First Steps After Learning the Rules of Go
This section is about what to do after learning the rules of Go: how to improve, where to play, etc.
- Get a Go set.
- There are many types of Go sets out there - see my Go equipment page for several options.
- Buy a cheap one first - you'll always find use for it as a spare set if you decide later to buy fancier one.
- Technically you don't need a Go set to start with nowadays, because you can play Go on the internet...
- ... but it is so much better to play with a friend on a real board!
- Follow the online "The Interactive Way To Go" tutorial.
- Join at least one Go community - it is good to be among other Go enthusiasts.
- Find out if you can join some local Go club in the area you live in - if you are in a big city you are most likely in luck.
- Join some online Go forum - the best I know of is LifeIn19x19.
- Join some online Go server.
- Play several tens of games with another beginner - before reading Go books.
- Just concentrate on capturing stones: whoever captures the first stone wins - this is called "Capture Go (or Atari Go)".
- Teach the rules to a friend, or a family member, or a coworker - and play a lot of "capture Go".
- In case you cannot find someone to play with, play with my Java applet until you are confident you can defeat it.
- Read the "Lessons in the fundamentals of Go" book.
- It provides a lot of very useful information about Go: fundamental tactical and strategical concepts, how to study, and many interesting things about the professional Go world.
- I wrote a detailed review of this book in the articles section.
- You'll find yourself wanting to read this book again at again at various points in your Go career - so don't be disappointed if many things don't make sense at the first lecture.
- Follow my "how to improve" list.
- Check the list of books I recommend - some of which I consider "must reads". You can also have a look at an extended list of Go books for more choices.
