You don't need to count the whole board. Just 3 things, "areas that look big," "stones in trouble" and "who plays next," show you the flow of the game.
POINT 01
Before points, look at the "troubles" on the board.
The position in Go isn't decided by settled territory alone. It includes stones that aren't yet alive, areas likely to expand, and which side is likely to take the initiative next. So it's natural for beginners not to be able to count accurately.
First, look for one place where a group of stones is running away. If it becomes safe, that side can breathe; if it's chased further, it's in trouble. The center of the drama narrows to one spot.
POINT 02
See territory not as "settled" but as the color likely to spread.
A wide area surrounded by black stones, a side where white stones line up as a wall. At first, it's enough to roughly see which color is where. When a boundary is broken or the opponent's stones get inside, that candidate area shrinks.
- Corners and sides are easy to enclose and tend to become territory
- The center is wide, so it can still change a lot
- The side with a group being chased tends to prioritize safety over building territory
POINT 03
Just borrow the commentator's "temperature."
"Black is easier to play," "White has something to look forward to," "It's a difficult game." These words are a position gauge you can use without knowing detailed numbers. Hear them not as verdicts but as readings of that moment.
When the judgment shifts, look at the move just before. A single move can swap the attacker and the defender.