Philosophy of Go

When introducing Go, the easiest comparison is to chess. "Chess is a single battle while Go is the entire war" is an easy colorful way of describing the difference. A more complex comparison starts with Go's elegant handicapping system which allows players of disparate strength to play an even game. A game wherein each player has an equal chance of winning is a game versus the self as much as the opponent. An underlying philosophy that promotes self improvement perhaps explains the passion of players of Go.