About
AOGC Welcome
This information is for people joining the Australian Online Go Club. This explains the reasons for the club, our principles, how it works and other facilities for members. Also, please read the Privacy page the come an join us on Discord where you can meet other people and arrange games. We play regularly on Monday evenings from 7:00pm but there is no reason why you cannot meet, talk and play Go any day, any time.
The why
The idea for the AOGC was triggered by the results of the AGA 2017 survey. The free text survey responses listed ‘not enough players’, ‘no AGA club in our area’, ‘not enough time’ and ‘difficulty learning’ as the top issues for players around Australia.
The AOGC aims to address those issues and create an Australia wide network of Go players. It may not work for all people, particularly those who don’t have a Facebook account, but it will improve the situation.
The target audience is Go players of all levels living in Australia, particularly beginners and players in remote locations who may find it hard to play in a local club. This does not prohibit stronger players from taking part but they must be prepared to teach others. Players living overseas may be allowed to join at some time in the future but for now, it’s Aussies only.
A small group started the project October 2017, the processes and facilities have been through a few iterations, a process that will continue. During the construction and testing period over 30 teaching games videos were created ranging from 9 stone handicap to even games and from 6 dan to 13 kyu.
Apart from the Facebook group there is a supporting web site club,artofgo.org – this explains the principles of the club, lists members & their rank and the teachers. An Younggil 8P – is a Professional and charges for lessons – if you want a lesson with him, please email him anyoungkil@gmail.com. All other teachers are amateur volunteer who give their time freely.
Club principles
One of the problems with Online Go Servers is the attitude of players toward each other – anybody who’s played on a server will know what I mean. So we decided to adopt the following six principles that we believe are self-evident:
- The art and practice of Go is something to be enjoyed.
- Respect and courtesy are essential at all times whether playing, reviewing a game or posting to Facebook
- Learning and teaching are more important than winning.
- Playing games is essential to improve your and your opponent’s skills.
- A match consists of two parts, playing and reviewing the game.
- Everybody has ideas that should be listened to.
All people joining the AOGC agree to abide by these principles. We acknowledge that not all people will agree or perhaps abide by them – it’s a free world and those people are free to join other clubs and play other people.
The founding members reserve the right to remove members from the Facebook group and as members of the club if there are repeated breached of any of the club principles.
The how
A person can join the private Facebook group. There is a Join Us page on the AOGC website (club.artofgo.org); the website describes the club, it’s aims, lists members & their rank and the volunteer teachers.
The Facebook group is a communications process and repository of video lessons, game reviews & kifu and other learning materials.
Games are arranged between members using Facebook or Discord – if you are not sure of a person’s rank, check the members page on the website, or just ask them.
We prefer game reviews to use a teleconference facility this means people are not typing or waiting for somebody else to type, it also leads to better teaching and learning outcomes. The favorite means of recording a game review is https://zoom.us/ – this is a free teleconferencing solution with an inbuilt record function. Meetings between 2 people can be as long as you want when there are more than 2 people the meeting is limited to 40 minutes. Zoom works on any type of device and is quite simple to use. Try it out with a friend to get an idea of how to use it.
When you review a game make sure you ask your questions and get answers – stronger players (me included) sometimes miss things because they think they are obvious – don’t let us get away with that.
You are not limited to playing the ‘teachers’ you can play anybody. Please ask anybody for a game, don’t be shy; and if you are asked for a game try and say ‘yes’ – it’s only through playing that people improve.
Getting stronger at Go is achieved by solving problems, studying games and playing. Solve 10 life and death problems a day (without putting stones on the board); play through or preferably memorize a pro game and play at least 1 game a day and you will improve.
The founders of the club hope you will enjoy your time at the club.
David Mitchell, James Kaaden & Michael Hyde
Contact
If you have any questions, please email daviidgmitchell@outlook.com