The Way of Go: Extensive Guide

1. The Objective

The goal is to control more territory than your opponent. Territory is defined by the empty intersections surrounded by your stones.

2. Capturing (Hamete)

Stones are captured when they have no liberties (adjacent empty spots). If a move reduces an opponent's group to zero liberties, those stones are removed from the board as prisoners.

3. The End Game (Yose)

The game ends when both players pass in succession. At this stage, "dead" stones that cannot avoid capture are removed and added to the prisoner count.

4. Scoring (Mokuseki)

Score = (Surrounded Empty Territory) + (Prisoners captured). Black usually needs to overcome Komi (a handicap for going first).

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Exhaustive Japanese Glossary

• Aji: "Taste"; lingering possibilities left in a position.
• Atari: A direct threat to capture on the next move.
• Byo-yomi: "Reading the seconds"; overtime period in a timed game.
• Fuseki: The opening stage of the game.
• Gote: A move that loses the initiative (requires no response).
• Hane: A move that "bends" around an opponent's stone.
• Joseki: Established sequences of moves, usually in the corners.
• Ko: "Eternity"; a rule preventing infinite loops of capture.
• Komi: Compensation points given to White for playing second.
• Miai: Two points of equal value; if one is taken, the other remains.
• Pukiage: A play that forces the opponent into a heavy shape.
• Sente: The initiative; a forcing move.
• Tengen: The exact center point of the board.
• Tesuji: A clever, tactical "best move" in a local situation.
• Tsuru no Sugomori: "The cranes in the nest"; a complex capture tactic.
• Utagaeshi: A snapback; sacrificing a stone to immediately recapture a larger group.