Go Tsumego (Life & Death)
Life and death is the heart of Go reading. Given a local shape, find the move that captures or makes life — see a group's fate clearly and you win half the fighting.
Black to capture
How to practice
- Count liberties: First count how many liberties the opponent's group has — the solution is usually the move that removes the last one.
- Capture on click: A correct answer plays out the capture so you can see why the move works.
- Learn by trying: Wrong clicks give a hint, and you can reveal the solution if stuck, then review what you missed.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a tsumego?
- A tsumego is a Go life-and-death problem: given a local position, find the move that captures the opponent or makes your own group live with two eyes.
- How do these problems work?
- When it is your turn (black or white), click the point you think is correct. A correct answer plays out the capture; a wrong one gives a hint, and you can also reveal the solution directly.
- Why are tsumego important?
- Capturing races, making life and breaking eyes all rest on life-and-death reading. A few problems a day sharpens your ability to see whether a group is alive or dead in the middle game.
- Can I practice tsumego online for free?
- Yes. On YiBoard, open /tsumego to practice free — no signup required.