Goban Help

	Goban Help

Internet Go

Getting started

The tools to play Go on the Internet can be found in the Go Library window (which is or will be used for other purposes, hence its name).

On the left, is a list of "Sources", some of which can be Internet Go servers. By default, the IGS and NNGS go servers should be available. The pull-down menu at the bottom can be used to add or delete servers.

Before setting up a server connection please refer to your server for information about registering, and please read the Internet Go Server etiquette.

How do I set up a server connection?

Select the server you want to connect to, select the Server icon, and enter the following information:

Name: The name you want to give to the server, as it will appear on the left. Any name will do.

Hostname: The internet name of the server (for instance: igs.joyjoy.net or nngs.cosmic.org).

Port: The port the server is watching (for instance 6969 or 9696).

User name and password: Your login name and password on the server. If you do not have an account, simply enter a name and enter as a guest with limited access: you can observe games but not play.

Encoding: Choose a character encoding that is used by most users on your server.

If you want Goban to remember your password in your key chain, select Remember Password.

When all the items are entered, you can Log In. The view should switch to the Console view, so that you can see the login proceed. After a while, the number of games currently played on the server, and the number of connected users should appear under their respective icons, and your profile should be updated from the information gathered on the server.

How do I observe a game?

Once logged in, selecting the Games icon displays a list a games currently played on the server. You can search and sort this list as you wish. For instance typing 2d in the search field will display only the games with the string "2d" anywhere in their attributes, and will include all the games played by 2 dan players. The list can be sorted by ascending or descending number of observers (useful to find interesting games) or any other criterium.

Open a game by double-click, or with the Observe button.

The list of games is automatically refreshed every so often (something you can set in the Network preference panel), or manually, each time you click on the "Refresh" button.

How do I find an opponent?

Selecting the Players icon displays a list a users currently logged on the server. You can search and sort this list as you wish. For instance typing 2d in the search field will display only the players with the string "2d" anywhere in their attributes, and will include all 2 dan players. The list can be sorted by ascending or descending rank or any other criterium.

The list of games is automatically refreshed every so often (something you can set in the Network preference panel), or manually, each time you click on the "Refresh" button. The command used to refresh this list is also set in the Network preference panel. The default command is "who", but you could use "who 1k-1d" if you want to only see the players ranked between 1 kyu and 1 dan.

Selecting a user will update his statistics. When someone tells you something, his name will appear in the "Select" button.

How do I start a game?

You can select a player in the Players list, and use the Match... button to send a match proposal. This will display an alert sheet where you can choose the rules you wish to use and either propose or cancel the match. If your opponent accepts the game, a board window will open.

A match proposal should appear as an alert sheet displaying the rules proposed by the other party. Your potential opponent statistics have been fetched by Goban and also appear in this window. Accepting the match proposal will open a board window.

If the game is a handicap game and you are playing black, you must explicitely "Start" the game to send the first "handicap move" to the server.

How do I manage time?

The toolbar can be customized to include clocks. The clock text spells what time is left for black or white, and the number of moves to play in that time when in byo yomi. The same information is displayed graphically using two "pie charts". The outer ring fills up with time, and the interior disc fills up with moves. You can see at a glance if you're late or in advance.

How do I finish a game?

After a number of consecutive pass moves (2 on NNGS, 3 on IGS), you can remove your opponent dead stones, while she does the same for yours. When this is finished to your satisfaction, use "Done..." (in the score Info window) to validate the result. In case of error, "Undo" should revert the board to the end game.

How do I set my Profile?

The Profile view is where you can set a subset of the available parameters, and give some information about yourself.

How do I adjourn a game? Load an adjourned game?

Closing a board where you are playing an Internet game will ask you to adjourn it first. Your adjourned games are enumerated in the Profile view. When your opponent and you are both online, you can select a game and "Load" it. A board window will open, and play can be resumed.

What commands are available in the Console?

The list of available commands change from server to server. Here is a list for the IGS server, and here is one for NNGS servers.

Some commands may have unexpected results with Goban.