Welcome To KGS

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This page is for new KGS users (Kiseido Go Server). It describes how to get your first games on KGS.

First, you should register your account

Registering is not mandatory, but it makes it easier to get games. It is easy and free of charge.

To register your account, use the menu: User -> Register and follow the instructions. When you get your password by email, you need to log out from KGS and then log in again with your password.

Now you are ready to get a game

Unlike some other Go servers, you do not send private messages to other players in order to ask for a game. To get a game on KGS, you just need to click the New Game button (located at the top right of the KGS rooms window). This will open a dialog box. In the Notes field, you should state your (approximate) skill level. Again, this is not mandatory but it makes it easier to get a game. If you don't know what your rank is, you should probably write beginner or 30k.

Now click OK in the dialog box and wait for someone to challenge you. Click OK again to accept the challenge and start playing.

The other way to get a game

You can also get a game by simply clicking an open game offer in the KGS rooms window. The open offers are the boldface lines in the game list. You should try to play your first rated game with someone about as strong as yourself.

How to get a rating

For a solid rating (no "?"), you must win several rated games and lose several rated games, against solidly rated players close to your actual rank (adjusting for handicaps). As few as two each is sometimes enough. In order to get a good provisional rating and a useful graph, you should play your first Rated game with someone near your own rank (or properly handicapped for the rank difference). You can find your rank by playing a few Free games.

There is an easy way to get a rating if you are between 3k and 15k inclusive: play a game with a robot (usually 9k), with the appropriate amount of handicap (+/- 6). Robots have (robot) next to their name in the game list.

If you find it hard to get your first rated game in the English Room, you should try in !The Ranking Room (under lessons).

Please enjoy playing Go and do not fall into the trap of obsessing over rank. Your rank is intended to let you find appropriate opponents, ensuring that the games you play can be interesting to both sides.

For more information

If you ask for help on KGS itself you will usually find someone willing to help you.


This is a copy of the living page "Welcome To KGS" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2004 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.
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