How to Play Go

Go is a classic two-player strategy game with simple rules and deep strategy. Players take turns placing stones on the board, aiming to control more territory than their opponent.

What you’ll need

  • A Go board (commonly 9×9, 13×13, or 19×19)
  • Black and white stones
  • 2 players

Set up

  • Place the board between the two players.
  • One player takes the black stones; the other takes white.
  • The board begins empty.

Black moves first.

Objective

Score more points than your opponent by controlling territory and capturing stones.

Taking a turn

  • Players take turns placing one stone on the board.
  • Stones are placed on the intersections of the grid, not inside the squares.
  • Once placed, stones do not move.

Liberties

Each stone (or connected group of stones) has liberties, which are the empty intersections directly next to it (up, down, left, or right).

  • A stone with at least one liberty remains on the board.
  • If a stone or group has no liberties, it is captured.

Capturing stones

When a stone or connected group loses its last liberty:

  • The stones are removed from the board.
  • Captured stones are kept by the capturing player.

Legal moves

  • You may not place a stone where it would have no liberties, unless it captures opposing stones.
  • You may not repeat the same board position from the previous move (this is known as the ko rule).

Passing

  • A player may choose to pass instead of placing a stone.
  • If both players pass consecutively, the game ends.

Ending the game

The game ends when both players agree that no useful moves remain and both players pass.

Players then remove any remaining captured stones and count their score.

Scoring (simple version)

  • Each player counts the number of empty intersections they control (their territory).
  • Add the number of opponent stones you captured.
  • White usually receives a small bonus called komi to balance Black’s first move.

The player with the higher total score wins.

Board size notes

  • 9×9 boards are great for learning and quick games.
  • 13×13 boards offer more strategy with shorter play time.
  • 19×19 boards are the traditional full-size game.

Farkle Scorekeeper

Track scores for up to 6 players. Edit names, add scores, and totals update automatically.

Add Score

Tip: Edit player names below, then add scores each turn. Totals update automatically. The player closest to 10,000 is highlighted in yellow.

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