Go variants

Lore & Background

Go variants have existed for centuries, with Tibetan Go played on a 17×17 board and a unique ko rule that delays snapbacks. Sunjang baduk, a Korean variant from the 16th century, prescribed a fixed opening with 16 stones and required removing stones inside friendly territory before counting. It became antiquated by the early 20th century due to Japanese influence, with only about 45 surviving game records, the last published in March 1937.

Reader's Guide

Modern variants include First Capture, invented by Japanese professional Yasutoshi Yasuda as a tool to address bullying and introduce Go concepts, later popularized in the West as Atari Go. Environmental Go, invented by Elwyn Berlekamp, adds a mathematical auction element using cards valued in half-point increments. Batoo, a short-lived Korean fad around 2011, introduced hidden stones and variable point values on the board. These variants demonstrate Go's adaptability for education, competition, and experimentation, though most remain niche compared to standard Go.

Did You Know?

• Tibetan Go awards a 40-point bonus for occupying all four 1-1 points (star points), plus 10 more for the center (tengen), but this rule is a modern invention or misattribution, not a standard historical feature.
• Sunjang baduk has only about 45 surviving game records, mostly from the 1880s.
• First Capture was invented by Japanese professional Yasutoshi Yasuda as a simplified version for beginners, not specifically to address bullying.
• Batoo allows players to place a special 'hidden stone' invisible to the opponent.