Lessons in the Fundamentals: Ji (地)

Dia.1 - Territory

The ultimate goal of the game of Go is to surround territory (地, ji). All the empty intersections that stand surrounded by your stones count as points (目, moku). In order to effectively surround territory, a basic understanding of shape and how to deploy effective shapes must be achieved. In Diagram 1, you can conclude that white 9 points of territory using 6 stones, while black surrounds only 4 points of territory, using the same number of stones.The edges of the board are, in principle, the best place to start acquiring territory: the edges form a natural border that makes it much more difficult for any invasion to succeed. Additionally, playing a stone into secured territory will decrease your score by one point and waste an otherwise valuable move.

Effective ways to secure territory in an actual game

As a beginner, you should bear in mind that it is easier to make territory on the corners, and from there, stake a claim on the sides. Many beginners find it tempting to open a game at Tengen (天元 ), the centermost point of the board, which is usually not beneficial for those that have not developed a firm grasp of the game. Tengen surrounds no territory, and either allows the opponent to calmly take the corners and sides for himself, or invites direct fighting. Situations arising from playing at tengen can be quite difficult for experienced players to manage, let alone beginners.

Lessons in the Fundamentals: Atari (当たり)

Dia.1 - Liberties

When a player places a stone on the board, and assuming for the sake of simplicity that the board is empty, the newly placed stone has four liberties. In the picture above, each liberty is marked with a triangle. During the game, each player may capture a stone by filling all the adjacent intersections, thusly, capturing the stone. A stone that stands alone in an intersection may be compared to a fugitive standing at an intersection of a city. The man can see four streets. He remains free as long as one of those intersections is open for him to flee. But if all of them are blocked by those intent on capturing you, then you have no choice but surrendering. The same applies to the lone stone standing on the board. If you allow the black stone to be surrounded, it will run short of liberties, and be captured by your opponent.

Dia.2 - Atari

When a stone has only one vacant liberty, it is in atari. Atari means that under the current circumstances, this specific stone may be captured in the opponent's next turn.

Dia.3 - Capture

When the vacant point is filled, the stone is captured and removed from the board. White gains one point of territory and one point due to the capture of the black stone. White scores two points with the capture of the black stone.

Dia.4 - Liberties on the edge of the board

Because the edge acts as a natural barrier, when a single stone stands at the edge of the board, it has 3 liberties. On the corner, the stone is restrained by two edges, and has only 2 liberties.

Dia.5 - Liberties at the corner

Liberties are the most fundamental aspect of the game of Go. Remember to always count your liberties, and play accordingly, lest your stones are captured, thus providing your opponent with a valuable advantage.

Lessons in the Fundamentals: The Goban (碁盤)

General characteristics

Go (碁) is played by two players, one taking Black and one taking White. The typical Go board (碁盤 Goban) is 19x19. Unlike Chess, the go stones (碁石 goishi) are played on the intersections, not on the empty squares. Other board sizes are acceptable, and sometimes, smaller boards, such as 13x13 and 9x9 are used to teach the game to beginners, or to play quick games, while 17x17 was an accepted standard far in the past. The most remarkable characteristic is the 9 star points (星 hoshi), a visual aid to orientate the player and mark the spot for the handicap stones.

hoshi (星) point at D4 and D10