Which do you prefer?

[balmung]

I have recently met up with a friend of mine who plays Go. Before we met up I had never played anyone around my strength over the board before, and I really enjoyed it(so much that I would rather play over the board instead of online for the rest of my life). We played about 6-8 games, and the only time I won was when we stoped playing even and I took a 3 stone handicap which was a complete slaughter. At the end of the Go meet up he gave me some really good books, and I learned alot from playing him.

So, as the title states there is a question. Do you prefer to play over the board or on the internet?

[robinz]

Definitely over the board. Although I guess I'm lucky in that there is a healthy club near me which meets twice a week, and includes a full range of ability from complete beginners to a few dan players. Some players can take 9 stones off me and win comfortably, while others I can beat while giving 9 stones - I find this fairly amazing and satisfying, in a weird way

Online play has its advantages, most notably that you can play whenever you want, and against a practically infinite number of different opponents - but I always find it a bit soulless compared to playing over the board. But then were it not for KGS I might never have even started playing at all. So both definitely have their place. (And I'm aware that, with Go being very much a minority activity in the west, many players don't have the option of regular over-the-board games against a variety of opponents.)

[kirkmc]

Over the board by a longshot. This said, I've never lived anywhere with a really good club, so online is how I play most of my games. I live in the country now, and the nearest club is a few hours' drive.

One thing I like to do is play online games on my board. I play long games - 45-60 min each player - and place the stones on my board, then click on my computer. I think looking at the board, not the screen. I don't easily find players willing to play like this on KGS, but I know a couple of people who like to do it.

[blue88]

If it's just playing I prefer going to a club, not only because the board is made of wood, but also because of the chat, the food/beverages and the strangers' interested looks.

However, I don't expect to learn from these games. There is too much distraction at the club. If I want to study I prefer online play, where I can easily replay the game and try variations or compare positions.
(In case you have a teacher at your club it's a different matter of course, but I compared both locations assuming the players are of equal strengh.)

[Koroviev]

Over the board.

[GoCat]

For some of us ancient players, "over the board" was the only option for many years, and I certainly still enjoy it much more than online games.

[Gresil]

Probably the real board: I'm much calmer at a real board facing a real opponent.

[TMark]

Well, for a change, I will say online. Clubs usually charge and I'm a skinflint, and it usually takes an hour or so to get to a club. At home, I can smoke, belch, fart, get falling down drunk, insult my opponent and kick the cat if I lose, and only I will witness it. Such freedom, but I never abuse it online; however abusive or rude my opponent, I always thank her/him/it for the game, and then crawl my way upstairs to sleep it off.

Best wishes.

[Redundant]

Definitely online. I just can't focus as well on an actual board ... the stones are all of place. Also, I cannot take over the board games seriously; I usually play them just to have fun with friends.

[Laman]

hmm, i would say i prefer over the board, but at the beginning i played only online and for quite long time i was better when playing online (if i am not still). it is sometimes difficult for me to concentrate enough in (casual) real-life games, so i am sometimes happier to challenge strangers on the internet.

and one question from me: when playing online, do you have the board switched to fullscreen or just in a smaller window?

this is one thing i definitely like about online playing, that you see the board directly from above and it can be small enough, so you can see over it in one glance. i even developed theory that boards and stones are too big for us, because they are designed to be used in asian (japanese) way - board on the floor and players sitting on the floor -> this way you are higher above the board and you should see it in a better angle than with european style - board at the table and players at chairs -> then you see it from too small height, board appears too big and in a too big angle -> it is more difficult to get a good global view on the whole game situation

[entropi]

I think it depends on my mood. On a lazy evening, I would prefer playing online in my pjamas But in general it is probably over the board playing, which is more fun.

But I prefer casual games over tournament games because I the usual stress of a tournament game reduces the fun. Of course it is not to say that I don't enjoy tournaments but probably I am too lazy for more serious games

and one question from me: when playing online, do you have the board switched to fullscreen or just in a smaller window?

If my wife is around, I prefer small window for reducing the probability of "grrr again playing go, did you change the light bulb, did you fill the xy application form, blablabla" kind of interruption

[Dusk Eagle]

I definitely prefer over-the-board play: If I'm going to play online I often end up so apprehensive about the game before I start that I end up not playing at all. I also get much more frustrated if my opponent refuses to resign a game they are down by 40 points online than in real life. There's also just something satisfying to me about placing real stones on a real board.

[daal]

I prefer playing online. Although a real board and real stones are indeed aesthetically more pleasing, I find it harder to see what's going on. Also, I've gotten used to and like the fact that no one observes me during or especially after a game.

[Perception]

I definitely prefer over-the-board play: If I'm going to play online I often end up so apprehensive about the game before I start that I end up not playing at all. I also get much more frustrated if my opponent refuses to resign a game they are down by 40 points online than in real life. There's also just something satisfying to me about placing real stones on a real board.

Exactly this. I feel the same way. Unfortunately this means that I usually only play a few games a week, one or two at the club that meets once a week near me and maybe a game or two online if I can push myself to actually play.

[jdl]

Face-to-face is my preference, but almost all of my games are played online. I prefer slower games than most. I use auto-match to find ~30 min + 5x30s games. When I play live, my main opponent and I average around 1 hour per game, which works out about the same. We don't time it.

I always feel like I'm being rushed during club games, or that I'm holding everything up. No one has ever complained, but everyone seems to play faster than me.