⚫ Mini Go (9×9)

Play Go against AI on a 9×9 mini board. Supports standard rules with capture, ko, and suicide move prohibitions. Enjoy it easily even as a beginner.

🌐 Online Battle
you(Black): stones captured0
AI(White): stones captured0
Your turn (black)

treatment

  • Click on intersections to place black stones
  • Capture your opponent's stones by blocking all their liberties
  • You cannot play suicide moves (moves that lose your stones)
  • Ko (repeating the same board position) is prohibited
  • Use the Pass button to pass your turn. Two consecutive passes end the game

What is Mini Go?

Mini Go offers a compact 9×9 board version of the ancient strategy game Go, making this sophisticated game accessible to beginners and casual players. Unlike full-size Go played on 19×19 boards, the smaller format reduces game complexity while preserving all the strategic depth that makes Go fascinating. Play against an intelligent AI opponent that adapts to your skill level, allowing you to learn proper Go strategy without intimidating top competitors. The game enforces standard Go rules including stone capture, the ko rule preventing immediate recapture, and prohibited suicide moves, ensuring authentic gameplay that builds genuine Go understanding.

How to Use

Starting Mini Go is simple. Click "New Game" to begin playing black stones—in Go, black always plays first. On your turn, click any empty intersection on the board to place your black stone. The AI opponent automatically responds with white stones. The objective is controlling more territory and capturing opponent stones. You win territory by surrounding empty spaces with your stones; your opponent must either fill those spaces or defend other areas. When you capture opponent stones by completely surrounding them, those stones are removed from the board. The game continues until both players agree no more beneficial moves exist, then the scoring phase calculates territory ownership for each player.

Use Cases

Mini Go serves educational and recreational purposes perfectly. Beginners use it to learn Go fundamentals without overwhelming complexity of full 19×19 games. Teachers introduce students to strategic thinking, pattern recognition, and multi-move planning through casual gameplay. Casual players enjoy quick competitive games against AI that provide genuine challenge without time commitment of professional play. Experienced Go players use Mini Go as a training tool for specific tactical problems or opening patterns. The smaller board makes it ideal for mobile devices and quick gaming sessions during breaks. Families enjoy playing together, with the accessible format allowing mixed skill levels to compete enjoyably while everyone learns fundamental strategy principles.

Tips & Insights

Mastering Mini Go requires understanding territorial strategy beyond simple stone placement. The ko rule prevents infinite cycles where players recapture stones repeatedly. Life and death concepts determine whether your stone groups can survive—groups with two or more eyes (empty surrounded spaces) are alive and cannot be captured. Opening moves should claim corner territories, which are easier to secure than edge or center positions. Practice reading the board several moves ahead, anticipating opponent responses and adjusting your strategy. Balance offensive territory claiming with defensive group protection. Study famous opening patterns to understand principles governing strong Go positions, then apply these ideas on the 9×9 board.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the basic rules of Go?

Take turns placing stones at intersections. Capture your opponent's stones by blocking all their liberties (adjacent empty intersections). At game end, the player with more territory (empty intersections surrounded by their stones) wins.

What is the ko rule?

Ko is a rule that prevents repeating the same board position. You cannot immediately recapture a stone your opponent just took. You must play elsewhere first, then recapture.

When should I pass?

Press pass when you have nowhere beneficial to play. When both players pass consecutively, the game ends and territory is counted to determine the winner.

How does 9×9 Go differ from regular Go?

Regular Go uses a 19×19 board, but 9×9 is compact and games finish quickly. The rules are the same, making it ideal for beginners to learn the basics.

How is the score calculated at the end of the game?

The score is calculated by counting the number of empty points (territory) controlled by each player, plus captured opponent stones as points. In most Go scoring systems, komi (a fixed bonus for the second player) is also added to balance the advantage of playing first.

How does the AI opponent's skill level work?

The AI on 9×9 boards uses standard Go algorithms to evaluate board position, stone placement, and tactical opportunities. Playing multiple games helps you understand the AI's patterns and develop strategies to counter its moves.

What happens if I try to play a suicide move?

Suicide moves (placing a stone that would immediately be captured with no beneficial effect) are prohibited by standard Go rules and cannot be played on this board. The game will prevent this move and prompt you to place your stone in a valid location instead.

What does passing actually do in Go?

Passing skips your turn and moves the play to your opponent; when both players pass consecutively, the game ends and scoring begins. Passing is strategically used when you have no beneficial moves or want to secure territory and force your opponent into less favorable positions.

How do I know which stones are captured?

Stones are captured and removed when they have no remaining adjacent empty spaces (liberties) and are completely surrounded by opponent stones. The game automatically removes captured stones from the board during play.

Can I save or replay previous games?

The current version plays one 9×9 game per session; there is no built-in save or replay feature for previous games. If you want to review your moves, you'll need to take screenshots or notes during gameplay as the game doesn't provide a move history.