Gomoku
Shortcuts: Ctrl+P pause · Ctrl+M sound · Enter play again
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Resets every Monday (UTC).
About Gomoku
Gomoku is the simple but deep game of five in a row. Two sides place black and white stones on the crossings of a 15 by 15 grid, and the first to line up five stones in a straight run wins. The line can be horizontal, vertical or diagonal. Rules fit on one line, yet the tactics of threats and blocks feel a lot like a tough chess endgame.
You can play against the computer or switch to a two-player mode and pass the device back and forth with a friend. A game usually lasts five to fifteen minutes. Good play means building two threats at the same time while quietly blocking the other side's open lines.
How to play Gomoku
- You play black and move first. Place a stone on any crossing of the grid.
- The computer answers with a white stone, or in 2 players mode the other person takes the white turns on the same device.
- Alternate turns, building lines of your own stones while blocking the other side.
- Make five or more in a row, in any of the four directions, to win. The winning stones are ringed in gold.
- Use the Mode button at any time to switch modes. Doing so clears the board and starts a new game.
Controls
| Keyboard and mouse | Click an empty crossing to place a stone. You can also steer the highlighted cursor with the arrow keys and press Enter or Space to place there. A faint stone follows the mouse to show where you will land. |
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| Phone and tablet | Tap an empty crossing on the board to place your stone. Use the Mode button above the board to switch between playing the computer and a second person. |
Scoring
Wins against the computer, or either side winning in 2 players mode, score 1000 minus 4 points per stone placed, with a floor of 100, so quick wins score more. A draw on a full board scores 200. If the computer beats you, the score is only the number of moves played.
Tips and strategy
- Start near the centre. Stones in the middle have room to grow lines in all four directions, while edge stones have far fewer options.
- Aim for an open three, three stones in a row with space at both ends. The other side must answer it immediately, which hands you the initiative.
- Look for moves that create two threats at once, such as a three and a four. The opponent can only block one, so that move often wins the game.
- Check the computer's lines before every move. If it has an open three or a four, block it first, even if you have a good attacking move.
- Speed matters for scoring, so favour direct attacks over long manoeuvring. Fewer total stones on the board means a higher score for a win.
Gomoku FAQ
▸Who goes first and which colour am I?
Black always moves first. Against the computer you are black, and the computer plays white. In 2 players mode the two people take turns on the same screen.
▸Does six in a row count?
Yes. In this version, any line of five or more of your stones in a row wins, so there is no exact-five restriction.
▸Is the 2 players mode online?
No. It is pass-and-play on one device. Both people use the same board and take it in turns to click or tap.
▸What does the weekly leaderboard record?
The score from each finished game is submitted and can earn XP. Because quick wins score higher, the weekly ranking favours players who finish games efficiently.
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