Handicapping in Go: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 01:28, 8 November 2025

In the game of Go, a handicap can be given when two players of different strengths play each other to offset the difference and make a close, exciting game more likely. Handicapping is much more common in Go than in other board games, as the system adapts comparatively well to handicaps; perhaps half of all Go games are played with handicaps. Handicaps are given by means of stones and compensation points (komi). A small handicap such as might be given with a difference of one rank is that the weaker player plays as Black and gets the first move, but offers no komi for the advantage. Larger handicaps give free stones placed at the start of the game for the Black player.^[1]^[2]

Template:GoBoardGame

Handicap stones

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The rank difference within a given amateur ranking system is one guide to how many handicap stones should be given to make the game a more equal contest. As a general rule, each rank represents the value of one stone. For example, a 3 kyu player gives a 7 kyu player four handicap stones to allow for an interesting game with roughly equal challenge for both players. If traditional fixed placement of the handicap stones is used, nine stones is normally the maximum handicap.^[1]^[2] Larger handicaps are possible, but generally result in a strange game, as this means one player is comparatively very weak and may not be understanding White's moves well.

The above rank relationship applies for kyu and amateur dan (1-7d) ranks. Professional dan ranks are not as comparable. They are awarded by professional Go players' organizations, and unlike amateur ranks are more an indication of achievements in tournament play. They can still be used as a rough guess, but the skill difference in professional dan ranks can be less than a third of a stone per rank.

Handicap placement

Fixed placement

File:Go aloituskivien paikat.jpg

The traditional placement of handicap stones

There are 9 star points marked on a 19 x 19 board – in each corner on the (4,4) point, in the middle of each side on the fourth line, (4,10); and the very center of the board, (10,10). Traditionally handicaps are always placed on the star points, as follows:

Handicap locations^[1]
Stones	Placement	Locations
1	Black plays his first stone as he wishes, and gives no komi	None
2	Black plays the star points to his upper right and lower left	A,B
3	Black adds the star point to his lower right (In Classical Chinese rules the third handicap stone is placed on tengen)	A,B,C (or E)
4	Black takes all four corner star points	A,B,C,D
5	Black adds the center star point	A,B,C,D,E
6	Black takes all three star points at left and right	A,B,C,D,F,G
7	Black adds the center star point	A,B,C,D,E,F,G
8	Black takes all star points except the center	A,B,C,D,F,G,H,I
9	Black takes all nine star points	A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I

Free placement

Some rulesets allow for free placement of handicap stones, rather than the fixed star point locations. In free placement, one can place handicap stones anywhere on the board without restriction, as black receives a number of unanswered moves at the start of the game. For example, Ing rules allow free placement.^[3] The fixed locations are at the (4,4) points in the corners, so if Black wishes to gain experience playing (3,4) corner openings, or others such as (3,3), (5,4), (5,3), etc., free placement can allow this.

Small board handicaps

Small Go boards are often used for novice players (double-digit kyu players) just learning to play Go, or for quick games (most commonly 13×13 and 9×9). As the fewer moves made when playing on smaller boards gives White fewer chances to overcome the advantage conferred by the handicap, each free stone is worth more. Accordingly, smaller handicaps are used for the same difference in rank than would be given on a 19x19 board.^[2]

The per-rank handicap is reduced, by a scaling factor. Various estimates have been given for the factor that applies to 13×13, in the range 2.5 up to 4; and on grounds both theoretical and experimental (small-board tournament play). The evidence is that 2.5 is more realistic than 4, for clock games. The corresponding factor for a 9×9 board is not easy to understand, and the change for each stone added is very large.

One theoretical approach is according to the distribution of the number of moves made in a game on a board of a given size relative to the number made on a 19×19 board. Using estimates that a 19×19 game will last about 250-300 moves, a 13×13 game about 95-120 moves, and a 9×9 game about 40-50 moves, a quadratic formula for the ratio of the mean number of plays may apply. Another way to view the matter is that barring blunders, White catches up by means of Black's 'small errors', so that White's deficit dwindles at a roughly constant rate, and thus the game length makes sense as scaling factor.

Each full stone of handicap on a 13×13 board is in any case probably equivalent to about 2.5 to 3 ranks, and each full stone on a 9×9 board is equivalent to about 6 ranks. For example, if the appropriate handicap is 9 (i.e., 8.5) stones on a 19×19 board, the handicap between those two players is reduced to 4 (because 3.5 × 2.5 = 8.75) stones on a 13x13 board and 2 (1.5 × 6 = 9) stones on a 9×9 board. A 5 (i.e., 4.5) stone handicap on a 9×9 board is accordingly equivalent to a handicap of 27 or 28 stones on a 19×19 board.

Template:Goban 9x9

Traditional handicap locations on a 9x9 board, in order of placement^[2]

Compensation points

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In games between players of equal rank, the Black player compensates for the advantage of playing first by offering compensation points (komi) to the White player. When the difference in strength is one rank, no handicap stone is given. Instead the stronger player takes White but without compensation points.

An alternative type of handicap for differences of rank greater than one is that rather than Black gaining starting stones, there is reverse komi. In it, the weaker player takes black, and is given both the first move and compensation points too. Compensation points are sometimes preferred to stones because the players would like to play or practice as if it is an even game, with opening joseki strategy unchanged.

Historical handicaps

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". Before the 20th century, other systems of handicaps were used. For example, two players might agree to a multi-game match (jubango) where the games were played without komi, but the weaker player would be granted the black stones in two games out of every three in the match, giving them an edge in the overall match standings.

References

Template:Reflist

External links

Index of Handicap topics, at Sensei's Library

Template:Go (game)

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[1]

[2]

[3]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{notability|date=September 2021}}
+In the [[Go (board game)|game of Go]], a [[handicap (competition)|handicap]] can be given when two players of different strengths play each other to offset the difference and make a close, exciting game more likely.  Handicapping is much more common in Go than in other board games, as the system adapts comparatively well to handicaps; perhaps half of all Go games are played with handicaps.  Handicaps are given by means of stones and compensation points (''[[Komi (Go)|komi]]'').  A small handicap such as might be given with a difference of one rank is that the weaker player plays as Black and gets the first move, but offers no ''komi'' for the advantage.  Larger handicaps give free stones placed at the start of the game for the Black player.<ref name="iwamoto">{{cite book|author-link=Kaoru Iwamoto |last=Iwamoto |first=Kaoru |title=Go for Beginners|publisher=Pantheon|location=New York |date=1977 |orig-date=1972 |pages=109-114 |isbn=978-0-394-73331-9}}</ref><ref name="shotwell">{{Cite book | last = Shotwell | first = Peter | title = Go! More Than a Game | publisher = Tuttle Publishing |date= 2003 | isbn = 978-0-8048-3475-9 |pages=25-26}}</ref>
-Within most systems and at most levels in the [[Go (board game)|game of Go]], a [[handicap (competition)|handicap]] is given to offset the strength difference between players of different ranks.
 {{GoBoardGame}}
-==Forms of handicaps==
-In the game of Go, a handicap is given by means of '''stones''' and '''compensation points'''.  In contrast to an even game, in which Black plays first, White plays the first move in a game with handicap (after Black's handicap stones have been placed).
 ==Handicap stones==
-The rank difference within a given amateur ranking system is one guide to how many handicap stones should be given to make the game a more equal contest. As a general rule, each rank represents the value of one stone. (In terms of points, one stone is considered to be 13-16 points, but this figure is not constant over levels: the more skillful a player, the greater the usefulness of each stone.)
+{{see also|Go ranks and ratings}}
-For example, a 3 ''kyu'' player gives a  7 ''kyu'' player four handicap stones to allow for an interesting game with roughly equal challenge for both players. If traditional fixed placement of the handicap stones is used, nine stones is normally the maximum handicap. Larger handicaps are certainly possible; but with such a great difference in strength, Black may be simply bewildered, and not understand how many of White's moves relate to his own.
-The above rank relationship reliably applies for single-digit ''kyu'' (1-9k) and amateur ''dan'' (1-7d) ranks. The advantage of moving first is equivalent to only half a stone of handicap, as the opponent then has the initiative.  Because White gets the next move after Black places the handicap stones, a nominal handicap of ''n'' stones is therefore in reality half a stone less than ''n''.
-Nowadays professional ranks are awarded by professional Go players' organizations; they are, unlike amateur ranks, not reliable as a measure of current playing strength, but rather an indication of achievements. Before the late 20th century, they were used as strength measurement, with a difference in skill of less than a third of a stone per rank.
-==Small board handicaps==
-Small [[go equipment#Equipment|boards]] are often used for novice players (double-digit kyu players) just learning to play Go, or for quick games. As the fewer moves made when playing on smaller boards gives White fewer chances to overcome the advantage conferred by the handicap, smaller handicaps are used on smaller [[Go equipment#Equipment|Go boards]] (most commonly 13×13 and 9×9).<ref>See [http://senseis.xmp.net/?HandicapsForSmallerBoardSizes page at Sensei's Library for a fuller discussion]</ref>
-The per-rank handicap is therefore reduced, by a scaling factor. Various estimates have been given for the factor that applies to 13×13, in the range 2.5 up to 4; and on grounds both theoretical and experimental (small-board tournament play). The evidence is that 2.5 is more realistic than 4, for clock games. The corresponding factor for a 9×9 board is not easy to understand, and the change for each stone added is very large.
-One theoretical approach is according to the distribution of the number of moves made in a game on a board of a given size relative to the number made on a 19×19 board. Using estimates that a 19×19 game will last about 250-300 moves, a 13×13 game about 95-120 moves, and a 9×9 game about 40-50 moves, a quadratic formula for the ratio of the mean number of plays may apply. Arguing that White catches up by means of Black's 'small errors', so that White's deficit drifts at a constant rate, it makes sense to take the ratio of game lengths as scaling factor.<ref>Psychologically speaking, Black (the pupil) probably sees blunders as more important in a loss; but White (the teacher) is more aware of getting into the game by means of Black's inefficiencies.</ref>
+The rank difference within a given amateur ranking system is one guide to how many handicap stones should be given to make the game a more equal contest. As a general rule, each rank represents the value of one stone.  For example, a 3 ''kyu'' player gives a  7 ''kyu'' player four handicap stones to allow for an interesting game with roughly equal challenge for both players. If traditional fixed placement of the handicap stones is used, nine stones is normally the maximum handicap.<ref name="iwamoto" /><ref name="shotwell" /> Larger handicaps are possible, but generally result in a strange game, as this means one player is comparatively very weak and may not be understanding White's moves well.
-Each full stone of handicap on a 13×13 board is in any case probably equivalent to about 2.5 to 3 ranks, and each full stone on a 9×9 board is equivalent to about 6 ranks. For example, if the appropriate handicap is 9 (i.e., 8.5) stones on a 19×19 board, the handicap between those two players is reduced to 4 (because 3.5 × 2.5 = 8.75) stones on a 13x13 board  and 2 (1.5 × 6 = 9) stones on a 9×9 board. A 5 (i.e., 4.5) stone handicap on a 9×9 board is accordingly equivalent to a handicap of 27 or 28 stones on a 19×19 board.
+The above rank relationship applies for ''kyu'' and amateur ''dan'' (1-7d) ranks.  Professional ''dan'' ranks are not as comparable.  They are awarded by professional Go players' organizations, and unlike amateur ranks are more an indication of achievements in tournament play.  They can still be used as a rough guess, but the skill difference in professional ''dan'' ranks can be less than a third of a stone per rank.
+<!--(In terms of points, one stone is considered to be 13-16 points, but this figure is not constant over levels: the more skillful a player, the greater the usefulness of each stone.) -->
-These figures are not a consensus, but have wide support. They can be used to give rankings, by converting 13×13 handicaps back to rank difference.
 ==Handicap placement==
@@ Line 31: / Line 15: @@
 ===Fixed placement===
 [[Image:Go aloituskivien paikat.jpg|thumb|right|The traditional placement of handicap stones]]
-There are 9 star points marked on a 19 x 19 [[go equipment#Equipment|board]] – in each corner on the (4,4) point, in the middle of each side on the fourth line, (4,10); and the very center of the board, (10,10). '''Traditionally''' handicaps are always placed on the star points, as follows:
+There are 9 star points marked on a 19 x 19 [[go equipment#Equipment|board]] – in each corner on the (4,4) point, in the middle of each side on the fourth line, (4,10); and the very center of the board, (10,10). Traditionally handicaps are always placed on the star points, as follows:
 {| class="wikitable"
+|+ Handicap locations<ref name="iwamoto" />
 ! Stones
 ! Placement
@@ Line 47: / Line 32: @@
 |-
 ! 3
-| Black adds the star point to his lower right (In Classical Chinese rules the third handicap stone is place on tengen)
+| Black adds the star point to his lower right (In Classical Chinese rules the third handicap stone is placed on tengen)
 | A,B,C (or E)
 |-
@@ Line 74: / Line 59: @@
 | A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I
 |}
-As the stones are always at the same (4,4) points in the corners, Black always plays more (4,4) openings, and doesn't gain experience playing the (3,4) openings, or others such as (3,3), (5,4), (5,3), etc., except on two and three stones.<ref>Historically, in China, Black and White were constrained to play on diagonally-opposite star points for their first two moves in even games. In Japan, from some point in the sixteenth century perhaps, the board was empty in even games. The consequence was a deeper study of the ''[[joseki]]'' that in the Chinese system were used only in three-stone handicaps. Those ''joseki'' dominated opening theory in Japan, until the ''[[shinfuseki]]'' period of the 1930s. In contemporary go, the 4-4 point openings are fundamental.</ref>
 ===Free placement===
-Recently, some have advocated free placement of handicap stones. Free placement means one can place handicap stones anywhere on the board without restriction. Here is the list of countries<ref>Handicap placement convention and effect actually depends on different rule sets, such as Japanese or Chinese rules, and not on different countries. Not all countries have their own rule sets</ref> and servers<ref>Some servers offer a choice between different rule sets</ref> that use free placement of handicap stones:<ref>[http://www.britgo.org/rules/compare.html Comparison of some Go rules]</ref>
+Some rulesets allow for free placement of handicap stones, rather than the fixed star point locations. In free placement, one can place handicap stones anywhere on the board without restriction, as black receives a number of unanswered moves at the start of the game. For example, [[Rules_of_Go#Ing_rules|Ing rules]] allow free placement.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.britgo.org/rules/compare.html |title=Comparison of Some Go Rules |website=British Go Association }}</ref>  The fixed locations are at the (4,4) points in the corners, so if Black wishes to gain experience playing (3,4) corner openings, or others such as (3,3), (5,4), (5,3), etc., free placement can allow this.
-{| class="wikitable"
-! Fixed Placement
-|Japan, Korea, United States (by default), <br>
-[[IGS Go server|IGS]] online server
-|-
-! Free Placement
-|China, [[Rules of Go#Ing rules|Ing]], New Zealand
-|}
-Although free placement is less common because many players are attached to tradition, especially in East Asian countries, it offers advantages which are not available with fixed placement.
+==Small board handicaps==
+Small [[go equipment#Equipment|Go boards]] are often used for novice players (double-digit kyu players) just learning to play Go, or for quick games (most commonly 13×13 and 9×9). As the fewer moves made when playing on smaller boards gives White fewer chances to overcome the advantage conferred by the handicap, each free stone is worth more.  Accordingly, smaller handicaps are used for the same difference in rank than would be given on a 19x19 board.<ref name="shotwell" />
-====Advantages====
+The per-rank handicap is reduced, by a scaling factor. Various estimates have been given for the factor that applies to 13×13, in the range 2.5 up to 4; and on grounds both theoretical and experimental (small-board tournament play). The evidence is that 2.5 is more realistic than 4, for clock games. The corresponding factor for a 9×9 board is not easy to understand, and the change for each stone added is very large.
-For '''weaker players''':
-* They can choose their [[Fuseki|opening strategies]] according to their own understanding of the game, and thus follow a consistent strategy.
-* They can think for themselves and learn about different opening strategies through actual game experience.
-* The mandatory handicap points stress influence rather than taking territory directly; some weaker players have a more territorial style.
-* They can learn a much larger range of [[joseki|corner plays]] in actual competition against stronger opponents.
-For '''stronger players''':
-* Many more variations with fewer repetitions mean the game is more refreshing, challenging, and interesting to the strong player. They may be more willing to play and teach the weaker player.
-====Disadvantages====
+One theoretical approach is according to the distribution of the number of moves made in a game on a board of a given size relative to the number made on a 19×19 board. Using estimates that a 19×19 game will last about 250-300 moves, a 13×13 game about 95-120 moves, and a 9×9 game about 40-50 moves, a quadratic formula for the ratio of the mean number of plays may apply. Another way to view the matter is that barring blunders, White catches up by means of Black's 'small errors', so that White's deficit dwindles at a roughly constant rate, and thus the game length makes sense as scaling factor.
-With free placement, weaker players may not place their stones in respect to their comparable handicap to their opponent, thus eliminating the point of the handicap. The standard fixed handicap points allow for a good standard that allows novices to have the handicap they need since they are not experienced and may not be able to take advantage of the free placement of handicap stones. Therefore, free placement handicap may be best suited for more experienced players or those who want more flexibility and variety in play.
-==Compensation points==
+Each full stone of handicap on a 13×13 board is in any case probably equivalent to about 2.5 to 3 ranks, and each full stone on a 9×9 board is equivalent to about 6 ranks. For example, if the appropriate handicap is 9 (i.e., 8.5) stones on a 19×19 board, the handicap between those two players is reduced to 4 (because 3.5 × 2.5 = 8.75) stones on a 13x13 board  and 2 (1.5 × 6 = 9) stones on a 9×9 board. A 5 (i.e., 4.5) stone handicap on a 9×9 board is accordingly equivalent to a handicap of 27 or 28 stones on a 19×19 board.
-{{Main|Komidashi}}
-When the difference in strength is one rank, no handicap stone is given. Instead the stronger player takes White ''but without'' compensation points. The compensation points are called [[Komidashi|Komi]] in [[Japanese language|Japanese]]. It is a custom that Black plays first; White moves second. Playing first is regarded as a significant advantage in modern go, and to make the game fair to both players, this advantage must be compensated. It is regarded that playing first is equal to half a move or more ahead throughout the game.
+{| style="display:inline; display:inline-table;"
+|-
+| style="border: none; padding: 3px;" |
-Another common type of compensation used is the '''reverse [[Komidashi|compensation points]]''', where the weaker player takes black, and is given both the first move and compensation points too. This is more advantageous than the above situation.
+{{Goban 9x9
+| | | | | | | | |
+| | | | | | | | |
+| | |b4| | | |b1| |
+| | | | | | | | |
+| | | | |b5| | | |
+| | | | | | | | |
+| | |b2| | | |b3| |
+| | | | | | | | |
+| | | | | | | | |
+|24|u=u|d=d|l=l|r=r}}
+|-
+| style="text-align:center" | Traditional handicap locations on a 9x9 board, in order of placement<ref name="shotwell" />
+|}
-Compensation points are sometimes preferred to stones because the players would like to play or practice as if it is an even game. They would like to have the feel of an "even game".  White (the stronger player) must play better to overcome these disadvantages (points gained by playing first + compensation points).
+==Compensation points==
+{{Main|Komidashi}}
-===Fixed compensation point (komi) system===
+In games between players of equal rank, the Black player compensates for the advantage of playing first by offering compensation points (''[[Komi (Go)|komi]]'') to the White player.  When the difference in strength is one rank, no handicap stone is given. Instead the stronger player takes White but without compensation points.
-When ranks are equal, Black gets advantages by playing first. The advantage of that first move is compensated by [[Komidashi|compensation points]]. However, there are still no absolute standards on the number of compensation points due to the difficulty of determining a fair value. 6.5 points are used in Japan and Korea. 7.5 points are used in China and USA (see [[American Go Association|AGA]] rules). The 0.5 points is used to prevent a draw.
-=== Auction compensation point system===
+An alternative type of handicap for differences of rank greater than one is that rather than Black gaining starting stones, there is reverse ''komi''.  In it, the weaker player takes black, and is given both the first move and compensation points too.  Compensation points are sometimes preferred to stones because the players would like to play or practice as if it is an even game, with opening ''joseki'' strategy unchanged.
-As no one can be absolutely sure what the fair number of compensation points is, some advocate another system which is often used in some amateur matches and tournaments. There are no fixed compensation points. The decision is left to both players. They arrive at a value through negotiation and bidding. This is called auction compensation point system.
+<!--==Handicap strategy==
-Examples of auction komi systems include:
+Handicap Go is the traditional form of teaching given to Go players. Fixed handicap placements are in effect a form of graded tutorials: if you cannot beat your teacher with a nine-stone handicap, some fundamental points are still to be learned.
-* one player chooses how big komi will be given to White and the other player then chooses to play Black or White.
+While Black often assumes that consolidating territory from the opening stages should be enough to win, that is not the case when the handicap stones are placed on the star points, where they are more effective in obtaining influence than territory. If Black does not understand and utilize the value of star-point handicap stones for attack, White will gradually build a more advantageous position, and steadily close the gap.-->
-* the game is without komi; one player makes the first move of Black (not too weak and not too strong) and the other one then chooses to play Black or White. This is an application of the [[pie rule]].
+==Historical handicaps==
-* the players do an "auction" by saying: "I am willing to play Black against XXX komi" and the player who wins the auction plays Black.
+{{main|Professional Go handicaps}}
+Before the 20th century, other systems of handicaps were used.  For example, two players might agree to a multi-game match ([[jubango]]) where the games were played without ''komi'', but the weaker player would be granted the black stones in two games out of every three in the match, giving them an edge in the overall match standings.
-==Handicap strategy==
+==References==
+{{reflist}}
-Handicap go is the traditional form of teaching given to go players. Fixed handicap placements are in effect a form of graded tutorials: if you cannot beat your teacher with a nine-stone handicap, some fundamental points are still to be learned.
-The pedagogic value of fixed handicaps is an old debate for Western players. The "theory" of handicap go shares with much of the rest of the Japanese pedagogic go literature a less explicit approach, based on perception as much as analysis. Whether fixed handicap placement makes it easier or more difficult for the weaker player to learn these fundamental points is moot. The nature of these "tutorial" steps may certainly be misunderstood and contested by Western players new to the game. Handicaps are also unpopular with Chinese players, who have more of a tradition of equality at the board rather than deference to a teacher.
-There are some book treatments of low-handicap go by strong professionals ([[Kobayashi Koichi]] and [[Kajiwara Takeo]], in particular); and examples of pro-pro games to follow. With the traditional handicap placements, the only consistent strategy Black can follow depends on the use of [[influence (go)|influence]]. This is particularly true in the early stages of the middle-game fighting.<ref>See for example the book ''Kage's Secret Chronicles''. In it more explicit reference is made, than is typical, to the need to fight hard rather than play slackly, in order to use the handicap stones properly. This lesson on influence is at the heart of the traditional system.</ref>
+==External links==
+* [https://senseis.xmp.net/?Handicap Index of Handicap topics], at Sensei's Library
-While Black often assumes that consolidating territory from the opening stages should be enough to win, that is not the case when the handicap stones are placed on the star points, where they are more effective in obtaining influence than territory. If Black does not understand and utilize the value of star-point handicap stones for attack, White will gradually build a more advantageous position, and steadily close the gap.
-==See also==
-* [[Professional Go handicaps]]
-==Notes and references==
-{{reflist}}
 {{Go (game)}}
 [[Category:Rules of Go]]

Handicapping in Go: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 01:28, 8 November 2025

Contents

Handicap stones

Handicap placement

Fixed placement

Free placement

Small board handicaps

Compensation points

Historical handicaps

References

External links

Navigation menu

Handicapping in Go: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 01:28, 8 November 2025

Handicap stones

Handicap placement

Fixed placement

Free placement

Small board handicaps

Compensation points

Historical handicaps

References

External links

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