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In an even game of Go, the board is empty, and the weaker player plays with black, and black moves first. In a handicap game, the weaker player also takes black, but has an appropriate number of stones on the board before play starts, and white will move first.
On a 19 x 19 board their are nine handicap points marked on the board. In each corner on the (4,4) point. In the middle of each side on the fourth line, the (4,10) point. And the very center of the board, (10,10). Odd handicaps use the center stone, even handicaps do not. A handicap of two or three stones uses opposite corners. Four or more stones uses all four corners. Six or seven stones uses opposite sides. Eight or nine stones use all four sides.
