Recommended Go Sets

On a tighter budget, this one can't be beat. The board and stones are large enough that play isn't too awkward (at about 3/4 the size of a traditional set), and playing on something that doesn't roll up just feels more satisfying. It doesn't provide as much as far as the tactile experience of playing with a standard set, but getting to play is ultimately more important.

If you have limited space, or think you'll want to play in places like coffee shops this board will be a better choice with it's smaller footprint.

Yellow Mountain, $16
Amazon, $28 

These option are middle of the road as far as introductory Go sets, but I would still recommend either the cheaper or more expensive recommendations on this page instead.

I have not personally used this standard size $50 Chinese style set on Amazon, but it looks reasonable.

The Baduk.Club store has a $23 folding board, but it will be quite a bit more for shipping.

They also have stones, but as they melamine, I would suggest these $22 ceramic stones on Amazon instead, which are nearly the same price and may cost you nothing in shipping if you have Amazon Prime. You can also find a double convex version of these ceramic stones for $50.

For the price these don't quite seem to be twice as convenient or well made as the cheaper option, and still less than half as nice as the more expensive one from Yellow Mountain Imports.

Nothing beats playing on full-sized equipment, and this set will last most players years, if not decades. You can find a slightly cheaper option by going with a similar set with Chinese style single-convex stones (flat on one side, curved on the other), but I find double convex stones easier to handle and more aesthetically pleasing.

For just a little less ($99) you can get this set with melamine (plastic) stones but they don't quite feel as nice to handle and the stones are more likely to slide around if you sneeze too hard : P

This set is a bit heavy, and not quite as easily transported as other options. I personally take a much lighter shin-kaya board around with me instead of bamboo, but in any case, it helps that I do so with a portfolio bag similar to this one. I have modified it further by sewing on straps from an old backpack.

Amazon, currently unavailable
Yellow Mountain (similar), $170 

If you want to consider more premium options, Kurokigoishiten is a fine  place to start. Sets here can be found as low as $50, but if you're shopping here, you're looking to spend at least a couple hundred dollars, and that does not include the cost of shipping from Japan.

If you would like premium equipment, I can also recommend looking for vintage and used equipment online. Feel free to e-mail me at seattlecentralgoclub@gmail.com for help.