How to Play Go (Weiqi / Baduk)

Go is the world's oldest strategy board game, invented in China over 2,500 years ago. Two players place black and white stones on a grid, trying to surround more territory than the opponent. This version uses a fast 9x9 board with area scoring and 6.5 komi — perfect for learning and quick games.

Core Rules

• A stone's liberties are its empty orthogonal neighbors.
• A group with zero liberties is captured (removed from the board).
• You may not play a suicide move, and ko forbids instantly recreating the previous position.
• Two consecutive passes end the game; score = your stones + your surrounded empty points.

Beginner Strategy

• Play corners first, then sides, then the center — efficiency matters.
• Make groups with two eyes and they can never be captured.
• Respond to ataris: a group with one liberty is in danger.
• Sacrifice small captures to build bigger territory.