Go, also known as Baduk and Weiqi, is an abstract board game for two players. It is more of a mind game rather than the physical involvement. It is one of the oldest, if not the oldest board game in the present day. Even though Go is an ancient game, online Go games are also rising in popularity. We will talk about “How Long Does a Game of Go Take?”
They are over 20 million current players; the majority are from East Asia. In recent times, the game is also popular in European countries. Players require some skills such as strategy, pattern recognition tactics, and observation.
The game is played on a board with a grid of black lines; the game pieces are called stones. Go game is not bias on age; a person of any age can enjoy learning and playing the game.
Introduction to Length of Go Games
The length of a Go game depends on whether it is casual or professional. Profession Go game takes longer than the casual one. The number of moves a player make is also a consideration in determining how long the game takes.
Though the speed of a player determines the length of a game, the game’s essence is not to demonstrate speed but skills and schemes. Making moves at your own pace yields more time to think about the hidden changes and effectively calculate your next move.
According to Go Seigen, a legendary Go player, a longer time allowance does not always improve Go results. Though players can take their time when making moves, they should consider how long they take to move.
The standard Go board has a 19×19 grid, which adds up to 361 intersections. Most beginners play on smaller boards of 9×9 and 13×13 boards. In the past, players also used a 17×17 grid. As a result, the board size also impacts the timing of the games. 19×19 grid will take longer to finish than a 9×9.
Objectives of Go Board Game
First and foremost, the game’s main objective is to use your stones to form territories by surrounding the vacant areas on the board. Capturing your opponent’s stones by surrounding them is also an objective. The stones of the Go board game are either black or white.
At the beginning of the game, the board is always empty. The player with the black stones (Black) makes the first move, followed by the player with white stones (White). After that, both sides continue alternating in making their moves. The Black has 181 stones, and the White has 180 stones that make 361 points of the game.
A move in this board game is to place a stone at the intersection on the board. Once a stone is placed on the grid, it does not move unless captured and taken off the grid.
Controlling more territory on the game determines who wins the game. Once you surround your opponents, you capture their stones and they are removed from the board. Also, a player’s score is calculated by the number of stones captured and territories surrounded.
In the game of Go, black always goes first. Because of this advantage, there are extra points for white players as compensation for playing second at the end of the game. These extra points are Komi. The player playing white usually has 6.5 points as compensation (this number varies with the set rules).
Lenght of Professional Go Board Game
Professionally played Go game takes about between 1 and 6 hours. Some professional games exceed 16 hours. However, they usually take place over two days or three days. According to statistics, the shortest game lasted for 38 moves, and the longest one took 411 moves. The average length of a game is 211 moves. You can find more information about these games here.
How Long Does a Casual Online Go Game Take?
If you are not a professional Go player, then you do it as a hobby. A casual Go game does not take long hours like the professional one. The time limit is pre-set before the game.
Depending on the different style of Go, the time needed varies from one style to another. Nowadays, there are turn-based online Go games with no time limits. You may end up playing one game for a week.
Normal Online Go Game
In casual playing, speed is a consideration, because how fast you play determines how long you take to complete a game. The game may take between 15 minutes to 1 hour.
A heavy-battle game may require a longer time than a non-battle-heavy game. A beginner should play shorter games on a 9×9 grid as it is easier to master the game’s rules and strategy. Some Go game rules may change depending on the set. Also, the rules may loosen up when playing casually.
Blitz or Fast Games
In a blitz game, players can take about 7 minutes to complete a game making 10 seconds per move. This type of game is usually played with instinct and experience. Due to the insanely short time limit, it isn’t easy to read ahead with just 10 seconds per move.
Pair Go or Rengo Online Go Game
A pair Go game, also known as Rengo, is played by four players, two on each side. Each play will play alternately. The length of such a game depends on each of the players and how they are making moves. Also, the game requires players to read not only their opponent but also try to figure out their partner’s plan. This type of game is good for enhancing socialization. Thus, the time limit is not strict. Players can set the time limit themselves. Usually, this type of game takes about 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Take Away on How Long Online Go Game Takes
In general, the time to complete a Go game majorly depends on the professionalism and the strategy a player uses to play the game. The length also depends on the type of grid and the game type. The deeper you go in playing the game, the more you understand that there is a lot to learn about the Go game.
Go is a complex but simple game once you learn all the strategies and the rules of the game. The more you learn how to play, the less the time you take to complete a game. The Go game is not a game of chances. So, you don’t play by just placing the stones on the grid; having a strategy is critical. Enjoying the game while playing is important.
Go game is amongst the ancient board games that’s play in their original form. Also, due to technology, online go games are popular. Nonetheless, the changes have not affected the original structure of the game.
