Handicaps & Komi
📋 What it is
Handicap stones let a weaker player start with extra stones; komi gives white points to offset black's first-move edge.
🗣️ Coach says
Go has a brilliant fairness system. A weaker player takes Black AND places extra "handicap" stones to start even. And because moving first is an advantage, White gets "komi" — a few bonus points added at the end — so an even game between equals is truly fair.
🧠 Memory hook
Handicap stones even out skill. Komi points even out the first-move edge.
😂 Giggle
Why did the surrounded group finally give up?
Because when a group's last liberty is filled, it gets captured!
😲 Whoa!
Because of handicap stones, a beginner and a master can play a genuinely CLOSE, exciting game — few other games balance skill gaps so gracefully.
✅ Quick check: What is "komi" and why does it exist?
Say your answer out loud first — then reveal.
Bonus points added to White's score to offset Black's advantage of moving first — it keeps an even game fair.
Moving first helps Black, so komi compensates White for balance.
🧪 Try it! (2 minutes)
Set up a 9-stone handicap on paper and imagine a beginner vs a master. See how it evens the start.