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.

Play Now ↓
Your turn — Black
Black 0
White 0
Draws 0
Mode
Difficulty
You play as

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

To win, be the first to form an unbroken line of five (or more) stones in any direction — horizontal, vertical, or diagonal. That’s it!

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

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 Wũz&icaron;qí (á¹æƒ¨æ£‹). 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 (á¹æƒ¨å­Ð, literally “five pieces”). Japanese players refined the game and introduced Renju (룯烠), a more balanced variant with additional restrictions for the first player.

In Korea, the game became known as Omok (䃤냫), 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” (á¹æƒ¨å­Ð). 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 (such as not being allowed to create certain patterns like double-threes or double-fours), while White can win normally. This makes the game more balanced at high levels of play.

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.