Gomoku
In Gomoku you place stones on a 15 by 15 board and be the first to line up five. Free, no install, no sign-up, works offline in your browser.
In Gomoku, take turns placing stones on a grid; the first side to get five in a row horizontally, vertically or diagonally wins. You play black and always move first.
about 18.7 KB
Works offline after the first visit. No install, no sign-up.
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How to play Gomoku
Where you can place
Any empty intersection of the 15 by 15 grid. Unlike the dropping games, a stone stays exactly where you put it, so the board builds up in every direction at once.
Five in a row wins
Five of your stones in a continuous line — across, down, or along either diagonal — ends the round immediately. Longer runs count too; five or more is still a win.
You move first, always
Black plays first in this game, and you are black. Moving first is a real advantage here, which is why the computer is given the second move rather than a handicap.
The computer reads threats, not the whole game
It scores each empty point by how much it would extend its own lines and how much it would block yours, then takes the best one. It sees single threats and usually blocks them, but a move that creates two threats at once can beat it — finding those is the point of playing it.
Nothing is taken back
Once a stone is placed it stays. There is no undo and no takeback, so a careless click costs you a stone, which on this board is a real cost.
A full board with no five is a draw
If all 225 points fill without anyone lining up five, the round is reported as a draw rather than left hanging.
Gomoku Tips and Strategy
Take the centre
A stone in the middle belongs to more lines than one on the edge, so the opening moves near the centre give you the most chances to build. Starting away from the middle tends to leave you fighting uphill on every direction at once.
Defend an open three
Three in a row with both ends empty can only be stopped one way, so it forces a reply before you can build anything of your own. Blocking it also stops the opponent from converting it into four, which is why it comes before almost anything else.
Attack in more than one direction
The computer values completing its own line slightly above blocking yours, so it will sometimes keep building and let you through. Putting two threats within one move of winning punishes that, because it can only answer one of them.
Gomoku — Frequently Asked Questions
Can I beat the computer?
Yes. It scores points by how much they extend or block lines, which is good at single threats but can miss a move that creates two threats at once. Setting up a double threat is the reliable way to win.
Does it always block my four?
It usually does, because an immediate four scores very highly for you and therefore scores highly for it to block. It is not a guarantee, and it is not advertised as one.
Do I have to go first?
Yes, you are always black and always move first on a fresh board.
Can I take a stone back?
No. There is no undo in this version; a placed stone stays for the rest of the round.
Is there a time limit?
No clock and no move limit. Only the board filling up ends a round that nobody has won.
Does it need installing or an account?
No. It runs in the browser on a phone, tablet or computer and works offline after the first visit.
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