Go is a free online board game you can play instantly in your browser against a computer opponent named Otto, no download, no account, and no waiting for another player. Play on a beginner-friendly 9x9 board: place a black stone on any empty intersection, and surround an opponent group on all sides to capture it and remove it from the board. A move that would leave your own stone with no open space (no liberties) is illegal unless it captures first, and you may never immediately recapture in a way that recreates the exact previous position (the ko rule). Either side can pass instead of playing; once both sides pass in a row, the match ends and is scored by counting each side's stones plus the empty territory they fully surround, with a small compensation point bonus for Otto since you move first. Play through 15 levels that make Otto stronger with every match, from loose opening stones early on to sharper capturing and tighter shape near the final board.
How to play Go
- The board is a beginner-friendly 9x9 grid of intersections, smaller than the traditional 19x19 board but using the same rules.
- Tap any empty intersection to place your black stone. Otto plays white and moves after you.
- Surround an entire opponent group on all open sides (its "liberties") to capture it — every captured stone is removed from the board immediately.
- You cannot play a stone that would leave your own group with zero liberties, unless doing so captures an opponent group first (which frees up space).
- You cannot immediately play a move that would recreate the exact board position from right before your opponent's last move — this is the ko rule, and it prevents infinite capture loops.
- Either side can pass instead of placing a stone. Once both sides pass in a row, the match ends immediately and is scored.
- Scoring counts each side's stones plus any empty area they fully surround; Otto also gets a small fixed point bonus (komi) to balance out your first-move advantage. Higher total wins.
- Clear a level to unlock the next one, where Otto captures more efficiently and builds tighter, more connected shapes.
Tips
- A stone or group with only one liberty left is in "atari" — one more surrounding move captures it, so either defend it or abandon it before wasting more moves there.
- Playing in open space near the center and away from the edges early on builds influence over more of the board than crowding into a corner.
- Keep your stones connected rather than scattered — a single large group is much harder to capture than several small, separate ones.
- Don't pass too early: any empty area you haven't secured with your own stones on all sides doesn't count as your territory at scoring time.
FAQ
Is Go free to play?
Yes. Go is completely free to play online with no download, no account, and no in-game purchases.
Does Go work on mobile?
Yes — tap an empty intersection to place a stone, so it works on phones, tablets, and desktop.
What board size does this version of Go use?
It uses a 9x9 board, the standard size recommended for beginners — smaller and faster than the traditional 19x19 board, using identical rules.
How do you win at Go?
Once both sides pass in a row, the match is scored by counting each side's stones plus the empty territory they fully surround. Whoever has the higher total (Otto gets a small fixed bonus for moving second) wins.
How many levels does Go have?
There are 15 levels. Otto starts with loose, scattered opening stones on early levels, then captures more efficiently and builds tighter, better-connected shapes as you advance.