Go

Sympkyn of the Moor

Number of players: 2 Type of game: Boardgame Period: 2500BC+

o is an ancient abstract strategy board game originating in China over 4,000 years ago. It is renowned for its deep strategic complexity despite simple rules. Players aim to control territory on the board by placing stones and capturing opponent stones.

History of Go

  • Origins: Invented in China, traditionally dated to over 2500 BCE, making it one of the oldest board games still played.

  • Cultural Importance: Highly regarded in East Asian cultures (China, Japan, Korea) as an intellectual pursuit and art form.

  • Evolution: Rules have been refined but the core game remains unchanged for millennia.

  • Legacy: Influenced modern AI development; seen as a benchmark for artificial intelligence.

Traditional Equipment

  • Board: Square grid, commonly 19x19 lines (also 9x9 or 13x13 for beginners).

  • Stones: Black and white round pieces (usually glass or slate), 181 black and 180 white stones.

  • Players: Two players, Black moves first.

Objective

To control more territory on the board than your opponent by the end of the game through strategic placement and capturing.

Basic Rules

Setup

  1. Empty board with 19 vertical and 19 horizontal lines.

  2. Players choose black or white stones; Black moves first.

Gameplay

  1. Players alternate placing one stone on any vacant intersection (not inside the squares).

  2. Stones cannot be moved once placed.

  3. Stones connected vertically or horizontally form a group sharing liberties (empty adjacent points).

  4. If a group loses all liberties (surrounded), it is captured and removed from the board.

  5. Players pass if they see no beneficial moves; two consecutive passes end the game.

Scoring

  • Territory controlled is the number of empty points surrounded by a player’s stones plus captured stones.

  • The player with the higher total territory score wins.

Special Rules

  • Ko rule: Prevents immediate repetition of the same board position.

  • Handicap stones: Given to weaker players for balance.

  • Komi: Points given to White to compensate for Black’s first-move advantage.

Optional and Variants

1. Smaller Boards

  • 9x9 or 13x13 for quicker, simpler games or beginners.

2. Team Go

  • Players form teams and discuss moves.

3. Different Scoring Systems

  • Japanese, Chinese, and American rules vary slightly in scoring.

4. Pair Go

  • Partners alternate moves, popular in tournaments.

Summary Table

Rule Area Details
Players 2
Board 19x19 grid intersections (smaller sizes for beginners)
Pieces Black and white stones
Objective Control more territory than opponent
Gameplay Place stones, capture groups by removing liberties
End Two passes in succession
Scoring Territory + captured stones