Intrigued by the ancient strategy game of Go but don't know where to start? Fear not! This guide will get you playing in minutes.
Go is played on a grid with black and white stones. The aim? To surround more territory than your opponent. Players take turns placing stones at intersections of the grid lines.
**Basic Rules:**
* **Placement:** Stones are placed, not moved.
* **Capture:** Surround an opponent's stone(s) completely to capture them (remove them from the board).
* **Liberties:** Stones need 'liberties' (empty intersections next to them) to survive. When surrounded, they're captured.
* **Ko Rule:** You can't immediately recapture a stone that recaptured one of yours (prevents infinite loops).
**Winning:** The game ends when both players pass (agree there are no more strategic moves). Territory is counted (empty points surrounded by your stones) plus captured stones. The player with the most territory wins!
Go is easy to learn, but incredibly deep. Grab a board and stones (or use an online app) and start playing! You'll be strategizing like a pro in no time!
