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Ignoring the assholes making fun of you for being interested and explaining why, you can start learning right now:

igs: http://pandanet-igs.com/commun...
kgs: https://www.gokgs.com/

I know you can play the Gnu Go Server on kgs, if you want to avoid playing with a person for a while. You can also install it on your computer: https://www.gnu.org/software/g...

Hoshi = 4,4 star point. Push from behind = you push to match, rather than to surpass; the following move can extend past you, so you're not in control. Power is applicable influence: if you approach a huge fucking wall, I can throw a stone behind yours and, even though that stone is easy to attack, because of the wall I can respond to attacks by trying to cut off your stone. This is bad, and so if you just earnestly attack my stone you'll put me in a good position; if you try to protect the stone I attacked, I can chase and make the stone I attacked with stronger, impossible to attack while you flounder for a good position. That's power: your approach has only allowed me to become stronger. With power like that I can wantonly stage ridiculous attacks, because there's a huge army backing me up.

And honestly, read K50 and K10-K15, and play on KGS for a while.

A little editorial, it's really sad how many people don't know how to play chess anymore. I mean, it's gotta be in the 95% range for people younger than 30.

And then when I do find someone to play... I can't even dig into the database cause it's not like they are going to be really any good. [Lucky if they can remember the moves]

Heck I'm glad computers can "play chess".

Take up Go, if you have the time. http://www.gokgs.com/ for lots of online play. It might break your brain though.

Interesting, can you name any such software that can play go and has a 4 dan rank?

http://www.gokgs.com/graphPage.jsp?user=zen19

This article reads like a commercial without any scientific background w.r.t. the algorithms used. They even state it does not perform as well as other available programs.

Still, interested giving the game a try? It is really simple.

Start here to learn the rules: http://playgo.to/iwtg/

Like the problem solving, this is a good site for problems: http://goproblems.com/ Note, 30kyu problems are the easiest, then 25kyu etc. Hardest are the dan problems. (Believe me, they are really difficult)

Want to play against the computer? GnuGo is your friend> http://www.gnu.org/software/gnugo/gnugo.html

Playing against real oponents on the web, there are 2 options: Turn-based (the slow progress variant) or real-time. I can recommend for the turn-based variant Dragon Go Server and Online Go Server: http://www.dragongoserver.net/ http://www.online-go.com/

Personally, I'm not into real-time, but KGS is an alternative: http://www.gokgs.com/ Note, people might not always be in the mood for chatting here.

Getting hooked, try to find a local club or check for players in your neighbourhood: http://igolocal.net/

Have fun.

Monte Carlo

Yes, it's just a variant of Monte Carlo, but don't knock it. Recent programs implementing the algorithm have improved their handicaps by up to 5 stones, which is huge. The top bots at the KGS Go server are now ranked up to 4 dan (like a good amateur player) in games against humans.

You may want to read this short article in the Guardian about these recent improvements in the MoGo go bot. In October 2009 (6 months after this article appeared) a version of MoGo finally beat a top-ranking (9 dan) professional in an even game on a 9x9 board.

Monte Carlo

Yes, it's just a variant of Monte Carlo, but don't knock it. Recent programs implementing the algorithm have improved their handicaps by up to 5 stones, which is huge. The top bots at the KGS Go server are now ranked up to 4 dan (like a good amateur player) in games against humans.

You may want to read this short article in the Guardian about these recent improvements in the MoGo go bot. In October 2009 (6 months after this article appeared) a version of MoGo finally beat a top-ranking (9 dan) professional in an even game on a 9x9 board.

My life has many more pressing goals to achieve then mastering a game.

How about go here and try to master this game... you can't; nobody has in over 4000 years. But I can guarantee you that any sufficient progress will enhance your life...

So Go programs are getting there. Not as fast as chess, but they're still getting there.

FOSS GNUGo to play against a computer.

IGS Pandanet provides a good GUI client for GNUGo as well as a client to pandanet if you want to play real people.

KGS is an alternative to pandanet but is more IRCish and the client can't do computer play.

The game record on KGS is on this page: http://www.gokgs.com/gameArchives.jsp?user=mogotitan

"On-line" Go. Go check mate ; )
http://www.gokgs.com/
Not the most userfriendly, but a lot of (good) players.

Go.

Seriously. I suggest it for anyone/everyone for multiple reasons.

For a quick read on why a child should learn the game:
http://users.eniinternet.com/bradleym/ChildGo.html

Go will make them think on multiple "levels" using both right and left brain.
Go teaches pattern recognition and spatial skills.
Go is scalable down to reasonable sizes (smaller boards) for children.
Go can be taught to a 5yo in an afternoon. (takes a lifetime to master)
Go is played online by people from around the world. (Exposure to different cultures.)
Go can be played in 20 mins (small board, or fast playing) so it is not a timesink (your ~5 hrs/week) Go has a simple handicap system - so weaker players can play stronger without complication.


If your children are gifted, Go can be even more useful:
http://users.eniinternet.com/bradleym/Gifted.html

Because it is so simple to implement, any old PC can run the software.
(example, java client here: http://www.gokgs.com/ )

Since it is based on a board game, it can also be played in the physical during "family time," trips, or whatnot.

And, though I hate to say this -- there is a popular anime called "Hiraku no Go" that has introduced many many people to the world's oldest continued played board game. ( basic premise: A child (named Hikaru) finds an old goban (the board) that's possessed by the ghost of an ancient Go player. The ghost teaches Hikaru to play the game.) So perhaps you could rent the DVDs and the kids would become interested in the game. (Personally, I've never seen a single episode.)

Some other links that might interest you:
More about the game: http://users.eniinternet.com/bradleym/
Quick learn-to-play guide: http://playgo.to/interactive/

If they enjoy the game, it'll be something that they will play for the rest of their lives!
(And it also seems to help the elderly.)

Seriously -- Go

Maybe also take a look at an interactive tutorial here http://playgo.to/interactive/
and a place where you can play without installing programs, just with a java plugin here http://www.gokgs.com/

Since Go always comes up in these discussions, I'll take this opportunity to point those curious about the game to some places to learn more about it:

http://playgo.to/interactive/, learn how to play the game in an interactive fashion.

http://361points.com/atarigo/, play "capture" Go against a simple computer opponent.

http://www.gokgs.com/, after you've learned the rules, play against others online worldwide.

http://www.godiscussions.com/, have more questions about the game? Ask them on this discussion board devoted to the game.

Learning Go takes 15 minutes. Mastering it takes far longer than one's lifetime. Visit this interactive site to learn Go if you are interested. A great place to play at is Kiseido Go Server, known for its great software and friendly userbase. Click "Play Go Now" to open up an external applet through your browser, or navigate through the site to download and install the client on your computer.