A plain-text format for Go
An SGF file is plain text made of properties: a short upper-case name and a value in square brackets, such as SZ[19] for the board size. The format dates from the late 1980s. The current version, FF[4], is documented at red-bean.com/sgf.
Game records and positions
A full game record (kifu, 棋譜, 기보, 棋谱) lists moves in order with B[..] and W[..]. A position can also be described directly with setup properties: AB adds black stones, AW adds white stones and PL says who plays next.
PhotoKifu reads one photo, so it writes a position with setup properties. It cannot know the order the stones were played in.
Coordinates
Each point is two letters from a to s: column first, then row, counted from the top-left corner. So pd is column 16, row 4 from the top. Most Go programs call this point Q16 (their labels skip the letter I).
How to open an SGF file
- Android: in PhotoKifu, tap Share and choose a Go app that opens SGF.
- OGS (online-go.com): upload the file to your SGF library, then open it.
- Sabaki, Lizzie, CGoban, q5Go: use File → Open.
- KaTrain and other KataGo tools: load the SGF and start the analysis. The player to move comes from
PL.
Tip: If an AI tool analyses the position for the wrong player, check who plays next on the review screen before you export.