You've learned about the board, liberties, capturing, eyes, and territory.
Now there's only one question left before you're ready to play your first game:
How do you know who wins?
Fortunately, the basic idea is simple.
At the end of a game, both players count the territory they control.
The player with the higher score wins.
Although different tournaments use slightly different scoring systems, beginners only need to understand the basic principle.
When Does a Game End?
A game of Weiqi does not end when one player captures all of the other's stones.
Instead, the game ends when both players agree that there are no more useful moves to play.
At that point, both players usually pass their turn.
Two consecutive passes signal that the game is over.
Only then do players begin counting the score.
What Gets Counted?
The most important part of your score is your territory.
Territory is the empty intersections that only your stones can safely control.
In many common rulesets, captured stones or prisoners may also affect the final score.
However, as a beginner, you don't need to worry about these differences yet.
The key idea is simple:
More secure territory usually means a higher score.
Future Diagram
Two finished positions with territory highlighted.
Caption: "Players count the territory they control at the end of the game."
What Is Komi?
Earlier, you learned that Black always plays first.
Because moving first provides a small advantage, White receives extra points before the game begins.
These bonus points are called komi.
The exact value depends on the rules being used, but beginners don't need to memorize the number.
Simply remember:
- Black moves first.
- White receives komi.
- Komi helps make the game fair.
Why Don't Players Keep Playing Forever?
A common beginner question is:
"Why not keep placing stones everywhere?"
The answer is that once your territory is already secure, playing extra stones inside it usually doesn't help.
In fact, unnecessary moves may even reduce your own score.
Strong players know when a position is finished.
Once neither player can improve their result, both simply pass.
Knowing when to stop is part of becoming a better player.
Winning Isn't About Capturing the Most Stones
One of the biggest misunderstandings among beginners is believing that captures determine the winner.
Captures are important because they often help you build territory.
However, they are only one part of the game.
Imagine this situation:
- Player A captures six stones.
- Player B quietly builds a much larger territory.
Even though Player A made more captures, Player B may still win comfortably.
Always remember the goal:
Control more territory than your opponent.
Different Rules, Same Game
As you continue learning, you'll discover that different countries use slightly different scoring systems.
For example, Chinese and Japanese rules count points in slightly different ways.
The good news is that the overall strategy remains almost identical.
No matter which ruleset you eventually play, everything you've learned so far still applies.
For now, don't worry about the small differences.
Focus on understanding the game itself.
If you want the beginner-friendly version of those differences, read Chinese Rules vs Japanese Rules in Weiqi.
Common Beginner Mistakes
Counting before the game is finished
Territory often changes during the game.
Wait until both players have passed before counting the score.
Filling your own territory
Playing unnecessary stones inside your own secure territory usually doesn't improve your position.
Sometimes it even makes your score worse.
Thinking captures decide the winner
Captures help, but territory is what ultimately determines the result.
Worrying about different rulesets
Don't get distracted by the details.
Learning the fundamentals is much more important than memorizing every scoring variation.
Quick Recap
Before moving on, remember these key ideas:
- The game ends when both players pass.
- Players count their territory after the game ends.
- White receives komi because Black moves first.
- Territory—not captures—determines the winner.
- Different rulesets exist, but the fundamentals stay the same.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if the score is very close?
Players count carefully, including territory and any other points required by the chosen ruleset.
Sometimes games are decided by only a single point.
Do I need to learn Japanese and Chinese scoring?
No.
Understanding the basic idea of territory is enough for beginners.
You can learn the differences later as you gain experience.
Why does White receive extra points?
Because Black always plays first, White receives komi to balance the game.
Should beginners worry about scoring accuracy?
Not too much.
When you're learning, improving your understanding of the game is far more important than winning by a small margin.
Continue Learning
Congratulations!
You now understand the essential rules of Weiqi.
In the final lesson of this beginner course, we'll put everything together and walk through your first complete game, showing how all the concepts you've learned work in practice.