Go (Weiqi / Baduk)
One of the oldest strategy games in the world. Surround territory, capture stones, and master the ko rule.
Your move
Basic Rules
- Alternate turns: Black moves first. Players take turns placing one stone on an empty intersection.
- Liberties and capture: A stone or group stays alive as long as it has adjacent empty points. When it has none, it is captured and removed.
- Ko: You cannot immediately recapture on the same point if it would recreate the exact previous board position.
- Pass: You may pass your turn. After two consecutive passes, the game ends and scoring begins.
- Area scoring: Your score = your stones on the board + the empty territory you surround. White gets komi (7.5 points on 19×19).
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Go (Weiqi)?
- Go is a two-player strategy board game played on a 19×19 grid (or 9×9/13×13). Players take turns placing stones on intersections to surround more territory than the opponent.
- How is Go different from Gomoku?
- Gomoku aims for five in a row. Go is about surrounding territory and capturing stones on a much larger board, with deeper strategy.
- How do you win at Go?
- After two consecutive passes, scoring begins. Under area scoring, your score is your stones on the board plus the empty points you surround. The player with the higher score wins (7.5 komi for 19×19).
- What is ko?
- Ko is a rule preventing an immediate recapture that would recreate the exact previous board position. You must play elsewhere first before recapturing.
- Can I play Go online for free?
- Yes. On YiBoard, open /go to play free against AI on 9×9, 13×13 or 19×19 — no signup required.