Go Servers

    Keywords: Online Go

This page gives an overview of online go servers.

Table of contents

Introduction

Internet Go servers can potentially deliver the following benefits.

  • Endless supply of players of all ranks 24 hours a day
  • Play people from just about any country in the world
  • Choose any time settings you like, from games that last less than 10 minutes, to 45 minutes, to 3 months or more
  • Watch strong Dan players any time you want
  • Many tournaments, chats, and lessons are available
  • Autosave games, ease in replaying a game, ability to create variations

There are three basic types of servers.

  • Real-time go servers in which two players play on line simultaneously just like over a real goban. Games usually last from 10 minutes to one and a half hours
  • Turn-Based go servers allow you to post a move to a website, and check back later for your opponents response. Games usually last from a few weeks to many months.
  • Play by Email allow you to email your move and play at a similarly slow pace

Currently it appears that the favorites for Americans and Europeans are KGS, IGS, DGS and OGS; however, all of the following servers have different features to recommend them. Pick your favorite!

Users should practice basic Internet security when using these Go servers. See also Internet Security / Go clients and servers for specific information on using Go servers.


Listed hereafter are real-time servers; see Turn-Based Go Servers for the other variant. The descriptions of the go servers are intentionally kept short; please discuss at Go server reviews and reports.

English supported Go Servers

The two most common servers are listed first. The remainder is listed alphabetically.

Most common servers

IGS - The Internet Go server ([ext] http://www.pandanet.co.jp/English/)

  • English and Japanese (origin) languages or {Chinese, English, Korean, Japanese} ?
  • The official and probably most current client is [ext] PANDA-glGo and is one of the nicest for any server. Additionally, it was originally telnet based, and there are a ton of older clients for all kinds of platforms that still work.
  • One worth mentioning for the quality of its GUI is [ext] qGo
  • Those clients are available for Windows, Macintosh and Linux and there are a few other ones for Android.
  • IGS has one of the broadest selection of players from all over the world.
  • IGS is the grandfather of internet go, starting in 1992, it is still one of the most popular

KGS - KGS Go Server ([ext] http://www.gokgs.com/)

  • English (origin) and a bunch of other languages? {English, Catalan, Czech, German, Spanish, Basque, Finnish, French, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Turkish, Swedish}
  • The KGS client is [ext] cGoban
  • Client is available for Windows, Macintosh and Linux; can also connect via web browser without a client
  • Has a strong North American and European following, but still does well world wide.
  • The ability to create "rooms" for clubs or countries has been a big draw for many. Plenty of chat.

Alphabetical list

BadukWorld ([ext] http://www.badukworld.co.kr/)

  • Korean (origin), English languages
  • Java web based
  • The server seems to be oriented towards Korean expatriates
  • Playing fee is $10 per year. Claims "Board and stones are the most beautiful in the world".

BKGo? ([ext] http://www.red-bean.com/bkgo/)

  • English language
  • not sure this is active, web page has a 1999 copyright, looks pretty old

WBaduk ([ext] http://www.wbaduk.com/) (was OroBaduk)

  • English, Korean (origin), Chinese, Japanese languages
  • The client download is on the [ext] WBaduk
  • Most populous contingent is Korean, but plenty of Chinese, Japanese, and Thais
  • Client is for Windows only? But works with wine.
  • This may be the largest server with an English client, as many as 25,000 people on line at one time.

DashN (aka Dash & Dot) ([ext] http://dashlive.dashn.com/english/)

  • the English page doesn't look as if its been updated recently
  • English, Korean (origin), Japanese languages
  • The client download is on the [ext] Download page
  • Client is for Windows only
  • Most populous contingent is Korean
  • Another large Korean server
  • the Korean website is active, but I haven't yet gotten my English client to work

FICGS ([ext] http://www.ficgs.com)

  • Mainly English language, also French, Italian, Spanish.
  • A web-based go server (also chess & poker).
  • Players from all over the world.
  • Current FICGS Go champion is Svante Carl von Erichsen 5 dan.
  • Tournaments with prizes or entry fee & money prize.
  • Free to register, no ads in HTTPS.
  • Dec. 19, 2010: I couldn't get Register to work.

Fly or Die [ext] http://www.flyordie.com/

  • general on line game server (many games)
  • A web-based go server (also chess checkers, go moku and others.
  • Free to register, has ads.
  • Funny dragon sounds
  • Board size: 15 x 15

GoShrine ([ext] http://goshrine.com)

  • An easy to use live go server.
  • Simple, clean interface.
  • Firewall friendly
  • No Java or other plugins or downloads required.
  • Play against GnuGo
  • Rankings

IgoLocal ([ext] http://igolocal.net)

  • Physical go server, i.e. a site to find players and arrange over the board games.
  • Games are not played on the server, but players can submit results and a ranking system is planned

Internet Go Room? ([ext] http://www.playgogame.com)

  • English and Chinese languages
  • A Go Server build by Lyu shuzhi.
  • copyright is 2001, doesn't look very up to date

KGS - GoKGS ([ext] http://www.gokgs.com/)

  • English, Chinese, Japanese, Belgrade, Spanish, Korean, Italian, many more.
  • The client download is on the [ext] KGS homepage.
  • No national predominance known.

LGS - The Legend Go Server ([ext] http://www.lgs.taiwango.net/)

  • Chinese (Taiwanese origin), English (sort of) languages
  • The client download is on the [ext] LGS homepage. Unconfirmed that many IGS clients will be compatible. port 9696
  • Primarily Taiwanese players?

Ludoteka ([ext] http://www.ludoteka.com/jokolabur?joko=gogo)

  • English, French, Spanish, Vasque language
  • Java web based
  • This is a multiplayer games site

MeinGAMES ([ext] http://spiele.meingames.de/)

  • English, Russian, German.
  • This is a multiplayer games portal
  • Free to register.
% ???
  • This is a general game site which happens to include Go. Checking the website has always shown zero people playing
% Should we keep it at all?

No strive Go

  • It is a question mark if this is an real time or turn based go server]
  • No time limits
  • Free

PlayOK.com ([ext] http://www.playok.com/en/go/)

  • originally a Polish site (kurnik.pl), translated into many other languages
  • Go is one of around 30 games available
  • Java Applet based
  • Sizes 9, 13, 19 supported; AGA rules; automatic scheduled tournaments ..
  • good for some quick games (around 50-100 players usually online in Go room)

Playray ([ext] http://www.playray.com/)

  • English language only
  • Java web based
  • The players are primarily from nowhere
% ???
  • This is a general game site which happens to include Go. Checking the website has always shown zero people playing
% Should we keep it at all?

Go Center of Second Life ([ext] http://www.notabene-sl.com/slgc/) - ([ext] http://secondlife.com)

  • Support for other languages in the SL client works, sort of.
  • At the Vineland region is an area dedicated to go. The 3d boards handle all sizes, komi, free and static handicap placement.
  • Has a membership board, and a rating system.

Traditional Baduk Association ([ext] http://www.traditionalbaduk.com/)

  • English and Korean languages
  • Java web based
  • Requires registration and allows one to play for free. It has a voice function, lectures, lessons, and much more.

WING - World-wide InterNet Gokaisho ([ext] http://wing.gr.jp/indexe.html)

  • Japanese (origin) and English languages
  • Real Time server
  • Java and IGS / NNGS interfaces

WWGo? - World Web Go ([ext] https://home.wwgo.jp/)

  • Japanese (origin) and English languages
  • Real Time server
  • probably need to pay for membership in order to get decent privileges

WeWeWeb? - We We Web Online Game ([ext] http://www.weweweb.net/game/client.html)

  • English and Traditional Chinese languages.
  • Real Time server runs with applet client.
  • A gaming server with Go game for causal players.

XGS - The [ext] XML Go Server ([ext] http://www.honte.eu)

% we might need other "server" types - this seems to be a "screen-only" server such as [HTMLGo]
  • uses web standards no plugins or downloads
  • testing on mobile phones such as iPhone and Blackberry
  • in active development October 2010
  • please only use recent standards compliant browser such as Opera, Mozilla or Safari

Go - Multiplayer Go Online Game

Go Game (ext? [ext] http://www.meingames.at/)

    * English, Russian, Deutsch.
    * Multiplayer games portal.
    * Free to register.
    *  Real Time server

Chinese (non English supported)

CTN? ([ext] http://www.cngames.cn/)

  • Windows only client

CUGS? ([ext] http://www.go-edu.net/)

  • port 9696

same as [ext] http://www.weiqi.cn/

CWS? ([ext] http://cws.weiqi.net/)

  • port 9696

eweiqi? ([ext] http://www.eweiqi.com/)

  • same client software as Tygem
  • Big Chinese go server, co-operates with Tygem
  • Last Sensei check/update 05 Jul 2006 (but didn't confirm client compatibility as stated above)

Lianzhong? ([ext] http://www.ourgame.com/)

  • Seems like it might be a general games site with Go

Tom Go Server ([ext] http://weiqi.sports.tom.com/)

  • Chinese language only, but the Sensei's page has direction to register and get started
  • Big chinese go server with many strong players, co-operates with Korean Tygem

Qingfeng? ([ext] http://qf.china.com/)

  • Almost impossible to get client without Chinese Windows system
  • Huge Chinese internet go server
  • Last Sensei check/update 05 Jul 2006 - couldn't access site

QQ Weiqi? ([ext] http://pc.qq.com/)

  • QQ is the most popular free instant messaging service in China. Besides chatting, it is possible for QQ members to play multi-player games with each other. Go is one of them, but there are many more.

In order to play Go on QQ, you need to install the QQ messenger software ([ext] http://pc.qq.com/), and the gaming add-on ([ext] http://qqgame.qq.com/). There are many players online, but generally weaker than eweiqi? and Tom.

China Wei Qi Network? ([ext] http://www.weiqi.cn)

  • Fairly big server with strong players
  • Has a betting system

Korean (non English supported)

Netmarble ([ext] http://baduk.netmarble.net/)

  • Korean (origin) and Chinese (will lead you to the Chinese Go server [ext] Qingfeng)languages
  • Previously known as Neostone.

Tygem ([ext] http://www.tygem.com/)

  • This is reputedly the best server in existence... if you speak Korean. astonish? I've discovered that there is a Japanese registration site and client too: ([ext] http://www.tygem.co.jp/)

Japanese (non English supported)

Yuugen no ma? ([ext] http://taikyoku.nihonkiin.or.jp/)

  • Run by the Nihon Kiin, recent pro games, occasionally with (Japanese) commentary are also available.

Sansan ([ext] http://www.sansan.co.jp/)

Defunct Servers

NNGS - No Name Go Server
- nngs.cosmic.org, port 9696 - compatible with most IGS clients.
[ext] NHSE - No Name Go Server
- nhse.org, port 9696 - compatible with most IGS clients. dead link 08 Aug 2007

AllFun? Go Server ([ext] http://www.allfun.com/)

  • English and Hebrew.
  • Windows client was downloaded from the site.
  • Client supported many other games including chess, 4-In-A-Row, checkers and many more.
  • Free to use ( supported by ads ) dead link 02 Dec 2008

New server ideas

The following are ideas for a new go servers that have not come to fruition yet

  • XGS: XML Go Server
  • UGS: Ultimate Go Server ({Abandoned probably since July 2006)
  • OSGS: Open source go server
  • OWGS: Open Web Go Server

This is a copy of the living page "Go Servers" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2011 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.
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