Go
Black stones, white stones, and a territory to share out.
Born in China more than two thousand years ago, Go is one of the deepest games there is, with remarkably simple rules. Place stones to surround territory and capture your opponent's. The site offers 9, 13 and 19-line boards.
- Players
- 2
- Game length
- about 30 min
Rules
Objective
Control more territory than your opponent. Black plays first, then players take turns placing one stone on an empty intersection. Once placed, a stone never moves.
Liberties and capture
The empty intersections next to a stone are its liberties. Stones of the same colour connected along the lines form a chain and share their liberties.
A chain with no liberties left is captured and removed from the board. You may not place a stone that would have no liberties, unless the move captures.
Ko
You may not immediately replay a move that would return the board to the previous position. You must play elsewhere first.
End of the game and scoring
You may pass. The game ends when both players pass in a row. Stones that can no longer escape capture are removed as prisoners.
Each player counts the empty intersections they surround and the stones they captured. White receives compensation, the komi, for playing second. The highest total wins.