I’ve been trying to create a bunch of vinyl roll-up Go boards and a few wooden (MDF) Go boards. The problem I’m having is in producing the lines. I invariably screw up a line or two, which ruins the vinyl roll-up board (no do-over’s) and puts me back to square one with the MDF board (sanding and starting over again). The only fool-proof method is silk screening, which is very expensive and not really an option.
I’ve been able to create a couple of passable vinyl boards, but only after ruining 4 others. I’m on my 3rd refinishing of an MDF board and I’m about ready to throw in the towel. It really doesn’t take much to mess up a line - a slip or flinch and you’re done. I need to figure out a more reliable system…
Tencho no Igo is the commercial version of Zen a computer Go program that many claim is the strongest Go program in the world. It is said to play at a 2 to 3 dan level, which is quite remarkable. As Sensei points out, “this engine played on KGS in April and May 2009 as Zen19 and was the first to hold a KGS 2d (and 1d) rating for more than 20 rated games in a row.”
It’s being produced and distributed through a Japanese company called MyCom Game Web. And for a mere $145.00 USD it can be yours – just make sure your trusty Japanese dictionary is at your side when you play because an English version is not yet available. Obviously, this is a program for East Asian markets, but it’ll be interesting nevertheless to see how successful it becomes worldwide.
