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Let Me Tell You About Go Spelregels
Hey there! I’ve got a pretty neat game to tell you about called Go. Have you ever heard of it? It’s pretty awesome. So, let me break it down for you!
Go is an ancient board game that originated in China. It’s known for its simplicity and depth. The goal of the game is to use your stones to surround and capture your opponent’s stones. It may sound simple, but trust me, it can get pretty challenging. Players take turns placing their stones on the board, trying to outmaneuver their opponent.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. “What’s so special about this game?” Well, I’ll tell you. Go is all about strategy and planning. You need to think several moves ahead and anticipate your opponent’s next move. It’s like a game of chess, but with its own unique twists and turns.
One of the things I love about Go is that it’s easy to learn but difficult to master. You can start playing and having fun right away, but as you get better, you’ll discover new strategies and tactics. It’s a game that keeps evolving as you play and learn.
Now, let’s talk about the rules. The board is a grid made up of 19×19 intersections. The players take turns placing their stones on the intersections. The stones can be either black or white. The goal is to surround your opponent’s stones and create territories. The player with the most territories at the end of the game wins.
But be careful! Go is a tactical game. Every move you make can have far-reaching consequences. You need to think strategically and consider the whole board. It’s like a game of balance and harmony. You need to find the right balance between offense and defense, between expansion and consolidation.
So, whether you’re a seasoned player or totally new to the game, Go is a game that will challenge and captivate you. It’s a game that rewards careful planning and bold decisions. So why not give it a try? You might just discover a new passion!
When it comes to playing Go, there are a few important things to take into account. First, the game is typically played on a board with a 19×19 grid. The grid may have marked points that serve as reference points for placing handicap stones.
The stones used in Go are black and white, and they are shaped like lens-shaped disks.
In terms of quantity, the black player starts the game with 181 stones, while the white player has 180.
For beginners, it’s recommended to start with the basics on a smaller 9×9 grid. After a few games, they can transition to a slightly larger 13×13 grid.
Only when beginners feel comfortable with the strategic concepts of the game and are able to finish their games in under 15 minutes, should they consider playing on the standard 19×19 board.
How the Game Works
I’m going to start the game with my black stones. After that, we’ll alternate turns, with the white and black stones taking their respective moves.
When playing the game of Go, I make a move by placing a stone on an empty intersection, or a crossroad. The stone remains in that spot until it is captured and removed from the board.
At any point in the game, I have the option to pass, which means I choose not to make a move. This strategic choice can be made because placing a stone in a surrounded territory might result in losing a point.
If both players pass, the game ends, and then it’s time to count the final score.
So, what’s the objective of the game?
The player who manages to control the most territory or accumulate the most points wins the game.
Points are earned by surrounding areas on the board, creating territories.
How do we determine the score?
Territory consists of empty spaces that are completely enclosed by stones of the same color. The edges of the board also serve as natural boundaries.
Let’s take a look at diagram 1. It shows a territory with 9 points.
The edges of the board also serve as boundaries, and since they are empty, they count as points too.
Now, let’s move on to diagram 2. In diagram 2, the territory consists of 4 points.
Here are two examples of completed games. The game is finished when all empty points are surrounded by a player.
See diagram 4, white has 34 points and black has 31 points. Note that placing a stone in an area you already have will decrease your score by one point.
Connections and groups
Stones of the same color on adjacent intersections are connected and form a group.
The connection can be horizontal or vertical, but not diagonal because the connection goes through the lines.
Liberties
When there’s an empty space next to a stone, we call it a “liberty.” So, a single stone has four “liberties”.
When two or more stones are connected, they share each other’s liberties.
Whenever I place a stone, it (or the group it’s connected to) must always have a liberty.
Capturing Stones
Players can capture their opponent’s stones (or a group of stones) by placing a stone on all the liberties of the stone (or group).
Afterward, the captured stone or group is removed from the board and kept by the player who caught them.
At the end of the game, the captured stones are placed in the opponent’s territory to reduce their score.
As you may know, a captured stone in the game of Go can be seen as having two points. One point is awarded for the empty space it creates on the board, and another point is subtracted from the opponent’s score. This concept might be a bit confusing at first, but it’s an important element to understand in order to master the game.
Think of it this way: when you capture an opponent’s stone, you not only gain a point but also prevent them from getting a point for that space. So, it’s like a double win for you!
In the game of Go, strategic thinking is crucial. Every move you make can have a ripple effect on the entire board. Therefore, it’s important to carefully consider your options and plan your moves accordingly. By doing so, you can maximize your chances of gaining points while minimizing your opponent’s opportunities.
So, the next time you play Go, keep in mind the significance of capturing stones. It’s not just about eliminating your opponent’s pieces; it’s also a strategic way to gain an advantage and control the game. Happy playing!
Look at figure 5, black can remove the 3 white stones because the white stones don’t have any liberties left. They are completely surrounded.
Look at diagram 6, there is still one liberty left and black needs to fill it first.
When a group has only one liberty left, we call it in atari mode, which means the group can be captured in the next turn.
When you place a stone, first look at how many stones will be captured and then consider the liberties.
Eyes
A single empty space within a group of stones is called an eye.
In order to capture a group, I need to fill all the liberties (touching intersections) with stones. But it’s not enough for the group to just be surrounded on the outside – I also need to fill the empty adjacent spaces within the group, because those are liberties too.
Take a look at diagram 7. The only empty space in the white group forms an eye. For a group to stay alive, it needs to have at least two separate places (eyes).
Let’s take a look at diagram 8, where we need to put a black stone on the empty spot to trap all the white stones around it.
Here’s an important point to note: if white had an escape route on the outside, we couldn’t place this stone because it’s not allowed to place a stone that is immediately surrounded. That’s considered suicide.
Two Eyes
Groepen met twee ogen kunnen niet gevangen worden, omdat ze nog een vrijheid hebben.
Stel je voor dat we een steen in een oog zouden plaatsen. De groep zou nog steeds een ander oog hebben dat vrij is. Het is zelfs niet mogelijk om de steen daar te plaatsen, want dat zou zelfmoord zijn.
In Go is het cruciaal dat je genoeg ogen hebt voor je groepen, zodat je tegenstander je stenen niet kan vangen.
De Ko
In diagram 10, I can place a black stone in the white’s eye. This move will capture the white stone and remove it (figure 12).
Now, you can place a white stone in the black group’s eye (diagram 13), capturing the black stone in return. When we remove the black stone, we go back to the situation in diagram 10. This cycle can continue indefinitely, and it is called a “ko”.
To avoid such situations, there is an additional rule: if black captures a stone like in diagram 11, white cannot immediately recapture, but must wait for at least one turn.
A Seki
When white moves, black can fully capture the white group.
So, white should not play (should possibly pass).
When black plays a stone, white can capture and remove the black group.
Now, black tries to prevent white from making two eyes by placing a stone (Diagram 17), but white can now play a fourth stone, making it impossible for black to capture the white group.
Take another look at Diagram 14. When white plays, the entire group is captured. When black plays, white will capture 4 black stones and gain 4 points.
So, each player loses when they play, and neither player can place a stone. This situation is called “seki.”
At the end of the game, neither player earns points because the empty spaces are not completely surrounded.