Komi in Go: Why White Gets Bonus Points for Going Second
⏱ Read ~3 min · Updated July 2026 · Part of: Learn Go
In Go, Black moves first — and on an empty board, that's a real advantage. Komi (貼目) is the fix: White gets a head start of bonus points to balance it out.
| English | 中文 | Plain meaning |
|---|---|---|
| komi | 貼目 | White's bonus points |
| first-move advantage | 先手優勢 | Black's edge from moving first |
| half-point | 半目 | prevents draws |
| scoring | 計分 | counting the result |
1. Why komi exists
Without komi, Black's first move would make the game unfair — on equal play, Black tends to win. Komi subtracts that edge by giving White free points before the game even starts. ⚖️ It's a balance patch built into the rules.
2. Typical values
Different rulesets use different komi:
- Japanese / Korean: 6.5
- Chinese: 7.5
- Older eras: as low as 4.5 or 5.5
The exact number shifts as statistics on pro games improve. Modern values aim to make a perfectly played game land just barely in White's favor.
3. The half-point (no draws)
Notice the .5? That half-point guarantees there's no tie — every game has a winner by at least half a point. Without it, evenly matched games could end in draws (jigo), which tournaments want to avoid.
4. Komi on small boards
On a 4×4 capture puzzle, komi is irrelevant — there's no territory to count; you win by capturing. Komi only matters in territory-scoring games on 9×9 and larger. brainGO's 4×4 puzzles don't use komi at all; it's a concept for when you move to full games.
5. What komi means for you
As a beginner, you don't calculate komi — you just know White gets a small bonus. The bigger lesson: Go's rules are continuously tuned for fairness, and even tiny details (half a point) are deliberate.
Try Go first
Understand komi later — start by capturing stones.
Related guides
- Learn Go: the visual beginner's guide
- How Go is scored — where komi gets added
- Go terms glossary — jigo, komi, and more