Go Servers

    Keywords: Online Go

This page gives an overview of online go servers.

Table of contents

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 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 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 Go server reviews and reports.

English supported Go Servers

The two most common servers are listed first. The remainder is listed alphabetically.

Most common servers

IGS - The Internet Go server ([ext] http://www.pandanet.co.jp/English/)

  • English and Japanese (origin) languages or {Chinese, English, Korean, Japanese} ?
  • The official and probably most current client is [ext] 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 [ext] 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 ([ext] 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 [ext] 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.

Alphabetical list

BadukWorld ([ext] 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".

BKGo? ([ext] http://www.red-bean.com/bkgo/)

  • English language
  • not sure this is active, web page has a 1999 copyright, looks pretty old

CyberOro ([ext] http://world.cyberoro.com/main.asp)

  • English, Korean (origin), Chinese, Japanese languages
  • The client download is on the [ext] CyberOro
  • Most populous contingent is Korean, but plenty of Chinese, Japanese, and Thais
  • Client is for Windows only? But works with wine.
  • 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) ([ext] 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 [ext] 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

FICGS ([ext] http://www.ficgs.com)

  • Mainly English language, also French, Italian, Spanish.
  • A web-based go server (also chess & poker).
  • Players from all over the world.
  • Current FICGS Go champion is Svante Carl von Erichsen 5 dan.
  • Tournaments with prizes or entry fee & money prize.
  • Free to register, no ads in HTTPS.

Fly or Die? [ext] http://www.flyordie.com/

  • general on line game server (many games)
  • A web-based go server (also chess checkers, go moku and others.
  • Free to register, has ads.
  • funny dragon sounds

GoShrine ([ext] http://goshrine.com)

  • A new web-based go server.
  • Simple, clean interface.
  • New features added regularly.
  • Free to register, no ads.

The internet go club? [ext] http://www.thegoclub.net

  • supports 19x19 9x9 and 13x13? gobans?
  • You must return to play your move within 24 hrs of your opponent's last turn or you will forfeit the game.

Internet Go Room? ([ext] 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

LGS - The Legend Go Server ([ext] http://www.lgs.taiwango.net/)

  • Chinese (Taiwanese origin), English (sort of) languages
  • The client download is on the [ext] LGS homepage. Unconfirmed that many IGS clients will be compatible. port 9696
  • Primarily Taiwanese players?

Ludoteka ([ext] http://www.ludoteka.com/jokolabur?joko=gogo)

  • English, French, Spanish, Vasque language
  • Java web based
  • This is a multiplayer games site

My Baduk? ([ext] http://www.mybaduk.com/)

  • Also Known As (aka) Koryo Baduk, aka International Friendship Baduk Game Site
  • 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
  • May 2009: The link leads to a general holding site, so this server is probably offline for good.

OSGS - Open Source Go Server

  • Proposition for an open source go server
  • Real Time server
  • To be developed in the next couple of months
  • Silent since August 2008 (tip: create something first, then announce)

PlayOK.com? ([ext] http://www.playok.com/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

Playray ([ext] 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
%dead, then?

Go Center of Second Life ([ext] http://www.notabene-sl.com/slgc/) - ([ext] http://secondlife.com)

  • Support for other languages in the SL client works, sort of.
  • At the Vineland region is an area dedicated to go. The 3d boards handle all sizes, komi, free and static handicap placement.
  • Has a membership board, and a rating system.

Traditional Baduk Association ([ext] 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.

WING - World-wide InterNet Gokaisho ([ext] http://wing.gr.jp/indexe.html)

  • Japanese (origin) and English languages
  • Real Time server
  • Java and IGS / NNGS interfaces

WWGo? - World Web Go ([ext] https://home.wwgo.jp/)

  • Japanese (origin) and English languages
  • Real Time server
  • probably need to pay for membership in order to get decent privileges

WeWeWeb? - We We Web Online Game ([ext] http://www.weweweb.net/game/client.html)

  • English and Traditional Chinese languages.
  • Real Time server runs with applet client.
  • A gaming server with Go game for causal players.

Chinese (non English supported)

CTN? ([ext] http://www.cngames.cn/)

  • Windows only client

CUGS? ([ext] http://www.go-edu.net/)

  • port 9696

same as [ext] http://www.weiqi.cn/

CWS? ([ext] http://cws.weiqi.net/)

  • port 9696

eweiqi? ([ext] 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? ([ext] http://www.ourgame.com/)

  • Seems like it might be a general games site with Go

Tom Go Server ([ext] 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? ([ext] 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? ([ext] 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.

China Wei Qi Network? ([ext] http://www.weiqi.cn)

  • Fairly big server with strong players
  • Has a betting system

Korean (non English supported)

Neostone ([ext] http://neostone.netmarble.net/)

  • Korean (origin) and Chinese (will lead you to the Chinese Go server [ext] Qingfeng)languages

Tygem ([ext] http://www.tygem.com/)

  • This is reputedly the best server in existence... if you speak Korean. astonish? I've discovered that there is a Japanese registration site and client too: ([ext] http://www.tygem.co.jp/)

Japanese (non English supported)

Yuugen no ma? ([ext] http://taikyoku.nihonkiin.or.jp/)

  • Run by the Nihon Kiin, recent pro games, occasionally with (Japanese) commentary are also available.

Sansan ([ext] http://www.sansan.co.jp/)

Defunct Servers

NNGS - No Name Go Server
- nngs.cosmic.org, port 9696 - compatible with most IGS clients.
[ext] NHSE - No Name Go Server
- nhse.org, port 9696 - compatible with most IGS clients. dead link 08 Aug 2007

AllFun? Go Server ([ext] http://www.allfun.com/)

  • English and Hebrew.
  • Windows client was downloaded from the site.
  • Client supported many other games including chess, 4-In-A-Row, checkers and many more.
  • Free to use ( supported by ads ) dead link 02 Dec 2008

This is a copy of the living page "Go Servers" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2009 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.
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