Gomoku – Five in a Row
Who places five stones in a row first?
How to Play
Goal
Place five of your stones in an unbroken row – horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.
Gameplay
Click an empty intersection on the 15×15 board to place your stone. Black goes first.
Winner
First to get five in a row wins. If the board is full with no winner, it's a draw.
Strategy & tips
An open four wins; an open three forces. A row of three with empty cells at both ends demands an immediate answer — otherwise it becomes a four that cannot be blocked. The whole build-up is about preparing several open threes.
Do not build in one direction. Playing purely horizontally is easy to stop. Place stones so they belong to several lines at once, and a single move creates a double threat.
Stay near the centre. At the edge you lose half of all possible directions. A central stone can belong to eight lines, a corner stone to only three.
Variants
Renju
The tournament version forbids the first player certain double threats and overlines, balancing the opening advantage.
Exactly five
Six in a row does not count as a win. This opens defensive resources that the free version lacks.
Swap rule
One player opens and the other may then swap colours. The opener therefore has an interest in a balanced start.
How it works
1. Create a game
Click "Create Game" and receive a 6-digit code.
2. Share the code
Share the code with your friends – via WhatsApp, Telegram, or just tell them.
3. Play instantly
Your friends enter the code and you start playing immediately. No login required!
Origin
Gomoku comes from Japan, where it is played on a Go board; the name simply means five stones. Related forms have been known in China and Korea for centuries.
In 1993 the free version was solved by L. Victor Allis: the first player wins with perfect play. Tournaments therefore use opening restrictions designed to offset that advantage.
Frequently asked questions
How many stones do I need to win?
Five in an unbroken row — horizontal, vertical or diagonal.
What is an open three?
Three of your stones in a row with both ends free. Your opponent must respond, or it becomes an unstoppable four.
Does the first player have an advantage?
Yes, and in the free version a decisive one. Tournament variants such as Renju deliberately restrict the opener.