I'm just beginning to learn about Go. There is no one around here who plays it, no club or anything, so all my matches will be online. Nevertheless, for learning purposes, do you think it would be useful to buy a simple Go board set? I've seen options and I could afford one without problem.

I don’t think it’s necessary at all, but playing with a physical set while studying can add to the aesthetic experience of the game. I don’t use my board very often, but I’m still glad I have it.

And welcome to the forum!

It can't hurt. Engaging more senses utilizes more of the brain while learning. It's also easier with a real set to play around with positions, as you can take off and rearrange stones more easily on a real board than on a computer screen.

Good luck!

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At some point, doesn't thinking have to go on?
— Winona Adkins

Visualize whirled peas.

Everything with love. Stay safe.

You should if you have a cat.

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Yes.

Everyone, thank you for the advice—and thank you for the welcome, jeromie. Now, Joaz Banbeck, the comment about the cat went right over my head... If it was a joke, I guess my asking what it means will make it funnier, if not, man, I'm really interested in knowing how the feline figures into Go.

Hi Tom,It's a thing. Seems they're quite territorial (!) and will happily plop down on any board, mid-game or not.

Hi guys,
I have a nice japanese set: shell & slate stones, masame cut kaya goban, and a nice pair of bowls...
...and now I understand that what I really missed is a cat instead !
btw, you sure have a point, here is a courious host of our thursday night at the club easily solving a complex tsumego

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When you play Weiqi you are joining millions of people across four thousand years of time.
Jonathan Hop - So You Want to Play Go?

Single Digit Kat ?

Not only you surely can buy a go set, but even more you can buy one you will enjoy to play with.
(According to your budget of course)

There is pleasure with holding heavy stones (so plastic to avoid) and to put them on a good wood. The normal size is recommended for easier reading.
Some prefer a more portable but you lose in that case on these points.

If you want to mix import material, be aware that Korean materials are smaller as Japanese, and Japanese smaller as Chinese.

I was regarding Go as very beautiful, now you've made me think of it as simply amazing—and wonder where it had been all my life. I asked a quick question and you turned this into such an endearing topic—what a community! Thank you all very much!

P.S.: Vio, I had to go with a more affordable option: portable goban with plastic goishi. But, you know, someday...

Yes, Tom, one baby step at a time.

O that's totally fine. Btw the magnet type offers you more opportunities to play or study (car/train/subway/bathroom...)
Have fun!

Hi, just my 2 cent about the magnetic sets.
I bought one when I purchased my first wooden set with your same idea, but I do not use it so much.
In the end, I most of the time use or my foldable bamboo go set (it's so strong that you can use it at the beach without any worry) and I have always with me a 8 inches tablet ( phablet? ) where I mostly study/excercise, play online and use as kifu (register the moves of my games for later review).
The tablet is IMHO a better solution than a magnetic goban.
Galation

_________________
When you play Weiqi you are joining millions of people across four thousand years of time.
Jonathan Hop - So You Want to Play Go?

Did you try to play in a train? With vibration slowly shifting the stones away from the board? Magnet is the solution in that case. Or in any case when you need to hold the board with your hand too(public transportation).

A tablet bit bigger as a phone, but for me stay in that category, doesn't have the charm of stones and wood either. (Not really the OP topic)

Bamboo is a good choice for keeping it in a good state, absolutely. Some still find it a bit too dark (and very hard)

Well best could be to own all different kind (even plastic to play in the pool) and organize some weiqi party!