Even game

An even game is played without handicap stones, with Black and White assigned on equal terms. It is the standard format for players of equal strength. In a single game, nigiri normally determines which player takes Black. Under modern rules, White receives komi to compensate for Black’s advantage from moving first.

In a series, the players normally alternate colors so that the allocation of Black and White remains fair over the match. This color alternation is different from komi: alternation balances color assignments across games, while komi offsets the first-move advantage within one game. Unlike josen and other handicap formats, an even game gives neither player handicap stones or a fixed color advantage, and it is not normally played without komi.