FIVE IN A ROW
Play Gomoku Online
Gomoku, also known as Five in a Row, is a direct strategy game with deep tactical choices. Black and White alternate on empty intersections, and the first player to connect at least five stones horizontally, vertically, or diagonally wins.
- Six AI levels From relaxed practice to demanding attack and defense
- Choose your side Play Black or White, first or second
- Local or cloud AI Fast local search with optional online review
How to play Gomoku
Choose a difficulty, stone color, and move order. Black normally opens. If you select White and play second, the AI places the opening stone before your turn begins.
Place one stone on any empty intersection. The game records every move and highlights the winning line as soon as five or more connected stones are formed.
- Rows may be horizontal, vertical, or diagonal.
- A full board without a five-in-a-row is a draw.
- This version uses freestyle Gomoku without forbidden moves.
A practical threat order
Before every move, check whether you can win immediately, then whether the opponent has a four that must be blocked. When no forcing move exists, favor shapes that can grow in more than one direction.
Open fours, closed fours, and open threes drive most short combinations. Intersections that create two threats at once are usually stronger than extending a single predictable line.
Local and cloud opponents
Six difficulty levels change search scope, candidate quality, and response time. Cloud mode reviews locally generated candidates online and falls back to the local result if the service is unavailable.
Frequently asked questions
What board size does the game use?
The board has 15×15 playable intersections.
Can I play White or move second?
Yes. Stone color and move order are separate setup choices.
Are Renju forbidden moves used?
No. This is freestyle Gomoku, so a line of five or more wins for either side.