The Rules of Go

Supplement 02, Page 02
Example of Area Scoring Method

Now lets look at a endgame simple position and try to apply area scoring method to it. You might remember the position from one of the pages about Go Rules (see here.) In that page I have used the territory method to score the position, so you might want to look at it for a reference and differences.

Endgame Position	Step 1

Fig 1. Scoring of an example position

The first step, same as under territory scoring, is to remove any dead stones from the board. This means that the marked white stone in Endgame Position of Figure 1 is taken off the board. But, unlike under territory scoring method, there is no need to remember that stone - it is gone back to the bowl, or wherever Go stones come from. The same goes for any prisoners captured by either side during the course of the game - there is no need to remember those. As you can see, the endgame position does not specify any captured stones since it is not necessary under area scoring method. Please compare it to the scoring process giving on the original page.

The position ready for scoring is shown under Step 1.

Note:
The point marked 'a' in Figure 1 is a neutral point (called dame) and will not be counted since both players apparently passed without filling it out. However, under strict chinese rules this point would have to be filled by one of the players (since no dame can exist by the end of the game.) In any case, whichever player failed to fill this point, lost a point (in this case - both did, since both passed without playing at 'a'.)

But now - off to the next step. Lets first calculate White's score.

Step 2	Step 3

Fig 2. Scoring of an example position

From the Step 2 of Figure 2 we can calculate that White has surrounded 18 intersections (the points marked 'w') and that (s)he has 22 stones still on the board. Adding these two numbers gives the final score for White to be 18+22=40 points. Now lets calculate Black's score.

From the Step 2 of Figure 2 we can calculate that Black has surrounded 18 intersections (all the points marked 'b') and that (s)he has 22 stones still on the board. So, Black's final score is obtained by adding these two numbers, which gives 18+22=40 points. Same as White's score.

So, disregarding any possible komi (explained here), the game is a draw (or jigo in go-ish) since both players have the same score. This is hardly surprising since this is exactly the conclusion we have reached on the original page when scoring the position using territory scoring method. Most of the time, this will be the case - both scoring methods will produce the same result.

However:
There is one very important aspect which provides a perfect illustration for the differences between the scoring methods. And it regards the point 'a' from the Endgame Position in Figure 1. As already said - whichever player would have played there, would have one extra point (one more stone on the board) and would thus win the game!! Under area scoring method. Applying the territory scoring, playing at 'a' would be meaningless and would not change the score!

Think about that! :)

Both scoring methods can produce different results and, for close games, even produce a different winner! This is why it is important to know which rules apply to the game you are playing at any moment and plan your moves accordingly. The difference between the scoring methods is seldom more than 1 point though. Still...