In the battle for territory, you may capture your opponent's stones, or your stones may be captured.

One black stone is on the board (below). Notice the lines coming out from it. These lines are the stone's liberties.

A stone in the middle has four liberties. A stone on the edge has three liberties. A stone in the extreme corner has only two liberties.

Below, four black stones are blocking all the liberties of the white stone. There are no lines coming out from it, so White is surrounded completely. Stone without any liberties are captured. Once stones are captured, they are taken off the board.



Below is the result of capturing the white stone. Stones that you have captured are like prisoners of war. These stones are put in the lid of your bowl. Keep track of your prisoners, as they have value.



On the edges, three of your stones are needed to capture your opponent's stone. In the extreme corner, just two stones are needed.

Except when captured, once played, stones do not move out of position.

Stones with only one liberty left (below) are said to be in atari. Stones in atari can be captured on the next move. It is not necessary to say atari when you play a move that threatens to capture your opponent's stone.

No matter how many stones there are, if all their liberties are blocked, the stones are captured.

Below, the two black stones are in atari. If White plays at A, all Black's liberties are blocked, so Black's two stones are captured.

The following is the result of capturing the two black stones. White has two prisoners and two points of territory.

For the most part, you can play anywhere you like. There is one exception.