Go Set | Hemlock | Ceramic stones

Weiqi—known as Go in Japan and the West, and Baduk in Korea—is one of the oldest strategic board games in the world, with origins dating back over 2,500 years in ancient China.

Go is celebrated for its elegant simplicity, strategic complexity, and cultural significance.

• An enriching game to learn and enjoy for a lifetime.
• Improves memory and pattern recognition.
• Sharpens concentration and mental discipline.
• Encourages creative problem-solving and builds emotional resilience.
• Victory depends on a subtle balance of offence, defence, and efficient territory control.
• Played by millions worldwide, both in person and online.

This Complete Go Set Includes:

• Hemlock solid wood board: 47cm x 44cm, thickness 2cm.
  • One side is engraved with 19 x 19 lines, forming 361 intersections.
  • The other side is engraved with 13 x 13 lines, forming 169 intersections (for learners and shorter games).
• 180 white and 181 black bi-convex ceramic stones in the traditional Chinese style: 2cm diameter.
• Two matching Catalpa wooden bowls for storing the stones: 15cm x 10cm.
  • You can choose from either dark brown or golden silk Catalpa wood.

Optional:

• Learn to play Go with “The Magic World of Weiqi – A Beginner’s Guide”.

Basic Rules and Gameplay:

• The game is played on a square board, traditionally 19×19 lines, creating 361 intersections. Smaller boards (13×13 or 9×9) are also used, especially for beginners or quick games.
• A standard Go set contains 181 black stones and 180 white stones, totalling 361 stones. This matches the number of intersections on a traditional 19×19 board, ensuring there are enough stones to fill every point if needed. Black receives one extra stone because Black plays first.
• Players take turns placing black and white stones (called go-ishi) on the board’s intersections. Black moves first, except when a handicap is given.
• Once placed, stones do not move, but they can be captured and removed if completely surrounded by the opponent’s stones on all orthogonally adjacent points (called “liberties”).
• The main goal is to control more territory than your opponent by surrounding empty areas of the board with your stones.
• There is often no single “best” move. Strong play depends on intuition, pattern recognition, and a deep understanding of shape and flow.