Introduction
Welcome to the world of Go! This section will take you from zero to building a solid foundation in Go.
When starting Go, learn the four basics in order: the rules of Go (liberties, capturing, illegal moves, ko, eyes and living groups, and scoring), basic terminology, game etiquette, and the basic direction and concepts of the opening.
Contents of This Section
Go Rules
The rules of Go are simple yet profound. You will learn:
- Liberties: The lifeline of stones
- Capturing: How to capture opponent's stones
- Illegal moves: Places where you cannot play
- Ko: Special repetition rules
- Eyes and living groups: How to keep groups alive
- Scoring: Territory counting and area counting methods
Basic Terminology
Learn Go terminology so you can:
- Understand game commentaries
- Communicate with other players
- Follow teaching content
Game Etiquette
Go is not just about winning and losing, but also a culture. Learn:
- Etiquette when placing stones
- Attitude during games
- Grace in victory and defeat
Opening Concepts
Before starting to play, establish the right concepts:
- General direction of the opening
- Value of corners, sides, and center
- Characteristics of common opening positions
Learning Suggestions
For Beginners
Don't rush to win games. When first learning Go, the most important things are:
- Truly understand the rules - Especially the concepts of "liberties" and "eyes"
- Play more games - Practice on the 9x9 small board to accumulate experience
- Enjoy the process - Go is a lifelong interest, take your time
Learning Order
We recommend learning in the following order:
| Order | Topic | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rules | First clarify the rules |
| 2 | Terminology | Learn basic terms |
| 3 | Etiquette | Develop proper attitude |
| 4 | Opening | Build opening concepts |
Ready? Let's start with Go Rules!