Star Point is a podcast all about the game of Go (aka baduk or weiqi)! When you're away from the board, you can listen to Star Point for weekly discussions about how to improve, personal anecdotes, and general appreciation for the beauty of the game. Hosted and produced by Justin Oh.
45 min
Retro games and Go: what do they have in common? They’re both beautiful in their jankiness! That probably sounds like it doesn’t make sense at all, so let me explain. In the episode. Click play now. Listen. Oh you did? You still think it doesn’t make sense? I’m sorry. Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
50 min
If you take a break from Go, you might be scared that you’ll lose all of your skills. But would that actually happen? Or is Go more like “riding a bike”? Well, in this episode, I’ll give you my thoughts about which aspects of Go I think are like riding a bike, and which aspects are likely to form some rust. Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
47 min
It’s blog time again! Back when I was a 12 kyu, it looks like I was quite bloodthirsty. I didn’t want to win or improve, I wanted drama, action, and murder! Have I matured since then? Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
45 min
Retro games and Go: what do they have in common? They’re both beautiful in their jankiness! That probably sounds like it doesn’t make sense at all, so let me explain. In the episode. Click play now. Listen. Oh you did? You still think it doesn’t make sense? I’m sorry. Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
50 min
If you take a break from Go, you might be scared that you’ll lose all of your skills. But would that actually happen? Or is Go more like “riding a bike”? Well, in this episode, I’ll give you my thoughts about which aspects of Go I think are like riding a bike, and which aspects are likely to form some rust. Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
47 min
It’s blog time again! Back when I was a 12 kyu, it looks like I was quite bloodthirsty. I didn’t want to win or improve, I wanted drama, action, and murder! Have I matured since then? Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
57 min
What if you had a thousand lives to become a master at Go? How good would you be? What would be your strategy? Let’s talk about metroidvanias, time loops, and how to play each of your Go games to optimize learning and break through plateaus. Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
43 min
You can read your fancy books for Go knowledge and do your life and death homework every day, but have you developed your Go senses? Most of the time, strong players just “know” what to do. Moves are simply strong or weak. Let’s talk about why that is and how we can sharpen our Go senses. Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
45 min
Go is a high-minded game of pure strategy, not luck… right? But there could be an argument that there is at least a little luck involved in the game in one way, shape, or form. Are we in full control of our destinies on the goban or is this art form also subject to the waves of chaos? And if there is absolutely no element of chance, what does it mean when we lose? Bonus topic: what is the opposite of Go? Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
46 min
Some Japanese pros recently played Pair Go with AI as their partners as part of a study. Rather than focusing solely on making AI as strong and intelligent as possible, should we instead be looking for ways AI can synergize with human beings? Especially in the Go world? What might the future hold for an AI-assisted humanity? Article: Japan researchers use ancient boardgame Go to explore how humans and AI can coexist Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
56 min
Do you identify as a Go player? Or is it just another hobby? Simply put, a Go player is someone who plays Go. But I think there’s so much more to it, including cultural immersion, passion for the game, and perhaps even an underlying philosophical belief that this game is a worthwhile way to spend our time. What's Your Thing? Neil Pakhutko Let Them Fight Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
59 min
We’re back! I’ve been wanting to update everyone on all the Go stuff brewing in my brain over the (very hot) summer so let’s dive in without further ado. We’re talking playgo.gg, Shin Jinseo vs Katago, some Go spotting and more. I’m also excited to hear what you’ve been up to, so write in and give me an update on your Go life! Akatori Trailer The Chess Angle Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
42 min
Star Point returns with Season 4 on September 14, 2026! For the final episode of Season 3 of Star Point, I ponder the question: is it important to cultivate a desire to win? If so, how do we go about doing that? I will miss you guys, but I’m not really going anywhere! Come to the Discord and chat about Go! Thank you everyone, whether you've listened to one episode or all of them. I am happy to fill whatever audio space you have in your day with Go talk :) Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
1 hr 0 min
Slaughter, McMahon, Single Elim, Double Elim, Swiss, Fold… what does it all mean?? Let’s review tournament formats so you can be a tournament-savvy Go player! Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
50 min
Go is normally seen as a game of the ancient East Asian world. But I think it is the perfect poster child for sci-fi! Let me talk to you about Go’s appearance in various science fiction media and fly through the world of technology and the cosmos in this special sci-fi edition of Star Point! Go in Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles Go in Counterpart Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
44 min
Simple black and white stones on a grid can evoke such powerful emotions and feelings. One of the most beautiful things about Go is how it can remind us of so many deep and rich life experiences as well as teach us valuable lessons about how to navigate those experiences. Go is life! Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
53 min
It’s time to read my old Go blog again! It’s crazy how some of the things I used to think as a 12 kyu are the exact same thoughts I still have as a 3 kyu. And let us ponder the question: do you have prefer calm and slow games or ones with drama and action? Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
1 hr 6 min
Every now and then there’s a new kid on the block to challenge OGS for the title of best western Go server. But do we really need a new Go server or does that just split the user base? What would we want out of a new Go server and what’s lacking in our current options? Let’s talk about it! Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
41 min
We love shortcuts! Who doesn’t? Why spend the effort to think about our problems when we can use quick answers and shortcuts? Let’s break down the meaning of “System 1” and “System 2” thinking and discuss how Go challenges us to use our brains in a world that constantly encourages us to turn them off. @dangermonkeygostones What Everyone Gets Wrong About AI and Learning Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
1 hr 14 min
Go podcasters unite! Travis from the All Things Go podcast is here! We meander through a lot of interesting topics in this one. Why are all the North American Go pros Asian-American? Do we want Go to be popular? Is your Go rank arbitrary? This episode was a blast, so thank you Travis for coming on the show! Go check out All Things Go! All Things Go Podcast IGOSIL Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
43 min
Are you too aggressive? Too defensive? Do you always lose because you die so much? Let me tell you all about a way to fine-tune your game so that you can be a more balanced Go player. Go Magic Online Go Ranking Comparison Buzzsaw on playgo.gg Live Action Hikaru No Go Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
41 min
Go is the ultimate strategy game. But how do we actually strategize in Go? I’ll give you my take in this episode on how to stop DDK tunnel-visioning and start thinking like a true Go player. Dare I say, it might even break your plateau! Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
1 hr 13 min
Kai is a young 3-dan Go player living in Japan! He is very passionate about Go and was kind enough to come on the show to talk to me about all sorts of Go things – from time controls to how the ranking system works in Japan. It was a great time for me, so thank you for being on the show, Kai! playgo.gg Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
39 min
What does it mean to “lock in”? Can you try too hard? Can you try too little? Can the amount of effort you apply really make a difference in the outcome of the game? Or is our fate decided by bigger things? Firestar73’s Pokemon Go Celebration Reading Dojo Visualization Exercises Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
53 min
Why do we make the moves that we make? Let’s discuss the importance of knowing the reasons behind our moves and explore as many types and purposes of moves that I can come up with! Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
44 min
Go is too competitive and too stressful to be considered a “cozy” game. Or is it? I think Go has a lot of cozy DNA and I will tell you in this episode right here how to approach Go in a more relaxing, cozy, stress-free… ahh.. what was I saying? Oh right, yes we’ll talk about how to make Go cozy and stress-free! Yushima Go Cafe Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
46 min
Is Go a good fit for you? What is Go like to learn and pursue? I’ll tell you about some of the big reasons I think you should give this game a chance as well as common hurdles that beginners go through that cause them to lose interest in this game I love so dearly. Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
51 min
It’s a Reddit Roundup episode! Or a Reddit Review? Reddit Retrospective? Whatever, we’re reading Reddit posts from r/baduk in this one. Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
47 min
Go strength is about expanding your Go vocabulary: “Go-cabulary”, if you will. But how does having a large Go-cabulary help us? And how do we expand our Go-cabulary? Is Go more than a battle between two military strategists? Could it perhaps be a duel between wizards? Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
58 min
I read my old Go journal from 2019 and it was very interesting to see into the mind of a DDK… that is also my own mind. It was really fun to see how I have changed and grown as a Go player, comparing the struggles I used to face to the ones I face now. Enhans Go "Agentic" AI Buzzsaw’s Go Blog Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
1 hr 11 min
Do you find it hard to understand Go players because they use weird terminology like “tiger’s mouth” or T H I C K N E S S? And for some reason they all sound like they are speaking Japanese? Well, listen to this episode to educate yourself as I try to define as many top must-know Go terms that I can think of! Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
1 hr 0 min
It’s the 10th anniversary of the famous and historic showdown between Lee Sedol and AlphaGo. A lot has changed since then, and Go players have already been facing the first wave of the AI revolution for a decade now. What lessons from our experience with AI in Go should we bring forth into the era of ChatGPT and Gemini? Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
52 min
Go is a great hobby! It’s affordable and has good vibes :D But I’m sure you know that already. Regardless, we’re going to talk about why you should take up Go as a hobby (even though you already did). Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
43 min
Why isn’t Go an Olympic event? Or any other mental sport for that matter? Let’s talk about the nature of the Olympics, the World Mind Sports Games, and what a ‘Mentalympics’ might look like. https://humanbenchmark.com/ Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
51 min
What is a good game? What is a bad game? Is Go a good game? Well, spoiler alert, yes it is. Go is fantastic, I assure you. But why? Hmm…. Overview of TGM (Tetris) TGM Docuseries Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
48 min
1… ah ah ah… 2… ah ah ah… 3… ah ah ah… Counting in Go is an important skill! But how exactly do you count? Why should we count in the first place? Let’s talk about it! Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
35 min
Let me tell you all the story of how I defeated my Arch-Rival and Nemesis (or was it Arch-Nemesis and Rival?) Akira Toya. Also, a little discussion about rivalries in Go! Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
37 min
Go player! Yes, you. What kind of video games do you like? I think I might know and it involves the kind of growth that a game demands of you. In this episode, some thoughts about what kind of activities satisfy us Go players. Let’s see if I’m right in guessing what kind of video games and other activities that you Go players might enjoy… Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
56 min
The eternal question: How to get good? I’m going to answer this with a slightly unorthodox approach and avoid mentioning tsumego and game review. This is truly the secret sauce of what I think leads to success in Go or in anything else you want to improve at. The Value of Cross-Expertise Collaboration Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
1 hr 4 min
We’re back! Let’s talk about what Spotify Wrapped says about YOU GUYS. After that I do a reaction to my previous year’s year-in-review and get through a small portion of the listener mail backlog.Shin Jinseo Fixes Stone Shin Jinseo Stops Choi Jeong's Clock - Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
41 min
Star Point returns Monday, January 12th, 2026! I commentated the first round of the CA State Go Championship and it was a great time! Here’s a post-commentary reflection on what I enjoyed, what I found challenging, and what I learned from the experience. The importance of touch - Evergreen Psychotherapy Center How babies learn to walk (Netflix Documentary) Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
40 min
Go should be a spectator sport along with the greats! But what’s the missing secret sauce? James' Palm Pilot Pen Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
1 hr 5 min
Go is tough! Especially for beginners. Let’s see what we have to say about the struggles they are going through.Also! Announcement! I’ll be commentating Round 1 of the California State Go Championship at 10am on Saturday, November 29th! Here’s a teaser for the tournament: California State Go Championship Teaser Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
38 min
I assign Go ranks to various cartoon characters, like Homer Simpson, Scooby-Doo, and Jimmy Neutron. And yes, these ranks are canonical. (No, they are not. But this was fun to do). Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
39 min
No kibitzing! That’s what people usually say, but I think people should kibitz more! Let’s bring kibitzing back! Michael Redmond explains the Sacrifice Two Stones proverb. https://gokibitz.com/ Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
52 min
Is Go just a game? Possibly even a waste of time? How did the ancient world see games? What values can Go teach us? Hmmmmmmmm…. Michael Redmond explains the Sacrifice Two Stones proverb. Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
55 min
I guess I think my Go brain is a pirate ship? I have tried to boil down the ingredients of Go strength from a high level and I present to you The Salty Crew of Go Skill! Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
1 hr 19 min
To celebrate the 100th episode of Star Point (woohoo!) I am rating 100 Go Proverbs! Buckle up! Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
44 min
Isn’t Go supposed to be fun? Why does Go feel like a bit of a chore to some of us? Let’s talk about why some games feel like work while others don’t and how we can keep the joy of Go from fizzling out. Go-inspired Music Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
35 min
I made a Go variant that you can play all by your lonesome! Solitaire Go Examples Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
47 min
Go is a great game. In fact, it’s a worldwide classic. So tell me why! Why Nintendo?? Ranking All 51 Clubhouse Games for Nintendo Switch (Article) Gomoku Let's Go Go Minimal GINSEI IGO: AI Teaches You How to Play Go Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
1 hr 11 min
Here are my impressions of Lee Sedol’s appearance on the Korean reality Netflix show, The Devil’s Plan, as well as some thoughts about “Wall Go,” one of the games featured on the show. Play Wall Go Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
50 min
Some stuff happened while I was gone! There’s an AMERICAN world champion?? New NA Pro Article World Youth Go Championship Article Alexander Qi Interview Join the Discord Support Star Point The Star Point Store
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