Go Game Tutorial for Beginners – Learn How to Play Go

Go (known as Baduk in Korea and Weiqi in China) is one of the oldest and most elegant board games in the world. This tutorial will teach you the rules of Go, how the game is played, and provide tips to help you get started.

What Is Go?

Go is a strategy game for two players. It’s played on a grid (usually 19x19) with black and white stones. The goal is to control more territory on the board than your opponent.

Go Board & Stones

The standard board is 19x19, but 9x9 or 13x13 is good for beginners.
Players take turns placing black and white stones on empty intersections.
Black plays first.

How to Play Go – Basic Rules

1. Placing Stones

Each turn, a player places one stone on an empty intersection. Once placed, stones do not move (unless captured).

2. Liberties

A stone must have at least one liberty (empty adjacent space) to remain on the board. If all liberties are surrounded by enemy stones, it is captured and removed.

3. Capturing Stones

Surround all of an opponent’s stone’s liberties to capture it. You can capture multiple stones in one move.

4. Groups

Stones of the same color that are connected (horizontally or vertically) form a group. A group shares liberties.

5. The Ko Rule

You cannot make a move that would immediately return the board to the previous state. This prevents infinite loops.

6. Ending the Game

Players pass when they have no good moves left. The game ends when both players pass consecutively. Points are counted based on:

Controlled territory (empty points surrounded by your stones)
Captured enemy stones
Dead stones (stones left on the board that cannot avoid capture)

Beginner Strategies

Play in corners first – it’s easier to secure territory there.
Connect your stones – connected groups are stronger and harder to capture.
Don’t chase every stone – focus on building solid shapes and gaining territory.
Avoid filling your own territory unless necessary.

Common Patterns and Shapes

Two Eyes = Life

If a group can form two separate “eyes” (empty spaces inside the group), it cannot be captured. Always aim to create two eyes in groups you want to survive.

Bamboo Joint

A strong connection pattern:

●
  ○   ●
●

Atari

“Atari” is when a stone or group is one move away from being captured. Always be aware of when your stones are in atari — and when you can put your opponent’s stones in atari.

Practice Tips

Play short games on 9x9 boards to practice.
Solve Go puzzles called tsumego to improve reading and tactics.
Review your games and look for mistakes and missed opportunities.
Watch stronger players and try to understand their moves.

Conclusion

Go is a game that can be learned in minutes but takes a lifetime to master. Use this tutorial as your starting point, and play as much as you can. With time and practice, your understanding of Go will grow deeper and more intuitive.

Keywords: Go game tutorial, how to play Go, Go rules, Baduk beginner guide, Weiqi basics, Go board strategy