Liberties and Capture: The Core Beginners Miss
One of the most important skills in Go is counting liberties. When you can count liberties quickly, many positions that look difficult become clear.
One of the most important skills in Go is counting liberties. When you can count liberties quickly, many positions that look difficult become clear.
What is a Liberty?
A liberty is an empty point directly adjacent (up, down, left, right) to a stone. A single stone usually has 4 liberties, fewer on edges and corners.
When Does Capture Happen?
A group is captured when its last liberty is taken. Think of it as: fully surrounded means removed from the board.
Two Practical Habits
- Before every move, count the liberties of your weak group.
- If your opponent has only 1 liberty left, check whether immediate capture works.
Wrap-up
Liberty counting is the line between random moves and intentional play. Try 20 short drills focused only on liberty counting.