Gomoku, also known as Five in a Row, is a classic abstract strategy board game played on a grid. Two players alternate placing black and white stones. The first to get exactly 5 in a row horizontally, vertically, or diagonally wins.

How do you win at Gomoku?

To win, create an unbroken line of 5 stones in any direction. Key strategies include controlling the center, building open threes and fours, and blocking your opponent's threats.

Is Gomoku free to play?

Yes, this Gomoku game is completely free to play in your web browser with no downloads required.

Gomoku

Five in a Row

AI:

Black's Turn

Moves: 0

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Draws0

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How to Play Gomoku

Rules

Gomoku is a strategy game for two players. Black always moves first. Players take turns placing one stone on any empty intersection. The first player to get 5 stones in an unbroken row (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal) wins. If the board fills up with no winner, it is a draw.

Controls

Click or tap an intersection to place your stone
Use Undo to take back your last move (VS AI only)
Switch between VS AI and 2 Player modes anytime
Adjust AI difficulty or board size in Settings

Strategy Tips

Control the center — center positions give more options in every direction
Build open threes — three in a row with both ends open is very hard to block
Create forks — two simultaneous threats force a guaranteed win
Block opponent's fours — always block immediately when they have four in a row
Think ahead — plan several moves in advance, just like chess

Game Over

Settings

Board Size

Ambient Sound

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