SmartGo

Press Kit

TL;DR

SmartGo One is an app for all Go players, whether they’re new to the game or someone who is looking to hone their skills. Players will be able to play Go against the app’s AI, but that’s just the start. With Go problems to be practiced, books to be read, and example games to be studied, SmartGo One has it all.

What is SmartGo One?

To start, we first need to explain what Go itself, is. Go, also known as wéiqí or baduk, is a board game that originated in China more than 2,500 years ago. Recent numbers suggest that more than 46 million people know how to play the game to some level. Players place black and white stones to capture territory; like all the best games, Go is initially rather simple, but advanced strategies can be applied to make for fascinating games. You can learn more about Go on Wikipedia and on YouTube.

SmartGo One is an app that helps people learn, play, and win games of Go. While the app does allow people to play games against their device or someone they hand their device to, that’s just the beginning. SmartGo One features a raft of features that were built to help people learn Go from the ground up as well as improve the game of people who have been playing for years.

Go players will be able to choose 9x9, 13x13, and 19x19 boards and play against a robust game engine that will keep them on their toes. Those new to the game will benefit from an automatic handicap adjustment system — and more advanced players will be able to make use of the ability to record, annotate, and then edit their games so they can learn for next time.

SmartGo One is full of Go resources to help people improve. With more than 120,000 pro-level game records built in, players can learn from how the most experienced people play the game. Built-in Go problems give players the chance to improve their decision making by trying to work their way out of a given situation, honing their skills as they go. SmartGo One also includes built-in books about the game where players can play through the moves those books describe to help them gain a better understanding for future games.

Features in SmartGo One

The user manual included with the app explains all the features. The most important features available in SmartGo One include:

  • The choice of 9x9, 13x13, and 19x19 boards
  • A robust game engine
  • Fast response
  • Automatic handicap adjustment on 9x9, 13x13, and 19x19 boards
  • Manual choice of handicap and board size up to 19x19
  • Advanced features allow players to record, annotate, and then edit their games for future learning and improvement
  • The ability to track per-user levels
  • A territory estimator
  • Hints
  • Undo and Replay capabilities
  • Tutorial with over 100 problems
  • 120,000 pro-level game records
  • Go problems
  • 150 Go books

Who is SmartGo One for?

SmartGo One is for anyone who wants to learn and improve their Go skills. It doesn’t matter if they’re starting from scratch or have been playing for years — SmartGo One has the tools they need. If they like Go, they’re going to love SmartGo One.

Localizations

App, user manual, and website of SmartGo One are localized into French, German, and Japanese. Spanish and Korean are in the works, Simplified and Traditional Chinese are planned.

Pricing

SmartGo One is a free download from the App Store with an annual subscription of $14.99 available via in-app purchase. A 14-day free trial is available.

Five problem packs are available individually and are priced at $3.99 each.

The 150 Go books are individually priced, ranging from $2.99 to $19.99. (A better experience than printed Go books, at half the price.)

All SmartGo One in-app purchases support Family Sharing, enabling up to five additional people to use them without additional payment.

Links and contacts

SmartGo One in the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/smartgo-one/id1465746992

SmartGo One website: https://smartgo.com

Support: https://smartgo.com/support.html

Privacy Policy: https://smartgo.com/privacy.html

Email the author: support@smartgo.com

Blog posts about the app:

Author

SmartGo One was created by Anders Kierulf, an independent software developer living in Salt Lake City. He has been working on SmartGo full-time since 1999. As a 3-dan Go player and experienced iOS developer, he’s bringing a unique set of skills to the task:

  • Experience with iOS and the App Store since 2008.
  • Ph.D. in computer science, with a relevant thesis: “Smart Game Board: a Workbench for Game-Playing Programs, with Go and Othello as Case Studies” (ETH Zürich, 1990).
  • Before going indie, Anders was a development lead working on PowerPoint at Microsoft’s Graphics Business Unit in Silicon Valley.

Website and app design by Scott Jensen.

Screenshots

Please feel free to use these screenshots provided for different devices.

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