바둑

Go is an ancient abstract strategy board game for two players. Despite having simple rules, Go is remarkably complex with more possible game positions than atoms in the observable universe. It is played on a grid of intersections, traditionally 19x19, using black and white stones.

Control more territory than your opponent. Territory consists of empty intersections completely surrounded by your stones, plus captured enemy stones.

The game is played on a grid (19x19 standard, but 9x9 or 13x13 for beginners). The board starts empty. Black places first. Players have an unlimited supply of stones in their color.

1. Players take turns placing one stone on any empty intersection.
2. Once placed, stones never move, but they can be captured and removed.
3. A stone or group of connected stones is captured when all adjacent empty points (liberties) are occupied by enemy stones.
4. Connected means horizontally or vertically adjacent (not diagonally).
5. You cannot place a stone where it would have no liberties (suicide) unless doing so captures enemy stones.
6. Ko rule: You cannot immediately recapture a single stone that just captured your single stone (prevents infinite loops).
7. A player may pass instead of placing a stone. When both players pass consecutively, the game ends.
8. Captured stones (prisoners) count as points for the capturing player at game end.

After both players pass, count territory. Add your surrounded empty points plus your prisoners. Subtract dead stones in your territory. White typically receives 6.5 points of komi (compensation for black's first-move advantage). Highest score wins.

• *Start in the corners, then the sides, then the center - corners are easiest to secure.
• *Keep your groups connected when possible; connected stones are harder to capture.
• *Don't try to save every stone - sacrifice weak groups to build strong positions elsewhere.
• *Look for double-purpose moves that both attack and defend.
• *Maintain two 'eyes' (surrounded empty points) in a group to make it permanently alive.
• *Don't play too close to strong enemy groups; maintain proper spacing.
• *In the opening, prioritize big points over small local fights.

Go originated in China over 4,000 years ago, making it one of the oldest board games still played today. It spread to Korea and Japan, where it became an art form studied by scholars and nobility.