Go vs AI
Play Go (Weiqi / Baduk) free in your browser on a beginner-friendly 9x9 board. No download and no sign-up: capture stones and surround territory against four AI levels, a friend on one screen, or an online room you share by link.
Go is the oldest board game still played in its original form, born in China over two thousand years ago and loved across China, Japan and Korea as Weiqi, Igo and Baduk. Two players take turns placing black and white stones on the intersections of a grid, trying to surround empty space as territory and to capture enemy stones by removing all of their breathing room. The rules are famously simple, yet the play is endlessly deep. This 9x9 board is the perfect size to learn on: a full game takes only a few minutes, but every move still matters.
Why Play Go Here
Everything runs right in your browser. There is no app to install and no account to create — open the page, the board is ready, and you close the tab when you are done. It plays the same on a phone, a tablet or a desktop, and your session record is kept locally.
You can play solo against the computer at four strengths — from a gentle Easy up to a Master engine that uses Monte-Carlo search to read out fights and territory — pass-and-play with a friend on one screen, or open an online room and invite someone with a single link. Stones drop with a clean animation, captures fade off the board, the last move is marked, and an undo button, a hint and full replay help you learn.
How to Play Go
Black plays first. On your turn you place one stone on any empty intersection, or you pass. A stone or a connected group of same-colour stones stays on the board as long as it has at least one liberty — an empty point directly next to it. When you place a stone that removes the last liberty of an enemy group, that whole group is captured and lifted off the board.
You may not play a stone that would have no liberties (a suicide), unless that same move captures enemy stones first. A simple ko rule stops the game repeating forever: if a single-stone capture would let your opponent immediately recapture and return to the identical position, that recapture must wait one move.
Territory, Passing and Scoring
The goal is to control more of the board than your opponent. Empty regions surrounded by only one colour count as that player's territory. When both players pass in a row, the game ends and the board is scored.
This game uses area scoring (Chinese rules): your score is your stones on the board plus the empty points you surround. White also receives a komi of 7.5 points to balance Black's first-move advantage, which means there are no draws on 9x9 — the higher score simply wins.
Strategy for Beginners
Play in the corners and sides first — territory is far easier to enclose with the help of the board edge than in the open centre. Keep your stones working together; a connected group is strong, while lone stones are easy to surround and capture.
Make eyes. A group with two separate internal empty points (two eyes) can never be captured, so it is alive. Don't try to save every stone — sometimes letting a few go to build a bigger framework is the winning choice. Count roughly whose area is larger before forcing a fight, and use the hint button when you are unsure of the biggest point.
Tips to Improve Faster
- Take corners and sides before the centre — territory is cheaper there.
- Keep your stones connected; split stones get captured.
- Make two eyes to keep a group permanently alive.
- A stone in atari (one liberty left) can be captured next move — watch both sides.
- Don't cling to dead stones; trade them for bigger territory.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this Go game really free?
Yes. Go runs entirely in your browser with no download and no sign-up, and your session record is stored locally on your device.
What is the difference between Go, Weiqi and Baduk?
They are the same game: Weiqi is the Chinese name, Igo the Japanese, and Baduk the Korean. The rules are identical.
Why a 9x9 board instead of 19x19?
The 9x9 board is the best size for learning and quick games — full rules, complete games in a few minutes, and much easier to read than the full 19x19 board.
How is the winner decided?
After both players pass, each side scores its stones plus surrounded territory. White adds a 7.5 komi, and the higher total wins.
Can I play Go against the computer?
Yes. Choose Solo vs AI and pick easy, medium, hard or Master. The engine uses Monte-Carlo tree search to estimate the best move.
