Turn-Based Go Servers

    Keywords: Online Go

... allow you to play Go whenever you like, for as long (or short) as you want, from wherever you are: at home, at work, abroad ... "Time" has a slightly different meaning on these servers (see also Fischer Timing / Discussion).

For real-time Go servers, see Go servers.

Table of contents Index of sub-pages

You do not have to finish a started game at once. You log in once every 12, 24, 48 or n hours (or every few minutes :) to place your next move (in as few or as many games as you want to have running), whenever you feel for it or have the occasion. Thus games can (sometimes will) take several weeks or even months.

For those of us, who wish not to be online all the time (or to get into a long game at one session), this is a great alternative. Most turn-based Go servers require only a web browser; so no need to download/install a Go client, or having to ask an admin to reconfigure a firewall; even a public PC with Internet access will do: kiosk, library, office ...


Dedicated Go servers

Dragon Go Server (DGS) ([ext] http://www.dragongoserver.net/)
Go only server with many features: Ladder-tournaments, Multi-player games (Rengo, Zengo, Teamgo), Territory and Area scoring, Fair komi, a reliable rating system (based on EGF), handicaps up to 21 stones, nigiri, proper handicap with fine-tuned komi, adjustable handicap/komi, many time systems, board-size from 5x5 to 25x25, almost unlimited number of simultaneous games, forums, private messaging, vacation, multilingual support, feature voting. Free. (HTML, optional Javascript)
OGS aka [ext] Online-go
once dedicated purely to turn based go after the merge with nova.gs a mixed server. Supporting both Chinese and Japanese scoring rules, and with a mini-tournament system set up, the aim is to be able to have more structured tournament play between players. To this end there are also regular large scale tournaments and ladder competitions. There is support for 9x9, 13x13, 19x19 size boards, adjustable komi and handicap stones, and also support for proper handicap games and even games with nigiri. There are now two separate timing methods, Capped Fischer Timing (Initial days + increment days < cap days) or long blitz (days per move). Registered (free registration) users get a set amount of holiday per year that they can use to extend their time limits. Finally, there is a forum and improvements section to allow users to suggest and comment on ways to further improve the site. Free + membership. (somebody to confirm: Javascript optional?)
INGO (International Network Go Organization)? ([ext] http://ingo-web.com/)
  • Languages: English, Japanese
  • About 600 registered members as of March 2014.
Torigo server aka [ext] Torigo.io
Go without borders server (toroidal Go + classic Go). Turn-based (no time limit) since the Beta. Supporting Japanese rules with 5.5 komi. The "drag N drop" and arrows features let players see the goban from their own point of views. 9x9 13x13 and 19x19, friendly and ranked modes. Free registration with guest allowed. Mobile friendly interface.
[ext] Dave Peck's Go
A turn-based go server with a beautiful interface that makes it dead simple to start a game. No login or accounts are required; just choose your opponent's email address or twitter account and start playing. Supports 19x19, 13x13, and 9x9 boards with handicaps. In-game chat, viewable game history, and ability to export to SGF. If you're both playing at the same time, the game will automatically update without refreshing the page. More features coming soon! No Java, Flash, or any other plugins needed. [ext] GitHub site
[ext] Go Shrine
upcoming server - to discuss
No Strive Go
A web-based Go Server. Using AJAX, it enable you to play Go by a browser. NSG is a real-time Go server, but don't have time limitation, so, you can play as fast you can when you are free, and as slowly as you will when you are busy. (see its [ext] FAQ)

Last but not least: our very own Sensei's Library allows to play ongoing games.

General turn-based servers

[ext] BrainKing
As of April, BrainKing? added Go (19x19, 13x13, and 9x9) to its huge list of playable games, alongside Chess, Shogi, Xiangqi, Pente, and many (many!) others. Multilingual.
[ext] Brettspielnetz
9x9 and 19x19 Go, several more kinds of games. German. No special client, Java, Flash, Installation or Download required. Tournaments. Go landing pages: [ext] Go 9x9,[ext] Go 19x19.
[ext] FICGS Go Server
Free International Correspondence Chess & Go Server, several languages (among which English (origin), French, Italian, German, and Spanish). Tournaments.
[ext] FunNode
Free-to-play server for Checkers, Chess, Go, Reversi and more! Some features for Go: ladder tournament, play humans or bots, 9x9, 13x13, and 19x19 boards, Chinese and Japanese scoring, private games (useful for teaching), all games saved and reviewable, and many more.
[ext] Gorrion
Gorrion is a turn-based game server for Go. Also for Chess, Havannah, Hex, Othello / Reversi, Pente, Onyx, Unlur, Y. The web site is simple in format and is free from advertisements or subscription. Go sizes are 19x19, 13x13, 9x9. The Gorrion web site is simple to use from a smartphone.
Little Golem
Turn-based game server, offering Go (9x9, 13x13, 19x19, 27x27 and 37x37), a few Go variants (Hahn pointing system, random100 and toroidal Go 11x11) as well as several other games. This server is centered around tournament play. Individual (unrated) games are also possible. Using Capped Fischer Timing, the time limit is 240 hours per player plus 36 hours per move, but with vacation time a game will only time out when a player does not move for 30 days. (HTML)
ItsYourTurn.com (IYT)
Includes Go, Go-Moku, Chess, Chinese Chess, and other games. Time limits are from 3 days per move to 45 days per move, but allow no byo-yomi. Free + membership. English only?

A drawback is that there is often a dispute on scoring (usually due to walls not being fully built on the edges). axd: This should be the same problem on all servers; it should be solved by resuming play - if possible; not so. When both players pass, the game ends automatically, without a possibility to resume, settle anything. Fortunately, there is the [ext] feature that you can complain to the staff to change the winner if the game scores wrongly, which is especially useful in tournaments. (In ladder games, you can also do that, but it doesn't fix your position; to do that, just begin a new game.)

[ext] TurnPlay.com
Turn-based game playing includes Go, Chess and other games. Free to play.
[ext] Richard's PBeM Server
supports 9x9, 13x13, and 19x19 Go; two Go variants; and hundreds of other games. Play-by-email interface and web interface [ext] example: go. Read the [ext] user manual attentively...
[ext] YourturnMyturn
Several kinds of games. Tournaments.
JijBent
Dutch server (looks almost a copy of YourturnMyturn) where all kind of games can be played. Just one of them is Go (19x19 and 9x9). Tournaments. Free + membership. (Java)
[ext] GoldToken.com
7x7, 9x9, 13x13 and 19x19 go. Tournaments.

Varia

KGS
It is also possible to play turn-based games on KGS, by setting the time system to "None". Then it's possible to make your move even if the opponent is not logged in. Playing turn-based games at KGS has the advantage that you can play in realtime if you want the game to finish a bit sooner than it would with one move a day, as well as being able to play an unlimited number of simultaneous games. The disadvantage is that games cannot affect rank if they last longer than 6 months, and escapers are unpunished. Free + membership. (Java)

Turn-Based Go Servers last edited by 2003:00c6:3715:1556 on October 27, 2022 - 16:13
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