Gomoku rules & strategy: how to win at five in a row
Gomoku takes ten seconds to learn, but winning means reading shapes. This guide covers the rules, the shapes that decide games – open three, four, four-three – and practical ideas for the opening, attack and defence.
1. The rules
Board: a 15×15 grid (225 intersections). Stones go on the intersections.
Moves: black moves first; players alternate placing one stone. Stones never move once placed.
Winning: the first player to make an unbroken line of five stones of their colour – horizontally, vertically or diagonally – wins. If the board fills up with no five, it's a draw.
Does the first player have an advantage?
Yes. Under freestyle rules black (first) has a big edge, so on this site “Play again” automatically swaps colours, and in ranked play it's worth looking at results over several games.
What are forbidden moves? Does this site use them?
Tournament “Renju” rules restrict black: no double-three, no double-four and no overline (six or more), to balance the first-move advantage. This site uses the more common freestyle rules: no forbidden moves for either side, and an overline also wins.
2. Shapes you must recognise
| Shape | What it looks like | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Open four | Four in a row, both ends empty | Your opponent can only block one end – you win next move. |
| Four | Four with one end blocked, or with a single gap | One move from five; it must be blocked immediately. |
| Open three | Three in a row (or with one gap), both ends empty | Becomes an open four next move, so it usually must be answered. |
| Closed three | Three with one end blocked | Can at most become a four – a smaller threat. |
| Four-three | One move makes a four and an open three | Blocking the four leaves the three unstoppable – the classic winning combination. |
| Double three | One move makes two open threes | Only one can be blocked; very hard to defend under freestyle rules. |
3. Practical tips
1. Start in the centre
Open on the centre point and build around your stones. The centre leaves room in every direction; edges and corners get blocked easily.
2. Check threats before you attack
Before every move: can I make five? Can my opponent make five next move (block it)? Does my opponent have an open three (usually block it)? Only then think about your own attack. Most lost games come from missing a four or an open three.
3. Use fours to keep the initiative
A four forces a reply – a free tempo. Strong players chain fours to steer stones into place and finish with a four-three.
4. Block open threes at the right end
Pick the end that also breaks your opponent's other lines or connects your own stones – don't block on autopilot.
5. Create double threats
A single open three is stopped in one move; games are won by one move that creates two threats (four-three, double three). Keep an eye on points that join two lines.
4. How to practise
Start with the “Easy” level in Play vs AI, then move up to “Normal” and “Hard”. Use the AI hint (three per game) to see the recommended move and why. When you're ready, try Quick match and climb the daily leaderboard.
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