If there is one concept every beginner must understand, it is liberties.
Liberties are the foundation of Weiqi. They determine whether a stone is alive, whether it can be captured, and how groups of stones survive.
The good news is that liberties are easy to learn.
Once you understand them, the rest of the game will begin to make much more sense.
What Is a Liberty?
A liberty is an empty intersection directly next to a stone.
Each stone can have liberties above, below, to the left, and to the right.
Diagonal intersections do not count as liberties.
Think of a liberty as a stone's breathing space.
As long as a stone has at least one liberty, it remains on the board.
Future Diagram
A single black stone with its four liberties highlighted.
Caption: "A stone's liberties are the empty intersections directly beside it."
How Many Liberties Does One Stone Have?
The number depends on where the stone is placed.
In the center
A stone in the middle of the board has four liberties.
On the edge
A stone on the side has three liberties.
In the corner
A stone in the corner has only two liberties.
This is one reason why corners play differently from the center.
Future Diagram
Three stones:
- Corner (2 liberties)
- Side (3 liberties)
- Center (4 liberties)
What Happens When Liberties Disappear?
Every time your opponent places a stone next to yours, one of your liberties may disappear.
If all of a stone's liberties are occupied by your opponent, that stone is captured and removed from the board.
This is the only way stones are removed during a game.
Understanding this simple rule explains why players connect stones, defend weak groups, and fight for space.
Future Diagram
A stone gradually losing four liberties until it is captured.
Connected Stones Share Liberties
One of the most important ideas in Weiqi is that connected stones work together.
When two stones touch horizontally or vertically, they form one group.
Instead of each stone surviving independently, the entire group shares all of its liberties.
This makes groups much stronger than individual stones.
For example, two connected stones usually have more shared liberties than two isolated stones.
As your groups become larger, managing their shared liberties becomes one of the most important strategic skills in the game.
Future Diagram
Two connected stones with shared liberties highlighted.
Diagonal Stones Are Not Connected
This surprises many beginners.
Two stones touching only at the corners are not connected.
Because they are not connected, they do not share liberties.
Although diagonal stones may support each other strategically later in the game, they are still considered separate groups.
Remember this simple rule:
Horizontal and vertical connections count. Diagonal connections do not.
Future Diagram
Compare:
- Connected stones
- Diagonally separated stones
Why Liberties Matter
Almost every important concept in Weiqi comes back to liberties.
When you learn capturing, you'll remove stones by taking away their liberties.
When you learn atari, you'll discover what happens when a group has only one liberty left.
When you learn eyes, you'll see how groups create permanent liberties that keep them alive.
When you study life and death, you'll be evaluating whether groups have enough liberties to survive.
You can continue with the beginner guide to knowing whether a group is alive.
In other words, liberties are not just one lesson—they are the foundation for many lessons that follow.
Common Beginner Mistakes
Counting diagonal spaces
Diagonal intersections are never liberties.
Only the four directly adjacent intersections count.
Forgetting shared liberties
Connected stones share liberties.
Don't count each stone separately.
Think of the entire connected group as one unit.
Focusing only on your own liberties
Good players constantly check both sides.
Ask yourself:
- How many liberties does my group have?
- How many liberties does my opponent have?
Developing this habit will make your decisions much stronger.
Quick Recap
Before moving on, remember these key ideas:
- Liberties are empty intersections directly next to a stone.
- Diagonal intersections do not count.
- Connected stones share liberties.
- Stones with no liberties are captured.
- Liberties are the foundation of almost every rule in Weiqi.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a stone have zero liberties?
Only for a moment.
If a stone has no liberties after a legal move, it is immediately removed from the board if it belongs to the captured group.
Do diagonal spaces count as liberties?
No.
Only the four directly adjacent intersections count.
Why do connected stones survive longer?
Because they share liberties.
Larger groups usually have more breathing space than isolated stones.
Should I count liberties every move?
As a beginner, yes.
It helps train your reading skills and quickly becomes second nature.
Continue Learning
Now that you understand liberties, you're ready for one of the most satisfying parts of Weiqi:
You'll learn exactly how stones are removed from the board and how liberties determine every capture.