How to Play the Board Game Go

Start with a blank board.

Allow the black player to go first. Black always takes the first turn in the game. The black player can be determined by any random method, but a common method of selection is called "nigiri." One player takes a handful of stones in the palm of his hand. The opposing player than places either one or two stones on the board to indicate either odd or even. The player holding the handful of stones counts the stones to determine if the number is even or odd. If the second player guessed even, and there are even stones, then the player with the handful plays black. Otherwise, he plays white. Alternatively, if one player is known to be the weaker player, he may be given a handicap and permitted to play black automatically.

Alternate placing stones on the empty intersections on the board. Stones are captured if all the locations directly adjacent to it are occupied by opposing stones, and the winner at the end of the game is the player who controls or has surrounded the most territory. In this way, the game alternates, with each player building walls of stones to surround the stones of the opposing player.

Check for obstacles to movement. Only one rule can prevent a stone from being placed in a given location. No stone can be placed in such a way that it causes the board to duplicate the exact same layout as it had in a previous turn. This is to prevent endless loops of captures that would otherwise be possible.

Resolve captures. Whenever a move is made that causes stones to be surrounded, captures need to be resolved. First, any stones on the opposing side of the player who just moved which are completely surrounded by enemy stones or are surrounded entirely by enemy stones and a board edge are removed. Next, any stones belonging to the player who just moved which are surrounded by enemy stones are removed. This is known as "self-capture."
Entire blocks of stones can be removed on one turn. For example, if white has a block of a dozen stones, and then entire block is surrounded by black stones with no extra spaces within the wall, then the entire block of white stones have been captured and must be removed from the board.

End the game. A player may pass his turn at any time during the game. When both players have passed their turns, one immediately after the other, the game ends. The winner is the player who controls the most territory, either in intersections containing a stone of his own color or in intersections surrounded by stones of his own color.