How to play Gomoku
Take turns placing stones. The first to make an unbroken line of five wins.
The rules, step by step
- The board is a grid of 15 by 15 lines. You play black and go first. The computer plays white.
- On your turn, tap an empty point to place a stone there. Stones are never moved or removed.
- Make a line of exactly or at least five of your stones in a row, across, down or diagonally, and you win.
- The computer tries to do the same, so you must also block its lines. When it has four in a row with an open end, you must block that end at once.
- If the board fills up without a line of five, the game is a draw.
An example
You have three stones in a row with open space at both ends. Add a fourth, and the computer can block only one end, so you complete five at the other.
Tips
- An "open three" (three in a row with space on both ends) is dangerous. Block it or build your own.
- Look for moves that make two lines at once. The computer cannot stop both.
- Press Hint if you are not sure, and Undo to take back a move.