Go equipment
Encyclopedia
Go equipment refers to the objects which are necessary in order to play the game of Go. Although the equipment is simple, there is a varying degree of quality and material used in making the equipment, from the economical to the extremely valuable.
in China
. Other examples of ancient equipment can be found in museums in Japan
and Korea
.
The Go board, called the goban 碁盤 in Japanese
, is the playing surface on which to place the stones. The standard board is marked with a 19x19 lined grid. Other smaller boards include a 13x13 grid and a 9x9 grid used for shorter games often used to teach beginners. Some 19x19 boards have a 13x13 grid on the reverse side. 17x17 was used in historical times. Chinese boards are generally square; Japanese and Korean boards are slightly longer than wide, so that they appear square when viewed from a normal playing position. In Asian go parlors, the tables are slightly lower than the typical game table so that the players can see the position more clearly.
Traditional Japanese goban usually follow the dimensions:
mm inch
Board width 424.2 16 23/32 1.4 shaku 尺
Board length 454.5 17 29/32 1.5 shaku 尺
Board thickness 151.5 5 31/32 0.5 shaku 尺
Line spacing width-wise 22 7/8 7.26 bu 分
Line spacing length-wise 23.7 15/16 7.82 bu 分
Line thickness 1 1/32 0.3 bu 分
Star point marker diameter 4 5/32 1.2 bu 分
Stone diameter 22.5 29/32 7.5 bu 分
(1 inch = 25.4 mm; 1 shaku = 100 bu = 303 mm)
Go boards fall into several types or styles.
, mould
and other serious wear; prolonged exposure to sunlight
can bleach the board. Boards transported between climates are likely to warp or crack if not stored with humidity levels similar to their origin (boards from humid countries should be stored in humid places). Wooden boards should be covered after use with a silk
cloth to keep dust off. As chemical cleaning agents could damage or alter the board, wiping with a dry or slightly moist cloth is the best way to clean the board. Fine boards receiving heavy use should periodically be treated with carnauba wax
.
There are two styles or shapes of stones depending on where a player obtains them from:
The material varies. Some stones are made out of plastic
, glass
, porcelain
or marble
, but the traditional Japanese and Korean stones are made out of slate
for black and clam
shell for white. Chinese style stones can be made of glass, but to be considered true yunzi
it must be sintered
. The exact recipe is a well-kept secret and was in fact lost for a time in the early 20th century due to instability of the country.
For the most expensive clamshell and slate Go stones, stone thickness is carefully controlled and ranked according to size. Typical stone sizes are size 25 (7.0 mm thick) to size 37 (10.4 mm), and even thicker stones are available for a correspondingly much higher price. Commonly used shell and slate Go stone thicknesses are size 32 (8.8 mm) and size 33 (9.2 mm) for most individuals and size 36 (10.1 mm) for professionals. Stones thicker than 10.1 mm are difficult to place on the board, while many Go players prefer stones that are 8.8 and 9.2 mm thick, considering these the optimum thickness for aesthetic and practical reasons.
One specific type of plastic stone is called the Ing stone, manufactured by the Ing Chang-ki Wei-chi Education Foundation. These are the official stones of the Ing Foundation and have some extra weight to them due to metal inserted in the middle of the stone. They are 10 mm thick and sometimes come in an Ing Bowl, specially designed to count them. (Ing rules require each player to start with exactly 180 stones.)
Stones can be made from Melamine resin. This is a stable compound used in making countertops and other kitchenware and is considered safe.
, while the white stones are made from clamshell
s. Due to a single clam shell yielding only a limited amount of stones (around three), white stones are expensive to produce. The clamshells used to make the white stones used to be farmed from Japan, but since the supply is dwindling, most clamshells are harvested from Baja California
in Mexico. These stones have three grades, depending on the stripe or grain pattern of the white stones. All grades use the same uniform black slate stones. Shell stones may also rarely be made out of the giant clam
(shako in Japanese) shell, as well as a clam shell that has a slight purple tint. Clamshell stones are cut as cylinders using a diamond coring drill, then professionally ground, sanded, shaped, and polished into the final product. Shell and slate stones are natural products that provide the ultimate in Go stone aesthetics, and even the lowest grade are far more expensive than the common plastic, glass, and ceramic stones. The price for a set of shell and slate stones ranges from $200 to over $8,000 according to grade, progressively thicker stones costing more within each grade. The finest slate and clamshell Go stones are made in Japan, but China also produces such stones.
When removing a stone from its bowl to make a move, place a flat hand on the edge of the bowl, with the fingers gently entering the bowl. Pick up a stone chopstick
-style with the index and middle fingers, holding the stone between the index fingernail and the middle fingertip. The fingers extend almost straight, and the thumb is not tucked in.
When placing the stone, take care that long sleeve
s are brushed up to avoid knocking stones already played. To place the stone on the board, as soon as the fingertip of index finger is about to reach the surface of the board, it slips to the side, allowing the middle finger to aim the stone down towards the surface and connect (the other fingers and thumb naturally spread outwards). With a little practice a stone can be placed gracefully and forcefully and with a big click. The keys to a loud click are the force of the middle finger and the late release of the stone. Once the stone has been placed, the middle finger and hand slowly lifts off the stone (trying to avoid wobbling the stone) and gently retreats back to the player.
Although it is permissible to place one's stone at times with a loud, satisfying "thwack", one who does so with every move would be considered crude or vulgar. For instance, when submitting to an opponent's threat, a quiet placement is more in keeping with circumstances; probing moves or clever responses may be slid slyly into place. The ability to express oneself in the manner of making a move explains why one of the names for the game is "hand talk" ("shudan" in Japanese, "shoutan" in Chinese).
A bowl's lid is usually rather loose and not tightly fitted. Players traditionally turn the lid upside down and keep stones there that they have captured from the opponent. The lid should be easily visible by the opponent, so each player knows how many prisoners the opponent has. (This tradition does not apply when using "area rules")
The Go bowl can be made of several different materials.
Not all bowls can fit a full set of stones. Most can only hold stones with a thickness of up to 10 mm. Larger and more expensive bowls hold stones of thickness of up to 12 mm since one would buy thicker and more expensive stones to match the quality of the bowl. The bowls of highest quality and price should be used only for the best shell and slate stones, preferably of Yuki (snow-grade) quality. Lesser quality wood bowls should be used for Jitsuyo (standard-grade) and Tsuki (moon-grade) shell and slate stones. Glass stones should be stored in the least expensive wood bowls or plastic bowls. A list of woods used in Japanese Go bowls with photographs is available.
History
The oldest known surviving Go equipment is a board carved from rock that dates from the Han DynastyHan Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. Other examples of ancient equipment can be found in museums in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
.
Board
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
, is the playing surface on which to place the stones. The standard board is marked with a 19x19 lined grid. Other smaller boards include a 13x13 grid and a 9x9 grid used for shorter games often used to teach beginners. Some 19x19 boards have a 13x13 grid on the reverse side. 17x17 was used in historical times. Chinese boards are generally square; Japanese and Korean boards are slightly longer than wide, so that they appear square when viewed from a normal playing position. In Asian go parlors, the tables are slightly lower than the typical game table so that the players can see the position more clearly.
Traditional Japanese goban usually follow the dimensions:
mm inch
Board width 424.2 16 23/32 1.4 shaku 尺
Board length 454.5 17 29/32 1.5 shaku 尺
Board thickness 151.5 5 31/32 0.5 shaku 尺
Line spacing width-wise 22 7/8 7.26 bu 分
Line spacing length-wise 23.7 15/16 7.82 bu 分
Line thickness 1 1/32 0.3 bu 分
Star point marker diameter 4 5/32 1.2 bu 分
Stone diameter 22.5 29/32 7.5 bu 分
(1 inch = 25.4 mm; 1 shaku = 100 bu = 303 mm)
Go boards fall into several types or styles.
- Economical boards are made of paper, plastic or laminate, which can easily be folded away and stored. They are often used by beginners or for when one does not have a proper set available. A board can be hand-drawn on a stiff piece of cardboard for the super-economical.
- Roll-up boards made of fabric, paper or plastic. These are flexible enough to be rolled into a tube and easily carried along with stones to make a portable set. Some materials hold strongly onto the warp though and need to be weighted down at the corners to make the board usable when unrolled.
- Magnetic sets are also available, with magnets in the stones and a metallic board. They are useful for travelling. Large magnetic boards are also available for demonstration purposes, during lectures and other presentations.
- Wooden board one to two inches thick are commonly used. They are known as "table boards" because they are placed on a table (in contrast see "floor board" below.) The wood grain is pleasing to the eye, and the stones make a nice sound when placed firmly on the board. They can be made to be folded, or slotted together. Some have grids on the reverse. Although boards have been made from almost every type of wood including cheaper kinds made of pressed particle boardParticle boardParticle board, or particleboard , is an engineered wood product manufactured from wood particles, such as wood chips, sawmill shavings, or even saw dust, and a synthetic resin or other suitable binder, which is pressed and extruded...
with or without veneerWood veneerIn woodworking, veneer refers to thin slices of wood, usually thinner than 3 mm , that are typically glued onto core panels to produce flat panels such as doors, tops and panels for cabinets, parquet floors and parts of furniture. They are also used in marquetry...
; a light color with a fine grain that does not compete with the grid lines is considered most suitable, such as spruceSpruceA spruce is a tree of the genus Picea , a genus of about 35 species of coniferous evergreen trees in the Family Pinaceae, found in the northern temperate and boreal regions of the earth. Spruces are large trees, from tall when mature, and can be distinguished by their whorled branches and conical...
or katsura 桂. The most valued boards are made from kayaTorreya nuciferaTorreya nucifera is a slow-growing, coniferous tree native to southern Japan and to South Korea's Jeju Island. It is also called ' or Japanese nutmeg-yew.-Description:It grows to 15-25 m tall with a trunk up to 1.5 m diameter...
, which is a mellow yellow in colour. BambooBambooBamboo is a group of perennial evergreens in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family....
boards are also available; they appeal especially to those interested in fast-growing sustainable materials. Bamboo has a tensile strength similar to that of steel making it very durable, but also heavier than other wooden boards of the same size.
- A wooden floor board with legs is the most traditional, elegant and expensive of all boards. These boards were used in historical times in Japan where one would sit on tatamiTatamiA is a type of mat used as a flooring material in traditional Japanese-style rooms. Traditionally made of rice straw to form the core , with a covering of woven soft rush straw, tatami are made in standard sizes, with the length exactly twice the width...
mats and play, and are still used for important tournament games in Asia. Chinese versions of floor boards are not always made from a single block of wood, and more closely resemble a small table with an inlaid go board. The legs raise the board to the correct height. The board can range from 14–21 cm high, the thicker the more elegant. The underside often has a square recess (called a heso) to stop the wood from warping and to amplify the clicking sound of the stones hitting the surface. The best boards are made from Miyazaki kayaTorreya nuciferaTorreya nucifera is a slow-growing, coniferous tree native to southern Japan and to South Korea's Jeju Island. It is also called ' or Japanese nutmeg-yew.-Description:It grows to 15-25 m tall with a trunk up to 1.5 m diameter...
, which is rare. These are classified according to the quality of the wood grain. Itame refers to a bent or irregular grain; masame refers to consistent grain that runs straight across the top of the board. Masame boards are further classified as tenmasa (the top grain is straight, but grain along the cut end is curved, as in the illustration), and most-prized tenchimasa (grain is straight along the cut end as well as on top.) Prices of kaya boards range from $1,000 to $20,000 plus. Boards made of other woods, such as Alaskan spruceSpruceA spruce is a tree of the genus Picea , a genus of about 35 species of coniferous evergreen trees in the Family Pinaceae, found in the northern temperate and boreal regions of the earth. Spruces are large trees, from tall when mature, and can be distinguished by their whorled branches and conical...
, AgathisAgathisThe genus Agathis, commonly known as kauri or dammar, is a relatively small genus of 21 species of evergreen tree. The genus is part of the ancient Araucariaceae family of conifers, a group once widespread during the Jurassic period, but now largely restricted to the Southern Hemisphere except for...
or katsura are cheaper, around $500 to $2,000. The best boards are made in Japan, followed by Korea, which has good substitutes to kaya. China makes more economical ones out of cherrywood or bamboo.
Taking care of boards
Wooden boards should be stored in a proper place to prevent pieing, discolouration, woodwormWoodworm
A woodworm is not a specific species. It is the larval stage of certain woodboring beetles including:*Ambrosia beetles *Bark borer beetle / Waney edge borer *Common furniture beetle...
, mould
Mold
Molds are fungi that grow in the form of multicellular filaments called hyphae. Molds are not considered to be microbes but microscopic fungi that grow as single cells called yeasts...
and other serious wear; prolonged exposure to sunlight
Sunlight
Sunlight, in the broad sense, is the total frequency spectrum of electromagnetic radiation given off by the Sun. On Earth, sunlight is filtered through the Earth's atmosphere, and solar radiation is obvious as daylight when the Sun is above the horizon.When the direct solar radiation is not blocked...
can bleach the board. Boards transported between climates are likely to warp or crack if not stored with humidity levels similar to their origin (boards from humid countries should be stored in humid places). Wooden boards should be covered after use with a silk
Silk
Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The best-known type of silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity...
cloth to keep dust off. As chemical cleaning agents could damage or alter the board, wiping with a dry or slightly moist cloth is the best way to clean the board. Fine boards receiving heavy use should periodically be treated with carnauba wax
Carnauba wax
Carnauba , also called Brazil wax and palm wax, is a wax of the leaves of the palm Copernicia prunifera, a plant native to and grown only in the northeastern Brazilian states of Piauí, Ceará, and Rio Grande do Norte. It is known as "queen of waxes" and usually comes in the form of hard yellow-brown...
.
Stones
Go stones, or go-ishi 碁石,棋子, are round objects placed on the board. They are coloured black or white, for each player, and normally number 181 for black and 180 for white or sometimes 180 each.There are two styles or shapes of stones depending on where a player obtains them from:
- The Japanese and Korean style, which is lens shaped (i.e. biconvex). This is the most popular style.
- The Chinese style, called yunziYunziYunzi refer to special weiqi pieces manufactured in the Chinese province of Yunnan. At various times in history they have also been termed yunbian and yunyaozi...
雲子,云子, or 'cloud', because they are normally flat underneath and convex on top. This style is less common outside of China. Flat bottom stones can be useful for post-game analysis; by placing stones upside down, players can easily keep track of which stones were part of the original game. However, they are harder to pick up when clearing them from the board.
The material varies. Some stones are made out of plastic
Plastic
A plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids used in the manufacture of industrial products. Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular mass, and may contain other substances to improve performance and/or reduce production costs...
, glass
Glass
Glass is an amorphous solid material. Glasses are typically brittle and optically transparent.The most familiar type of glass, used for centuries in windows and drinking vessels, is soda-lime glass, composed of about 75% silica plus Na2O, CaO, and several minor additives...
, porcelain
Porcelain
Porcelain is a ceramic material made by heating raw materials, generally including clay in the form of kaolin, in a kiln to temperatures between and...
or marble
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
, but the traditional Japanese and Korean stones are made out of slate
Slate
Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional metamorphism. The result is a foliated rock in which the foliation may not correspond to the original sedimentary layering...
for black and clam
Clam
The word "clam" can be applied to freshwater mussels, and other freshwater bivalves, as well as marine bivalves.In the United States, "clam" can be used in several different ways: one, as a general term covering all bivalve molluscs...
shell for white. Chinese style stones can be made of glass, but to be considered true yunzi
Yunzi
Yunzi refer to special weiqi pieces manufactured in the Chinese province of Yunnan. At various times in history they have also been termed yunbian and yunyaozi...
it must be sintered
Sintering
Sintering is a method used to create objects from powders. It is based on atomic diffusion. Diffusion occurs in any material above absolute zero, but it occurs much faster at higher temperatures. In most sintering processes, the powdered material is held in a mold and then heated to a temperature...
. The exact recipe is a well-kept secret and was in fact lost for a time in the early 20th century due to instability of the country.
Stone dimensions
Stone thickness can also vary, being as low as 4 millimeters or as high as 12.8 millimeters, with most between 7.0 mm and 10.1 mm for biconvex and 5–7 mm for single convex. Thick slate and shell stones can last for generations, slowly becoming thinner from handling, and gradually acquiring an ivory-like patina. The diameter of the stones is standardized to around 22 mm ±1 mm, which can fit almost all Go boards. Black stones are slightly larger in diameter to compensate for optical illusion of the white stones appearing larger when placed with black stones of the same diameter. This mostly applies to Korean and Japanese stones – Chinese stones tend to be sometimes larger in diameter, but they do come in different standard sizes. A Chinese "large" size is about 23 mm in diameter while "medium" is about 22 mm. Chinese board dimensions is also accordingly larger to accommodate them. See also some comparative measurements of various go stone sets.For the most expensive clamshell and slate Go stones, stone thickness is carefully controlled and ranked according to size. Typical stone sizes are size 25 (7.0 mm thick) to size 37 (10.4 mm), and even thicker stones are available for a correspondingly much higher price. Commonly used shell and slate Go stone thicknesses are size 32 (8.8 mm) and size 33 (9.2 mm) for most individuals and size 36 (10.1 mm) for professionals. Stones thicker than 10.1 mm are difficult to place on the board, while many Go players prefer stones that are 8.8 and 9.2 mm thick, considering these the optimum thickness for aesthetic and practical reasons.
Plastic stones
Generally, these are the cheapest stones available. They range from flat, counter shaped to the typical lens shape. Price ranges from around $5–$30.One specific type of plastic stone is called the Ing stone, manufactured by the Ing Chang-ki Wei-chi Education Foundation. These are the official stones of the Ing Foundation and have some extra weight to them due to metal inserted in the middle of the stone. They are 10 mm thick and sometimes come in an Ing Bowl, specially designed to count them. (Ing rules require each player to start with exactly 180 stones.)
Stones can be made from Melamine resin. This is a stable compound used in making countertops and other kitchenware and is considered safe.
Starch stones
Yellow Mountain Imports sells stones made of a starch compound described as antibacterial and biodegradable. They are very similar in appearance to plastic stones. A bi-convex set retails for around $14 in 2011.Porcelain stones
These are among the cheapest stones available for single convex stones, ranging from under $10 to $15. They often mimic the shape and size of Yunzi stones.Glass stones
The most widely used and most economical. They range from thinner flat-bottomed style, to a symmetrical lens shape. Glass stones have the correct weight and can be grasped with ease. White stones are polished and black ones are buffed to a matte finish, giving a feel somewhat like slate and clam stones. Price ranges from $15 to $80 for glass stones with bowls. A cheap alternative is to buy glass 'gems' at an arts and crafts store; a full set of stones will cost $5 to $10.Slate and clamshell stones
These are usually the most expensive stones one can get, since each stone is hand-made using mechanical grinding and polishing equipment. The black stones are made of slateSlate
Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional metamorphism. The result is a foliated rock in which the foliation may not correspond to the original sedimentary layering...
, while the white stones are made from clamshell
Bivalve shell
A bivalve shell is part of the body, the exoskeleton or shell, of a bivalve mollusk. In life, the shell of this class of mollusks is composed of two parts, two valves which are hinged together...
s. Due to a single clam shell yielding only a limited amount of stones (around three), white stones are expensive to produce. The clamshells used to make the white stones used to be farmed from Japan, but since the supply is dwindling, most clamshells are harvested from Baja California
Baja California
Baja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North...
in Mexico. These stones have three grades, depending on the stripe or grain pattern of the white stones. All grades use the same uniform black slate stones. Shell stones may also rarely be made out of the giant clam
Giant clam
The giant clam, Tridacna gigas , is the largest living bivalve mollusc. T. gigas is one of the most endangered clam species. It was mentioned as early as 1825 in scientific reports...
(shako in Japanese) shell, as well as a clam shell that has a slight purple tint. Clamshell stones are cut as cylinders using a diamond coring drill, then professionally ground, sanded, shaped, and polished into the final product. Shell and slate stones are natural products that provide the ultimate in Go stone aesthetics, and even the lowest grade are far more expensive than the common plastic, glass, and ceramic stones. The price for a set of shell and slate stones ranges from $200 to over $8,000 according to grade, progressively thicker stones costing more within each grade. The finest slate and clamshell Go stones are made in Japan, but China also produces such stones.
- Jitsuyo (practical, standard, or utility-grade) are stones with a coarse grain across the stone, with 7 or 8 wide stripes. The stones are cut near the joint of the shell.
- Tsuki (moon-grade) are stones with a finer grain pattern, with more and thinner stripes covering about 70% of the stone. They are cut around the middle of the shell. These are considered the 'in-between' quality.
- Yuki (snow-grade) are stones with a uniform, fine, straight grain across the stone, with many fine stripes covering at least 80% of the stone. They are cut from near the edge of the shell. These are considered the best by Japanese tastes, and are the most expensive, considering it is difficult to cut a stone with a great deal of thickness since the edge of the shell is mostly thin. The price ranges from $200 to over $5,000, the thicker stones costing more.
Yunzi stones
Yunzi is a style of stone first produced in the Tang Dynasty in China by sintering a trade-secret mixture of mineral compounds including agate (resulting in the slightly yellow-green hue of traditional yunzi stones). The term "yunzi" traditionally applies to stones made of this material, but can refer to any single-convex stone of average Chinese dimensions (slightly larger than a Japanese stone). The art of making Yunzi was lost in the 1920s when the Chinese Civil War spread to Yunnan province, but in the late 1960s it was rediscovered by the now state-managed Yunzi Company. Yunzi are delicately made with a jade-like luster yet are neither brittle nor slippery. The black and white pieces each have their special qualities. The white pieces are opaque with a tint of yellow or green. The black pieces are dark, and when held to the light hue a translucent green hue. With new technology, Yunzi stones can now be made pure white without any discolorations.Stone etiquette
When not making a move, one should leave one's stones in the bowl. During the opponent's turn, it is considered rude for players to rattle stones in the bowl. It is also considered improper to hold a handful of stones. The "correct" procedure is to decide upon one's move, then remove one stone from the bowl and place it on the board. This produces the minimal amount of distraction for one's opponent.When removing a stone from its bowl to make a move, place a flat hand on the edge of the bowl, with the fingers gently entering the bowl. Pick up a stone chopstick
Chopsticks
Chopsticks are small, often tapered, sticks used in pairs of equal length as the traditional eating utensils of China and its diaspora, Japan, Korea, Vietnam and Northern provinces of Laos, Thailand and Burma. Generally believed to have originated in ancient China, they can also be found in some...
-style with the index and middle fingers, holding the stone between the index fingernail and the middle fingertip. The fingers extend almost straight, and the thumb is not tucked in.
When placing the stone, take care that long sleeve
Sleeve
Sleeve is that part of a garment which covers the arm, or through which the arm passes or slips. The pattern of the sleeve is one of the characteristics of fashion in dress, varying in every country and period...
s are brushed up to avoid knocking stones already played. To place the stone on the board, as soon as the fingertip of index finger is about to reach the surface of the board, it slips to the side, allowing the middle finger to aim the stone down towards the surface and connect (the other fingers and thumb naturally spread outwards). With a little practice a stone can be placed gracefully and forcefully and with a big click. The keys to a loud click are the force of the middle finger and the late release of the stone. Once the stone has been placed, the middle finger and hand slowly lifts off the stone (trying to avoid wobbling the stone) and gently retreats back to the player.
Although it is permissible to place one's stone at times with a loud, satisfying "thwack", one who does so with every move would be considered crude or vulgar. For instance, when submitting to an opponent's threat, a quiet placement is more in keeping with circumstances; probing moves or clever responses may be slid slyly into place. The ability to express oneself in the manner of making a move explains why one of the names for the game is "hand talk" ("shudan" in Japanese, "shoutan" in Chinese).
Taking care of stones
New stones (of any variety except slate and clamshell) should be washed in warm (soapy) water to remove any oils or chalk by-products of their manufacture or storage protection, then dried thoroughly. Do not use soap when cleaning clamshell stones; new clamshell stones should not need cleaning. New slate stones should be cleaned of excess mineral oil with a cotton cloth. When using stones, one should not slap the stones down too hard. When finished, they should be either kept in their bowls or original packaging and stored away from sunlight and heat. Placing a soft cloth in the bottom of the bowl can help to minimize chipping of stones.Bowls
Go bowls, or go-ke 碁笥 are the containers for the stones. Although not strictly needed to play Go, bowls nevertheless play an important role in storing the stones, and captured stones can be placed on the lids. Bowls are identical, with one holding the white stones and one holding the black stones.A bowl's lid is usually rather loose and not tightly fitted. Players traditionally turn the lid upside down and keep stones there that they have captured from the opponent. The lid should be easily visible by the opponent, so each player knows how many prisoners the opponent has. (This tradition does not apply when using "area rules")
The Go bowl can be made of several different materials.
- PlasticPlasticA plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids used in the manufacture of industrial products. Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular mass, and may contain other substances to improve performance and/or reduce production costs...
: Very cheap, they can be cylinder shaped or square shaped. The price is around $5. Quart size plastic food storage containers can also be used. - StrawStrawStraw is an agricultural by-product, the dry stalks of cereal plants, after the grain and chaff have been removed. Straw makes up about half of the yield of cereal crops such as barley, oats, rice, rye and wheat. It has many uses, including fuel, livestock bedding and fodder, thatching and...
: Mostly used by the Chinese. They are made of woven straw. The price is around $10–25. - WoodWoodWood is a hard, fibrous tissue found in many trees. It has been used for hundreds of thousands of years for both fuel and as a construction material. It is an organic material, a natural composite of cellulose fibers embedded in a matrix of lignin which resists compression...
: The most common material used to make bowls. The type of woodWoodWood is a hard, fibrous tissue found in many trees. It has been used for hundreds of thousands of years for both fuel and as a construction material. It is an organic material, a natural composite of cellulose fibers embedded in a matrix of lignin which resists compression...
used affects the price considerably. Mulberry is one of the most striking and expensive. Intermediate woods are quinceQuinceThe quince , or Cydonia oblonga, is the sole member of the genus Cydonia and native to warm-temperate southwest Asia in the Caucasus region...
(karin in Japanese), kayaTorreya nuciferaTorreya nucifera is a slow-growing, coniferous tree native to southern Japan and to South Korea's Jeju Island. It is also called ' or Japanese nutmeg-yew.-Description:It grows to 15-25 m tall with a trunk up to 1.5 m diameter...
, cherryCherryThe cherry is the fruit of many plants of the genus Prunus, and is a fleshy stone fruit. The cherry fruits of commerce are usually obtained from a limited number of species, including especially cultivars of the wild cherry, Prunus avium....
, keyakiZelkova serrataZelkova serrata is a species of Zelkova native to Japan, Korea, eastern China, and Taiwan. It is often grown as an ornamental tree, and used in bonsai.-Description:...
, and rosewoodRosewoodRosewood refers to any of a number of richly hued timbers, often brownish with darker veining, but found in many different hues. All rosewoods are strong and heavy, taking an excellent polish, being suitable for guitars, marimbas, turnery , handles, furniture, luxury flooring, etc.In general,...
. Cheaper ones are made out of beechBeechBeech is a genus of ten species of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia and North America.-Habit:...
or chestnutChestnutChestnut , some species called chinkapin or chinquapin, is a genus of eight or nine species of deciduous trees and shrubs in the beech family Fagaceae, native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The name also refers to the edible nuts they produce.-Species:The chestnut belongs to the...
. BambooBambooBamboo is a group of perennial evergreens in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family....
also makes for a nice, low-cost bowl. The bowl can be polished. The best bowls are carved from a single piece of wood and have their grains highlighted. The price range varies from $50 to thousands of dollars.
Not all bowls can fit a full set of stones. Most can only hold stones with a thickness of up to 10 mm. Larger and more expensive bowls hold stones of thickness of up to 12 mm since one would buy thicker and more expensive stones to match the quality of the bowl. The bowls of highest quality and price should be used only for the best shell and slate stones, preferably of Yuki (snow-grade) quality. Lesser quality wood bowls should be used for Jitsuyo (standard-grade) and Tsuki (moon-grade) shell and slate stones. Glass stones should be stored in the least expensive wood bowls or plastic bowls. A list of woods used in Japanese Go bowls with photographs is available.