Basic Go Etiquette

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Beginning the game

It is considered polite at the beginning of each game to wish the opponent to have a good game in some way or another. The traditional Japanese greeting is "Onegaishimasu" (Though sometimes written "Onegai Shimasu" and "O negai shimasu"), the translation of which is highly contentious. Its literal translation in context appears to be "Please do me the favour of playing a game with me", but is quite accepted to mean "Have a good game". "Good luck" is also very common, but some people feel it is inappropriate in a game where luck has no part to play, so some players discourage its use.

Whilst it is great that the game is becoming so international in its player base, it is also worth bearing in mind that your opponent on this server may not speak a word of your language. If they don't respond, it is quite possible they simply did not understand what you said, so try not to be offended if this happens.

Ending the game

As with most other turn based games, it is considered polite to thank your opponent for the game, whether you won, lost, or resigned out of frustration (or any other reason you really don't feel like speaking to your opponent). If your opponent won the game, it is also polite to congratulate them on their victory.

When to resign

There is actually a fair amount of debate over the appropriate time to resign a game, even when you are aware that the game is completely lost. Most of this discussion would be far beyond the ability for a beginner to apply to their games, but the basic principles are relatively straightforward to follow once they have an acceptable understanding of life and death shape.

If you know you have a lost a game, especially if you are playing someone you can tell is of a far higher ability, it is polite to resign and thank your opponent for the game. To continue is considered to be rude as it is wasting the time of your opponent who has probably lost most of the interest once the game is no longer really competitive. If you feel there is something you can still learn the game, ask your opponent if they are happy to continue with the game so that you can play out whatever area is still of interest and accept "no" as an answer. If you are unsure about whether a game is lost, then there is nothing wrong with playing the game through, but if you have a suspicion that you may be lost it is quite acceptable to message a stronger player and ask them (including to give an explanation of why the game is lost or not lost as the case may be).

Miscellaneous etiquette

Beyond what has been mentioned above, it is just helpful to be polite and cordial in your dealings with other players both on the game, through private messages and on the forums, as it creates a more pleasant atmosphere for all.

Move on to [Basic Tactics]

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