What is Go? (igo, weiqi, baduk)
Go is a strategic board game for two players, played on a grid with black and white stones. Simple rules lead to deep strategy; it is one of the world’s oldest games and is played worldwide.
Origins in China and names around the world
Go traces its roots to China, where it developed over thousands of years. In Chinese it is called weiqi (围棋, literally “surrounding game”). In Korea the same game is known as baduk (바둑). In Japanese, the game is called igo (囲碁). The English name Go comes from Japanese, based on the pronunciation of the character 碁.
Whether you search for igo, weiqi, baduk, or Go, you are learning the same game: territory, influence, and reading ahead on the board.
How it is played (briefly)
Players take turns placing stones on the intersections of a grid—usually 19×19 for serious play, with smaller boards for beginners. You surround empty points to score territory and can capture opposing stones by removing their liberties (adjacent empty points). The game ends when both sides pass; the higher score wins.
Go in the Philippines
Go Federation of the Philippines, Inc. (GoPinas) is the national federation for Go, igo, weiqi, and baduk in the Philippines—supporting clubs, events, and players nationwide. For our mission, vision, and the team, see About Us.