SmartGo Kifu App Reviews

I dont remember when I wrote the below review, but its been awhile. This app has only gotten better. My one concern before was that a database is of somewhat limited value without pattern searching. Either I just plain missed it or it was in one of the updates, but the app definitely has pattern searching now. Combined with the fact that the game library gets updated this app is extremely valuable to me. I remain very glad I purchased it. Previous review below. ------------------ I debated buying this app due to its cost. $20 is definitely a lot to spend. The main thing I would say in its favor is this, realize that buying printed go problems in books costs more. I spent $25 for a book with 1001 go problems. This app has double that many, and costs less. Beyond that, realize that you are also getting a very large library of pro go games + a good collection of commented pro games + a program that will play with you + you can use this last program to enter your own games. Further, I feel that the actual implementation of these features is great. I havent had any problems or encountered bugs. I find the ability to play the moves in a diagram out is really cool. I feel the engine strength is good and it saves the games you play with it. Having said that I think its easily worth the cost, there is one major improvement I would like to see. It seems to me that one of the main reasons to have a large collection of game records isnt so much the idea that I will actually read tens of thousands of pro game records, rather its the ability to do pattern searching. This seems to me like kind of a hole in the program that I would like to see filled.

Uncontested champion of the iOS kifu apps. Add in the tsumego and the pro game archive and it is without a doubt worth the twenty. I use it to record games I play, to study pro games, to review games I play on other services. One of the best tools available for sgf variation trees.

Have had consistent professional game updates the last few years. They have a massive database built up. Computer AI is great to learn with if you are new to go, maybe 10k on 13x13 with max wait. Also has tons of review problems. Overall Im happy with the value for the price.

I tried all the other games and none of them come close. Most arent in English this supports English as well as just about every other language the iOS supports.

If you are serious about Go, want to learn, or want to teach others, this app is worth every penny. There are a few minor glitches, but overall it is amazing. The learning experience, recorded games, puzzles, and tutorials make the price even more justifiable. In the end though, if the price scares you off, try the SmartGo Player version. The two times I have had questions or issues, the developer emailed me within a day giving me a solution or an idea when the next patch would be released to fix an issue. Good support is well worth it.

An essential part of my Go playing and study regimen.

This is an app that keeps updating with fresh new content (including the AlphaGo games among others), and its a shame that every update wipes the reviews clean. Which is why Im leaving this review now. Itll disappear pretty quickly, Im sure, but as a longtime user, Im very satisfied with the huge amount of content this app offers, and Im happy for this opportunity to slap another "5" on the record books. I bought their EasyGo Player first as a way to play go with friends IRL, and while Im by no means good at the game or anticipate pursuing Go competitively, I dont regret dropping real coin on this expanded program to access an ENORMOUS amount of stuff: problems, games, annotated games... More Go than I know what to do with. Awesome.