How to play Go: the board and the stones
Go in one minute: two players take turns placing stones on the points of a grid to surround territory. Learn the board and how a move works. How Go works · lesson 1 of 5.
The lesson in words
Go is played on a grid of lines. Stones go on the points where lines cross, not in the squares. Beginners use a 9×9 board; the full board is 19×19.
You play black and your opponent plays white. Black moves first.
On your turn you place one stone on any empty point. Once placed, a stone never moves. It stays until the end of the game, unless it’s captured.
Try it: Place a stone on the centre point.
The dots on the board are star points. They’re just there to help you find your way around.
Try it: Tap all five star points.
Place a stone, never move it. Next: liberties, the idea everything in Go is built on.
Questions
Can you move a stone after placing it?
No. Stones never move. A stone only leaves the board if it’s captured.