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tags: introduction to probability, statistics
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# The Game of Go

([home](https://github.com/alexhkurz/introduction-to-probability/blob/master/README.md))

(draft)

Go is a board game that is very popular in Japan, China and Korea. Like chess it has inspired Aritifical Intelligence researchers, but unlike chess, until recently, there were no algorithms that allowed computers to beat even average human amateur players. The algorithm that now beats the strongest human players is a probabilistic algorithm known as Monte Carlo Tree Search.

So from the point of view of probability, Go is just one of many examples of a problem that can be solved with probabilistic methods. But it is also the most beautiful board game I know. Definitely worth a digression.

## The Rules of Go

An excellent place to start learning go is the website of the [American Go Association](https://www.usgo.org/learn-play). After completing the [tutorials](https://online-go.com/learn-to-play-go/) (from top to bottom) you should be good to have a go at playing go on an online server.

## Playing Go

- Make an account at [OGS](https://online-go.com/), the online Go server.
- Challenge yourself or any other player on the server. Play lots of games. I recommend a size of 9x9 and the "normal" time control. A 9x9 game takes only a few minutes and their is already a lot to learn from this format.
- If you don't know where to move, consider the following:
- At the beginning of the game playing on the rim is almost always bad.
- Which move is the biggest?
- Look for areas in which few or no stones were played.
- Which moves have dual purpose?
- In a capturing race, look for moves that strengthen your weakest stones while simulatenously attacking the weakest stones of your opponents.
- Which groups are weak?
- Watch out for groups of stones that have only one or two liberties left.
- Can you defend by attacking somewhere else?
- Don't automatically react to your opponent's move.

## Solving Life and Death Exercises

Ultimately the goal of Go is to make territory. Therefore, to be able to survive in a tight space, or, conversely, to capture and kill the invader are crucial skills. Moreover, solving life and death exercises helps to develop the dual skill of recognising good shape and performing precise calculations.

OGS has a lot of good [puzzles](https://online-go.com/puzzles). The collection [Exercises for Beginners](https://online-go.com/puzzle/2625) is a good start. After that working thgrough Cho Chikun's Encyclopedia of Life and Death.