Life In 19x19

Hello,

I'm new to the game and I'm looking for a nice slotted Goban that I could put in my backpack and take with me to coffee shops or friends' houses.

The existing links to slotted boards across topics in the forum mostly point to ymimports.com and are currently broken 404 links.

My budget is USD ~$200 just for the board. I have no idea about the differences between good and bad boards, but I am a quality freak, so would like something that feels and looks nice and solid. The reason I don't want a folding board is because the gap along the folding line does not feel nice.

A soft board does not feel nice also. At that point I might as well just use a large tablet, which is what I'm doing right now.

I did come across a nice slotted board at a local Go enthusiasts' club here in Austin that I liked the feel of, but the guy said he got it 30 years ago, and those are no longer in production.

Any pointers would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

sssilver wrote:My budget is ~$200.

Hi sssilver,

Which currency ? Is that US$ ? Is the $200 just for the board,
or for the entire set ( board + stones + bowls ) ?

If it's US$200 just for board, I would recommend you get a nice table board --
you get a much better deal than a folding board. Although I understand the portability issue.

I've been carrying my 2" table board (shown in my avatar) for over 10 years to coffee shops
(now twice a week for our Go club). I don't mind it, but I can see it's too much for others.

EdLee wrote:

sssilver wrote:My budget is ~$200.

Hi sssilver,

Which currency ? Is that US$ ? Is the $200 just for the board,
or for the entire set ( board + stones + bowls ) ?

If it's US$200 just for board, I would recommend you get a nice table board --
you get a much better deal than a folding board. Although I understand the portability issue.

It's just for the board (updated the main topic).

A nice table board wouldn't work for me, because I need to put it in my backpack. I don't want a folding board, I want a slotted board.

You should be able to get a nice slotted board for much less than US$200.

EdLee wrote:You should be able to get a nice slotted board for much less than US$200.

I updated the head, yes it is US Dollars (isn't that kinda assumed in casual settings by the $ sign?).

If you know of a nice slotted board for under $200, can you help me find it? The only one I found had weird lime'ish color around the sides, and I wasn't sure about the overall quality.

Unrelated: I want to avoid cluttering the responses with these clarifications and prefer to update the original post, as that makes it easier for future people to find the entire information by not having to sift through these conversations.

Hi sssilver

I found this e-shop with the browser:
http://www.uncommongames.com/product/p-229-go-board-wood-slotted.aspx
I cannot recommend, nor advise against, since I don't know the site, nor the product but it is indeed a slotted board

sssilver wrote: I am a quality freak, so would like something that feels and looks nice and solid

btw, IMHO I would recommend a folding board with conifer wood (spruce = shin kaya) like this from the same site:
http://www.uncommongames.com/product/p-228-go-board-spruce-folding.aspx
better quality and much more in the "aesthetic japanese canon", as you can see also from the price: it doubles, but still in your budget.

Good luck with your search!

Galation wrote:Hi sssilver

I found this e-shop with the browser:
http://www.uncommongames.com/product/p-229-go-board-wood-slotted.aspx
I cannot recommend, nor advise against, since I don't know the site, nor the product but it is indeed a slotted board

sssilver wrote: I am a quality freak, so would like something that feels and looks nice and solid

btw, IMHO I would recommend a folding board with conifer wood (spruce = shin kaya) like this from the same site:
http://www.uncommongames.com/product/p-228-go-board-spruce-folding.aspx
better quality and much more in the "aesthetic japanese canon", as you can see also from the price: it doubles, but still in your budget.

Good luck with your search!

Thank you so much! These look great, especially the second one. If I find nothing better, that's probably the one I'll end up purchasing.

My concern with a folding board is that the metal hinges have to take some space beyond the wood surface, which means the board either doesn't sit completely flat on the surface, or the gap between the 2 sides is significant (and hence feels awkward to put stones on), or both. But the pictures don't look that way.

Does anyone have any experience with folding boards? Do they have any of these problems, and if not, how do they overcome them?

I've got a folding Go board (Agathis) - though it was a present so I don't know where it came from.

My concern with a folding board is that the metal hinges have to take some space beyond the wood surface, which means the board either doesn't sit completely flat on the surface, or the gap between the 2 sides is significant (and hence feels awkward to put stones on), or both. But the pictures don't look that way.

actually you're overlooking a third option - the design of the board could be such that it sits perfectly flat - but slopes slightly up towards the hinges* so that the join is properly closed and the board sits flat on the surface below - anything less is an unusable board (but I supose it would be possible in really cheap ones).

* - I've not noticed it before, I thought it got thinner but now I've measured it, it appears slightly curved towards the hinge point - not noticeable in use.

Actually you can see this in (random internet search) - this shogi board (third photo)http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/g-store/item/10000340/g-store@fork.ocn.ne.jp

- it's not warped but like that by design.


btw, my board is similar to this one: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NINTENDO-JAPAN-JAPANESE-IGO-GO-potable-board-5gou-/151163555276?hash=item23320ccdcc:g:fykAAOxydB1SgCX5 - and I'd probably get one like that, especially since it's made by Nintendo

Another folding board for consideration:
https://shop.gogameguru.com/intrepid-go-game-set/

The Go Game Guru board is a decent portable playing surface, but not suitable for someone who is annoyed by hinges or looking for an exceptionally high quality board.

Kurokigoishi has a no-hinge folding go board that may fit your budget even with international shipping: http://shop.kurokigoishi.co.jp/en/item/166.

Such wonderful options, thank you guys!

So between Nintendo, Kurokigoishi, the Intrepid set, and the spruce board, which one is the better board?

viewtopic.php?f=19&t=10287
I got this off a Japanese auction site. Best travel board I've even seen.

sssilver wrote:Such wonderful options, thank you guys!

So between Nintendo, Kurokigoishi, the Intrepid set, and the spruce board, which one is the better board?

I can't quite remember but isn't the Nintendo set a travel size? not a full size board? Full sized boards are maybe 45cm long.

Have you checked out 6 Brothers Baduk? I don't know if you'll be able to find a Western reseller as their website looks a bit impenetrable.

Have you checked out Yellow Mountain Imports? It's worth checking.

I have a Kurokigoishi board and I treasure it. I also play on it often. The packaging was almost as good as the board itself. Never in my life have I seen as much polystyrene.

Galation wrote:I found this e-shop with the browser:
http://www.uncommongames.com/product/p-229-go-board-wood-slotted.aspx
I cannot recommend, nor advise against, since I don't know the site, nor the product but it is indeed a slotted board

I have this board. I bought it from a local shop.
I don't understand why it has the extra slots on the outside edges of the board. Its weird. Its the only thing I don't like about the board.

I've been wanting a good slotted board for years, but manufacturers just don't make those any more.

Stay away from the Intrepid Go set. The board isn't bad, but it has exactly the annoyances you were looking to avoid. (incidentally, it is from 6 brothers baduk)

sssilver wrote:
My concern with a folding board is that the metal hinges have to take some space beyond the wood surface, which means the board either doesn't sit completely flat on the surface, or the gap between the 2 sides is significant (and hence feels awkward to put stones on), or both. But the pictures don't look that way.

Does anyone have any experience with folding boards? Do they have any of these problems, and if not, how do they overcome them?

While I do not know if any folding go boards are made this way, it IS possible to have a hinged board where the hinges do not protrude below the plane of the bottom when the board is open, where there is no open crack between the halves when open, and where the halves close in complete contact when the board folded. That's speaking of this as a problem in woodworking. You were perhaps considering only simple one pin hinges, hinges not inset, non-critical edges not relieved, etc.? Think about the problem again assuming two pin hinges (link connected hinges), inset, and bottom edges below the points of rotation relieved.

Again, I do not know if any folding boards use such a complex solution. The folding boards I have solve the problem a much simpler way. Ordinary hinges, not inset so protruding below the plane of the wood, then at each corner of the board, pads the same thickness that the hinges protrude. That means the board, when open, rests on the hinges in the middle and those pads at the outside edges, perfectly flat and stable.