First Stones, First Goals
Understand the board, turn order, and the goal of controlling area.
Beginner lesson. Board: 9x9. Estimated time: 6 minutes. Concepts: intersections, area, opening.
Reference notes
- Play on intersections, not inside the squares.
- Black moves first, then the players alternate.
- Winning is about controlled area, not chasing captures for their own sake.
Practice prompt
Start a 9x9 computer game and play ten moves, naming the area each move is helping.
Review check
After move ten, point to the two biggest open areas before you keep playing.