Strategies for Playing the Japanese Board Game Go

The Japanese board game Go enjoys a lengthy history, and in fact its roots date back to an origin in China over 2,000 years ago. This is a popular game of strategy that pits two players against each other for control of the game board. Control of the board, and ultimately winning the game, is determined by the winner who has the most number of pieces on the board at the end of the game.

The Play

To play the Japanese board game Go, two players take turns placing their white or black stones on the game board. The game board features a grid of 19 by 19 squares. While the stones are placed one at a time, with each player alternating placement, the stones cannot be moved once they are laid. However, they can be removed, and this occurs when the stone of one color is completely surrounded by the stones of another color. With the goal of the game to have the most stones on the board when all spaces on the grid are taken, you can see that there is some strategy involved in both offense and defense.

Offensive Strategy

The Japanese board game Go involves quite a bit of offensive strategy, and if you plan to win the game, you have to launch an attack that results in removing your opponent's pieces. A popular strategy is to take the corners at the opening of the game and then move outward. However, while doing this, you want to lay your pieces in an "L" shape on the board so that you can wind your stones around the other player's without running the risk of them taking your pieces. You will find that when a player places a stone in the "L" shape, you already have that stone surrounded on two sides. This makes it easy to begin attacking that stone. The more pieces you are attacking at once, the less likely the other player is to be able to defend them all.

Defensive Strategy

One of the best defensive strategies for playing the Japanese board game Go involves setting up a territory and guarding it. It is best to start in a few corners and work your way outward, working to grow this territory while also setting up offensive plays, too. Ideally, you will have two corners that will eventually merge. However, you can expect your opponent to set up some roadblocks between your two corners. Care should be taken not to fall for traps.

The great thing about the Japanese board game Go is that it is suitable for all ages. Surely, younger kids would not quite grasp the full strategy involved in the game as older kids and adults would, yet learning the strategy as a child can be fun and enlightening. If you played as a kid, you will find the thrill of applying and trying out new strategies is a thrill that you can enjoy throughout adulthood, too. This game has truly stood the test of time, with over 2,000 years of history and counting.


------

Looking for a great source for classic board games and outdoor games? Enjoy time with friends and loved ones with family board games and more!

http://www.thegamesupply.com/