Go Game (Baduk)
Play the ancient board game of Go on a 9×9, 13×13 or 19×19 board against the computer or a friend on the same device. Captures, the ko rule and scoring are handled for you, and every game can be saved as SGF.
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Black to play
The game ends when both players pass in a row. Then tap groups to mark dead stones and accept the score.
How to use the Go Game (Baduk)
- Choose a board and opponent. 9×9 is best for learning; pick vs Computer or 2 players, your colour, the computer level, handicap and komi.
- Place stones by clicking or tapping an intersection (or with the arrow keys and Enter). Black moves first.
- Capture enemy groups by filling their last liberty; they are removed and counted automatically.
- Pass when there is nothing useful left to do. After two passes in a row the game goes to scoring.
- Check the dead stones: tap any group to mark it dead or alive, then press Accept score. Download the SGF to keep the game.
Go terms every beginner should know
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Liberty | An empty point directly next to a stone (up, down, left or right). Connected stones share their liberties. |
| Atari | A group with only one liberty left; it can be captured on the next move. |
| Capture | Filling a group's last liberty removes it from the board; the stones become prisoners. |
| Eye | An empty point surrounded by one group. A group with two separate eyes can never be captured. |
| Ko | A repeating single-stone capture; the immediate recapture is not allowed. |
| Territory | Empty points completely surrounded by one colour. |
| Komi | Points given to White to make up for Black moving first. |
| Dame | Neutral points between the two sides that belong to nobody. |
| Seki | Mutual life: neither side can attack without being captured, so both groups live without territory. |
Which board size should I use?
| Board | Points | Typical game length | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 × 9 | 81 | 40–60 moves, 10–20 minutes | Learning the rules, fighting and life-and-death |
| 13 × 13 | 169 | 100–150 moves | A step up: openings and fighting together |
| 19 × 19 | 361 | 200–300 moves | The full game with strategy and big frameworks |
Beginner tips
- Corners first, then sides, then the center: corners need the fewest stones to surround territory.
- Count liberties in every fight. The group with more liberties usually wins a capturing race.
- Make two eyes for every group you want to keep alive, and look for ways to stop your opponent's groups from getting two.
- Don't play inside your own territory at the end of the game: it costs a point under territory scoring and gains nothing.
- Pass when the borders are closed. If every boundary is sealed and no group can be captured, passing is the right move.
Frequently asked questions
What are the basic rules of Go?
Two players take turns placing black and white stones on the intersections of the grid, Black first. Stones never move. A group of connected stones is captured when all of its liberties (adjacent empty points) are filled by the opponent. You may not play a move that leaves your own group with no liberties unless it captures. The player who surrounds more territory wins.
What is the ko rule?
Ko stops endless repetition. If a single stone captures a single stone and the opponent could immediately recapture to recreate the previous position, that recapture is forbidden for one move. The forbidden point is marked with a red square; the player must play elsewhere first. This tool uses the simple ko rule.
How is the score counted?
With territory scoring (Japanese rules), each side counts the empty points it surrounds plus the stones it captured, including dead stones removed at the end. With area scoring (Chinese rules), each side counts its living stones plus surrounded empty points. White adds komi in both systems, and the results are usually the same or within a point.
What is komi?
Komi is the compensation added to White's score because Black moves first. 6.5 points is common under Japanese rules and 7.5 under Chinese rules; the half point prevents ties. With handicap stones, komi is normally reduced to 0.5.
How strong is the computer?
It is a simple program meant for beginners. Easy and Medium choose moves with Go heuristics (captures, saving stones in atari, avoiding self-atari, extending and contesting open areas). Hard, on 9×9 and 13×13, tests its best candidates with thousands of random Monte Carlo playouts. Experienced players will beat it, but it is good practice.
What is an SGF file?
SGF (Smart Game Format) is the standard text format for Go game records. The downloaded file contains the board size, komi, rules, handicap, players, every move and the result, and it opens in programs such as Sabaki, KGS, OGS and most Go apps.
Go, Baduk, Weiqi: what is the difference?
They are the same game. Go comes from the Japanese name igo, Baduk is the Korean name and Weiqi is the Chinese name. The rules differ only in small details such as scoring method and komi.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.