● Guides · Updated
What Is Weiqi? (Go / Baduk Explained)
Weiqi is the Chinese name for Go — also called Baduk in Korean. Learn what the game is, how the 19×19 board works, and why millions still play it online.
Answer first: Weiqi (围棋) is the Chinese name for the ancient two-player strategy game known in English as Go and in Korean as Baduk. Players place black and white stones on a grid — usually 19×19 — aiming to control more territory than the opponent.
Go is widely cited as one of the oldest board games still played at a high level; historical sources place its roots in China more than two millennia ago, with deep cultural footprints across East Asia. (Britannica — Go)
● Names
01Weiqi, Go, and Baduk
One game, three primary names — useful for search and for talking to players worldwide.
| Name | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Weiqi (围棋) | Chinese | Literally “surrounding chess / game of encirclement” |
| Go / Igo (囲碁) | English / Japanese | “Go” is the global English default |
| Baduk (바둑) | Korean | Dominant name in Korea |
If you searched for any of these terms, you are looking at the same rules family. Scoring details (Chinese vs Japanese area/territory counting) can differ slightly by rule set, but the core skill transfers.
● Rules sketch
02How Weiqi is played
A one-minute overview — enough to start a 9×9 game.
- 01.
Alternating turns
Black usually plays first. Each turn places one stone on an empty intersection (or passes).
- 02.
Liberties and capture
A stone or group needs at least one empty adjacent intersection (liberty). Fill the last liberty and the group is captured.
- 03.
No suicide (rule-set dependent)
Most online servers forbid moves that leave your own group with zero liberties, except when capturing.
- 04.
Ko
A special recapture ban prevents endless loops of the same capture.
- 05.
Territory
When both players pass, empty regions controlled by each color are scored with captured stones / area rules.
● Why it matters
03Why people still play Weiqi
Weiqi rewards long-term judgment over one-move tricks. Modern AI (notably AlphaGo and open engines such as KataGo) raised the ceiling of study, but human play remains a community of clubs, servers, and over-the-board tournaments worldwide.
For a browser-first, 3D way to feel the board — not just a flat diagram — try sharp.go. For naming confusion across languages, see our guide on Weiqi vs Go vs Baduk.
● Weiqi FAQ
01 Is Weiqi the same as Go? ▾
Yes. Weiqi (围棋) is the Chinese name; Go is the common English name from Japanese 囲碁 (igo); Baduk (바둑) is the Korean name. Same rules family, same game.
02 How big is a Weiqi board? ▾
The standard board is 19×19 (361 intersections). Beginners often start on 9×9 or 13×13 to learn tactics faster.
03 How long does a game take? ▾
A full 19×19 game often lasts 30–90 minutes online; blitz and 9×9 games can finish in a few minutes.
04 Where can I play Weiqi online? ▾
You can play free in the browser with sharp.go (Weiqi 3D) at game.weiqi.app, or on classic 2D servers such as OGS. Choose based on whether you want a 3D board or a traditional interface.
Play Weiqi in 3D
Feel the 19×19 board in the browser — free, no install.