Handicapping in Go

In the game of Go, a handicap can be given when two players of different strengths play each other to offset the difference and make a close, exciting game more likely. Handicapping is much more common in Go than in other board games, as the system adapts comparatively well to handicaps; perhaps half of all Go games are played with handicaps. Handicaps are given by means of stones and compensation points (komi). A small handicap such as might be given with a difference of one rank is that the weaker player plays as Black and gets the first move, but offers no komi for the advantage. Larger handicaps give free stones placed at the start of the game for the Black player.