Go (Baduk)
Also known as: Igo / Baduk / WeiqiGo is a board game for 2 players that takes about 15 minutes. Place stones in turn and surround more territory than your opponent. Free. In-browser. No account.
Joining is free, and no account is needed.Learn how to play (3 min)
Go in 30 seconds
- Set upBlack plays first on a 9x9 board. Stones sit on the crossings of the lines.
- Take turnsPlace one stone at a time. Fill every empty point beside an enemy group and you take it off the board.
- StopWhen neither side wants to play, both pass. You then agree which stones are dead.
- WinTerritory plus captures decides it. White also gets 6.5 points of komi.
At a glance
| Item | This game |
|---|---|
| Players | 2 players |
| Play time | About 15 min |
| Type | Board |
| Ranked play | Yes |
| Practice against the CPU | Yes |
| Price | Free (no account needed) |
| Rights holder | A public-domain classic game |
| Last updated | 2026-09-14 |
How to play Go online
- Tap "Play with friends"A party is created with a 6-character code. No account is needed.
- Send a link or QR codeShare it on LINE, or just read the code aloud.
- Everyone opens it in a browserOnce 2 players have joined, the host taps "Start".
Rule highlights
Setup
- Two players. You need a 9x9 board (13x13 and 19x19 in the settings) and black and white stones.
- Black plays first, white second. Stones go on the crossings, not inside the squares.
- White receives 6.5 points of komi for playing second.
How to play
- Black and white take turns placing one stone each. A stone never moves again.
- The empty points beside a stone are its liberties. Fill the last liberty of an enemy group and you capture it; captured stones count as prisoners.
- You cannot play a stone that would leave your own group with no liberty — unless the same move captures.
- You cannot immediately recapture in a way that repeats the position (ko). Play elsewhere first.
- You may pass instead of playing.
Winning
- When both players pass in a row, play stops.
- You then agree which stones on the board are dead: press them to mark them, and press Confirm on both sides. If you cannot agree, press Back to play and settle it on the board.
- Add your territory (empty points surrounded by your stones alone) to your prisoners (stones you captured plus your opponent's dead stones), give white 6.5 points of komi, and the larger total wins.
- You may also resign, and the player who resigns loses.
House rules
| Name | Description | Default | Changeable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Board size | Choose 9x9, 13x13 or 19x19. The computer plays 9x9 only. | 9x9 | Yes |
| Komi | Points added to white for playing second. | 6.5 | Yes |
| Atari marks | Mark groups that have only one liberty left. | On | Yes |
| Swap who starts | Swap the black stones after each game. | On | Yes |
FAQ
How many players?
Two. One plays black, the other white.
Can I change the board size?
Yes. The party settings offer 9x9, 13x13 and 19x19. The default is 9x9.
Can I practise alone?
Yes. Press Play vs CPU to play the computer. The computer plays 9x9 only.
Can a beginner play?
Yes. The tutorial walks you through placing, capturing and ending a game in about three minutes.
Is there a clock?
No. Take as long as you like. After three minutes of silence the screen gives you a nudge.
Can I play at school or work (unblocked)?
Yes. Go runs entirely in your browser, with nothing to download or install, so it works on most school and work networks that block app stores or game downloads. If your network blocks the whole site, ask an administrator to allow boardgamejoin.com.
Is there a 2 player mode?
Yes — Go is played by exactly 2 people.
Can I play against the computer?
Yes. Press “Play vs CPU” on the Go page to start right away against a computer opponent — no waiting for other players.
Can I play on a phone?
Yes. No app is needed — just open it in a browser. You can join the same party as people on a PC or tablet.
Can two people play?
Yes. This game supports 2 or more players.
Rights holder and physical edition
This is a public-domain classic game. The rules follow the standard reference rules.
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Last updated 2026-09-14 · Run by Qdan, Inc.