Editing Rules of Go (section)

==== Handicap ====
{{Main|Go handicaps}}
Handicaps are given by allowing the weaker player to take Black and declaring White's first few moves as mandatory "pass" moves. In practice, this means that Black's first move is to place a certain number of stones (usually the number is equal to the difference in the players' ranks) on the board before allowing White to play. Traditionally, the [[List of Go terms|hoshi]] ("star points") – strategically important intersections marked with small dots—are used to place these handicap stones. On the {{nowrap|19 × 19}} board, there are nine star points: at the four 4–4 points in the corners, at the four 4–10 points along the sides, and one at the 10–10 point (the centre of the board, or ''tengen'' in Japanese). Smaller boards such as the {{nowrap|13 × 13}} and {{nowrap|9 × 9}} also have star points. The {{nowrap|13 × 13}} has 9 at the 4–4 points, 4–7 points, and the center. The {{nowrap|9 × 9}} board has only 5 points: the 3–3 points and the center.

When Black is only one rank weaker (also known as one ''stone'' weaker, due to the close relationship between ranks and the handicap system), Black is given the advantage of playing Black, perhaps without komi, but without any mandatory White passes. For rank differences from two through nine stones, the appropriate number of handicap stones are used. Beyond nine stones, the difference in strength between the players is usually considered great enough that the game is more a lesson where White teaches Black than a competition. Thus, nine stones is the nominal upper limit on handicap stones regardless of the difference in rank (although higher numbers of stones, up to 41 stones in some cases, may be given if the teacher wants a greater challenge).