Play Gomoku online
Fifteen lines each way, black and white stones, and one aim: five in a row. Pick a computer from Easy to Master, go first or second, and block its fours before they become fives.
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Why play Gomoku here
Three computers that play differently. Easy sometimes misses a five of its own and often forgets to block yours, so a first win is within reach. Hard always completes its five and always blocks your four, so only two threats at once beat it. Master also hunts for a win by a run of fours and checks every move for the double threats it would leave you.
Freestyle rules on a full 15 × 15 board: black moves first, any line of five or more wins, and no move is forbidden. On a phone the first tap picks a point and the second places the stone, so a stone never lands on the wrong crossing.
Frequently asked questions
How do you play Gomoku?
Two players take turns placing a stone on any empty point where two lines cross, black first. The first to get five stones in an unbroken row, across, down or diagonally, wins. If the board fills up and nobody has five, the game is a draw.
Does a row of six count?
Yes. These are freestyle rules: five or more in a row wins, for either side, and black has no forbidden moves.
Is Gomoku the same as Five in a Row, Omok or Gobang?
Yes, those are other names for the same game: Five in a Row in English, Omok in Korea, and Gobang an older English name. Renju is a version with extra rules that restrict black; the game here is played without them.
Which computer should I choose?
Easy sometimes misses its own five and often forgets to block yours, so it is the one to learn on and to win a first game against. Hard always blocks a four, so you beat it by making two threats at once. Master looks for a win by a run of fours and watches for your double threats, for experienced players.
Can I play white?
Yes. Choose Go second and you play white: the computer, with black, places the first stone.
Is my game saved if I leave?
Yes. A game in progress is kept in this browser on this device, so closing the page and coming back later picks it up where you left it. It does not carry over to another device.
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