How to Set up a KGS Account
What is KGS?
- KGS is one of many servers where you can play GO on-line. (More about Go Servers)
- KGS is the official rank certifying site for the Sewickley GO Club
- KGS stands for "Kiseido Go Server. In 2000, KGS was created for the publisher Kiseido -- a Japanese publisher of GO books and more. (Learn more about KGS)
Setting up a KGS Account
- Go to www.gokgs.com/
- Click on Play Go Now !
- Enter the User name you wish to have and click "Guest" (do not try to put in a password -- leave it blank. For a name may I suggest something easy and short for other players to easily remember! You may have to try several times until you get a name that others have not used. User names must contain only English letters and digits, must start with a letter, and must be 1 to 10 characters long.
- Once you are on the server, you may start playing as a guest. But when you check-out, that name will disappear. If you want to keep your account and make it official do the next bullet
- Click User / Registrar
- Enter you Real Name (or the "real name" you want listed).
- Enter your e-mail address (note: Hotmail may not work -- it did for me though)
- I suggest you click "Hide address from other users.
- Click OK
- Sign out of the site
- Go to your e-mail account and get the password the server will immediately send you.
- Sign back in the site using your Name , your new password and click "OK"
- You are ready to begin playing under your official new account. Other club members can help you how to learn the tricks of the site.
Using a KGS local Client
- If you did the above steps, you can now play on KGS from any computer using a browser. However, if you download a special client, it will allow you to review games, create SGF files, edit SGF files and much more. It is a Java application.
- Return to www.gokgs.com
- Click on "Download the Client and SGF Editor"
- If you do not have a new version of JAVA. Click here www.gokgs.com to download a new version of Java. Then return to "Download the Client and SGF Editor" page.
- Click on "CGoban for Java Web Start"
- After it has loaded, explore the 6 buttons.
- Welcome to on-line GO. See the Member list to start building your buddy list.