Quote:
Originally Posted by Yojimgari
1. What is the best free human vs pc program?
2. What is the best paid human vs pc program?
3. What is the best free human vs human over the internet program?
4. What is the best paid human vs human over the internet program?
5. Are there any programs that track your moves or statistics like PT3/HEM or anything similar software to this that helps with Go?
6. Where is a good place to post "Go" situations, like posting hands on 2p2?
7. What should be the first five books to read on Go and in what order?
8. What articles should I read on the internet about Go?
9. What videos for coaching should I watch on Go?
10. Do people have the Go equivalent of a poker sweat session?
11. What is a good Go forum to read and post on?
12. Are there any other tips for me or anything I am overlooking?
1.
GnuGo
2. Don't know
You want to train with problems, as said above, or annotated games, not so much playing against the computer anyway. Graded Go Problems for Beginners is what I recommend. Volumes 1 and 2 for the true beginner.
GoBase has a lot of games. Free registration.
3. and 4.
IGS PandaNet has several clients available. Free outside of Japan. Pay inside of Japan. I use qGo to connect to it.
5. Yes, there are software that could track your openings and whether you win or lose with them, but I'm not sure how useful it would be.
Kombilo is some database software.
6.
Sensei's Library is a decent Go community, but in my experience it has a strong tendency to over-use Japanese jargon, which can be annoying and a barrier ot entry. You could create a home page and discuss stuff there probably. Browse around.
7. My recommendation is to learn
the rules then get Graded Go Problems for Beginners 1 and 2. Excellent problems to work. Also, start playing a lot of 9x9 games as you work the problems.
8. See #6 and #7
9. There probably aren't any unless you speak Japanese or Korean.
10. Yes. On servers like KGS and IGS you can get coaching with commentary. Some people even will do it free. Though those players are weaker, though that's fine when you're a total beginner.
I'm sure I'll end up doing some around here as we get going.
11. See #6, though it's a wiki not a forum.
12. Work problems, work problems, work problems. Lose your first 100 games as fast as you can. That's the traditional advice and I see nothing wrong with it.
Also I recommend when to start at 9x9, but jump straight to 19x19 when you get bored with it. Traditionally you go to 13x13 in the middle, but outside of traditional teaching environments in the far east it can be hard to get a 13x13 game.