle dan 1�"9p (where 10p be a special title) Professionals

Tournament n' match rulez [ edit ]

Tournament n' match rulez deal wit factors dat may influence tha game but aint part of tha actual rulez of play. Right back up in yo muthafuckin ass. Such rulez may differ between events, n' you can put dat on yo' toast. Rulez dat influence tha game include: tha settin of compensation points (komi), handicap, n' time control parameters. Rulez dat do not generally influence tha game are: tha tournament system, pairin strategies, n' placement criteria.

Common tournament systems used up in Go include tha McMahon system,[101] Swiss system, league systems n' tha knockout system. Tournaments may combine multiple systems; nuff professionizzle Go tournaments bust a cold-ass lil combination of tha league n' knockout systems.[102]

Tournament rulez may also set tha following:

compensation points, called komi, which compensate tha second playa fo' tha straight-up original gangsta move advantage of his opponent; tournaments commonly bust a cold-ass lil compensation up in tha range of 5�"8 points, [103] generally includin a half-point ta prevent draws;

generally includin a half-point ta prevent draws; handicap stones placed on tha board before alternate play, allowin playaz of different strengths ta play competitively (see Go handicap fo' mo' shiznit); and

superko: Although tha basic ko rule busted lyrics bout above covers mo' than 95% of all cyclez occurrin up in games,[104] there be some complex thangs�"triple ko, eternal game,[e] etc.�"that aint covered by it but would allow tha game ta cycle indefinitely. To prevent this, tha ko rule is sometimes extended ta forbid tha repetizzle of any previous position. I aint talkin' bout chicken n' gravy biatch. This extension is called superko.[104]

Time control [ edit ]

A game of Go may be timed rockin a game clock. Formal time controls was introduced tha fuck into tha professionizzle game durin tha 1920s n' was controversial. Adjournments n' sealed moves fuckin started ta be regulated up in tha 1930s. Go tournaments bust a fuckin shitload of different time control systems fo' realz. All common systems envisage a single main period of time fo' each playa fo' tha game yo, but they vary on tha protocols fo' continuation (in overtime) afta a playa has finished dat time allowance.[f] Da most widely used time control system is tha so-called byoyomi[g] system. Da top professionizzle Go matches have timekeepers so dat tha playas do not gotta press they own clocks.

Two widely used variantz of tha byoyomi system are:[106]

Standard byoyomi : Afta tha main time is depleted, a playa has a cold-ass lil certain number of time periodz (typically round thirty seconds) fo' realz. Afta each move, tha number of full-time periodz dat tha playa took (often zero) is subtracted. Y'all KNOW dat shit, muthafucka! This type'a shiznit happens all tha time. For example, if a playa has three thirty-second time periodz n' takes thirty or mo' (but less than sixty) secondz ta cook up a move, they lose one time period. Y'all KNOW dat shit, muthafucka! With 60�"89 seconds, they lose two time periods, n' so on. I aint talkin' bout chicken n' gravy biatch. If, however, they take less than thirty seconds, tha timer simply resets without subtractin any periods. Usin up tha last period means dat tha playa has lost on time.

: Afta tha main time is depleted, a playa has a cold-ass lil certain number of time periodz (typically round thirty seconds) fo' realz. Afta each move, tha number of full-time periodz dat tha playa took (often zero) is subtracted. Y'all KNOW dat shit, muthafucka! This type'a shiznit happens all tha time. For example, if a playa has three thirty-second time periodz n' takes thirty or mo' (but less than sixty) secondz ta cook up a move, they lose one time period. Y'all KNOW dat shit, muthafucka! With 60�"89 seconds, they lose two time periods, n' so on. I aint talkin' bout chicken n' gravy biatch. If, however, they take less than thirty seconds, tha timer simply resets without subtractin any periods. Usin up tha last period means dat tha playa has lost on time. Canadian byoyomi: Afta rockin all of they main time, a playa must cook up a cold-ass lil certain number of moves within a cold-ass lil certain period of time, like fuckin twenty moves within five minutes.[106][h] If tha time period expires without tha required number of stones havin been played, then tha playa has lost on time.[i]

Notation n' recordin games [ edit ]

Go game is recorded wit a simple coordinizzle system. This is comparable ta algebraic chess notation, except dat Go stones do not move n' thus require only one coordinizzle per turn, so check it before ya wreck it. I aint talkin' bout chicken n' gravy biatch. Coordinizzle systems include purely numerical (4-4 point), hybrid (K3), n' purely alphabetical.[107] Da Smart Game Format uses alphabetical coordinates internally yo, but most editors represent tha board wit hybrid coordinates as dis reduces mad drama. Da Japanese word kifu is sometimes used ta refer ta a game record.

In Unicode, Go stones can be represented wit black n' white circlez from tha block Geometric Shapes:

U+25CB ○ WHITE CIRCLE (HTML ○ �. ○ )

(HTML ) U+25CF ● BLACK CIRCLE (HTML ● )

Da block Miscellaneous Symbols includes "Go markers"[108] dat was likely meant fo' mathematical research of Go:[109][110]

U+2686 ⚆ WHITE CIRCLE WITH DOT RIGHT (HTML ⚆ )

(HTML ) U+2687 ⚇ WHITE CIRCLE WITH TWO DOTS (HTML ⚇ )

(HTML ) U+2688 ⚈ BLACK CIRCLE WITH WHITE DOT RIGHT (HTML ⚈ )

(HTML ) U+2689 ⚉ BLACK CIRCLE WITH TWO WHITE DOTS (HTML ⚉ )

Top playas n' professionizzle Go [ edit ]

A Go professionizzle be a professionizzle playa of tha game of Go. There is six areas wit professionizzle go associations, these are: China (China Qiyuan), Japan (Nihon Ki-in, Kansai Ki-in), Downtown Korea (Korea Baduk Association), Taiwan (Taiwan Chi Yuan Culture Foundation), tha United Hoodz (AGA Professionizzle System) n' Europe (European Professionizzle System).

Although tha game was pimped up in China, tha establishment of tha Four Go houses by Tokugawa Ieyasu all up in tha start of tha 17th century shifted tha focuz of tha Go ghetto ta Japan. I aint talkin' bout chicken n' gravy biatch. Right back up in yo muthafuckin ass. State sponsorship, allowin playas ta dedicate theyselves full-time ta study of tha game, n' fierce competizzle between individual houses resulted up in a thugged-out dope increase up in tha level of play. Durin dis period, tha dopest playa of his wild lil' freakadelic generation was given tha prestigious title Meijin (master) n' tha post of Godokoro (minista of Go). Of special note is tha playas whoz ass was dubbed Kisei (Go Sage). Da only three playas ta receive dis honor was Dōsaku, Jōwa n' Shūsaku, all of tha doggy den Hon'inbō.[111]

Afta tha end of tha Tokugawa shogunate n' tha Meiji Restoration period, tha Go houses slowly disappeared, n' up in 1924, tha Nihon Ki-in (Japanese Go Association) was formed. Y'all KNOW dat shit, muthafucka! Top playas from dis period often played newspaper-sponsored matchez of 2�"10 games.[112] Of special note is tha (Chinese-born) playa Go Seigen (Chinese: Wu Qingyuan), whoz ass banged up 80% up in these matches n' beat down most of his opponents ta inferior handicaps),[113] n' Minoru Kitani, whoz ass dominated matches up in tha early 1930s.[114] These two playas is also recognized fo' they groundbreakin work on freshly smoked up openin theory (Shinfuseki).[115]

For much of tha 20th century, Go continued ta be dominated by playas trained up in Japan. I aint talkin' bout chicken n' gravy biatch. Notable names included Eio Sakata, Rin Kaiho (born up in China), Masao Kato, Koichi Kobayashi n' Cho Chikun (born Cho Ch'i-hun, from Downtown Korea).[116] Top Chinese n' Korean talents often moved ta Japan, cuz tha level of play there was high n' fundin was mo' lavish. One of tha straight-up original gangsta Korean playas ta do so was Cho Namchul, whoz ass studied up in tha Kitani Dojo 1937�"1944 fo' realz. Afta his bangin return ta Korea, tha Hanguk Kiwon (Korea Baduk Association) was formed n' caused tha level of play up in Downtown Korea ta rise hella up in tha second half of tha 20th century.[117] In China, tha game declined durin tha Cultural Revolution (1966�"1976) but quickly recovered up in tha last quarta of tha 20th century, brangin Chinese playas, like fuckin Nie Weiping n' Ma Xiaochun, on par wit they Japanese n' Downtown Korean counterparts.[118] Da Chinese Weiqi Association (todizzle part of tha China Qiyuan) was established up in 1962, professionizzle dan grades started bein issued up in 1982.[119] Westside professionizzle Go fuckin started up in 2012 wit tha Gangsta Go Associationz Professionizzle System.[120] In 2014, tha European Go Federation followed suit n' started they professionizzle system.[121]

With tha advent of major internationistic titlez from 1989 onward, it became possible ta compare tha level of playas from different ghettos mo' accurately. Cho Hunhyun of Downtown Korea won tha straight-up original gangsta edizzle of tha Quadrennial Ing Cup up in 1989 yo. His disciple Lee Chang-ho was tha dominant playa up in internationistic Go competitions fo' mo' than a thugged-out decade spannin much of 1990s n' early 2000s; he be also credited wit groundbreakin works on tha endgame. Cho, Lee n' other Downtown Korean playas like fuckin Seo Bong-soo, Yoo Changhyuk n' Lee Sedol between dem won majoritizzle of internationistic titlez up in dis period.[122] Several Chinese playas also rose ta tha top up in internationistic Go from 2000s, most notably Ma Xiaochun, Chang Hao, Gu Li n' Ke Jie fo' realz. Az of 2016 , Japan lags behind up in tha internationistic Go scene.

Historically, mo' pimps than dem hoes have played Go. Right back up in yo muthafuckin ass. Special tournaments fo' dem hoes exist yo, but until recently, pimps n' dem hoes did not compete together all up in tha highest levels; however, tha creation of new, open tournaments n' tha rise of phat biatch playas, most notably Rui Naiwei, have up in recent muthafuckin years highlighted tha strength n' competitivenizz of emergin biatch playas.

Da level up in other ghettos has traditionally been much lower, except fo' some playas whoz ass had preparatory professionizzle hustlin up in Eastside Asia.[j] Knowledge of tha game has been scant elsewhere up until tha 20th century fo' realz. A hyped playa of tha 1920s was Edward Lasker.[k] Dat shiznit was not until tha 1950s dat mo' than all dem Westside playas took up tha game as other than a passin interest. In 1978, Manfred Wimmer became tha straight-up original gangsta Westerner ta receive a professionizzle playaz certificate from a Eastside Asian professionizzle Go association.[124] In 2000, Gangsta Mike Redmond became tha straight-up original gangsta Westside playa ta big up a 9 dan rank.

Equipment [ edit ]

Go portrayed as part of East-Asian culture. (Da goblet up in tha middle is from tha Nihon Ki-in.)

It be possible ta play Go wit a simple paper board n' coins, plastic tokens, or white beans n' fruity-ass malt liquor beans fo' tha stones; or even by drawin tha stones on tha board n' erasin dem when captured. Y'all KNOW dat shit, muthafucka! Mo' ghettofab midrange shiznit includes cardstock, a laminated particle board, or wood boardz wit stonez of plastic or glass. Mo' high-rollin' traditionizzle shiznit is still used by nuff playas. Da most high-rollin' Go sets have black stones carved from slate n' white stones carved from translucent white shells, played on boardz carved up in a single piece from tha trunk of a tree.

Traditionizzle shit [ edit ]

碁盤 goban), 2 bowls ( 碁笥 goke) n' 361 stones ( 碁石 goishi) A traditionizzle Japanese set, wit a solid wooden floor board (), 2 bowls () n' 361 stones (

Boards [ edit ]

Da Go board (generally referred ta by its Japanese name goban 碁盤) typically measures between 45 n' 48 cm (18 n' 19 in) up in length (from one playaz side ta tha other) n' 42 ta 44 cm (16 1⁄ 2 ta 17 1⁄ 4 in) up in width. Chinese boardz is slightly larger, as a traditionizzle Chinese Go stone is slightly larger ta match. Da board aint square; there be a 15:14 ratio up in length ta width, cuz wit a perfectly square board, from tha playaz viewin angle tha perspectizzle creates a gangbangin' foreshortenin of tha board. Y'all KNOW dat shit, muthafucka! Da added length compensates fo' all dis bullshit. There is two main typez of boards: a table board similar up in most respects ta other gameboardz like dat used fo' chess, n' a gangbangin' floor board, which is its own free-standin table n' at which tha playas sit.

Da traditionizzle Japanese goban is between 10 n' 18 cm (3.9 n' 7.1 in) thick n' has legs; it sits on tha floor (see picture). It be preferably made from tha rare golden-tinged Kaya tree (Torreya nucifera), wit tha straight-up dopest made from Kaya trees up ta 700 years old. Y'all KNOW dat shit, muthafucka! Mo' recently, tha related California Torreya (Torreya californica) has been prized fo' its light color n' pale rings as well as its reduced expense n' mo' readily available stock. Da natural resourcez of Japan done been unable ta keep up wit tha enormous demand fo' tha slow-growin Kaya trees; both T. nucifera n' T. californica take nuff hundredz of muthafuckin years ta grow ta tha necessary size, n' they is now mad rare, raisin tha price of such shiznit tremendously. As Kaya trees is a protected species up in Japan, they cannot be harvested until they have died. Y'all KNOW dat shit, muthafucka! Thus, a old-growth, floor-standin Kaya goban can easily cost up in excess of $10,000 wit tha highest-qualitizzle examplez costin mo' than $60,000.[127]

Other, less high-rollin' woodz often used ta make qualitizzle table boardz up in both Chinese n' Japanese dimensions include Hiba (Thujopsis dolabrata), Katsura (Cercidiphyllum japonicum), Kauri (Agathis), n' Shin Kaya (various varietizzlez of spruce, commonly from Alaska, Siberia n' Chinaz Yunnan Province). So-called Shin Kaya be a potentially confusin merchantz term: shin means "new", n' thus shin kaya is dopest translated "faux kaya", cuz tha woodz so busted lyrics bout is biologically unrelated ta Kaya.

Stones [ edit ]

A full set of Go stones (goishi) probably gotz nuff 181 black stones n' 180 white ones; a 19�-19 grid has 361 points, so there be enough stones ta cover tha board, n' Black gets tha extra odd stone cuz dat playa goes first yo. However it may happen, especially up in beginners' games, dat nuff back-and-forth captures empty tha bowls before tha end of tha game: up in dat case a "exchange of tha slammaers" allows tha game ta continue.

Traditionizzle Japanese stones is double-convex, n' made of clamshell (white) n' slate (black). Da funky-ass slate is nachiguro stone mined up in Wakayama Prefecture n' tha clamshell from tha Hamaguri clam; however, cuz of a scarcitizzle up in tha Japanese supply of dis clam, tha stones is most often made of shells harvested from Mexico. Historically, da most thugged-out prized stones was made of jade, often given ta tha reignin emperor as a gift.

In China, tha game is traditionally played wit single-convex stones made of a cold-ass lil composite called Yunzi. Da material be reppin Yunnan Province n' is made by sintering a proprietary n' trade-secret mixture of mineral compoundz derived from tha local stone. This process dates ta tha Tang Dynasty and, afta tha knowledge was lost up in tha 1920s durin tha Chinese Civil War, was rediscovered up in tha 1960s by tha now state-run Yunzi company. Da material is praised fo' its colors, its pleasin sound as compared ta glass or ta synthetics like fuckin melamine, n' its lower cost as opposed ta other shiznit like fuckin slate/shell. Da term "yunzi" can also refer ta a single-convex stone made of any material; however, most Gangsta-language Go suppliers specify Yunzi as a material n' single-convex as a gangbangin' finger-lickin' dirty-ass shape ta stay tha fuck away from mad drama, as stones made of Yunzi is also available up in double-convex while synthetic stones can be either shape.

Traditionizzle stones is made so dat black stones is slightly larger up in diameta than white; dis is ta compensate fo' tha optical illusion pimped by contrastin flavas dat would make equal-sized white stones step tha fuck up larger on tha board than black stones.[l]

Go Seigen bowls. These particular stones is made of An example of single-convex stones n'bowls. These particular stones is made of Yunzi material, n' tha bowlz of jujube wood.

Bowls [ edit ]

Da bowls fo' tha stones is shaped like a gangbangin' flattened sphere wit a level underside. Da lid is loose fittin n' upturned before play ta receive stones captured durin tha game. Chinese bowls is slightly larger, n' a lil mo' rounded, a steez known generally as Go Seigen; Japanese Kitani bowls tend ta git a gangbangin' finger-lickin' dirty-ass shape closer ta dat of tha bowl of a snifter glass, like fuckin fo' brandy. Da bowls is probably made of turned wood. Y'all KNOW dat shit, muthafucka! I be fly as a gangbangin' falcon, soarin all up in tha sky dawwwwg! Mulberry is tha traditionizzle material fo' Japanese bowls yo, but is straight-up expensive; wood from tha Chinese jujube date tree, which has a lighta color (it is often stained) n' slightly mo' visible grain pattern, be a cold-ass lil common substitute fo' rosewood, n' traditionizzle fo' Go Seigen-style bowls. Other traditionizzle shiznit used fo' makin Chinese bowls include lacquered wood, ceramics, stone n' woven straw or rattan. Da namez of tha bowl shapes, "Go Seigen" n' "Kitani", was introduced up in tha last quarta of tha 20th century by tha professionizzle playa Janice Kim as homage ta two 20th-century professionizzle Go playas by tha same names, of Chinese n' Japanese nationality, respectively, whoz ass is referred ta as tha "Fatherz of modern Go".[111]

Playin technique n' etiquette [ edit ]

Go playas demonstratin tha traditionizzle technique of holdin a stone.

Da traditionizzle way ta place a Go stone is ta first take one from tha bowl, grippin it between tha index n' middle fingers, wit tha middle finger on top, n' then placin it directly on tha desired intersection.[130] One can also place a stone on tha board n' then slide it tha fuck into posizzle under appropriate circumstances (where it do not move any other stones). Well shiiiit, it is considered respectful towardz White fo' Black ta place tha straight-up original gangsta stone of tha game up in tha upper right-hand corner.[131] (Because of symmetry, dis has no effect on tha gamez outcome.)

It be considered skanky manners ta run onez fingers all up in onez bowl of unplayed stones, as tha sound, however soothang ta tha playa bustin this, can be disturbin ta onez opponent. Right back up in yo muthafuckin ass. Similarly, "clacking" a stone against another stone, tha board, or tha table or floor be also discouraged. Y'all KNOW dat shit, muthafucka! But fuck dat shiznit yo, tha word on tha street is dat it is permissible ta emphasize select moves by strikin tha board mo' firmly than normal, thus producin a gangbangin' finger-lickin' dirty-ass sharp clack fo' realz. Additionally, hoverin onez arm over tha board (usually when decidin where ta play) be also considered rude as it obstructs tha opponentz view of tha board.

Manners n' etiquette is extensively discussed up in 'Da Funky-Ass of WeiQi up in Thirteen Chapters', a Song dynasty manual ta tha game fo' realz. Apart from tha points above it also points ta tha need ta remain calm n' honorable, up in maintainin posture, n' knowin tha key specialised terms, like fuckin titlez of common formations. Generally bustin lyrics, much attention is paid ta tha etiquette of playing, as much as ta ballin or actual game technique.

Computas n' Go [ edit ]

Nature of tha game [ edit ]

In combinatorial game theory terms, Go be a zero-sum, perfect-information, partisan, deterministic strategy game, puttin it up in tha same class as chess, draughts (checkers), n' Reversi (Othello); however it differs from these up in its game play fo' realz. Although tha rulez is simple, tha practical game is complex.

Da game emphasizes tha importizzle of balizzle on multiple levels n' has internal tensions. To secure a area of tha board, it is phat ta play moves close together; however, ta cover tha phattest area, one need ta spread out, like leavin weaknesses dat can be exploited. Y'all KNOW dat shit, muthafucka! This type'a shiznit happens all tha time. Playin too low (close ta tha edge) secures insufficient territory n' influence, yet playin too high (far from tha edge) allows tha opponent ta invade.

It has been fronted dat Go is da most thugged-out complex game up in tha ghetto cuz of its vast number of variations up in individual games.[132] Its big-ass board n' lack of restrictions allow pimped out scope up in game n' expression of playas' individuality. Decisions up in one part of tha board may be hyped up by a apparently unrelated thang up in a gangbangin' finger-lickin' distant part of tha board. Y'all KNOW dat shit, muthafucka! Plays made early up in tha game can shape tha nature of conflict a hundred moves later.

Da game complexity of Go is such dat describin even elementary game fills nuff introductory books. In fact, numerical estimates show dat tha number of possible game of Go far exceedz the number of atoms up in tha observable universe.[m]

Research of go endgame by Jizzy H. Conway hustled ta tha invention of tha surreal numbers.[133] Go also contributed ta pimpment of combinatorial game theory (with Go Infinitesimals[134] bein a specific example of its use up in Go).

Software playas [ edit ]

Go long posed a thugged-out dauntin challenge ta computa programmers, puttin forward "hard as fuck decision-makin tasks, a intractable search space, n' a optimal solution so complex it appears infeasible ta directly approximate rockin a policy or value function".[135] Prior ta 2015,[135] tha dopest Go programs only managed ta reach amateur dan level.[136] On smalla 9�-9 n' 13x13 boards, computa programs fared better, n' was able ta compare ta professionizzle playas. Many up in tha field of artificial intelligence consider Go ta require mo' elements dat mimic human thought than chess.[137]

A finished beginnerz game on a 13�-13 board. Y'all KNOW dat shit, muthafucka! Go software can reach stronger levels on a smalla board size.

Da reasons why computa programs had not played Go all up in tha professionizzle dan level prior ta 2016 include:[138]

Da number of spaces on tha board is much larger (over five times tha number of spaces on a cold-ass lil chess board�"361 vs. 64). On most turns there be nuff mo' possible moves up in Go than up in chess. Throughout most of tha game, tha number of legal moves stays at round 150�"250 per turn, n' rarely falls below 100 (in chess, tha average number of moves is 37). [139] Because a exhaustizzle computa program fo' Go must calculate n' compare every last muthafuckin possible legal move up in each ply (player turn), its mobilitizzle ta calculate tha dopest skits is sharply reduced when there be a big-ass number of possible moves. Most computa game algorithms, like fuckin dem fo' chess, compute nuff muthafuckin moves up in advance. Given a average of 200 available moves all up in most of tha game, fo' a cold-ass lil computa ta calculate its next move by exhaustively anticipatin tha next four movez of each possible play (two of its own n' two of its opponent's), it would gotta consider mo' than 320 bazillion (3.2 �- 10 11 ) possible combinations. To exhaustively calculate tha next eight moves, would require computin 512 quintazillion (5.12 �- 10 20 ) possible combinations fo' realz. Az of March 2014 , da most thugged-out bangin supercomputa up in tha ghetto, NUDTz "Tianhe-2", can sustain 33.86 petaflops. [140] At dis rate, even given a exceedingly low estimate of 10 operations required ta assess tha value of one play of a stone, Tianhe-2 would require 4 minutes ta assess all possible combinationz of tha next eight moves up in order ta cook up a single play.

Because a exhaustizzle computa program fo' Go must calculate n' compare every last muthafuckin possible legal move up in each ply (player turn), its mobilitizzle ta calculate tha dopest skits is sharply reduced when there be a big-ass number of possible moves. Most computa game algorithms, like fuckin dem fo' chess, compute nuff muthafuckin moves up in advance. Given a average of 200 available moves all up in most of tha game, fo' a cold-ass lil computa ta calculate its next move by exhaustively anticipatin tha next four movez of each possible play (two of its own n' two of its opponent's), it would gotta consider mo' than 320 bazillion (3.2 10 ) possible combinations. To exhaustively calculate tha next eight moves, would require computin 512 quintazillion (5.12 10 ) possible combinations fo' realz. Az of March 2014 , da most thugged-out bangin supercomputa up in tha ghetto, NUDTz "Tianhe-2", can sustain 33.86 petaflops. At dis rate, even given a exceedingly low estimate of 10 operations required ta assess tha value of one play of a stone, Tianhe-2 would require 4 minutes ta assess all possible combinationz of tha next eight moves up in order ta cook up a single play. Da placement of a single stone up in tha initial phase can affect tha play of tha game a hundred or mo' moves later n' shiznit fo' realz. A computa would gotta predict dis influence, n' it would be unworkable ta attempt ta exhaustively analyze tha next hundred moves.

In capture-based game (like fuckin chess), a posizzle can often be evaluated relatively easily, like fuckin by calculatin whoz ass has a material advantage or mo' actizzle pieces.[n] In Go, there is often no easy as fuck way ta evaluate a position.[141] However a 6-kyu human can evaluate a posizzle at a glance, ta peep which playa has mo' territory, n' even beginners can estimate tha score within 10 points, given time ta count dat shit. Da number of stones on tha board (material advantage) is only a weak indicator of tha strength of a position, n' a territorial advantage (more empty points surrounded) fo' one playa might be compensated by tha opponentz phat positions n' influence all over tha board. Y'all KNOW dat shit, muthafucka! Normally a 3-dan can easily judge most of these positions.

As a illustration, tha top billin handicap normally given ta a weaker opponent is 9 stones. Dat shiznit was not until August 2008 dat a cold-ass lil computa won a game against a professionizzle level playa at dis handicap. Dat shiznit was tha Mogo program, which banged up dis first victory up in a exhibizzle game played durin tha US Go Congress.[142][143] By 2013, a win all up in tha professionizzle level of play was accomplished wit a gangbangin' four-stone advantage.[144][145] In October 2015, Gizoogle DeepMindz program AlphaGo beat Fan Hui, tha European Go champion n' a 2 dan (out of 9 dan possible) professional, five times outta five wit no handicap on a gangbangin' full size 19�-19 board.[135] AlphaGo used a gangbangin' fundamentally different paradigm than earlier Go programs; it included straight-up lil "direct" instruction, n' mostly used deep peepin' where AlphaGo played itself up in hundredz of millionz of game such dat it could measure positions mo' intuitively. In March 2016, Gizoogle next challenged Lee Sedol, a 9 dan considered tha top playa up in tha ghetto up in tha early 21st century,[146] ta a five-game match. Leadin up ta tha game, Lee Sedol n' other top professionals was Kool & Tha Gang dat da thug would win;[147] however, AlphaGo defeated Lee up in four of tha five games.[148][149] Afta havin already lost tha series by tha third game, Lee won tha fourth game, describin his win as "invaluable".[150] In May 2017, AlphaGo beat Ke Jie, whoz ass all up in tha time continuously held tha ghetto No. 1 rankin fo' two years,[151][152] ballin each game up in a three-game match durin tha Future of Go Summit.[153][154]

In October 2017, DeepMind announced a hella stronger version called AlphaGo Zero which beat tha previous version by 100 game ta 0.[155]

Software assistance [ edit ]

A 9�-9 game wit graphical aids. Flavas n' markings show evaluations by tha computa assistant.

An abundizzle of software be available ta support playaz of tha game. This includes programs dat can be used ta view or edit game recordz n' diagrams, programs dat allow tha user ta search fo' patterns up in tha game of phat playas, n' programs dat allow playas ta play against each other over tha Internet.

Yo, some wizzy servers[citation needed] provide graphical aidz like maps, ta aid peepin' durin play. These graphical aidz may suggest possible next moves, indicate areaz of influence, highlight vital stones under battle n' mark stones up in atari or bout ta be captured.

There is nuff muthafuckin file formats used ta store game records, da most thugged-out ghettofab of which is SGF, short fo' Smart Game Format. Programs used fo' editin game recordz allow tha user ta record not only tha moves yo, but also variations, commentary n' further shiznit on tha game.[o]

Electronic databases can be used ta study game n' dirtnap thangs, joseki, fuseki n' game by a particular playa n' shit. Programs is available dat give playas pattern searchin options, which allow playas ta research positions by searchin fo' high-level game up in which similar thangs occur. Shiiit, dis aint no joke. Right back up in yo muthafuckin ass. Such software generally lists common follow-up moves dat done been played by professionals n' gives statistics on win/loss ratio up in openin thangs.

Internet-based Go servers allow access ta competizzle wit playas all over tha ghetto, fo' real-time n' turn-based games.[p] Such servers also allow easy as fuck access ta professionizzle teaching, wit both teachin game n' interactizzle game review bein possible.[q]

In ghettofab culture n' science [ edit ]

Apart from technical literature n' study material, Go n' its strategies done been tha subject of nuff muthafuckin workz of fiction, like fuckin Da Masta of Go by Nobel prize-ballin lyricist Yasunari Kawabata[r] n' Da Girl Dum diddy-dum, here I come biaaatch! Who tha fuck Played Go by Shan Sa. Other books have used Go as a theme or minor deal device. For example, tha novel Shibumi by Trevanian centas round tha game n' uses Go metaphors,[156] n' Da Way of Go: 8 Ancient Strategy Secrets fo' Success up in Businizz n' Life by Troy Anderson applies Go game ta bidnizz.[157] GO: An Asian Paradigm fo' Businizz Strategy[158] by Miura Yasuyuki, a manager wit Japan Airlines,[159] uses Go ta describe tha thankin n' behavior of bidnizz men. Go features prominently up in tha Chung Kuo seriez of novels by Dizzy Wingrove, bein da most thugged-out straight-up bangin game of tha main villain.[161]

Da manga (Japanese comic book) n' anime series Hikaru no Go, busted out up in Japan up in 1998, had a big-ass impact up in popularizin Go among lil' playas, both up in Japan and�"as translations was busted out�"abroad.[162][163] Go Player be a similar animated series bout lil' Go playas dat aired up in China. In tha anime PriPara, one of tha main characters, Sion Tōdō, be a ghetto renowned Go playa yo, but decides ta retire as no muthafucka has been able ta beat her, becomin a idol instead. Y'all KNOW dat shit, muthafucka! Despite dis Go still features heavily up in her characterz personality.

Yo, similarly, Go has been used as a subject or deal thang up in film, like fuckin π, A Beautiful Mind, Tron: Legacy, n' Da Go Master, a biopic of Go professionizzle Go Seigen.[164][s] 2013z Tôkyô ni kita bakari or Tokyo Newcomer portrays a Chinese foreigner Go playa movin ta Tokyo.[165] In Mack Huz wuxia film Da Valiant Ones, tha charactas is color-coded as Go stones (black or other dark shades fo' tha Chinese, white fo' tha Japanese invaders), Go boardz n' stones is used by tha charactas ta keep track of soldiers prior ta battle, n' tha battlez theyselves is structured like a game of Go.[166]

Go has also been featured up in a fuckin shitload of televizzle series. Put ya muthafuckin choppers up if ya feel dis! Starzz science fiction thriller Counterpart, fo' instance, is rich up in references (the openin itself featurin pimpments on a Go board), includin applicationz of tha gamez metaphors, a funky-ass book bout game n' dirtnap bein displayed, n' Go matches, accurately played, relevant ta tha plot.[167] Another example is Syfyz 12 Monkeys: In tha straight-up original gangsta seasonz episode Atari, one of tha charactas explains tha homonymous concept, rockin it as a analogy ta tha thang da thug was facing, n' his fuckin lil hustla is briefly peeped playin Go lata on.[167]

Da corporation n' brand Atari was named afta tha Go term.[168]

Hedge fund manager Mark Spitznagel used Go as his crazy-ass main investin metaphor up in his crazy-ass muthafuckin investin book Da Dao of Capital.[169]

In tha endgame, it can often happen dat tha state of tha board consistz of nuff muthafuckin subpositions dat do not interact wit tha others. Da whole board posizzle can then be considered as a mathematical sum, or composition, of tha individual subpositions. It be dis property of go endgame dat hustled Jizzy Horton Conway ta tha discovery of surreal numbers.[133]

Psychology [ edit ]

A 2004 review of literature by Fernand Gobet, de Voogt n' Jean Retschitzki shows dat relatively lil scientistical research has been carried up on tha psychology of Go, compared wit other traditionizzle board game like fuckin chess.[171] Computa Go research has shown dat given tha big-ass search tree, knowledge n' pattern recognizzle is mo' blingin up in Go than up in other game games, like fuckin chess.[171] A study of tha effectz of age on Go-playing[172] has shown dat menstrual decline is milder wit phat playas than wit weaker playas fo' realz. Accordin ta tha review of Gobet n' colleagues, tha pattern of dome activitizzle observed wit steez like fuckin PET n' fMRI do not show big-ass differences between Go n' chess. On tha other hand, a study by Xiangchuan Chen et al.[173] flossed pimped outa activation up in tha right hemisphere among Go playas than among chess playas. There is some evidence ta suggest a cold-ass lil correlation between playin board game n' reduced risk of Alzheimerz disease n' dementia.[174]

Game theory [ edit ]

In formal game theory terms, Go be a non-chance, combinatorial game wit slick shiznit. I aint talkin' bout chicken n' gravy biatch. Informally dat means there be no dice used (and decisions or moves create discrete outcome vectors rather than probabilitizzle distributions), tha underlyin math is combinatorial, n' all moves (via single vertex analysis) is visible ta both playas (unlike some card game where some shiznit is hidden). Perfect shiznit also implies sequence�"players can theoretically know bout all past moves.

Other game theoretical taxonomizzle elements include tha facts dat Go is bounded (because every last muthafuckin game must end wit a victor (or a tie) within a gangbangin' finite number of moves); tha game be associatizzle (every game be a gangbangin' function of board position); format is non-cooperatizzle (not a crew sport); positions is extensible (can be represented by board posizzle trees); game is zero-sum (player chizzlez do not increase resources available�"colloquially, rewardz up in tha game is fixed n' if one playa wins, tha other loses) n' tha utilitizzle function is restricted (in tha sense of win/lose; however, ratings, monetary rewards, nationistic n' underground pride n' other factors can extend utilitizzle functions yo, but generally not ta tha extent of removin tha win/lose restriction). Affine transformations can theoretically add non-zero n' complex utilitizzle aspects even ta two playa games.[175]

Comparisons [ edit ]

Go begins wit a empty board. Y'all KNOW dat shit, muthafucka! Well shiiiit, it is focused on buildin from tha ground up (nothang ta something) wit multiple, simultaneous battlez leadin ta a point-based win. I aint talkin' bout chicken n' gravy biatch. Chess is tactical rather than strategic, as tha predetermined game is ta trap one individual piece (the mackdaddy). This comparison has also been applied ta military n' ballistical history, wit Scott Boormanz book Da Protracted Game (1969) and, mo' recently, Robert Greenez book Da 48 Lawz of Power (1998) explorin tha game of tha Communist Jam of China up in tha Chinese Civil War all up in tha lenz of Go.[176][177]

A similar comparison has been drawn among Go, chess n' backgammon, like tha three crazy oldschool game dat trip off ghettowide popularity.[178] Backgammon be a "man vs. fate" contest, wit chizzle playin a phat role up in determinin tha outcome. Chess, wit rowz of soldiers marchin forward ta capture each other, embodies tha conflict of "man vs. man". Because tha handicap system drops some lyrics ta Go playas where they stand relatizzle ta other playas, a straight-up ranked playa can expect ta lose bout half of they games; therefore, Go can be peeped as embodyin tha quest fo' self-improvement, "man vs. self".[178]

See also [ edit ]

Notes [ edit ]

References [ edit ]

Citations [ edit ]

Sources [ edit ]

Further reading [ edit ]

Introductory books [ edit ]

Bradley, Milton N. Go fo' Kids , Yutopian Enterprises, Gangsta Monica, 2001 ISBN 978-1-889554-74-7.

, Yutopian Enterprises, Gangsta Monica, 2001 ISBN 978-1-889554-74-7. Ogawa, Tomoko; Davies, Jizzy (2000). Da Endgame . Elementary Go Series. Put ya muthafuckin choppers up if ya feel dis! 6 (2nd ed.). Tokyo: Kiseido Publishin Company. ISBN 4-906574-15-7 .

Seckiner, Sancar. Shiiit, dis aint no joke. Chinese Go Players , 6th article of tha main book Budaha , Efil Yayinevi, Ankara, Feb. 2016, ISBN 978-605-4160-62-4.

, 6th article of tha main book , Efil Yayinevi, Ankara, Feb. 2016, ISBN 978-605-4160-62-4. Shotwell, Peter n' shit. Go! Mo' than a Game, Tuttle Publishing, 4th ed. Y'all KNOW dat shit, muthafucka! 2014, ISBN 978-0-8048-3475-9.