Invented in Asia thousands of years ago, Go is still more than a match for computers, writes Alison Jones

The saying goes: "Two minutes to learn, a lifetime to master." Go is reputed to be the oldest board game in the world. It is said that the first Emperor of China - himself a mythological figure - invented the game in order to improve the mind of his slow-witted son.

Go is a game of skill for two players. Black and white pieces (stones) are placed alternately on the intersections of an initially empty, 19x19-square board. Once played, stones may not be moved, although they may be surrounded and captured, in which case they are removed from the board and held as prisoners.

Victory goes to the player who controls the most territory. Players stake out territory by surrounding it. However, fights between enemy groups provide much of the excitement in a game and can result in dramatic exchanges of territory.

The game reflects the skills of the players in balancing attack and defence, making their stones work efficiently and remaining flexible in response to changing situations (for example, by sacrificing stones). It is also important to analyse accurately and take advantage of the strengths and weaknesses of the opponent.

Go has been viewed as similar to fighting a war. Indeed, another popular Go legend has it that the future of Tibet was once decided over a Go board when the Buddhist ruler refused to go into battle; instead he challenged the aggressor to a game of Go to avoid bloodshed.

Go is thought to have originated in central Asia. Its age is disputed, with varying sources estimating it to be between 2,000 and 4,000 years old. Chinese texts of 1000 BC make reference to it, and Go formed one of the Four Sublime Pastimes, the others being music, painting and calligraphy. The appeal of Go today for many people comes from its relation to traditional Oriental culture.

It was in Japan that the game really flourished, however. It was introduced into Japan around 740 AD and confined to court circles. It remained a forbidden pastime for the common people for centuries, but it gradually spread to the Buddhist and Shinto clergy. The samurai regarded it as good military training, and the game reached its peak in the 17th century with the patronage of the shoguns. It was at this time that a ranking system was developed, and competition was fierce between the four major professional Go schools. With the fall of the shogunate in 1868, professional Go in Japan was undermined. However, the rise of newspapers in the 1890s revived its fortunes.

The most important Go-playing countries today are Japan, China and Korea, all of which maintain communities of professional players. There are perhaps 50 million Go players in the Far East, and top players become national heroes.

In Japan, a Go column is a standard feature in many newspapers, and Go tournaments are shown on television. The western name for Go comes from the Japanese word "Igo".

In its original home of China, Go is known as Wei Chi. The game suffered during the Cultural Revolution through being regarded as an intellectual pursuit. However, it is now viewed as part of the national heritage and has been reintroduced in schools. The top players in China are now matching those of Japan.

In Korea, Baduk - as Go is called - is increasingly popular. The Korean player Cho Chi-kun spent 18 years studying Go in Japan before returning with the title of meijin (supreme grand master) in 1981. Today, developing players are more likely to remain in Korea to study.

Although Go was described by Western travellers to the Far East in the 17th century, it was slow to spread. It was not until 1958 that the first regular European championship was held. Nowadays, Go is played in most European countries although the standard remains significantly below that of professional players in the Far East. Go was not played on an organised basis in the UK until 1964, when the British Go Association was formed.

Today, Go players in the UK are numbered in their thousands. There are more than 50 clubs in Britain, and tournaments are held regularly. The BGA organises a British championship and Youth championship through which representatives are selected to represent the UK in the world amateur tournaments held in Japan each year.

The rules have remained essentially unchanged throughout the game's history. Despite its simplicity, Go remains a challenge for computer programmers. Go software is useful for those learning the game but provides no opposition for strong amateur players. This partly reflects the many possible positions in Go, estimated at ten to the power of 170 compared with ten to the power of 50 in chess.

The author is president of the British Go Association

For further information about Go in the UK, write to the British Go Association, 6 Meynell Crescent, London E9 7AS.