Go Servers
This page gives an overview of online go servers.
Table of contents |
Introduction
Some benefits of Internet Go servers:
- 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 American and Europeans are KGS, IGS, and DGS; however, all of the following servers have different features to recommend them. Pick your favorite!
The descriptions of the go servers are intentionally kept short; please discuss at /Discussion.
Listed hereafter are real-time servers; see Turn-Based Go Servers for the other variant.
English supported Go Servers
The most common servers are listed first, then alphabetically.
IGS - The Internet Go server ( http://www.pandanet.co.jp/English/)
- English and Japanese (origin) languages or {Chinese, English, Korean, Japanese} ?
- The official and probably most current client is
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
qGo
- Those clients are available for Windows, Macintosh and Linux
- 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 ( 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, Turkish, Swedish}
- The KGS client is
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.
CyberOro ( http://world.cyberoro.com/main.asp)
- English, Korean (origin), Chinese, Japanese languages
- The client download is on the
CyberOro
- Most populous contingent is Korean, but plenty of Chinese, Japanese, and Thais
- Client is for Windows only?
- 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) ( 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
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
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".
FICGS - FICGS Go Server ( http://www.ficgs.com/)
- English (origin) and a bunch of other languages {English, German, Spanish, French}
- No client needed.
- Class round-robin tournaments (KYU, DAN, PRO)
- Time control 30 days + 1 day / move.
- Ratings calculated in real time.
- FICGS world championship.
BKGo? ( http://www.red-bean.com/bkgo/)
- English language
- not sure this is active, web page has a 1999 copyright, looks pretty old
Internet Go Room? ( 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
Kurnik Go? ( http://www.kurnik.org/intl/en/go/)
- English and a whole bunch of Eastern European (origin) languages
- Java web based
- Primarily Eastern European users?
- This is a general games site which happens to include Go
LGS? - The Legend Go Server ( http://www.lgs.taiwango.net/)
- 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?
My Baduk? (aka Koryo Baduk, aka International Friendship Baduk Game Site) ( http://www.mybaduk.com/)
- Ran by DPRK (North Korea) Lotto Venture. Used by the Koryo Baduk Association (A go association in North Korea)
- English, Chinese, and Japanese language sections
- website copyright 2002, some dead English links, not sure
Playray ( 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
Richard's PBeM Server? ( http://www.gamerz.net/pbmserv/)
- English language only
- supports 9x9, 13x13, and 19x19 Go; two Go variants; and hundreds of other games
- "play by email" format, but graphical board handlers make this very easy
Traditional Baduk Association ( 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.
WWGo? - World Web Go ( http://www01.tjsys.co.jp/index.htm)
- Japanese (origin) and English languages
- Real Time server
- probably need to pay for membership in order to get decent privileges
Chinese (non English supported)
CTN? ( http://weiqi.online.sh.cn/)
- Windows only client
- not sure this is active, last news update is Aug 2005
CUGS? ( http://www.go-edu.net/)
- port 9696
CWS? ( http://cws.weiqi.net/)
- port 9696
eweiqi? ( 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? ( http://www.ourgame.com/)
- Seems like it might be a general games site with Go
Tom Go Server ( 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? ( 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? ( http://gamezone.qq.com/12game/rule17.htm)
- Seems like it might be a general games site with Go. Combined with the most popular Chinese online messenger QQ. Many players online, but generally weaker than eweiqi? and Tom.
Korean (non English supported)
Neostone ( http://neostone.netmarble.net/)
- Korean (origin) and Chinese (will lead you to the Chinese Go server
Qingfeng)languages
Tygem ( http://www.tygem.com/)
- This is reputedly the best server in existence... if you speak Korean.
Defunct Servers
- NNGS - No Name Go Server
- - nngs.cosmic.org, port 9696 - compatible with most IGS clients. dead link 03 Jul 2006