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Comment by lucb1e | Hacker News Reader

Slightly off topic perhaps, but I've been looking to buy a Go game. Dutch sites don't seem to have it for a reasonable price; this site sells it for $9.99 but with $18 shipping. Any Europeans here who can tell me how to get it to either a German, Belgian or Dutch address for about €20 or less?

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The cheapest set of playable quality I've found is from GoGameGuru. It includes a wooden board and plastic stones and bowls. It costs €35 shipped to the Netherlands.

https://shop.gogameguru.com/newbie-go-game-set/

I have one of these folding magnetic sets. It's a few centimetres smaller than a standard board, but is perfectly usable and very convenient for study or casual games in cafes. It costs €22 shipped, but you'll have to wait a few weeks as it's sent direct from China.

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-shipping-large-magnetic-...

Hebsacker Verlag has options for every budget. Shipping still adds a bit, though:

http://www.hebsacker-verlag.de/shop.php

http://www.hebsacker-verlag.de/shipping.php

There are many go clubs in the Netherlands. Find one, go and play with people! While you are at it, you can ask them about buying a go board and will probably be able to buy one without having to pay for shipping at all.

If I remember correctly, my girlfriend looked for one near south Limburg but the closest one was Utrecht.. I know there is an index for chess clubs, do you know of one for go clubs?

https://gobond.nl/verenigingen

Surprisingly, south Limburg doesn't seem to be included.

The Nederlandse Go Bond has a list of affiliated clubs. If you speak French or German, I might also suggest looking for clubs across the border.

https://www.gobond.nl/verenigingen http://www.eurogofed.org/members/

There are options that would fit your budget on the german amazon site. I really recommend investing a little more (€30-40) and get something nicer. I've had my go board and stones for 20+ years now (not that I get to play much but it's still great to play a round from time to time). This is something that you'll hold on to for quite a while.

IMO it'd be better to draw a board on a piece of wood and use black and white glass gems, rather than buying a very low-end set. Very cheap sets have stones that are just too small. Probably the best beginner set would be a set of full-size glass or melamine stones and a roll-up vinyl board.

have you tried a Chinatown gift shop? The kind of place that sells baoding balls, incense and kitschy porcelain?

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