What is the Goal	The primary goal of the game is to control more territory ( adjusted for captured stones ) than your opponent. What does this mean ? When you place a stone on the board, you are attempting to do one of 2 things. 1. Of primary importance is the controlling of territory. You can think of this as "surrounding" territory, but it is somewhat more complicated than that. 2. Of secondary importance is the capturing ( or killing ) of the oponnents stones. Why is teritory of more fundamental importance ? well it is quite possible that an entire game can be played with very few or infact no , prisoners. The two players have divided the board inot there respective areas of control, but withour killing or capturing any of the othes psionsers. Can we tink o the reverse ? It makes no snse to think of a game tha has been compleed with prisoners being taken bit no territory being controlled by either player. In fact, ne of the nice side effects of killing anopponets stones that often the points that had been occupid buy the now dead stones, oten translated easily into territory. There is third goal to keep in mind, but it is more in supprt of the the first 2 listed. 3. Saving your own stones from being killed.
Where do the Stones Go	A go board is covered by a square grid of thin lines. Important Note : The pieces ( called "stones" ) are placed on the intersections of the lines ( called "points") and not, as in checkers or chess, on the squares between the lines.. With a few exceptions, you can play anywhere on the board that you like. These exceptions are covered here.
Black plays First	Black moves first by either placing a single stone any where onthe board, or by placing from 2 to 9 "handicap" stones at the prescribed points.This is covered here White then plays, and black and white alternate moves until the game is over. At any point either player may choose to "pass", that is choose not to put stone on the board
When is the Game over	The game is over when each player passes in sucession. This may or may not be preceded by a discussion of whether there are any places of value left to play on the board. If a player passes, there is no obligation for the other player to pass. Also, the game can be ended by one player resigning.
Who won	The territory for each player is counted, and an adjustment is made to each total for the number of prisoners caught by the other side. An adjustment may be made for komi. Whoever has the highest total wins. Territory: The unoccupied points controlled by a group of living stones is "territory" .A point within a living group that is occupied by the players'own stoneis not territory. If an opponent's stone is trapped within enemy territory, it is removed at the end of the game and added to the prisoner count.