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TeachingGoToNewco...

 

Teaching go to curious cats - discussion
   

Sebastian: When I play in a public place, there often is someone who comes and asks "What is this? Can you eat them?" (one particularly bold guy even took up a stone from the board to test it!) If his interest goes a bit beyond the nutricial value of go stones, I'll explain him the rules and offer to play an atari go or one-eyed go game on a 6x6 board. Naturally, it would be nice if he'd catch on, but to my knowledge, this hasn't happened so far, which is fine with me.

I'd like to initiate a discussion about the best way to do this. This is similar to TeachingGoToNewcomersDiscussion, with the significant difference that curious cats don't have the time or the patience newcomers have. This means:

  • No time to explain ko or even the concept of catching a group by temporary suicide (BTW, is there a better name for this?).[1]
  • Often, they're just waiting for someone. No time for a solid theoretical base. Let them play some stones as soon as possible.

Board size

A 6x6 or even a 5x5 board is just right. I keep little colorful felt boards on me (which double as buffer against rattling stones when I carry them).

Simplified rules

  • atari go
  • one-eyed go - avoids explaining the concept of catching a group by temporary suicide

Start at the End

I found it helpful to start with the following:

[Diagram]

This is the end of an even game. Each player has 12 points (territory + 0 captured stones). The game ends because both players agree that they can't decrease each other's territory without losing their own stones.
You don't believe me? Good for you! Let's try it out...

[Diagram]

If I play here, you can kill me. (If he's insecure:) Let me help you ...



[1] Hikaru79: You mean snapback?


Sebastian: No, I mean the simple fact that Black can take the marked white stone. I feel embarrased that I don't know how to put this in simple words:

[Diagram]

Sngrfxz: The Ing rules say " When the stones of both sides become breathless simultaneously, the player removes his opponent's stones." I would use "lose all liberties" instead of breathless.

Hikaru79: Oh, I see what you mean, Sebastian. As for Sngrfxz's explanation, it sounds pretty good, but I would add "who played the capturing stone" to the description, or else it is very vague-- both players are both players and opponents at the same time.



RafaelCaetano: By all means, have some introductory booklets handy. ;-)



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