GO In The West
BADUK In Korea
IGO In Japan
WEIQI In China
© Craig R. Hutchinson, 15 June 2006
A Contest of
Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness
INTRODUCTION
Go First Capture is one of the first board games
created by man on this planet
more than 3,000 years ago in Asia.
It is a grandfather of the game called
Go in the West,
Baduk in Korea,
Igo in Japan,
and WeiQi in China.
Two players,
one using black stones and the other white stones,
alternately place a stone on an intersection point
of a 19x19 line grid.
Black plays first.
To remain on the grid (Life),
a stone or stone string
must have a vacant adjacent intersection point
on a line extending from the stone or stone string (Liberty).
The player to first capture
at least one foe stone or string,
by occupying all of the liberties that surround it,
wins the contest (Happiness).
Grid sizes between 5x5 and 21x21 are also used.
A 5x5 line grid facilitates learning to play.
Here are the four simple rules.
RULES
1. OBJECTIVE:
To be the first to capture
at least one foe stone.
String: Same color stones on adjacent points of a line.
Connection: A play that creates or expands a string.
Link: A shape for connection.
Group: A set of linked stones and strings.
2. LIBERTY:
A vacant adjacent point
on a line from a stone or string, marked Δ.
3. CAPTURE:
A string, or a stone not part of a string,
with no liberty is captured.
Check: A string or stone with one liberty,
marked Δ, is in check.
4. PLAY:
A play consists of the following three steps:
1) Place a stone on a vacant point;
2) Remove foe's captured stones or strings;
3) Remove own captured stones or strings.
A player must play (cannot pass).
EXAMPLE GAME 1
1. START:
A game begins on an empty grid.
Black plays first.
The players alternately place a stone on the grid.
The weaker player is assigned black
and can make N Handicap plays before white plays.
The handicap changes by one after three consecutive wins.
2. BEGINNING STAGE:
The players alternately place a stone on the grid
trying to create, control, and/or assault links/liberties
in order to surround and capture each other.
Black 5 checks white 2.
White tries to save 2 by createing more liberties with 6.
Black 7 checks white 4.
White tries to save 4 with 8.
3. MIDDLE STAGE:
The players continue
to create, control, and/or assault links/liberties
in order to surround and capture each other.
Black 9 checks white's 2/6 string
and white 10 checks black 1.
4. FINAL and WINNER:
Black 11 occupies the last liberty of the white 2/6 string
and thus captures the white 2/6 string.
Black wins because
black was first to capture a foe's stone or string.
QUESTIONS
1. OBJECTIVE:
What is the objective of the game?
In order to capture a stone or string,
what must one create, control, and/or assault?
2. LIBERTIES:
How many liberties does each stone and string have?
3a. CAPTURE:
What is the result
if black plays on one of the liberties marked Δ?
What is the result
if white plays on one of the liberties marked Δ?
3b.CAPTURE:
How are strings constructed in order to prevent their capture?
Construct a string with secure liberties that cannot be occupied.
4. PLAY:
Which stones or strings are in check?
Which black stones or strings can white capture?
Which white stones or strings can black capture?
Can a player pass; i.e., not make a play?
EXAMPLE GAME 2
1. START:
Who plays first?
If a handicap of 3 is given black,
how many stones does black play on the grid before white plays?
2. BEGINNING STAGE:
What takes place in the beginning stage?
HINT:
Be able to Connect your stones and strings.
Avoid creating many stones and strings
with insecure or no links for connection.
3. MIDDLE STAGE:
What takes place in the middle stage?
HINT:
Find plays that Attack (assault and/or destroy)
foe's insecure links/liberties
and that Defend (create and/or secure)
your links/liberties.
4a. FINAL and WINNER:
Who can capture a stone or string first?
HINT: A stone or string with:
Four insecure liberties is weak;
Three insecure liberties is in trouble;
Two insecure liberties is in danger;
One liberty is in check;
Zero liberties is captured.
4b. FINAL and WINNER:
If black plays at Δ,
who can be the first to capture a stone or string?
HINT:
Find stones and/or strings
in trouble/danger/check.
Count liberties.
Protect your Links/Liberties!!!!
Build secure Link/Liberty Shapes!!!!
Assault foe's connection Link!!!!
Imperil foe's liberty Base!!!!
MORE
INFORMATION
Go First Capture is an introductory game
for learning one of this planet's
oldest active board games,
called Go in the West,
Baduk in Korea,
Igo in Japan,
and WeiQi in China.
For more information about
Go, Baduk, Igo, or WeiQi players and clubs in your area,
or on the Internet, contact:
The American Go Association
PO Box 397, Old Chelsea Station
New York City, NY 10113-0397
E-mail: membership@usgo.org
Net: www.usgo.org
or contact Hutch
Phone: 703-698-9811
E-mail: crhutch@erols.com
Net: http://users.erols.com/crhutch/go.html
To obtain books and equipment, contact:
Ishi Press
Phone: 800-859-2086
E-mail: IshiPress@aol.com
Net: http://www.ishigames.com
Kiseido
Phone: 800-988-6463
E-mail: kiseido@yk.rim
Net: www.kiseido.com
Samarkand
Phone: 800-600-4373
E-mail: info@samarkand.net
Net: www.samarkand.net
Slate & Shell
Phone: 800-653-7640
E-mail: bcobb@slateandshell.com
Net: www.slateandshell.com
Yutopian Enterprises
Phone: 800-988-6463
E-mail: sales@yutopian.com
Net: www.yutopian.com
