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1. General Rules

1.1. These rules apply to all official LGA tournaments.

1.2. Official tournament (hereinafter referred to as “tournament”) status is granted by decision of the LGA board.

2. Tournament Organization

2.1. The tournament organizer is responsible for the proper conduct of the tournament and must ensure the following minimum conditions:

• preparation and publication of tournament rules;
• a quiet, well-lit, and sufficiently warm venue;
• neat chairs and tables;
• suitable go sets;
• a no-smoking policy if the tournament is held indoors;
• publication of the tournament invitation (location, date, contact information, participation conditions, tournament system) no later than two weeks before the start of the tournament.

2.2. The tournament organizer appoints the tournament director.

2.3. The tournament director registers participants, announces the start of the tournament, and, if necessary, starts the clocks.

3. Game

3.1. Players must behave honorably.

3.2. Games are played according to the World Amateur Go Championship Rules. See https://home.snafu.de/jasiek/wagc.html.

3.3. All stones removed from the board are considered “prisoners” and must be placed so that the opponent can see them at all times.

3.4. Players must not hold their hands above the board longer than necessary to make a move.

3.5. Repeated placement of a stone on the board with the intent to analyze a position is prohibited.

3.6. A move, once made, cannot be changed even with the opponent’s consent.

4. Definition of a Move

4.1. A move is defined as:

a) placing a stone on an unoccupied point on the board and releasing it,
b) saying “pass” or
c) switching the clock.

5. Performing a Move

5.1. Each move must be made with one hand only.

5.2. After announcing their intention (e.g., saying “adjusting”), a player may adjust the position of one or more stones on their points during their turn.

5.3. A move is considered completed once the clock is switched.

5.4. The clock may be stopped if it is necessary to remove 4 or more stones from the board, in case of a dispute, external disturbance, or need to visit the restroom (only during byo-yomi period).

6. Ending a Game

6.1. The main part of the game ends after two consecutive passes. Afterwards, both players, following the rules, finish marking territory boundaries and filling neutral points. This may require moves inside territories, after which players must indicate to each other which areas they consider their territory.

6.2. Points inside seki are not filled.

6.3. If questions arise regarding ambiguous moves inside territories or the life and death status of groups, they must be resolved by replaying the disputed or entire position on a separate board according to the rules.

6.4. Once players reach a mutual agreement on territory ownership, all captured stones are removed from the board (they become the prisoners of the player in whose territory they were), after which the game is considered finished and scoring begins.

6.5. If one of the players is entitled to komi, it is added to their total score after the game ends.

6.6. The winner is the player with the higher score.

6.7. A game is also considered finished when one of the players resigns.

7. Main Time and Byo-yomi

7.1. The tournament regulations set the time (“main time”) allocated to each player to complete a game. No fixed number of moves is required within this time.

7.2. If specified by the tournament regulations, additional time (byo-yomi) is granted to each player after the main time expires. The following byo-yomi types are allowed:

7.3. Canadian Byo-yomi – a specific period during which a player must make a set number of moves.

7.3.1. A new period begins after the last required move is made. Unused time does not carry over.

7.3.2. If the clock does not support a special mode, at the start of the byo-yomi period the player counts the required number of stones, and the opponent sets the time. Both players confirm the number of stones and time. Clocks are stopped during this procedure.

7.3.3. Byo-yomi stones must be placed so that the opponent can always see them.

7.3.4. After each pass, one stone is returned to the container.

7.3.5. The game is lost if a player fails to make the required number of moves within the allotted time.

7.4. Japanese Byo-yomi – a specific time during which a player must make one move. After the time expires, a new period begins. Unused time does not carry over.

7.4.1. This byo-yomi type is allowed only if the clocks support such a mode.

7.4.2. A pass is considered a move.

7.4.3. The game is lost if a player fails to make a move within the allotted time.

7.5. If the tournament regulations do not provide for byo-yomi, the player whose main time runs out first loses the game.

7.6. If both players are late for the start of the round, the time elapsed since the scheduled start is determined, and half of this time is deducted from each player’s main time.

7.7. If both players are more than half of the main time late (unless otherwise specified) or do not show up at all, the game is considered lost by both players.

7.8. The tournament director has the right to change the time control of specific games if there is a justified reason.

8. Referees

8.1. The tournament director appoints referees in coordination with the LGA board.

8.2. In case of a dispute between players, they may appeal to a referee for resolution.

8.3. If a player disagrees with the referee’s decision, they have the right to request a review by the referee committee.

8.4. The referee committee consists of the tournament director and all referees. Decisions are made by simple majority vote. In the event of a tie, the vote of the tournament director is decisive.

9. Other Provisions

9.1. A game is considered lost if:

a) a player intentionally disturbs the board position;
b) a player makes two moves in a row;
c) a player refuses to follow the established game rules during the game.

9.2. Player may be disqualified if:

a) they lose two tournament games according to sections 7.7 or 9.1;
b) they deliberately disrupt the conduct of the tournament.