Play Go Online Free with Friends

How to play Go

1. Black and White take turns placing a stone on an empty intersection of the 9×9 board. Black plays first. Stones do not move once placed.
2. Stones of one colour that touch along the lines form a group. A group's empty neighbouring points are its LIBERTIES. Take away a group's last liberty and it is captured — removed from the board.
3. You may not play a stone that would have no liberties (suicide) unless it captures. You may not immediately retake a single stone in a way that repeats the position (KO) — play elsewhere first.
4. Pass when you have nothing useful to play. Two passes in a row end the game.
5. Filling your own eyes loses the group that needs them. The house bot knows this; make sure you do.
6. Scoring is by AREA: each side counts its stones plus the empty points only its stones surround. White adds 7.5 (komi) for moving second. Dead stones are NOT removed at the end — capture them before you pass.

Go strategy

The basics that turn knowing the rules into winning games — what to do first, what to keep, what to avoid.

• On 9×9, start near the centre or the 3-3 / 4-4 points; the corners and edges are easier to make territory in than the middle.
• Connected stones are alive stones. A group needs two separate EYES (empty points it surrounds) to be safe — make them before your opponent takes the space.
• Do not chase every capture; a stone in atari that cannot escape is already yours. Play the biggest empty area instead.
• Cut where your opponent's stones are only diagonally connected, and connect your own before they do.
• Pass when there is nothing left to gain — playing inside your own territory costs a point each time.
• Ko: when you cannot retake immediately, play a threat elsewhere first, then come back.

Go FAQ

Why 9×9?

It is the board Go is taught on: the same rules as 19×19, a game in a quarter of the time, and it fits a phone screen at a size you can tap.

How is the game scored?

By area: your stones plus the empty points only you surround, with 7.5 komi to White. Two passes end the game and it is counted as it stands — dead stones you did not capture count as alive, so capture them first.

Is there a bot?

Yes — it captures, escapes atari, avoids filling its own eyes, and passes when it should. A fair opponent for a beginner.

Do I need an account?

No. Type a name and play — no signup, no download, nothing to install. Making an account is optional and only exists to keep your stats, nickname and preferences across devices.

Is it really free?

Yes, all of it. Every game on Board Game Universe is free to play, with no premium tier holding anything back.

Can I play on my phone?

Yes. It runs in a mobile browser on phones and tablets as well as on a desktop — there is no app to download.

How do I play with my friends?

Start a table and send your friends the link. They open it, type a name, and sit down. Moves and table chat happen in real time.

Can I play against the computer?

Yes. Add a bot to any table and it plays a proper game — useful for filling a seat while you wait for a fourth.