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Go (game)

Go
photograph of Go equipment with game in progress
Go is played on a grid of black lines (usually 19×19). Game pieces, called stones, are played on the lines' intersections.
Years active prior to Zhou Dynasty (1046–256 BCE) to present
Genre(s) Board game
Abstract strategy game
Players 2
Age range 3+
Setup time Minimal
Playing time Casual: 20–90 minutes
Tournament: 1–6 hours
Random chance None
Skill(s) required Strategy, tactics, observation
Synonym(s) About this sound Weiqi
Igo / Paduk
Baduk
a Some professional games exceed 16 hours and are played in sessions spread over two days.
Go
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese 圍棋
Simplified Chinese 围棋
Literal meaning "encirclement chess"
Korean name
Hangul 바둑
Japanese name
Kanji 囲碁
Go
Chinese name
Simplified Chinese 围棋
Traditional Chinese 圍棋
Literal meaning surround game
Tibetan name
Tibetan མིག་མངས
Korean name
Hangul 바둑
Japanese name
Kanji 碁, 囲碁 ("surround game")

Go (traditional Chinese: 圍棋; simplified Chinese: 围棋; pinyin: About this sound wéiqí; Japanese: 囲碁; rōmaji: igo; Korean: 바둑; romaja: baduk; literally: "encircling game") is an abstract strategy board game for two players, in which the aim is to surround more territory than the opponent.

The game was invented in ancient China more than 2,500 years ago, and is thus the oldest board game continuously played today. It was considered one of the four essential arts of the cultured Chinese scholar caste in antiquity. The earliest written reference to the game is generally recognized as the historical annal Zuo Zhuan (c. 4th century BCE). The modern game of Go as we know it was formalized in Japan in the 15th century CE.

Despite its relatively simple rules, Go is very complex, even more so than chess, and possesses more possibilities than the total number of atoms in the visible universe. Compared to chess, Go has both a larger board with more scope for play and longer games, and, on average, many more alternatives to consider per move.


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