Product details:

To most western players the game of Go is an enigma. Invented in China 4000 years ago it has no proper analogue in the West. It's like chess but endlessly more complex. Focused more upon territory control and less about capturing the opponent's pieces there are between 150-250 valid moves a player could make on any turn. For chess this number never climbs above 37. It is said there have never been two identical games of Go and there does not yet exist a computer program that can reliably beat Go experts-let alone the masters.Elegant Simplicity Despite this Go is surprisingly easy to learn. There are only two rules - 1. Every piece that remains on the board must have at least one open point (called a "liberty") directly next to it and 2. Players are not allowed to make a move that would return the game to a previous position.Good to Go Unlike many listings for separate boards bowls and stones this complete set includes a matching goban (board) and go-ke (bowls) with a beautiful dark wash as well as a full complement of 180 white and 181 black go-ishi (stones). Single-convex in the traditional Chinese style these go-ishi are made from bakelite have a good weight and when placed make a satisfying clack. Traditionally Go boards are not a perfect square but slightly oblong which thanks to foreshortening creates for players the visual effect of a perfect square. This is a solid 47 x 44 cm table board with the standard 2cm thickness and great heft. Better yet it's reversible - the top side features the time-tested 19 x 19 board layout and the underside features a beginner-friendly 13x13 layout for quicker simpler play.