Play free online vs AI or with a friend — Learn the classic strategy game from ancient China
Gomoku traces its roots back over 2,000 years to ancient China, where it was known as Wuziqi (五子棋, "five-stone game"). It emerged alongside Go (Weiqi), sharing the same board and stones but with simpler winning rules. Legend says it was played by nobles, scholars, and ordinary people alike as a casual pastime and mental exercise.
Unlike Go, which focuses on surrounding territory, Gomoku centers on building lines — making it far easier to pick up but still deeply strategic. It spread across China through the centuries, becoming a staple family game played on wooden boards or even drawn with chalk on the ground.
The name "Gomoku" comes from Japanese gomoku narabe (五目並べ), meaning "five points lined up". The game was introduced to Japan around the 7th century, where it was formalized and popularized among the samurai and merchant classes. It was in Japan that the game adopted its standard 15×15 board size and formal competitive rules.
From Japan, Gomoku spread to Korea (where it is called omok) and throughout East Asia. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it reached Europe and North America, where it became widely known as "Five in a Row". Its simple rules and deep strategy made it a hit in schools, homes, and pubs across Western countries.
Today, Gomoku is played competitively worldwide. The International Gomoku Federation (IGF) organizes world championships, and professional players develop complex opening theories and endgame strategies. While casual players can learn the rules in minutes, mastering the game can take years — making it one of the most beloved abstract strategy games of all time.
Standard Gomoku uses a 15×15 grid board with 225 intersections. Players use black and white stones — black has 113 stones, white has 112.
Black always moves first. Players alternate placing one stone per turn on any empty intersection. Once placed, stones cannot be moved or removed.
The first player to form an unbroken line of exactly five stones of their color wins. Valid lines can be horizontal, vertical, or either of the two diagonal directions.
Note: Six or more stones in a row (called an "overline") does not count as a win in official standard rules.
If all 225 intersections are filled and neither player has five in a row, the game ends in a draw.
Stones placed near the center have more potential directions to form lines. Starting near the middle gives you more offensive options.
A line of 3 stones with both ends empty ("open three") is far more dangerous than a blocked three. Always build lines with open ends and block your opponent's open lines.
If your opponent forms an open four (four stones with both ends empty), you must block immediately — otherwise they will win on their next turn.
Advanced players aim to build two separate threats at once (e.g., two open threes). Your opponent can only block one, leaving you to win with the other.
No. Connect 4 drops pieces vertically into a 7×6 grid and relies on gravity. Gomoku lets you place stones freely on any 15×15 intersection, with far deeper strategic possibilities.
On a standard 15×15 board with no restrictions, Gomoku is a proven first-player win with perfect play. However, this requires memorizing thousands of opening lines. For casual and even most experienced players, skill level determines the outcome. Professional tournaments use special opening rules to balance the first-move advantage.
Yes. Select "Two Players" mode and take turns placing stones on the same device. Black plays first, then white alternates.
In AI mode, tap "Show Hint" to see a recommended move calculated by the AI. It helps beginners learn good positioning and defensive moves.
Yes. In AI mode, undo removes both your last stone and the AI's response. In two-player mode, undo takes back only the last move.
No. The entire game runs directly in your web browser. No installation, no registration, no ads required.
While they use the same board and stones, they are completely different games. Go is about surrounding territory and capturing stones, while Gomoku is solely about forming five in a row. Gomoku is much simpler to learn.
Play the classic Five-in-a-Row game against adjustable AI or with a friend locally.
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