01
How to win: finish with more points.
One way to earn points is to surround empty space with your stones. For now, notice one simple difference: a closed area can score; an area open to both players cannot.
Close the space to make it count.
These two shapes are identical except for one missing Black stone.
02
Every stone needs room to breathe.
The empty intersections directly above, below, left, and right of a stone are its liberties. Diagonals do not count. Connected stones share their liberties and live or fall together as one group.
03
Remove the final liberty.
When a stone or connected group has no liberties left, it is captured and removed from the board. Try the position below.
Try it on the board
Find the final liberty
The white stone at C3 has one open neighboring intersection. Play a black stone there to capture it.
Choose one of the four labeled intersections.
04
The empty points matter.
An empty area counts only when your stones close it off from the rest of the board. Before scoring, players also remove groups that cannot escape capture. You do not need to master this at once—start by noticing which empty spaces are safely enclosed.
Try it yourself
Which empty area belongs to Black?
Choose the board where Black closes every path away from the highlighted empty point.
Select the area that scores one point for Black.
05
Score a finished game.
Now that you have seen liberties, capture, and territory, the full score is easier to read. The game normally ends when both players pass. Then count the finished position; the player with the higher score wins.
06
You’re ready to play.
You know enough to begin a real game. Keep this simple rhythm in mind:
- Black makes the first move.
- Black and White take turns, placing one stone at a time—or passing.
- When both players pass one after the other, the game ends and the final score is counted.