Go-Playing Programs

This is a list of computer programs that play go. These are distinct from Go Clients, which allow a human to play go using a computer. For other types of programs and software that don't play, see Go Programs. A computer program playing online is called a "bot" or "gobot".

Table of contents Current programs - professional strength Current programs - other Programs of Historic Interest Other programs Go Playing Programs, playing on go servers: GUIs for Go-playing programs Related Links

Current programs - professional strength

Note that versions available for sale are typically older and weaker than the program's current state.

• AlphaGo -- (unreleased) -- First program to beat a professional in an even game on 19x19.
• AQ -- (open source) -- Professional level Tensor trained bot for Linux and Windows.
• BensonDarr (Phoenix Go) -- (open source) -- Very strong AI playing on Fox; developed by Tencent based on the AlphaGo Zero paper.
• CGI -- (unreleased) -- Reached 10-dan on Foxwq server.
• CrazyStone -- (Windows or iOS, commercial) -- 2007 Computer Olympiad runner-up, 2013 Computer Go UEC Cup. In 2018 briefly topped the CGOS ratings list. Crazy Sensei is its browser-based version. Estimated 5d skill level for Pro version with analysis capability.
• DolBaram -- (unreleased) -- Written by Korean programmer Lim Jaebum (whose program Baduki competed in the FOST cup in 1998)
• ELF OpenGo -- (open source) -- Very strong AI made by Facebook. The neural net itself can be converted to run on the Leela Zero engine. Can be integrated with computer software Lizzie or run on iOS program A Master of Go (commerical)
• FineArt -- (unreleased) -- Professional level program created by the Chinese company Tencent in 2016. Dec 2017 AI Ryusei champion.
• Golaxy -- (Electronic physical goban, commercial) Strong Chinese program available through kibabaduk@naver.com. The interface supports English and the goban is able to beat pros giving them a handicap. It lights up the intersection on which to play the AI's stone. Also available to play on the Online Go Server occasionally (weaker?), as well as commercially through the website 19x19.com in China. Supports variable komi.
• KataGo -- (Windows, Linux) Strong bot capable of playing handicap games.
• Leela Zero -- (Windows, open source, can compile for Mac and Linux) -- Community-based deep learning project replicating ideas of AlphaGo Zero.
• Master of Go -- (iOS, commercial) -- Powerful interface for deploying superhuman strength go neural networks with Leela Zero and ELF OpenGo weights included.
• Zen (go program) -- (Windows, commercial) -- 2009-2013 Computer Olympiad champion, 2011-2014 Computer Go UEC Cup champion, also known as DeepZen?.

Current programs - other

• Aya -- (Windows) -- Free
• Aya Zbot
• DarkGo
• Fuego -- Open source Monte Carlo engine. 2009 Computer Olympiad 9x9 champion, 19x19 runner-up. 2010 Computer Go UEC Cup. First program to beat 9-dan pro on even in 9x9.
• Leela -- (Linux, Windows, Mac) -- Now free, by a professional chess program author, the first Monte Carlo program (previously) for sale
• Pachi -- (Linux, Windows) -- Reasonably strong open source Monte Carlo + dcnn engine. 2011 Computer Olympiad 9x9 runner-up (19x19 and 13x13 third place).

Programs of Historic Interest

• Acornsoft Go -- (BBC Micro; emulators available) -- Abandonware, 1984
• AmiGoGtp -- (Windows, Linux) -- Free. Older program, ported from Pascal
• GNU Go -- (GNU/Linux, Unix, Windows, Mac OS) -- Free, 2003, 2006 Computer Olympiad champion
• Go++ -- (Windows) -- Commercial, 2002 Computer Olympiad champion
  • Tensai Go (Strongest Go) -- (Windows) -- play free online or purchase, a version of Go++
• GoAhead -- (German)
• Goemate (was Handtalk) -- (DOS, Windows), 2005 Computer Olympiad champion
• Go Intellect -- (Macintosh), 2004 Computer Olympiad champion
  • Goddess -- a Microsoft Windows version of Go Intellect
• Goliath -- (Windows, Macintosh)
• Go Professional II (now sold as Go++)
• Haruka -- Japan
• IndiGo -- (Windows, Linux)
• Katsunari -- (13x13; Windows)
• MAGOG -- (9x9)
• Many Faces of Go -- (Windows) -- Commercial, 2008 Computer Olympiad champion, see also IgoWin - 9x9 --Free -- (Windows) and ** iGo Sensei (Mac) as well as Cosmos, G2 and Go Simulator
  • AI IGO -- (Playstation, Nintendo DS) -- uses the Many Faces engine
• Nemesis and http://www.gophergo.com/pages/nemesisgo.htm -- (Windows, Macintosh) -- Commercial from Bruce Wilcox
• Riscigo -- a dedicated computer project by Bruce Wilcox
• SilverStar (KCC Igo) -- -- (Windows) -- Commercial. Japanese language. 2003-2006 Gifu Challenge champion
• Star of Poland -- one of the first strong programs
• Steenvreter -- (Android,Linux) -- Research, 2007 Computer Olympiad 9x9 champion, 2011 Computer Olympiad 19x19 runner-up
• Valkyria -- (Windows) 2010 European Champion on 9x9
• Wulu http://soft.mycom.co.jp/wulu5.html -- Commercial,(Windows, Japanese) 2000 World Computer Go Champion
  • Wulu Demo http://www.usgo.org/resources/downloads/wulu.zip

Other programs

• 3D Tashoku? http://www.cs.columbia.edu/~keenan/Projects/3DTashokuGo/ -- (Mac OS X, Windows, Linux) -- Free, Open Source; 3D play with multiple colors and arbitrary topology
• AIGO -- (Palm OS) -- Shareware
• AI Sensei -- web-based, Play vs AI mode allows handicap and custom komi games
• AUGOS -- (Windows, DOS)
• COSUMI -- web-based, targeted at beginners
• Dariush -- (Windows) -- Free
  • Dariush3D? http://ricoh51.free.fr/indexeng.htm -- (Windows) -- Free - Go and AtariGo
• Disco? http://shed-skin.blogspot.com/2009/08/disco-elegant-python-go-player-update.html -- UCT player in 400 lines of Python (~1520 on CGOS 9x9)
• dpcgoban? http://dpc.wikidot.com/lab:dpcgoban -- J2ME (mobile bluetooth multiplayer/hotseat)
• ergo? https://github.com/CurtisHughey/ergo -- MCTS go program that plays on KGS
• Ego http://webpages.charter.net/suewilcox/ego.htm by Bruce Wilcox
  • Ez-go http://www.usgo.org/resources/downloads/ez-go.zip demo of Ego, by Bruce Wilcox
• Erica -- Developed as part of a research project, 2010 Computer Olympiad champion
• Go81, Go169 -- (Palm OS, Windows) -- Free
• HactarGo -- (Android) -- including AI for atari-go/capture-go
• Hikaru no Go GBA and Hikaru No Go/GBA Two -- (Game Boy Advance?)
• InFlightGo -- Playable on aircraft entertainment systems
• Iomrascalai -- by Ujh
• matilda -- for Linux https://github.com/gonmf/matilda
• minigo -- (9x9; Linux) tiny program, about 170 lines of C code.
• MoGo -- (Linux,Windows, engine only) -- University research, introduced UCT, 2007 Computer Olympiad champion
• MyGoFriend Commercial, available as 9x9, 2010 Computer Olympiad 9x9 champion
• Neuron
• Nio -- (9x9)
• Oakfoam -- http://oakfoam.com free and iPad version
• Orego -- https://sites.google.com/a/lclark.edu/drake/research/orego well documented example in Java
• Peter's Go -- (Windows)
• Pilot Go -- (Palm OS)
• Qinoa Igo -- Web-based with some English support
• SimpleGo -- (OS independent / Python)
• SlugGo -- (Macintosh cluster) -- University research, cluster of GnuGos
• SmartGo -- (Windows) -- Commercial
• Stop http://www.vanheusden.com/stop -- (Java so runs on windows, linux, macos x)
• TurboGo -- (DOS, Windows) -- Shareware
• WinHonte -- (Windows) -- Shareware -- Early user of neural nets
• GoPlayingProgramsOnConsoles
• MarcosGo? -- https://github.com/MarcosPividori/Go-player

Go Playing Programs, playing on go servers:

Many different programs play on KGS on a constant basis. See KGSBots for a list of bots playing there. Of course, bots can also be found on other servers such as DGS or OGS.

GUIs for Go-playing programs

These programs can be used as graphical front-end to any Go-AI, that support GTP and/or GMP. Some of them have other features, like IGS/NNGS-client or SGF-viewer and -editor, too:

see Go client for a complete and more up to date list.

• Drago : Windows editor/replayer interfaced with GTP engines
• GoGui : In Java?. Has many features useful to Go program developers.
• Quarry : An open-source GTP 2 client and SGF editor.
• Sente Goban : An OS X editor and client that includes GnuGo.
• SmartGo : Supports GTP.
• Sabaki : Front end GUI for playing go with support for GTP engines.
• Katrain -- (Windows, Linux) GUI for katago with adjustable strength settings from 18 kyu to >9p.

Related Links

• Go Clients for programs can be used as graphical front-end to any Go-AI, that support GTP and/or GMP. Some of them have other features, like IGS/NNGS-client or SGF-viewer and -editor, too:
• Computer Go Programming
• Database of Go Programs and Go Programmers http://computer-go.info/db/
• Results of all? computer go competitions http://computer-go.info/events/index.html
• An old photo gallery of some Go software developers https://web.archive.org/web/20150223155139/http://www.reiss.demon.co.uk:80/webgo/hall_of_.htm