Game instructions
How to play
- 2 players
- ranked
Goal and board
Two players use black and white stones, with Black moving first. Place stones on line intersections, not inside the squares. Boards have 9×9, 13×13 or 19×19 intersections. The goal is to control more area than your opponent.
Groups and liberties
Stones of the same colour connected horizontally or vertically form a group. Empty intersections next to a group are its liberties. Diagonal contact does not connect a group. On your turn, place one stone or pass.
Captures and forbidden moves
An opponent's group is removed when you take away its last liberty. You cannot place a stone if, after captures are resolved, your group would have no liberty. Recreating a previous arrangement of stones is also forbidden. This prevents immediate recapture in some positions.
Two passes and agreeing the score
Two consecutive passes begin scoring. Mark groups you consider dead: groups that cannot survive continued play. Clicking toggles a whole group and clears previous score confirmations. Both players must accept the same score. If you disagree, resume play; after two minutes without agreement, the engine resumes automatically.
Scoring and winning
Area scoring gives one point for each of your stones left on the board and each empty intersection surrounded only by your colour. Regions touching both colours are neutral. Captured stones do not add separate points to this calculation. White receives the configured komi, normally 7.5 points. The higher total wins; equal totals draw.
You know the rules — time for a game.
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