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Handicap games | ||
| When there is a difference in strength between the two players, the weaker (lower-ranked) player takes Black and plays with a handicap. The usual handicap is one stone for each dan or kyu difference in rank. Since there is no komi, it's possible for the game to end in a draw; usually a draw is counted as a win for White. |
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| * | Playing on Black | ||
| When there is a difference of just one rank between the players, for example, when a 1-dan player plays a 1-kyu or a 3-kyu plays a 4-kyu, there is no handicap. However, the lower-ranked player takes Black and gives no komi. The lack of a komi means that Black has an advantage. Black plays first, followed by White. |
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Two-stone to nine-stone handicaps | ||
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| The nine-stone handicap: Black stones are placed on all the star points |
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| When there is a difference of two ranks, for example, when a 1-dan plays a 2-kyu or a 3-kyu plays a 5-kyu, the weaker player places two handicap stones on the board. If the difference is three ranks, for example, a 1-dan plays a 3-kyu or a 3-kyu plays a 6-kyu, the weaker player places three Black stones on the board. The number of stones increases or decreases depending on the difference in ranks. |
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| When playing with a handicap, White plays the first move, and the side placing the handicap, Black, plays second. |
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| * | Order of the handicap stones | ||
| There is a set order for placing the handicap stones on the star points. Handicaps from two to five stones are placed in the order of the numbers in the diagram below. The order for six stones is: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7. The order for eight stones is: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9. |
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| Dia. 1: order for placing the handicap stones | |||
| Please click the handicaps from two to nine stones to confirm the order. | |||
| Two stones Three stones Four stones Five stones Six stones Seven stones Eight stones Nine stones |
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| * | Handicap stones on the 9x9 board | ||
| The stones are placed in the same pattern as on the 19x19 board. |
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| Two-stone game | Three-stone game | Four-stone game | |
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| Five-stone game (the special pattern shown in the diagram on the right is also possible) |
Six-stone game | ||
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| Seven-stone game | Eight-stone game | Nine-stone game | |