Archive: undefined/2014

Equipment Review: Leather Goban

Leather Goban

Description: If one ever had the notion that wood boards were too cumbersome to carry around or a pain to store away, AmbyR00 has made a beautiful leather goban that is sure to please any go enthusiast looking for a lightweight go board that is really sturdy! And to top it off, it’s environmentally friendly because it is made from excess leather from shoe and bag factories, compressed into sheets!

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Archive: undefined/2013

Equipment Review: Folding Go Board

Folding Go Board

Description: When it comes to go on the go (yes that just happened), this folding go board from GoGameGuru really does seem to hit the sweet spot between portability, quality, and price. It utilizes a hinge mechanism to keep the go board in one piece and even has a Chinese chess board on the reverse side! Recommended stone size are 21 or 22. It fits other stones, but it’s a bit snug. Highly recommended!

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Equipment Review: Traveling Go Set

Traveling Go Set with Magnetic Playing Pieces

Over­all Rat­ing: 7 / 10 Ponnuki

High­lights

  • Easily fits into just about any bag (except for purses possibly).
  • This is about as small as a portable 19x19 go set gets, so I wouldn’t recommend trying to find anything smaller than this set.
  • Fantastic value for the price you pay.

Prod­uct Details

  • Carrying case measures 11-7/8”L x 6-3/8”W x 1-3/8”H (30.4cm x 16cm x 3.5cm).
  • Board measures 11” x 10-3/4” (27.3cm x 28cm).
  • Stones measure 4mm tall and 13mm wide (aprox. 1/8” x 1/2”).
  • There are 180 white and 181 black stones.

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Equipment Review: Folding Wooden Go Board

Folding Wooden Go Board

Over­all Rat­ing: 8 / 10 Ponnuki

High­lights

  • Great portable board considering I got it for around $10.
  • The lines are not drawn the best, but it does the job and is worth the purchase.
  • Let me know if you find this anywhere online, since the local store doesn’t sell it anymore.

Prod­uct Details

  • One folding Go Board (19x19).
  • Measures 18-1/4”L x 17”W x 3-3/4”H (46.5cm x 43cm x 9.7cm).
  • Board is 1-1/2” (4cm) thick.

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Equipment Review: Reversible Rosewood Go Board

Reversible “Rosewood” Go Board

Over­all Rat­ing: 2 / 10 Ponnuki

High­lights

  • If by rosewood they mean a cheap knock-off layer of “wanna-be” rosewood and then layered by cheap wood, then they accomplished their job.
  • Although the lines look semi-elegant in the product image, it ended up looking rather cheap and hard to see on the board.
  • DO NOT PURCHASE THIS BOARD!

Prod­uct Details (What They Claim)

  • One 48cm x 52cm x 3cm reversible board (19x19 Go and Chinese Chess).
  • “Exquisite and unique Chinese chess board made of solid rosewood inlaid with wooden lines.”
  • Weight: 5kg.

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Equipment Review: Shin-Kaya - 1-1/2 Go Set

Shin-Kaya - 1-1/2” (4cm) Go Set

Overall Rating: 10 /10 Ponnuki

Highlights

  • This is a fantastic set that is complete with high quality yunzi stones, kitani jujube bowls, shin-kaya board, and a travel case for the bowls and stones.
  • A perfect set for any player interested in playing go and wants a quality set without breaking the bank.
  • The go board doubles as a table and floor board, so the set has even more value than simply having a floor board.

Product Description

  • One 2-3/8” (6cm) thick Tibet Spruce (Shin-Kaya) wood board
  • Made of 2-4 solid pieces of wood joined together to prevent warping over time.
  • Measures 18-1/4”L x 17”W x 3-3/4”H (46.5cm x 43cm x 9.7cm)
  • Board is 1-1/2” (4cm) thick
  • 180 white and 181 black genuine Yunzi Go stones.
  • Large, double convex, size: 9.2mm tall and 21mm wide (about 3/8” x 3/4”)
  • Two Kitani style jujube wood bowls that measure 5”W x 4”H (12.7cm x 10cm) with travel vinyl case

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Equipment Review: Shin-Kaya - 1-1/2 Go Board

Shin-Kaya - 1-1/2” (4 cm) Go Floor / Table Board

Overall Rating: 10 / 10 Ponnuki

Highlights

  • Legs are removable, which allows the board to function as both a floor and table board.
  • The floor height is not nearly as high as the standard floor board, but it is pretty good for the price and quality of the board.
  • This is a good board that is more suited for staying at the house and not quite suitable for bringing to a coffee shop to review a pro game.
  • Stones that measure 9.2mm (Size 33) fit comfortably on the board. Any size larger maybe a bit of a squeeze.

Product Details

  • One 2-3/8” (6cm) thick Tibet Spruce (Shin-Kaya) wood board [including feet].
  • Made of 2-4 solid pieces of wood joined together to prevent warping over time.
  • Measures 18-1/4”L x 17”W x 3-3/4”H (46.5cm x 43cm x 9.7cm)
  • Board is 1-1/2” (4cm) thick.

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