Go opening on a 9×9 board: corners first
Where to play first in Go: corners, then sides, then the centre. Learn why, and the best opening points on a 9×9 board. Life, death and tactics · lesson 5 of 5.
The lesson in words
It takes fewer stones to surround territory in a corner, where two edges help, than on a side. The centre takes the most. So players usually go corners first, then sides, then the centre.
On a 9×9 board the centre matters more than on a big board, and the star points are good starting places.
You’re black, and the board is empty.
Try it: Play a good first move: a corner point or the centre.
Corners, sides, centre. That’s the Go path complete!
Questions
Why are corners worth taking early?
The two edges do half the work, so corner territory is cheap.