Go is played on a grid of 9×9, 13×13 or 19×19 lines. Black moves first; players alternate placing one stone on any empty intersection, and stones never move once placed.
The empty points next to a stone are its liberties. Stones connected along the lines share liberties. A stone or group whose last liberty is filled by the opponent is captured and removed from the board.
You can't place a stone where it would have no liberties unless it captures. The ko rule forbids any move that recreates an earlier board position, so a single stone can't be recaptured immediately.
You may pass instead of playing. When both players pass in a row, the players mark stones that can't escape capture as dead. Area scoring then gives each side a point for each of its stones on the board and each empty point it alone surrounds. White adds 7.5 points of komi, and the higher score wins.
Start on 9×9. Corners are easiest to secure, then sides, then the centre. Keep your stones connected, and count your liberties before attacking.