<p>The design of Go components is all about symmetry.  Because perspective shortens the vertical height of the board, the boards are made taller than they are wide.  This way they appear to be square when you're playing.  Another similar issue occurs with the stones.  Black stones appear to be smaller than white stones, so the black stones are actually made slightly larger than the white stones to counter this effect.</p>

<p>Related and awesome: <a href="http://senseis.xmp.net/?HowManySquaresOnAGoBoard">How many squares are there on a Go Board?</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-05T03:47:56.220Z
@CodesInChaos my SGF viewer app (Qipan, for iOS) has non-square board. It simply looks wrong if it is square ;-)
ohho
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-11-14T20:55:06.350Z
That's funny, vertigo.  I've had opponents do that in person but never realized the reason.  I can assure you, GoGrinder's boards are square, so they will help to break this habit :P
TimK
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-11-16T11:01:32.673Z
@vertigo Which go programs have non square boards? KGS for example is square. As an online player, my problems with real boards were mainly imperfect stones placement and the perspective, not seeing stones from the top.
CodesInChaos
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-11-11T19:33:28.140Z
2011-11-16T14:04:39.980Z
TimK
<p>I noticed gobans are not square, but rectangular. Why is that, and what is the correct orientation of the board when playing?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-07T10:17:15.120Z
@svante : haha ! Excellent :)
neuro
<go><goban><aesthetics>
Why are the boards not square?
mafu
# Why are the boards not square?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2011-11-11)

I noticed gobans are not square, but rectangular. Why is that, and what is the correct orientation of the board when playing?

**Tags:** go, goban, aesthetics

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: @svante : haha ! Excellent :)  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2011-11-11. Score: 19 | Accepted answer

The design of Go components is all about symmetry. Because perspective shortens the vertical height of the board, the boards are made taller than they are wide. This way they appear to be square when you're playing. Another similar issue occurs with the stones. Black stones appear to be smaller than white stones, so the black stones are actually made slightly larger than the white stones to counter this effect.

Related and awesome: [How many squares are there on a Go Board?](http://senseis.xmp.net/?HowManySquaresOnAGoBoard)

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: That's funny, vertigo.  I've had opponents do that in person but never realized the reason.  I can assure you, GoGrinder's boards are square, so they will help to break this habit :P  
> **username_4**: @vertigo Which go programs have non square boards? KGS for example is square. As an online player, my problems with real boards were mainly imperfect stones placement and the perspective, not seeing stones from the top.  
> **username_3**: @username_4 my SGF viewer app (Qipan, for iOS) has non-square board. It simply looks wrong if it is square ;-)  

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