5 Recommended Go Joseki Apps: Free Apps & Sites to Look Up and Study Joseki

Do you ever think, “It’s a hassle to set up joseki books on a real board,” or “I want to quickly look up joseki on my phone”?

With apps and websites, you can learn joseki while replaying the sequences step by step.

To jump to the conclusion: if you want to learn enjoyably, Igo Shiru is best; if you want to carefully research sequences, “Go Joseki” is recommended.

If you want to know how joseki are used in pro games, IgoReco AI’s joseki search comes in handy.

In this article, we’ll cover:

• 5 recommended apps and sites for studying joseki
• What joseki are, and how they differ from fuseki
• The benefits of studying joseki with apps

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5 Recommended Go Joseki Apps & Sites

The five recommended apps and sites for studying joseki are Igo Shiru, “Go Joseki,” IgoReco AI, Igosukeya, and the OGS joseki page.

There actually aren’t that many dedicated apps that focus only on joseki.

Some apps haven’t been updated in years, so it’s safest to check the last update date in the store before choosing.

If you’re looking for Go apps in general, also see “For Beginners: 5 Recommended Free Go Apps.” If you’re considering playing against AI, see “With Free Options: 6 Recommended Go AI Software & Apps” as well.

3 Recommended Go Joseki Apps

The three apps that let you study joseki on your phone are Igo Shiru, “Go Joseki,” and IgoReco AI.

They each have a different style—learning through a card game, selecting a joseki and replaying the sequence, or researching from pro game records—so choose the one that fits your goal.

Igo Shiru | Official Nihon Ki-in app—learn enjoyably with Joseki Card Battles

Igo Shiru is an official Nihon Ki-in app where you can engage with joseki while playing “Joseki Card Battle,” which turns joseki into cards.

In Joseki Card Battle, when you place cards on the board, the AI automatically plays out the game.

If you already have Go experience, you can also combine 100+ types of joseki cards to build an opening that suits your style.

It also includes features like:

• Lessons supervised by pro players (30 kyu to 1 kyu)
• Post-game AI analysis that shows the best move for each turn
• Certification tests that let you apply for Nihon Ki-in kyu certificates / recognition certificates when you meet certain conditions

It supports iPhone and Android, and you can start playing for free (with in-app purchases).

However, it’s not a dictionary-style app where you search for joseki one by one to verify sequences.

It’s best for people who want to get familiar with joseki in a game-like way.

Go Joseki | Choose the approach and response to replay hoshi, komoku, and 3-3 joseki

“Go Joseki” is an app that includes joseki for hoshi, komoku, 3-3, takamoku, and mokuhazushi.

It’s for people who want to check a joseki sequence on the spot.

It’s simple to use: first choose the joseki category you want to see (hoshi, komoku, etc.), then choose the approach, then the response.

Finally, when you select a joseki, the sequence is replayed move by move.

Because you can narrow it down by approach and response, it’s convenient for finding something from a real-game position—like “the joseki when komoku is approached with a one-space high approach.”

The app is free, and there’s no indication of in-app purchases on the App Store (as of Nov 2026).

However, the last update was in July 2019, so you should assume it doesn’t include newer joseki that spread after the rise of AI.

IgoReco AI | Search pro game records from the joseki shape you want to learn

IgoReco AI is an app that lets you find the same position from real game records (including online Go) by simply setting up the joseki shape you’re curious about on the board—drawing from top players around the world.

This feature is called “Joseki/Fuseki Search.”

Compared with dictionary-style apps, the key difference is that you can see how a joseki is used in pro games—and how the game continued afterward.

It also supports searching with colors reversed, and filtering by player name / username.

Beyond joseki search, it’s packed with features:

• AI analysis with KataGo (shows best moves, variations, and win rate)
• “Board Scan” that reads a position from a photo or screenshot
• “Historical Matches,” where you can play against an AI trained on games by Shusaku, Go Seigen, and others

It costs 300 yen per month, and first-time users can try a free trial (as of Nov 2026).

2 Recommended Go Joseki Websites

If you want to study joseki in your browser without installing an app, Igosukeya and the OGS joseki page are recommended.

If you want to learn the meaning of joseki through text and diagrams, Igosukeya is a good fit. If you want to follow and investigate variations yourself, the OGS joseki page is better.

Igosukeya | A site where a Go instructor explains hoshi, komoku, and 3-3 joseki

Igosukeya is a Go site for beginners and kyu players, run by Go instructor Yosuke Sato.

It has a strong collection of joseki explanation articles.

There are articles like “Basic Hoshi Joseki,” “How to Approach Komoku,” and “3-3 Joseki,” each explaining moves step by step with diagrams.

A key feature is that it covers not only the sequence, but also the meaning of the joseki, how to play afterward (how to use thickness), and how to punish deviations.

If you’re not sure where to start, it’s recommended to begin with the “Basic Hoshi Joseki” article for 15 kyu to 1 kyu.

You can understand joseki fundamentals like approaching, defending, and extending together with the early-game flow on a 19x19 board.

OGS Joseki Page | No registration needed—look up joseki variations in your browser

The OGS joseki page is a joseki dictionary on the overseas Go server OGS (Online Go Server).

Even without creating an account, you can look up joseki variations in your browser.

Click a stone marked on the board to display the next move. Variations are numbered, and smaller numbers indicate more commonly chosen moves.

You can switch the display to Japanese, making it perfect for people who don’t want to install an app or who want to research on a larger PC screen.

What Is a Go Joseki?

A joseki is a local sequence—mainly in corner fights—that is considered to lead to an even result for both Black and White.

By following joseki, you reduce the risk of taking a big loss in the opening.

Here, we’ll整理 the basics of joseki and the difference from fuseki, which is often confused with it.

Joseki are sequences considered even for both sides in corner fights

Joseki are collections of sequences that, after long study, are considered even for both sides.

Because they aren’t sequences where only one side benefits, you can use them with confidence.

Joseki are categorized by the initial placement.

The most representative are hoshi, komoku, and 3-3 joseki.

Beginners will likely find it easiest to start with hoshi joseki, since the shapes are straightforward.

Also, since AI appeared, many shapes that used to be considered joseki have been re-evaluated.

Be aware that joseki you learned from older books or apps may not be used in today’s pro games.

The difference between joseki and fuseki

Joseki are local corner sequences, while fuseki is the overall strategy for placing stones across the whole board in the opening.

Joseki are used as part of fuseki.

Even with the same corner shape, the best joseki choice changes depending on the surrounding stones.

For example, if you have nearby support stones you might choose a fighting joseki; if the opponent’s stones are strong, you might choose a calmer joseki.

3 Benefits of Studying Go Joseki with Apps

The benefits of studying joseki with apps are these three:

• You can replay sequences without setting them up on a real board
• You can compare variations (branches) instantly
• You can review in spare moments

We’ll introduce each one while comparing with studying from books.

You can replay sequences without setting them up on a board

With an app, you can replay a joseki sequence move by move just by tapping the screen.

You don’t need to prepare a board and stones.

When learning joseki from a book, it’s common to place stones on a real board while checking the diagrams.

With an app, you don’t need that setup, so you can confirm things immediately whenever you’re curious.

You can compare variations (branches) instantly

Joseki have many variations where the sequence branches partway through.

With apps and sites, the strength is that you can compare variations instantly just by choosing a different move.

With books, you need to open different pages for each variation and compare them.

For example, on the OGS joseki page, you can see the commonly chosen order for each variation by number, so you won’t be unsure about which moves to learn first.

You can review in spare moments

If you install an app on your phone, you can review joseki during spare moments like commuting time or while waiting.

Even once you’ve learned a joseki, it’s easy to forget the sequence if you don’t play it for a while.

With an app, you can quickly check a sequence you’re starting to forget.

It’s also recommended to review a joseki you hesitated over in a real game afterward.

Frequently Asked Questions About Go Joseki Apps

Finally, we’ll answer common questions about joseki apps.

Are there any free joseki apps?

Igo Shiru, “Go Joseki,” Igosukeya, and the OGS joseki page are free to use.

Igo Shiru has in-app purchases, but “Go Joseki” does not show in-app purchases.

IgoReco AI is a 300 yen/month app, but first-time users can try it with a free trial.

Which joseki should beginners learn first?

It’s recommended to start by learning hoshi joseki.

Once you can use the basic hoshi joseki well, they’re also easy to apply in handicap games.

If you try to memorize too many variations from the start, the sequences can get mixed up and become hard to remember.

Based on shapes that come up in your own games, focus your study on ones that feel easy to memorize and practical to use.

How should I practice the joseki I’ve learned?

The best way to practice joseki you’ve learned is to use them in real games.

Even if you know the sequence, you may hesitate about how to respond when your opponent deviates from joseki.

If you feel like trying joseki in actual games, be sure to try PlayGo.gg.

There are 39 AI levels from 18 kyu to 10 dan, so you can choose an opponent strength that fits you and test the joseki you’ve learned as many times as you like.

Summary

Joseki are local sequences in corner fights that are considered even for both sides.

With apps and sites, you can learn them while replaying sequences without taking out a real board.

• If you want to learn enjoyably: Igo Shiru
• If you want to look up sequences: “Go Joseki”
• If you want to research from pro game records: IgoReco AI
• If you want to read and understand the meaning of joseki: Igosukeya
• If you want to look up variations in your browser: the OGS joseki page

Joseki only truly stick when you use them in real games after learning them.

If you play AI games on PlayGo.gg, the AI coach will explain the moves where you lost points and suggest better moves after the game.

You can review how to continue after playing a joseki, so be sure to give it a try.