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Go 9x9: free online Go game

Go 9x9
Play free nowFree · No download · No sign-up

Go is one of the oldest board games in the world, also called Weiqi in China and Baduk in Korea. Two players take turns placing black and white stones, and the aim is to surround more of the board than your opponent.

This version uses a small 9x9 board, which makes a game short and the rules easy to take in. Play the computer on four levels, or pass the screen back and forth with a friend. On Easy you start with 4 stones on the board.

Also called: free online go, go game against the computer, play go online, 9x9 go board, go

How to play

  1. Open the game and choose the computer or two players on one screen. Against the computer, choose Easy, Normal, Hard or Expert. Win a level to open the next.
  2. Black and White take turns. Tap a spot to place a stone on an empty crossing. On a phone, the first tap shows where the stone will go, and the second tap places it.
  3. A stone or a group of stones needs an empty point beside it to stay alive. Fill a group's last empty point and you capture it.
  4. You cannot make a move that leaves your own stones with no empty point, unless it captures. Ko: you cannot take one stone straight back. Play elsewhere first.
  5. If nothing useful is left, tap Pass. When both players pass, the game goes to counting. The computer guesses which groups are dead, and you can tap groups to mark them dead or alive.
  6. Tap Count to see the score: your stones plus the empty points you surround. White gets extra points, called komi, for moving second. Undo takes back your move and the reply, and Hint shows a good move.

Tips

Questions

Is Go 9x9 free, and do I need to download anything?

Yes, it is free. Go 9x9 plays right in your web browser with no download, no sign-up and no ads on the site. Just open the page and start.

Can I play on my phone or tablet?

Yes. Tap once to aim, and a preview stone appears. Tap again to place it. On a computer, click, or use the keys: arrows to move, Enter or Space to place, P to pass, U to undo and H for a hint.

Do I need to know the rules first?

No. How to play is on the home screen and in the pause menu, and Hint shows a good move. Start on Easy and learn as you play.

How is the game scored?

You count your stones plus the empty points you surround. White gets extra points, called komi, because Black moves first. Easy and Normal use 0.5, and Hard and Expert use 6.5.

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