How Go Scoring Works
Scoring is where many beginners get nervous, but the idea is simple: whoever controls more of the board wins. Here is how that is counted, and the difference between the two common methods.
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Area scoring (used here)
In area scoring (the Chinese style), your score is the number of points you control: the empty intersections you surround (your territory) plus your own stones on the board. White adds komi. GoingBoard uses area scoring for its MVP because it is simple and unambiguous to compute.
Territory scoring
In territory scoring (the Japanese style), you count only your surrounded empty points plus the stones you have captured. The two methods almost always produce the same winner, just by slightly different counting.
What is komi?
Because black moves first, black has an advantage. Komi is a fixed number of points added to white's score to balance this. GoingBoard uses 7.5 komi by default. The half-point also guarantees there are no ties.
Ending the game
When both players agree there are no more useful moves, they pass. Two consecutive passes end the game, and the board is scored. If one side is clearly losing, they may resign instead.
Frequently asked questions
- Why is komi 7.5 and not a whole number?
- The half-point prevents draws: with 7.5 komi the two scores can never be exactly equal.
- Does it matter which scoring method I use?
- For almost every game the winner is the same. Area and territory scoring differ only in the fine details of counting.
- How does GoingBoard handle dead stones?
- The MVP scores the board as it stands when both players pass, assuming all remaining stones are alive. Automatic dead-stone removal is on our roadmap.
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