Go servers

This page gives an overview of online go servers.

Table of contents Introduction Most Popular Go Servers Overview Most common servers Fox Weiqi (a.k.a. Yehu Weiqi 野狐围棋) ( http://www.foxwq.com) IGS - The Internet Go server ( http://www.pandanet-igs.com/) パンダネット KGS - KGS Go Server ( http://www.gokgs.com/) OGS - Online Go Server ( https://www.online-go.com/) TygemBaduk - Tygem English language Go server ( http://www.tygemgo.com/) 東洋囲碁 WBaduk ( http://www.wbaduk.com/) (was OroBaduk) 　新浪囲棋/幽玄の間 GoQuest ( http://questgames.net/go9?lang=en) 囲碁クエスト Additional Alphabetical list BadukPop BadukWorld ( http://www.badukworld.co.kr/) BoardGameArena? ( https://fr.boardgamearena.com/) CGS - Color Go Server ( https://colorgoserver.com/) DipGo ( https://dipgo.net) FICGS - Free Internet Correspondence Games Server ( http://www.ficgs.com/) Game of Go ( https://play.gameofgo.app) 圍棋 ItsYourTurn?.com (sic) ( http://itsyourturn.com) LGS - The Legend Go Server ( http://www.lgs.taiwango.net/) 傳奇圍棋網 LankeWeiqi? 2.0 - Lanke Online Go Pro ( http://www.lanke.cc/) 烂柯围棋 Mattle? ( https://go.mattle.online) Multiplayer Go Server - http://multiplayer-go-server.herokuapp.com/ NWGS? - Northwest Go Server, AKA Dragon (Drag on) Go Server,( http://www.braindog.org/) Variant Go Server ( https://go.kahv.io/) Yike Weigi? ( https://yikewq.web.app/) Govariants.com ( https://www.govariants.com/) Discontinued See also

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 online simultaneously just like over a real goban are listed on this page. 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 the page of the server itself or at Go server reviews and reports if the server doesn't have its own page.

See also:

• /Games servers that also offer go for games servers that offer go as one of their many games.
• /Goservers that don't support English for specialised go servers that don't support English (yet)
• /New and Defunct Go servers for Go servers that are in development or are not there anymore

Most Popular Go Servers

As a convenience for visitors to this page who are looking for a place to play Go on the internet, we have listed the most well-established Go servers at the top of the page. Because of their popularity, these servers can offer richer features and a broader variety of opponents. Popular Western servers are servers on which English is a common, or the most common, language; popular servers are the most popular servers the world over, although here East Asian languages are spoken almost exclusively; popular turn-based servers offer correspondence play at a more leisurely rate than the real-time servers.

Overview

The following table lists the most popular Go servers and includes key characteristics like average number of players online, supported client software and available AI analysis. Visitors of this page can assess with one glance which server best suits their requirements and can refer to the following sections for further details.

Most common servers

Fox Weiqi (a.k.a. Yehu Weiqi 野狐围棋) ( http://www.foxwq.com)

• Microsoft Windows, Android, and iOS only (no Linux or Mac client)
• Hosted 60 online games where AlphaGo played as "Master" against elite players
• Fox Weiqi of English version, Japanese version website and Korean version Han-Q Baduk.
• Parent company of Fox Weiqi and Chinese Tencent QQ, WeChat is the same. Thus it also be called Tencent Weiqi or QQ Game.
• Can use QQ account to login
• Available in English, Japanese and Korean client for foreign download specially
• Client is Unicode software that no AppLocale installation required
• Has Android, iOS App mobile client
• English client installation information tutorial here
• Fox Weiqi Server registration is simple that just according to the guide of client software
• Typical number of players connected: 20000 to 40000 (February 2025) (May be the most popular and largest Go server in China and with an English client)
• 2018 Tencent World Artificial Intelligence Go Competition ( website 23-06 to 31-07-2018)

IGS - The Internet Go server ( http://www.pandanet-igs.com/) パンダネット

• IGS is the grandfather of internet go, starting in 1992, it is still one of the most popular.
• English and Japanese (origin) languages or {Chinese, English, Korean, Japanese} ?
• Since 2013 there is a new official Client GoPanda2 which works on Microsoft Windows, Linux, and Mac
• Other clients (Windows, Macintosh, Linux , Android, iOS) include qGo, GoPanda and Tetsuki.
• Its Japanese website hosts many articles and news from all over the world, including Europe and USA.
• Typical number of players connected: 1000 to 3000 (November 2020)

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

• English (origin) and many other languages {Basque, Catalan, Czech, German, Finnish, French, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish}
• The KGS client is cGoban (Windows, Macintosh and Linux; can also connect via web browser without a client) or, for Android, KGS Client.
• Web Clients include Shin KGS, KGS Leben, and GoUniverse
• Has a strong North American and European following, but still does well world wide.
• The ability to create "rooms" for clubs or countries, and plenty of chat.
• Typical number of players connected: 588 (16-10-2019)

OGS - Online Go Server ( https://www.online-go.com/)

• Playable directly in the web browser (i.e. nothing to download/install and works on most smartphones and tablets).
• Constantly updated, uses modern software.
• Automated AI reviews.
• Real time and correspondence games.
• Multilingual.
• Customizable themes.
• 9x9, 13x13, 19x19 and custom size boards. Handicaps from 0 to 36.
• Different time systems (including Fischer).
• Extensive tournament play.
• Ladders.
• Ability to create "groups" for clubs or countries.
• Typical number of players connected: 1800 (07-03-2019)

TygemBaduk - Tygem English language Go server ( http://www.tygemgo.com/) 東洋囲碁

• English, Korean, Chinese, Japanese languages.
• Now has an Apple iPad client: ( http://www.tygemgo.com/ehowto/guide.ipad.asp)
• Requires download of the client, which only works on Microsoft Windows or Apple iPad
• Works on Mac with wine (except for some buttons, Capitan June18):

   1. brew install wine
   2. brew install winetricks
   3. winetricks mfc42
   4. proceed with usual routine for opening .exe with wine

• In September 2021, its Japanese language site ( http://www.toyo-igo.com) turned totally browser-based (no download required to play).
• Typical number of players connected: 4000 to 12000 (November 2020) (total on different regional servers)

WBaduk ( http://www.wbaduk.com/) (was OroBaduk) 　新浪囲棋/幽玄の間

• English, Korean (origin), Chinese, Japanese languages.
• The client download is on the WBaduk
• Most populous contingent is Korean, but plenty of Chinese, Japanese, and Thais
• Client is for Windows only, but some people have got it to work with wine.
• Has Apple iPhone & iPad clients.
• Has Android app client. (search for "wbaduk" on Google Play)
• Typical number of players connected: 3000 to 12000 (November 2020) (total across different regional servers)

GoQuest ( http://questgames.net/go9?lang=en) 囲碁クエスト

• Japanese blitz server with English support
• Primarily for mobile users (has apps for Android and iOS)
• Provides a very simple web interface for non-mobile users
• Automatch or Game with Friend (common password required).
• Automatic Chinese scoring (not always perfect). Komi is 7 points with draws possible.
• There are also 9x9 ( http://wars.fm/go9?lang=en) and 13x13 ( http://wars.fm/go13?lang=en) boards.
• Time control is fixed: (3 min + 1 sec/move) for 9x9, (5 min + 3 sec/move) for larger boards.

Additional Alphabetical list

BadukPop

• Android, iOS, and web browsers
• Includes 4,500+ Tsumego library and AI opponents
• Unlimited free online play on 9x9 (3 minutes) and 19x19 (10 minutes) with fast automatch

BadukWorld ( 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".

BoardGameArena? ( https://fr.boardgamearena.com/)

• This website supports many games, there is a basic support for Go
• multiple translations supported

CGS - Color Go Server ( https://colorgoserver.com/)

• New Go server (Launched January 23, 2021)
• beginner friendly
• multilingual (Chinese, Korean, Japanese, English - 18 Languages total)
• Realtime or correspondence games (19x19, 13x13, 9x9)
• no client installation required, playable directly in the web browser
• Many colorful themes available
• Some themes color areas of the board according to influence
• review tools available
• score estimation
• game analysis
• central chat room / game board chat / private message system
• absolutely free

DipGo ( https://dipgo.net)

• Multi-Colour Go Server for up to 9 colours
• Supports up to 4 players per colour
• Browser-based - No client
• English

FICGS - Free Internet Correspondence Games Server ( http://www.ficgs.com/)

• Turn-based / correspondence Go server (30 days + 1 day / move)
• Playable directly in the web browser (works on smartphones and tablets).
• Go application for mobile phones ( https://ficgs.com)
• Real time and correspondence games.
• Multilingual (partly).
• Customizable themes.
• Also a correspondence chess server.
• 7-player tournaments & world championship.
• 19x19 boards only.

Game of Go ( https://play.gameofgo.app) 圍棋

• English.
• Android, Apple, & Web.
• 5x5, 9x9, 13x13, 19x19.
• Live & Correspondence games.
• Bots of various difficulties.
• No WeChat required.
• Adaptive Elo ranking.
• Customizable games.

ItsYourTurn?.com (sic) ( http://itsyourturn.com)

• Wide variety of two-player turn-based games, including Go (full, 13x13, 9x9).
• Simple graphics.
• Territory scoring.
• No ratings, so as to prevent lying and cheating.
• Auto-scoring. (Can be wrong; ask admin to change it if necessary.)
• Monthly tournaments for popular games.

LGS - The Legend Go Server ( http://www.lgs.taiwango.net/) 傳奇圍棋網

• Chinese (Taiwanese origin), English (sort of) languages
• The client download is on the LGS homepage. Unconfirmed that many IGS clients will be compatible. port 9696
• Primarily Taiwanese players?
• Typical number of players (estimated) connected at any time: 64 (28-12-2013)

LankeWeiqi? 2.0 - Lanke Online Go Pro ( http://www.lanke.cc/) 烂柯围棋

• new Go server from China (version 2.0 release on 2nd Dec 2014)
• multilingual (Chinese, Korean, Japanese, English)
• realtime games (19x19)
• no client installation required, playable directly in the web browser
• customizable themes (in preperation)
• review tools available
• score estimation
• game analysis (preview)
• central chat room / game board chat / private message system
• absolutely free

Mattle? ( https://go.mattle.online)

• Support online human-vs-human, or against-AI
• A cross-platform support with iOS, android and web
• ELO rating/ranking
• full-fledged in-game chat and discussion board
• 100% free
• game timer
• cross platform support, with web version, android and iOS app, all connected to central server

Multiplayer Go Server - http://multiplayer-go-server.herokuapp.com/

• English
• Turn based in real time
• No login needed
• Fully customizable with rules
• Can spectate

NWGS? - Northwest Go Server, AKA Dragon (Drag on) Go Server,( http://www.braindog.org/)

• English
• Correspondence Games Only (Hours, days, months)
• Board sizes 5x5 through 25x25 available

Variant Go Server ( https://go.kahv.io/)

• English
• Odd sized boards from 5x5 to 25x25 available
• Modifiers include: Hidden Move, Pixel Go, Zen Go, One Color Go, No History, N+1, Tetris Go, Torodial Go, Phantom Go, Traitor Go, Ponnuki is worth x points

Yike Weigi? ( https://yikewq.web.app/)

Govariants.com ( https://www.govariants.com/)

• Open source community project
• A server dedicated to implementing all kinds of go variants
• Some noteworthy features: different board patterns, simultaneous moves, multicoloured stones, hidden information games
• English

Discontinued

• Go Wars
• DashN
• Yahoo
• GoShrine
• BKGo?
• Playgogame
• WING

See also

• Go servers without English support
• Go servers with clients for different operating systems
• Rank - worldwide comparison
• Strong online players
• Status pages