SGF File Format FF[4]

SGF is the abbreviation of 'Smart Game Format'. The file format is designed to store game records of board games for two players. It's a text only, tree based format. Therefore games stored in this format can easily be emailed, posted or processed with text-based tools.

The main purposes of SGF are to store records of played games and to provide features for storing annotated and analyzed games (e.g. board markup, variations).

Only this page is modified to be more concise. Please visit the official SGF File Format for more information.

Users Guide

An user orientated introduction to SGF files

SGF Specification

• Basic definition and types
• Additional examples for variations.
• Game specific definitions and types
  • Go (GM[1])
• General properties
• Game specific properties:
  • Go (GM[1])
• Short index of all properties (alphabetical)
• Short index of all properties (sorted by property type & game)

Old Specifications

• FF[1]

Specification of FF[1] by Anders Kierulf
• FF[3]

Specification of FF[3] by Martin Müller
• Style guide

Style guide by Martin Müller (old but still valid)

Specification Supplements

• Changes to FF[3]

To get a quick overview of what's new in FF[4] have a look at the changes from FF[3].
• Compatibility

Compatibility issues
• Converting

Converting old files to FF[4]
• Index of properties

Index of all FF[1]-FF[4] properties (alphabetical)

Tools and Examples

• SGFC

SGF Syntax Checker & Converter
• Example file

An example SGF file plus pictures to show the basic and sophisticated features of SGF

Note: Many Go (WeiQi) terms are used throughout the specification, e.g. point is used instead of field or square.

Note: Please pay attention to the difference of mandatory (has to be, must not, ...) and recommended (suggested, should have, shouldn't ...). Mandatory topics HAVE TO be done exactly this way, otherwise it's illegal. Recommended topics should but don't have to be followed. If the application doesn't obey those suggestions then the 'only' consequence is bad style.

Last updated: 2001-08-12
See history for changes.