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Go and IGS Etiquette guide
by Olli Lounela, Ken Warkentyne and Frederic Chauveau
(version 2.11)
Background
==========
Some say about Go: "It's only a game, have fun!" This is indeed very
true. However, politeness and dignified behavior are important in
order for the game to be fun, which is why the concept of etiquette
exists.
This set of guidelines is intended to address some general go etiquette
as well as the special issues that arise from playing on the Internet Go
Server, aka IGS. This file originates in the hands of Ken Warkentyne,
who did a great job on it, but since he all but disappeared for a while,
I picked up an older version and edited it, and here we are.
Most of the content of this has been originally derived from discussions
that have taken place on the Internet News newsgroup rec.games.go, and I
wish to thank all the people who participated in those discussions, as
well as the IGS people for providing such a wonderful facility. Special
thanks go to Evan Behre, who did the enormous, tedious and no doubt dull
job of proofreading this document in record time.
Players new to go are strongly recommended to read the Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQ) periodical posting, posted into newsgroup rec.games.go
by Adrian Mariano, the IGS specific FAQ likewise posted periodically by
Rob Skrobola, and to look at some introductory material such as RULES.PS
or RULES.SG. All these files (and many many more) are available via
anonymous ftp from:
www.joy.ne.jp (202.231.97.22) or ftp://www.joy.ne.jp
ftp.nuri.net (203.255.112.6) or ftp://ftp.nuri.net
Any and all corrections and suggestions for improvement of this
document are welcome. Please mail them to olli.lounela@helsinki.fi
Contents
--------
I General Go Playing Issues
1) Introduction
2) Language and Culture
2) Handicap games
3) The First Stone
4) Announcing Atari
5) Resigning
II IGS issues
6) In the IGS
7) Language and Culture
8) Ranking
9) Starting a game
10) Time for a game
11) Undo
12) Adding time
13) Disconnections
14) Escaping and escapers
15) Shouting
16) Kibitzing
I General Issues
================
1) Introduction
---------------
When humans deal with each other, problems invariably arise. When
dealing with each other through the extremely impersonal medium of a
computer network, this effect gets to be more pronounced, and can be
greatly exaggerated. Fortunately, most of these difficulties can be
solved by a little understanding and a little forgiveness, and
particularly, some standard courtesy and commonsense politeness is a
good way to reduce any strain or stress.
A very good thing to remember is that the World really is a vast place.
Whereas the standard of what's polite seems to generally be much the
same all over, the cultural differences all over the World make great
differences as to how polite people are and just what's thought of as an
insult. At places some behavior, like cursing and calling names, are
commonplace, whereas at other places this is a deadly insult. Likewise,
at places shouting around could be rude, whereas at others being all
quiet could be perceived the same.
For these reasons, and after several lengthy "discussions" in the
newsgroup rec.games.go (flamewar might be more accurate a term), it's
become obvious there is a need for a periodical posting on the
etiquette.
2) Handicap games
-----------------
If you are a weak player, your stronger opponent will thank you for
taking the correct handicap. Many people find it extremely boring to be
in a game with a foregone conclusion. Playing stronger players is a
good way to improve but you will have trouble finding willing opponents
if you do not offer them an interesting game. For example, a top
European player, has his own specific way of refusing any under handicap
games, he says "it spoils his style" -- rather an effective way of
implying the suggestion for the handicap is not entirely what he wants,
and some others are sure to have develop methods of their own.
If you are a strong player, you may consider playing weaker players as a
service to the game and to IGS. Furthermore, playing a weaker player
with proper handicap should be just as challenging as playing an even
game against a player of the same rank. Also, just consider how
important playing those stronger was to your advancing to your current
rank; how would it be without those? -- it goes both ways.
3) The First Stone
------------------
Tradition has it that Black places the first stone in the upper right
corner of the board. On a diagram, a computer screen, or anywhere a
game is printed, this translates, accordingly, to the top right hand
corner.
4) Announcing Atari
-------------------
The custom of saying "atari" when you threaten the capture of a group is
considered entirely optional. Some people will even prefer that you not
say it, and others can consider it an offensive behaviour. Some go so
far as to call it disturbing the opponent. Professionals do not say
atari.
5) Resigning
------------
The majority opinion holds that it is polite to offer to resign when it
is clear that you cannot win. If you want to finish the game out (not
necessarily a good idea), you should at least not waste inordinate
amounts of time trying to make a dead group alive or searching for an
extra point here and there. Dragging out a lost game is very impolite
and you can make a bad reputation for yourself. And besides, if you are
playing someone strong, asking the opponent instead of not resigning is
a good idea.
Some people say they can still learn from the game, but this is not
entirely realistic. The stronger the opponent, the less real effort he
puts into the game after it's won, and so the actual level of the game
will not be as high as it was. It appears the people claiming this
never consider whether they can learn more from a new game, for which
the opponent still has a good chance of agreeing to unless he has been
dragged deep into boredom. And, furthermore, while winning may be a
joy, just how joyful is it to win after boring the opponent to close to
death?
Strong players should be good judges of when the game is lost. Weaker
players have more leeway, both because they may not be good at counting
and because their play is inconsistent. Handicap games can also be
difficult to estimate since a much stronger player can sometimes catch
up 20 points or more in the endgame. The main guideline is simply to be
reasonable, and resign when you think you can't win any more. If you
are unsure, try talking to your opponent or an observer -- asking the
opponent is a good idea, especially if (s)he's the stronger of you two,
as it implies you might think him stronger and thus is courteous.
II IGS issues
=============
6) In the IGS
-------------
At times you might feel that you have a problem with someone on IGS, and
the proper way to handle this is: please discuss it with that person.
It may also be useful to ask other IGSers to help arbitrate your dispute
-- outsiders can often shrivel any problems back to their proper
proportions.
Always a good idea, when at a loss or in case of *any* problems, is to
ask someone more experienced. IGS in particular has lots of "old hands"
who most often are all too happy to give advise or otherwise help.
As a last resort, you may notify the IGS administrators of your problem,
but this is truly only as a *last* resort. The IGS team is busy working
on making IGS the best go playing facility possible and do not deserve
to be bothered by petty issues. Also, since their workload, they don't
necessarily even get around to answer their e-mail, of which they
receive LOTS.
However, always when you have problems with interacting with people,
please remember that the problems are not those of the people you ask
for help, and that it is up to *you* to make sure that a solution is
found and put into effect. Particularly, shouting around is no
solution at all, it is just likely to give you the label of a shouter,
and lots of players will disregard whatever you shout, and perhaps you
altogether, henceforward. Also, many players have the shouts turned off
and will never hear you shouting.
7) Language and Culture
-----------------------
At your local go club, everyone probably speaks a common language. On
IGS, there is no such guarantee. Although many people speak English, it
is not a good idea to assume that everyone does. People also come from
very different backgrounds, even from different sides of the globe we
call the world, so do not assume that your humour is self-evident or
that your idiom is understood. It is especially wrong to think along
the lines "I come from X. In X everyone does Y. So Z should understand
when I do Y."
And please keep in mind that this is also a thing you should take an
attitude of patience towards. If somebody does not "get it", perhaps
you being this somebody, it does not mean the end of the world.
8) Ranking
----------
Ranks exist to enable two players who do not know each other to have a
fair game.
>:From the rec.games.go FAQ:
"You can determine your strength only by playing
against others with known strength."
One of the wonders of IGS is that it has players from every corner of
the globe. Unfortunately, ranking standards vary from place to place,
and so it may happen you are over- or unde rranked with respect to some
other players.
This does not necessarily mean that it would be a statement of distrust
to your local standard of rating, however. As evidenced by the quote
from the FAQ, if it allows the local games to be correct, it is
perfectly good enough.
A means to overcome this problem is to use the IGS rating system (see
'help ratings' on IGS). But please note that the ratings in the IGS are
variable, and indeed, so is the whole rating system in there; it has
happened that the whole rating scale got adjusted, and this may and
probably will happen again. Further, as the IGS administrators claim,
the IGS ratings are internal to the IGS only, and not applicable
elsewhere as such.
If you have no idea what your initial rank should be, don't hesitate to
discuss the matter with IGS players. IGS is a friendly place and many
people will be glad to help you out. Most are likely willing to play a
game or two to help you out of this dilemma.
Some people choose not to use the rating system for legitimate reasons.
For example, they might feel ratings are too competitive and detract
from the fun of the game. Others see no need of it, most especially the
acknowledged strongest players and visiting professionals.
But when setting your rank, it is important to realize that it is
considered impolite to set one's rank at a wildly incorrect level. For
example if your strength is close to shodan, setting your rank to, say,
15 kyu is guaranteed to offend others.
Also, if the rating system in the IGS does not work to your
satisfaction, you are in no way obliged to use it, far less to mess it
up. Some other players may be interested and willing to support it, and
others really want to use the autoranks. Please, *please* respect
others' ranks, lest you gain some players' enmity. The proper way to
not to use the rating system is not to set an initial rank but to keep
it 'NR' all the time.
9) Starting a game
------------------
When playing in a go club, you probably don't walk up to someone and
stick a go board in front of their face in order to ask for a game.
Similarly, on IGS it is polite to ask a player first before entering the
match command, even if that player has "looking" toggled on.
Also, a good idea is to check the prospective opponent's info line, just
do 'stats' on that person. Many people in the IGS put some relevant
information in their info line.
An extremely important practice that I have adopted and really
recommend, is to make sure the terms of the game have been agreed upon
_beforehand_. Unless you bother to do this, you will eventually run
into someone who does not think the terms of the game same as you, and
there we have a dispute. A lot of angry shouting and even some
flamewars in rec.games.go have been witnessed as a result. (As to what
I'd do in such a case? I'd simply ask for adjourn as it seems impossible
to continue the game, and play someone else.)
10) Time for a game
-------------------
It is important to note that playing in IGS is by no means a fast thing
to do. You should reserve a proper amount of time for it, generally in
the hours. As one strong player there said:
"Myself I typically won't start a game if I know it will have to
be stopped in less than 45 minutes, and under half an hour is an
absolute no no. And once you start a game, you should play it
out to the end."
This is a good practice, even though I wouldn't be this strict. I
sometimes start a game in a shorter time, and make if quick enough to
make sure it'll be finished in time, or make sure before starting that
the opponent knows I won't be able to finish it, and will agree to
adjourn and go on later.
Note that it is important to discuss this with the prospective opponent
*before* the game. Several "reasons" for adjournments are particularly
insulting, unless agreed upon beforehand: to have a discussion with
someone, to watch another game, or, especially, to play with someone
else. None of these would be an acceptable reason for adjournment.
If you wish to stop playing for some non reason, you can always resign.
11) Undo
--------
Playing on a computer is very different from playing on a real board.
But even with the most sophisticated client interface, performing the
electronic equivalent of dropping a stone can be surprisingly easy.
Therefore, it is considered quite legitimate to ask for an undo if you
accidentally enter the wrong coordinates for the stone you wish to place
(i.e. you mistyped the coordinates or clicked the mouse button too soon).
This kind of human error is usual enough even outside computer world to
have been given a term that's made it's way to the mainstream English.
>From Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English
Language (Gramercy Books, 1989):
:typo: n. pl -pos. Informal. See typographical error [shortened form]
:typographical error: an error in printed or typewritten material resulting
from striking the improper key of a keyboard, from mechanical
failure, or the like.
>From Jargon File 2.9.8, 1 Jan 1992:
:mouso: n. [by analogy with 'typo'] An error in mouse usage resulting
in an inappropriate selection or graphic garbage on the screen.
Compare with thinko, braino.
If you make a typo (or "clicko"), you should ask for the undo
*immediately* or sooner. Indeed, some experienced players, when
suspecting a typo, pause for a few seconds in case the opponent asks for
undo, and sometimes even ask "typo?". This typically means they are
prepared to undo the move then and there, but won't do so after they
have made their move, and so it serves as a control of the typo
requests.
People who receive requests for an undo are under no obligation to grant
them. However, in keeping with the friendly spirit of IGS, granting
undos for accidental clickos and typos is considered to be
sportsmanlike, and good polite behaviour besides. If you insist on
following a policy of never granting undos, you should probably say so
before starting the game, and putting a sentence to that effect into
your info is a good idea.
If you ask for an undo because you misread the board, did a stupid
blunder, or had a moment of insanity, don't expect anything.
12) Adding Time
---------------
Due to the vagueries of computer networks, the response time of IGS can
vary widely from hour to hour, and often even from one minute to
another. As such, it is possible that your opponent will run into
unexpected time problems for reasons beyond his control. Please take
this into consideration if you opponent asks for additional time.
People have even created a special word that describes this kind of
net induced delays, "netlag". Whenever someone calls netlag, you can be
sure he means the traffic from his computer to the IGS and back is very
slow, cases vary from 5-10 seconds per direction all way down to tens of
minutes and complete connection losses. It may be useful to know that
some of the biggest things causing netlag are international borders (e.g.
between USA and Canada) and big obstacles (Atlantic Ocean is a typical
example).
Often when netlag is reasonable, people still start a game since netlag
is unpredictable and can vanish totally. But quite as likely is the
opposite. This has lead some people to the habit of always warning the
opponent of the existence of netlag *in* *advance*, or at latest when it
looks likely there will be a problem due to it, so that there would be
no doubt of the cause for the need of adding time. Also, sometimes it
even is necessary to adjourn the game and continue later when the
network problems become less, so asking for adjournment in this context
can be considered proper, and it is considered polite to accept it --
though by no means obligatory.
If you run into time problems because of your own slow play, you have
only yourself to blame. Be wary of asking for too many addtimes; you
may create a bad feeling. Ask for an adequate time allotment *before*
starting the game.
13) Disconnections
------------------
The aforementioned highly erratic behaviour of the network can have
another, and far less enjoyable effect: connection loss. People are
frequently disconnected from the server due to problems with the network
for time periods extending from minutes to days. If this happens during
play, your game will be automatically adjourned, and the IGS itself
tries to take care of saving the game. The IGS command 'notify' can be
used to notify you when your opponent reconnects. If you are unable to
wait, use the 'message' command to arrange for the continuation of play
some other time, or in case the opponent has his address set (check
'stats' on him/her), sending e-mail to that effect is a good idea.
Deliberate disconnection is highly impolite, and most any player who
does not do it does not appreciate it, except in very few special cases.
Often a continued such behaviour leads to the loss of potential
opponents.
14) Escaping and escapers
-------------------------
Deliberate disconnection to avoid losing has happened often enough to
have been coined a term, 'escaping'. It really is an unfriendly thing
to do, and is a sure way to earn the displeasure of IGS admins once they
hear about it, and very likely the enmity of many potential opponents --
especially as they tend to make it public, either by telling people
(this kind of word of mouth has a tendency of spreading at speeds in
excess of speed of light), or even making it really public by posting
into newsgroup rec.games.go. And furthermore, escaping has been
perceived big enough a problem that steps are being taken to take care
of it.
However, if and when you suspect that someone has disconnected in order
to avoid having their loss recorded, please, *please*, *PLEASE* make an
effort to be sure that it is not just a straightforward network problem
before taking further action. This is a procedure fmc has suggested:
1) Wait a reasonable amount of time. While fmc defines 10 minutes as
minimum, I would not recommend anything less than 20 minutes,
though if you wait over 15 minutes or so, and the opponent has not
re-appeared, you can consider starting a new game if you so wish.
2) If waiting is fruitless, attempt to contact the opponent. Leave a
message by the IGS 'message' feature, or use e-mail.
Once these prove unsuccessful for a period of days (cf. Disconnections),
or you have some proof the opponent's not willing to play it to the end
like outright refusing, not answering repeated queries, or disconnecting
whenever asked about it, we can say with any confidence (s)he actually
*might* be an escaper. At this stage you can take further action, but
*DO* *NOT* begin shouting around wildly; this is only slightly less
impolite than escaping. fmc gives three ways you can go on from here:
4) a) Post to newsgroup rec.games.go. Many people will appreciate a
warning of an escaper. But please explain carefully just what
it was that happened, so that others can judge themselves
whether the escaping really has happened. Also, please no insults.
b) You can also e-mail the IGS admins, but as said before, all of
them really have lots of things to do.
But no matter what happens, it is important to remember that if someone
is not polite, it is by no means necessary you follow suit. Please be
ever polite all the way through. ALSO NOTE, fmc urges you to remember,
that if you complain about someone escaping and it proves you were
wrong, you really owe an apology to the one you complained about -- this
again is common courtesy.
15) Shouting
------------
Please use the 'shout' command with discretion. As it is of the time
of writing this, the shouts are far too frequent and numerous people to
really pay attention what is being shouted, and accordingly, many people
have toggled shouts off. This makes _any_ shouts less affective.
Here again, fmc has given suggestions as to what *absolutely* should
*NEVER* be shouted:
- hints or suggestions for moves
- comments about an on-going game
- personal things about players
And further, he concludes, it is not a good idea to shout every 15
seconds asking for a game, it just increases the noise and makes even
more people ignore both shouts in general, and shouts by you in
particular. Also, once you are considered a 'shouter', nobody will take
heed of what you shout.
It is important to notice, that for these reasons in particular, tim has
implemented the channels as a semi-private way of giving messages.
Channels are in no way restricted by the admins, so that's a good way
for any discussion of any group smaller than IGS as a whole.
16) Kibitzing
-------------
No general rules to kibitzing exist as such, apart from the general
guidelines for polite behaviour. People often fall into discussions
that can have nothing whatsoever to do with either Go or the game at
hand. Such is to be expected, since we are human beings, after all.
If you dislike the kibitzes, you can always 'toggle kibitz off', to
completely shut them out. If you want the kibitzes to get more
game related, it often is no use at all to tell people off or to ask
them to shut up, but asking them to switch to more private ways of
communication like tell or channels often helps, and commenting on the
game (kibitzing :-) or asking questions about it just may work.
Some special aspects to kibitzing exist, however. First, it is obvious
that any player of a game has the possibility of mailing the game to
him/herself afterwards, and reading the kibitzes thereof. Thus, keep in
mind that the discussion that happens aside the game is recorded and
attached to the game, and please do take care not to make any comments
that could be considered insulting ("not a real dan" is a typical
example).
This especially applies to any pros and their games, please take care.
Professionals come to IGS to give us, bloody amateurs, teaching
_on_their_own_free_time_! If insulted, it's all too likely they'll go
away for keeps. Just how would you feel like when being slighted in
something you're really good in by some rookie? To professionals, who
have no need of ego-trip in the field of go, kibitzes and especially
shouts to the effect "not a real pro" or "fake 7p" are particularly
insulting.
--
Olli, 3 dan
E-mail: olli.lounela@helsinki.fi
If this message is too long for your terminal, use: mail me etiquette
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