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US Gomoku Open
US Gomoku Open
The United States' flagship Gomoku competition. Freestyle rules on a 15×15 board — no forbidden moves, 5+ in a row wins for both colors.
- Board: 15×15
- Rules: Freestyle (no 禁手)
- Win: 5+ in a row
Play Gomoku Online
Challenge the AI or a friend in the classic game of Five in a Row. Free, no sign-up, works on any device.
Your turn — Black
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White
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Practice by Tournament Rules
Training for a specific competition? Jump straight into a practice board pre-configured with that tournament's official rules — board size, forbidden moves, and all.
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Singapore Gomoku Championship
新加坡五子棋锦标赛
Singapore's premier Gomoku title. 15×15 board with Black forbidden moves (三三, 四四, 長連), Black wins with exactly five.
- Board: 15×15
- Rules: 禁手 (forbidden moves)
- Black wins: exactly 5 in a row
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Hong Kong Gomoku Championship
香港五子棋錦標賽
Hong Kong's top Gomoku competition. 15×15 board with Black forbidden moves (三三, 四四, 長連), Black wins with exactly five.
- Board: 15×15
- Rules: 禁手 (forbidden moves)
- Black wins: exactly 5 in a row
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RIF World Renju Championship
国際連珠連盟 World Championship
The world's premier Renju competition organized by the RIF (est. 1988). 15×15 board with Black forbidden moves (三三, 四四, 長連).
- Board: 15×15
- Rules: 禁手 (forbidden moves)
- Opening: Swap2 / Taraguchi
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China National Gomoku Championship
全国五子棋锦标赛
China's top national Gomoku competition: 15×15 board, Black forbidden moves (三三, 四四, 长连), Black wins with exactly five.
- Board: 15×15
- Rules: 禁手 (forbidden moves)
- Black wins: exactly 5 in a row
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All Japan Renju Meijinsen
全日本連珠名人戦
Japan's oldest and most prestigious Renju title (est. 1902). 15×15 board with Black forbidden moves (三三, 四四, 長連).
- Board: 15×15
- Rules: 禁手 (Renju rules)
- Established: 1902
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Korean Gomoku Championship
한국 오목 선수권대회
Korea is a powerhouse in international Gomoku. Korean rules use freestyle — no forbidden moves, 5+ in a row wins for both colors.
- Board: 15×15
- Rules: Freestyle (no 禁手)
- Win: 5+ in a row
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Russian Renju Championship
Чемпионат России по рэндзю
Russia is a founding RIF member and home to multiple world champions. 15×15 board with Black forbidden moves (三三, 四四, 長連).
- Board: 15×15
- Rules: 禁手 (Renju rules)
- RIF member: Since 1988
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China Youth Gomoku Championship
全国青少年五子棋锦标赛
China's national school Gomoku tournament for young players. 15×15 board with Black forbidden moves (三三, 四四, 长连), age groups from U8 to U14.
- Board: 15×15
- Rules: 禁手 (forbidden moves)
- Age groups: U8–U14
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Japan Student Renju Championship
全日本学生連珠選手権
Japan's national student Renju tournament for university and school competitors. 15×15 board with Black forbidden moves (三三, 四四, 長連).
- Board: 15×15
- Rules: 禁手 (Renju rules)
- Eligibility: Students
How to Play Gomoku
Gomoku is one of the easiest strategy games to learn — you can understand the rules in under a minute.
1
The Board & Stones
Gomoku is played on a 15×15 grid. One player uses black stones, the other uses white stones. Black always goes first.
2
Taking Turns
Players alternate placing one stone per turn on any empty intersection of the grid. Stones cannot be moved or removed once placed.
3
Winning the Game
In Freestyle mode, the first player to form an unbroken line of five or more stones wins. In Renju mode, White can win with five or more, but Black must form exactly five — Black also faces foul restrictions (no double-threes, double-fours, or overlines) to balance the first-move advantage.
4
Draw
If the entire board fills up without either player forming five in a row, the game ends in a draw.
Examples of Winning Lines
Horizontal
Vertical
Diagonal
Want to play on a real board too? Same rules, same 15×15 grid — a physical set is the fastest way to feel the difference.
Wooden 15×15 board sets Magnetic travel setAs an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Gomoku Strategy & Tips
Master the fundamentals and improve your game with these proven tactics. This guide is updated regularly with new insights.
🌟 Beginner Strategies
- Control the center. Stones near the center of the board have more potential to form connections in every direction. Avoid playing near edges and corners early on.
- Build two directions at once. Every move should ideally serve two purposes — extending your own line while threatening your opponent’s.
- Watch for “open fours.” A line of four stones with both ends open is nearly unstoppable. If your opponent has one, you must block it immediately.
- Don’t just attack. The best players spend as much time blocking threats as creating their own. If you only focus on your own lines, you’ll lose to a patient opponent.
💪 Intermediate Tactics
- Double-threat attacks. Create a position where you threaten two winning lines at once (e.g., a “four-three”). Your opponent can only block one.
- Forcing moves. Play moves that force your opponent to respond in a specific way. Use this to steer the game into favorable positions.
- Pattern recognition. Learn common opening patterns like the “Direct Opening” and “Indirect Opening.” Familiarity with these saves time and reduces mistakes.
- Space counting. When both players are building on opposite sides, count who will complete five first. If you’re behind, switch to defense immediately.
🔥 Advanced Play
- VCF (Victory by Continuous Four). Chain a series of “four” threats so your opponent must block each one, ultimately setting up an unstoppable win.
- Counter-threat timing. Instead of blocking a threat immediately, create a bigger threat of your own. Time this right and you’ll seize the initiative.
- Endgame calculation. In the late game, calculate every possible sequence. The player who can see further ahead usually wins.
- Study Renju rules. Even if you play free-style Gomoku, understanding Renju’s restrictions for Black will deepen your strategic awareness.
Tip: Practice against our Hard AI to test your skills. It uses two-layer search with threat evaluation — if you can beat it regularly, you’re playing at a strong intermediate level!
The History of Gomoku: From Ancient China to the World
Origins in Ancient China
Gomoku traces its roots back over 2,000 years to ancient China, where it was known as Wūzǐqí (五子棋). Historical records suggest that variations of the game were played as early as the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BCE). The game evolved alongside Go (Weiqi), sharing the same equipment — a grid board and black-and-white stones — but with a simpler, more accessible ruleset.
During the Han Dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE), the game gained popularity among scholars and nobility. It was valued not just as entertainment but as a tool for developing strategic thinking, pattern recognition, and patience.
Spread to Japan and Korea
The game reached Japan in the 8th century during the Nara period, where it was named Gomoku (五目並べ, literally “five pieces”). Japanese players refined the game and introduced Renju (連珠), a more balanced variant with additional restrictions for the first player.
In Korea, the game became known as Omok (오목), where it remains hugely popular today. Korean players developed their own strategic traditions and have been dominant in international competitions.
Global Reach and Modern Era
Gomoku reached Europe in the late 19th century, where it was often called “Five in a Row.” The Renju International Federation (RIF) was established in 1988, organizing world championships and standardizing competitive rules. Today, Gomoku is played worldwide, both casually and in organized tournaments, with thriving online communities and AI research advancing the game’s theory.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Gomoku?
Gomoku (also known as Five in a Row or Gobang) is a classic abstract strategy board game. Two players take turns placing black and white stones on a 15×15 grid, and the first to form an unbroken line of five stones — horizontally, vertically, or diagonally — wins the game. It’s praised for being easy to learn but difficult to master.
Where did Gomoku originate?
Gomoku originated in ancient China over 2,000 years ago. It spread to Japan during the Nara period (8th century), where it received the name “Gomoku” (五目並べ). The game later spread to Korea (as “Omok”) and reached Europe in the 19th century. Today it’s played worldwide with international tournaments organized by the Renju International Federation (RIF).
What is the difference between Gomoku and Go?
While both use black and white stones on a grid, they’re completely different games. Go focuses on surrounding territory and capturing opponent stones, while Gomoku is about connecting five in a row. Go uses a 19×19 board; Gomoku uses 15×15. Gomoku is much simpler to learn and games are typically shorter (5–20 minutes vs. 1+ hours).
What is Renju?
Renju is a professional variant of Gomoku developed in Japan to balance the first-player advantage. In Renju, Black has additional restrictions: no double-threes (三三禁手), no double-fours (四四禁手), and no overlines of 6+ stones (长连禁手). White wins normally. You can play Renju mode right here — just switch the Rule Set toggle above to “Renju.”
Is Gomoku a solved game?
Yes — Gomoku has been mathematically solved. Researchers have proven that Black can force a win with perfect play on a 15×15 board. However, “perfect play” is extremely difficult for humans, which is why the game remains competitive and fun. Professional tournaments often use balanced opening rules (like Swap2) to ensure fairness.
Can I play Gomoku on my phone?
Absolutely! Our Gomoku game is fully responsive and works on smartphones, tablets, and desktops. The board automatically scales to fit your screen, and touch controls with snap-to-grid make placing stones easy even on smaller screens.
How does the AI work?
Our AI has four difficulty levels. Easy plays with deliberate randomness and occasional “blunders” — great for beginners. Medium evaluates all legal moves and picks from the top options with slight randomness, offering a balanced challenge. Hard uses a four-layer minimax search with alpha-beta pruning for stronger positional play. Master employs iterative deepening search up to six layers with advanced forcing-attack detection — the ultimate challenge.