Two colors of stones, one empty grid and a single goal: own more of the board than your opponent when play stops. The rules fit on an index card, but people spend a lifetime getting better at them.
This Go unblocked page runs the version from Christopher Müller's PaperGames collection. You can choose a small, medium or full-size board, play the computer at three levels or share the screen with a friend. The plain black-and-white look stays readable on a phone or a big monitor.
How to play Go
Black moves first, then turns alternate. On your turn, set one stone on an empty point where lines cross. Stones stay put once placed. Instead of placing, you can pass.
Stones that touch along the lines form a group, and a group lives on its empty neighboring points, called liberties. Fill the last liberty of an enemy group and the whole group is captured and taken off. Suicide moves are not allowed unless they capture something, and a move that recreates an earlier position is blocked.
Two passes in a row end the game. Your score is every stone you have on the grid, plus each empty point that only your color encloses. White gets 7.5 extra points for moving second, so there are no ties. Before you start, pick 9x9, 13x13 or 19x19, your color and the computer's level.
Controls
| To… | Keyboard | Mouse | Touch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Place a stone | Tab to the board, arrow keys to pick an intersection, Enter to place | Click an empty intersection | Tap an empty intersection |
| Pass your turn | — | Click "Pass" | Tap "Pass" |
| Choose board size, color and opponent | — | Use the size menu, the black/white buttons and the level menu, then click "New game" | Use the size menu, the black/white buttons and the level menu, then tap "New game" |
| Take back a move | — | Click "Undo" | Tap "Undo" |
| Give up the game | — | Click "Resign" | Tap "Resign" |
Tips
- Begin small. A 9x9 board teaches life, death and captures in a few minutes per game.
- Take corners early. The board edges do half the walling for you there, so corner space is cheapest.
- Give each group two eyes. Stones wrapped around two separate holes are safe forever.
- Compare liberties before a fight. If your chasing stones have fewer liberties than the target, back off.
- Finish off dead stones. This version counts every stone left on the board, so capture hopeless enemy stones before you pass.
Go questions
How does the computer play at each level?
Easy is close to random. Medium looks at captures and how many liberties groups have. Hard plays out quick random games to test its top choices.
Does the game remove dead stones at the end?
No. Stones are counted as they stand, so any group you think is dead should be captured before you pass.
Can two people play on one device?
Yes. Pick 2 Player (local) and take turns tapping the board. Undo and Resign are there for both modes.
Does my game save?
The current game is stored in your browser and reloads where you left off on the same device.
