Komi

Komi is, basically, extra points given to White. Since black has an advantage as first one to play in a game, Komi was given to White to compensate for the disadvantage. To prevent ties, Komi always includes half a point. In Japan the standard Komi is 5.5 points, though in the U.S.A it is 6.5. A game with komi is called an even game, given the compensation. If Black is so much weaker than White that White does not need komi, but instead Black does need Komi, then this Komi is called Reverse Komi.