Ko Rules

Ko rules are the rules with the primary, if not exclusive, purpose of restricting cycles. Other restriction rules related to passes or suicide have restricting cycles as a secondary effect.

The term ko is generally used to refer to basic ko (recapture of a single stone), but may also more generally be applied to any repetition.

For an overview of well-known and possible repetitions, such as triple ko or eternal life see the cycle article.

The basic ko rule used in many older rule sets only forbids retaking simple kos. More recently, rules have been designed to prevent any cycle. These include:

• Superko
  • Positional Superko
  • Situational Superko
  • Natural Situational Superko
  • Strict Superko
  • Sound Superko

• Japanese style ko rules
• The Ing ko rules
• Long Cycle Rules
• Short Cycle Rules
• Fixed-Ko-Rules
• Pair ko rule

Unless you’re a rules expert, there is little need to worry about all these different rules. For the normal ko situation all these rules are the same. All those more complicated situations are extremely rare, and if you ever have the idea that you are in one of them, just call in the referee, or a rules expert.

See also

• Relation between ko rules and the scoring method
• Pass as ko threat
• Tibetan Ko
• Stoical Ko