If a picture is worth 1000 words, an actual record of a game is worth even more. Strong players agree, the best form of study, especially at a more advanced level, is to play through top level games. You will find more than 300 actual games on this CD:
-- Four 9x9 games illustrating important features of the game for advanced beginners, prepared exclusively for this CD by well-known American teacher Yi-lun Yang 7P
-- An "ideal" 19x19 game, also commented exclusively for this CD by Mr. Yang
-- Forty games from the mid-19th century by Shusaku, the greatest player of his time.
-- One hundred games by Go Seigen, the father of "modern go".
Thousands of other games are available, many for free on the internet, others in commercial software packages that offer 50,000 pro game records or more.
"Clients" that you download from IGS, the KGS Go Server and other online playing sites will do the trick, and several software packages exist; or you can install the free Smart Go Viewer included on this CD. See below for instructions.
Smart Go Viewer
Electronic game records use the "Standard Game Format," or sgf. You will need special software to read sgf files.
We have included the the setup file for SmartGo 2.8, a multifunction go tool. Try out the full version for fifteen days, with 45,000 game records, theMoGo playing engine, a built-in "client" for playing on the Internet, and many other features. After that, it will still work as an sgf reader, but you have buy a license at the SmartGo website ($69) to use the other features. (Internet connection required to visit the SmartGo site.)
The setup file is located in the"Software" directory on this CD-ROM. Click on "SGSetup" to install it on your hard drive.
For more advanced computers users with access to the Internet, Cgoban 3 is another excellent sgf reader; it's also the "client" (interface) you use to play on the KGS Go Server. Click here to go online and download Cgoban 3.
NOTE: Depending on your setup, you may need to save sgf files to your hard drive in order to view them.
9x9 Games
Even on the small 9x9 board, there are more possible variations than in chess. Go played on a 9x9 grid is faster, but can be just as challenging as the full-board version.
Commented games for beginners
Download four short 9x9 games with comments for beginners by Yi-lun Yang Pro 7-Dan, the dean of America's go teachers.
Download 19x19 GOGAME, a complete move-by-move commentary on an"ideal" game also by Mr. Yang.
The games/pro9x9 directory of this CD contains a number of 9x9 game records you might enjoy. You can install the game reader discussed above to work your way through each game.
Master Games
Shusaku (1829-1862) was the dominant player in his time; he seldom lost playing the black stones, and became known as "Invincible." You'll find 40 of his games here.
Go Seigen (b. 1914) emigrated from China to Japan in the 1930's; his life is the subject of the Chinese film, The Go Master. His unorthodox "influence"-oriented style revolutionized the way the game is played. He is considered to be thefather of modern opening strategy. You can find 100 of his games here.
North American Masters Tournament Games
The North American Masters Tournament (NAMT), first held in 1995, was the first professional tournament held in North America and the first professional tournament conducted almost exclusively on the internet. The AGA, which organizes the tournament, maintains an archive of each year's games. We've included the game records for the 1995 through 2002 tournaments.
Once you install your sgf reader, if you're online you can go to the NAMT site to view complete results and download game records or go here to browse by year.