Go Software

Software that Plays Go

Available for Purchase

The following are programs you can purchase on the internet from a vendor of go products, or in many cases directly from the author. These tend to be the most user friendly programs.

  • Crazy Stone: A strong go playing engines. Available for PC, iOS, and Android.

  • Many Faces of Go: Purchase David Fotland's award-winning program. Igowin, a 9x9 freeware demo, is available for download.

  • SmartGo: Several programs including SmartGoKifu, SmartGo Player, SmartGo for Windows, SmartGo for Mac, and GoBooks, for playing, storing, reviewing games, and purchasing and reading many go books.

Graphical User Interfaces (No Cost)

  • GoRilla: GoRilla is a freeware Windows product that loads, edits, and stores SGF files.

  • KaTrain: A graphical user interface paired with KataGo that works out of the box to play and analyze games with the bot.

  • Lizzie: A analysis program that is a useful graphical interface for LeelaZero, KataGo, or Pachi.

  • PANDA-glGo: A 3D and 2D Goban, game viewer and editor, client for IGS-PandaNet and interface for GNU Go.

  • q5Go: A Windows SGF editor, IGS client, and GTP interface that supports LeelaZero and KataGo.

  • Sabaki: A very nice graphical user interface for Windows, Mac and Linux.

Bots (No Cost)

The following are programs you can download for free to play against or analyze previously played games. Some work well on a variety of platforms. Typically, a graphical user interface is needed to work well.

  • GnuGo: An open source go program.

  • KataGo: A strong bot, that can correctly analyze handicap games and provide score estimates.

  • Leela: Leela is a strong Go playing program combining advances in Go programming and further original research into a small, easy to use graphical interface.

  • LeelaZero: Very strong bot, there are many nice gtp editors to allow playing and reviewing games with LeelaZero.

  • Pachi: A nice bot that is 2d to 7d and does not need to be run on very good hardware.

Software that Teaches Go

These programs do not play, but they are designed to show you things that may improve your play. Searchable game collections, joseki tutors and other 'treating software" can be found in this category. Most of these programs are commercial products.

  • Go Dojo: Contact Fights: by Bruce Wilcox. 1400 interactive pages teaching contact skills.

  • Go Dojo: Sector Fights: by Bruce Wilcox. 1900 interactive pages teaching sector/approach skills.

Software that Helps You Study

Databases

These are some paid databases containing many professional games games.

  • BiGo: A database of 100,000+ professional games and 3,000,000 games. Also has joseki and fuseki programs.

  • GoGoD: A database 98,000+ games. A optional program is included that only works in Windows.

  • go4go: A database with 86,000+ games, and weekly updates of professional games.

Programs for Recording and Viewing Game Records.

The following programs enable you to record or review games. Some also allow you to save variations, make comments, mark alternate moves, print diagrams and so on. Each has its own interface, unique features and drawbacks. Programs that only work on one platform are sorted separately.

Windows

  • BiGo: Database of more than 100,000+ professional games and 3,000,000 games. Also has joseki and fuseki programs.

  • Drago: Browse and edit files, print and export, and play against GnuGo. Useful for organizing and searching patterns in large databases.

  • GoGrinder: a Java program for practicing go problems in SGF format. 347 problems are included in the install, and thousands more are easily downloadable (pointers in the documentation).

  • GoWrite: Recording software with many advanced options for printing game records.

  • JaGo: This game recorder also works as an IGS client.

Android

  • BW-Go: Useful program for recording, editing, and viewing sgf files.

iOS

  • GoForKids is an iPad/iPhone app that teaches kids concepts about Go in a fun way. Master 12 different challenges before playing "First Capture Go" against the computer with 3 different levels.

  • Goban: Free from Sente Software for Mac OS X 10.3.

Software for Playing Go on the Internet

Some go servers on the internet require you to provide your own "client", a graphic interface that converts code transmitted by the server into a user friendly visual display. Some of these programs also allow you to read sgf files.

  • Cgoban: Client for the KGS Go Server. Includes an SGF file editor for recording and reviewing game records. See also KGS on Go on the Internet

  • Fox Go Server: One of the most popular servers. There is a guide to get this working, since most of it is not in English

  • Pandanet: An IGS client that lets you observe and play games online for mobile or Windows/Mac/Linux

  • Tygem: Another popular online server.

Windows

  • SmartGo: Anders Kierulf's multi-function go study tool also enables you to play and observe games on the Internet Go Server (IGS).

  • ViziGo: Older program for playing on IGS.

Pairing Programs

  • AccelRat: Uses the algorithm that powers the AGA rating system to "rate" players, pairing those who seem closest in strength.

  • WinTD: Capable of pairing knockout, Swiss-McMahon and other formats, and generating reports compatible with the AGA rating system. An instruction manual is also available. Note: This program requires Microsoft Access 2000. A run-time version is available for users who do not have Access 2000. Write to author Chuck Robbins at chuck@ctipc.com for more information on the latest version of this program.

Other Programs

  • GoClubsOnline: Integrated online tools for managing your club's tournaments, registrations and memberships.

  • Jacoto: Java-based sgf file maintenance utility.

  • sgf2misc: A utility that converts sgf files to other popular formats.

For Programmers

AGA Related

Here are the details and formats of how to interface with AGA-related software for pairing, tournaments, and ratings. Format for Ratings Submission

Swiss McMahon tournaments have been used within the AGA for several decades. While this has been successful in the past, the lack of written documentation presents problems for first-time tournament directors who find themselves without instructional resources. Programmers wishing to create computer pairing programs are unclear on the algorithm required to implement such a system.

To fill this gap, the AGA now presents two documents. The first, the AGA Swiss McMahon: Pairing Protocol Standards, describe how a Swiss McMahon tournament is to be paired in AGA events. The second document, AGA Swiss McMahon: Program Interface and Reporting Requirements, lays out minimal user interface standards for an AGA compliant pairing program. The AGA is prepared to certify programs that meet the combined pairing and interface/reporting standards as "AGA compliant" in a vendor-neutral fashion. Contact the AGA's tournament coordinator for details on program certification.

Pairing Protocol Standards The definition of how to pair an AGA tournament according to the Swiss McMahon system.
Program Interface and Reporting Requirements For programmers: interface standards for an AGA-compliant pairing program.
XML Schema For programmers: XML Schema for recording tournaments results.
Schema Summary in Open Document format or Excel format For programmers: Spreadsheet describing XML Schema.
Tournament Demo 1
Tournament Demo 2
Tournament Demo 3
Tournament Demo 4
 For programmers: demonstration XML tournament reports written against the standard Schema.