Yellow Mountain Imports Shin Kaya Beginner's Reversible 13x13 / 9x9 Go Game Set Board (0.8-inch) with Double Convex Melamine Stones - Classic Strategy Board Game (Baduk/Weiqi)

Amazing quality and feel

It's a beginner's go board. It is made well out of real wood (I have no idea whether it's actually shin kaya, but it looks nice and appears it won't warp). Everything about the boards is the right size, unlike the smaller boards in the lower-price tier. The stones are light, slippery plastic. Disappointing. But your money is paying for that board. If you are a go learner or looking to get back into it (like me), this is what to get. While it is cheap for a go set, it's obviously very expensive for a board game. That's go. That's the way it is. The West received this game from Japan and with it the (expensive) Japanese aesthetic. There is a similar board on here, bamboo I think, for $30. Don't get that one. Get this one. It is nice and nice to play on. Even if you only play a handful of times before putting it away in a dusty drawer, you'll only be spending a couple bucks extra on each game. If you play a lot, it will simply be worth every penny.

This is an excellent solid-wood Go board for beginners and those who want a quicker game than a 19x19 can provide. The double-convex stones I got are a good size and feel good to hold, but we're rather slick feeling; like there was a thin coat of oil left from manufacturing. Washing the stones in warm, soapy, water took care of the slickness and the stone are good.

I’ve had this set for about 2 years now. I use it regularly. Fun thing to do is download a good Go app (recommend CrazyStone Go app) and play against the computer but using the board and stones to match the apps moves. Back to the board set. The board itself is of high quality. The lines are painted clearly with no defects. The wood is a nice color with a smooth playing surface. The thickness is just right. The size of the board is perfect for a short game. It’s nice to have the 9x9 and 13x13 grids to play and learn the game. The stones are also very nice. Something a bit addictive about the tactile feel and sound of the set as you place the stones. If you are a Go fan, I highly recommend this set. Very happy with my purchase. I’ve enjoyed using it regularly. Very challenging yet relaxing.

This appears to be the best board you can buy new for a beginning player. The 9x9 and 13x13 combo lets you skill up with a flip. Let's face it, most people you know never played Go, so a beginner's board will be used quite a bit. Sadly, the board will probably arrived warped, and it's up to you to decide how bad that is. I'm not talking curled like a page in a humid room, but if you press on a corner, there will be a few millimeters of seesaw action. I returned one due to this, then received another that was worse. Each came with a card that explained warping is a natural part of wood's lifecycle, so the company is aware. I can accept that, but not when brand new for this price. Imagine buying a brand new car with misaligned wheels, and it came with a slip saying "wheels go out of alignment over time, that's normal". Ignoring this, the pieces are fantastic. You'd have to be a real snob to not think so. With two convex sides, it's a giant M&M, and I wouldn't blame you for keeping one in your pocket as a fidget toy. Old reviews say the lids don't snap, but they do now. Finally, you don't get a box to store the set in. Sure, I guess you could use the packaging it came in...but it's literally just a box with flaps, not a lid that you lift off, which would've made it worth keeping. It's not a small box, either. Going to take up a lot of space on your board game shelf for such a thin board. For the price, I have to give it 3 stars. If you're paying a premium, it needs to be good. The warping is a stinker, and I kinda want a proper box. The Go stones are great, and would be superb to use for a vintage Go board.

This is actually the second time I've purchased this board. I loved the first one so much that I ended up teaching a friend how to play Go on it, and I just left that one at their house. In looking at buying a replacement, I felt great about coming back to this board because I knew it was a great value. This is a great board, and a low cost way to enjoy the game. I use this board with my kids all the time as they are starting to learn to play Go. I also bring this to my local club meetings if we are looking for a shorter game than a full 19x19, or if we're playing with someone just learning the game. I mentioned that this is the second time I've purchased this set, and I'm expecting that I'll purchase more too. As my kids are learning Go, I think that I'll give my current set to one of them when they reach a certain rank (probably around 18kyu as that'll be an accomplishment for my kids who are 8, 6, and 3). Because of that, there is a real chance that I end up buying 3 more sets as my kids reach that rank and earn their starter board.

Used to play Go online on various sites. Got addicted and finally sprung on this board since it was cheap and offered 9x9 or 13x13. The booklet was great refresher course after not playing for almost a year. The Board is nice to the touch and the Stones are great. I've played multiple games and the only thing I can say is keeping a good grip on the stones so they don't drop and constantly finding myself fiddling with stone placement post placement. But that's not a knock on the product but my personal OCD and inability. I'd say 9.5/10 and recommend this board.

Plastic cases for stones cover a little difficult to snap back on. Works fine otherwise. Recommend upgrading to wood bowels if you use this a lot. That is what I plan to do.