Online Tool Store
Go Board
A Go board for playing locally or working through positions, with 9x9, 13x13, and 19x19 sizes, captures, and territory counting.
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Games
Go Board
Frontend preview — no upload or external service.
Board state
9x9 game, move 34: Black holds 22 points of territory to White's 18, with a 6.5 komi giving White a 2.5-point lead.
How the Go Board works
- Choose a board size — 9x9 for a short game or for learning, 19x19 for a full one.
- Play alternately; captured stones are removed automatically when a group has no liberties.
- Count at the end under your chosen ruleset, since Japanese and Chinese scoring can differ by a point or two.
The method
A group of stones lives while it has at least one liberty — an adjacent empty point. Removing the last liberty captures the whole group.
score = territory + captures (Japanese) or stones + territory (Chinese), plus komi for White
Komi, usually 6.5 points, compensates White for moving second, and the half point exists to make draws impossible.
FAQ
Which board size should a beginner use?
9x9. A full game takes minutes, fights resolve quickly, and capture and liberty ideas become clear far faster than on 19x19.
What is the difference between Japanese and Chinese scoring?
Japanese counts territory plus prisoners; Chinese counts stones plus territory. They usually agree within a point, but they reward filling neutral points differently at the end.
Why is there a half-point komi?
To prevent draws. Adding 6.5 rather than 6 guarantees one side wins outright.
How we compare
| Feature | Online Tool Store | A physical set | An app-store download |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple board sizes | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Both scoring systems | ✓ | Manual | Sometimes |
| No account or install | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Plays against you | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
Go Board is a local board for two players or for studying a position — it counts territory under either ruleset but does not play against you.