I was looking for a good Go board (didn't care if it was folding or not).I was not willing to pay hundreds of dollars however.My initial look on Amazon for a board therefore left me rather disappointed.Any 'inexpensive' boards had horrible reviews.Primarily due to being rather small in size, and having cheap plastic stones.
Deep down the list I stumbled onto this set.I was surprised that it wasn't reviewed/rated yet, but the description made it seem really good.Almost too good to be true for the price of $37.80 (and free shipping)
Upon receiving it, I'm very impressed.The board is much larger than you would think, absolutely full size Go board.It's very hefty (especially with the stones in it).It's a lovely dark color and the lines are painted on in gold paint.(Some people may complain that it's not the normal yellow color, though I like the change)The clasp is rather small, but seems to hold it closed well.
The removable trays are wood, covered in velvet.Basic, but nice, and much better than a plastic bag like many cheap sets come with.
The stones themselves are much better than I could have thought.They are a man made material as the product description mentions (a starch/plastic combo from what I understand), but they actually feel very good in your hand.Decent weight, and they 'rub' against each other making sounds in your hands just like real stones would.
The only two complaints that I would have, are that the hinge on mine doesn't allow it to 'perfectly' lay flat on one side ... so there is a little lip on that line.slight 'adjustment pressure' mostly fixed this, but it's still not perfect, IMO this is a usual problem with any board that folds open.The second 'concern' is just something I'm worried about for the future.As I said, the lines are painted (perhaps silk screened?) on.I think that if I carried this around regularly that the lines might wear off.To that end I'll probably be making a soft fabric carrying bag for it to stop any such 'rubbing off'.
Overall, I'm very impressed for the price, and would heartily recommend anyone else to buy it.
The surface has a reddish hue, which complements the gold lines quite nicely. The stones come in zip-lock bags in felt trays (or is it velvet? I don't really know how to tell). It would be best to keep the stones in the bags when storing the set, since the trays fit into recesses on the "inside" of the folded board, and it's a little tough to tell which side you should open the board on to avoid spilling the stones.
The stones themselves are plastic (if you look very closely, you can see the molding seams on the edges, although you can barely even feel or see them when holding or looking at them without specifically looking for them. They have a smooth-feeling matte surface, giving them a texture remarkably similar to smooth pebbles you might find in the wild, although they don't quite have the heft of real stone.
My board had a slight cosmetic flaw, in that one of the tiny screws on the catch seemed to have gone in at a strange angle, but it doesn't seem to affect the functioning.
The only downside that I've found so far is in the "fun" factor: While Go is much simpler in its rules than other "classic" games like Chess, very few westerners are familiar with it, so expect to have to explain the rules if you just leave it on your office desk as I do. Unless you can find another human to play with, you'll probably have to play against yourself for practice, since there really aren't many good Go computer programs. To date, no computer has been able to play Go at a professional level, although you may be able to find Go puzzles (similar to Chess puzzles) online and in books.
Buy Beechwood Veneer Folding Go Game Set Now
My coworker and I decided that we wanted to start playing Go over lunch. Neither of us had ever played before, so we needed some equipment. Since I would be bringing it to work I needed something portable and fairly inexpensive; but since one of the reasons we wanted to start playing go was because of its aesthetic qualities, I didn't want to just use a cheap roll-up mat or something.
I hunted around on Amazon and found this. The reviews were positive and it was eligible for Amazon Prime so I ordered it.
When it arrived, I emailed my girlfriend: this is an astoundingly high quality board for the price! It's made of solid, good looking wood. The bottom of the board and the trays are lined with nice velvet or felt (I'm not smart enough to know which). The playing surface is glossy black with a golden grid painted on it. The stones feel good in the hand (though I wish they were just a bit heavier). And it even smells good: like nice wooden furniture.
The next day, while actually playing, my enthusiasm waned only a little when I discovered that the grid is not painted on perfectly straight. It's slightly crooked so that the center line starts on one side of the folding-edge and ends up on the other side. This doesn't distract from play at all, but it does explain why the board is so affordable.
Playing a stone with normal force doesn't produce a satisfy click, but it doesn't detract from the game too much.
This is an excellent portable set and, at the price, is also a good beater. If it gets damaged or stolen, you probably won't care like you would for one of the more expensive sets. I think this set hits the sweet spot on the price/quality curve.
I'd definitely recommend it.
Read Best Reviews of Beechwood Veneer Folding Go Game Set Here
I recently became interested in the game of Go, and played it on the computer for a while. I wanted to upgrade to a real board, but all of the fancy boards are incredible expensive, and initially all of the sets in my price range (under $50 let's remember it's a board game) were small and of cheap materials.
I found this one through a recommendation by the above user, and it lived up to its good review. The board is big: it's not one of those cramped sets that look big online but disappoint in person. This one is the real regulation size, and is visually appealing. It is relatively lightweight and allows a good amount of wiggle room to place the pieces.
It has a nice gold striping on the surface that is very slightly raised. The pieces are of a good weight and are very tough. They have a texture similar to that of smooth stone, and feel good to hold while you're thinking about the next move. They store in the convenient felt boxes that then fit inside the board for travel.
If you're like me and looking for a low-cost solution that won't disappoint, then this is a wise choice. Everything you need to play immediately, including a good rulebook in a quiz-style learning format, is included, and the price is great.
The board arrived on the fifth day after my order, with free shipping, actually sooner than I expected. It was undamaged save for a few marks in the gold striping which are hardly noticeable.
I deducted one star for durability because the stripes seem exposed and might accidentally be damaged when carrying the board, since they are silk-screened paint on the smooth surface, but this is nothing a soft towel or case won't prevent.
Overall, the set was better than I expected and a buy that left me satisfied.
Want Beechwood Veneer Folding Go Game Set Discount?
Not having owned another board before, it is difficult for me to say how this one measures up. One issue that might concern some is the contrast, which I find to be excellent. The board is this pretty red color and the black stones show up against it easily, even from across the room. I know it's not the traditional color scheme, but I find this board aesthetically pleasing. The trays for the stones are also quite nice and fit perfectly in the board when it's folded. The clasp looks rather small, but is apparently strong enough to hold the board folded shut. As for the stones, I'm not sure what they're made of, but they work. They are smooth, but not too glossy. If I had my way, I'd make them a bit heavier, but the dimensions are right and they stand out on the board, which is important. Overall, from what I can tell this is a fine board and not at all a bad deal if you're looking for a full-size board that isn't incredibly expensive.
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