Gomoku is a game of placing stones on the points of a grid until someone forms a line of five. This version from Christopher Müller’s open-source PaperGames collection uses a 15x15 board, the same size as a small board for Go. The rules take a minute to learn, but the fight over open lines gets deep quickly. You can play a friend on one screen or take on a computer at three strength levels.
How to Play Gomoku
Black places the first stone, then the players take turns. On your turn, put one stone of your color on any empty intersection where two lines cross. Stones never move and are never removed, so the board only grows more crowded.
The goal is to be first to make an unbroken line of five or more of your own stones. The line can run across, up and down, or along either diagonal. As soon as a player completes one, the game ends with that player as the winner. If every point fills up without a line of five, the game is a draw.
Against the computer, choose black to move first or white to answer, then pick Easy, Medium or Hard. In the two-player mode, both of you share the device and take turns tapping the board.
Undo removes your last stone, and in a computer game it also takes back the reply.
Gomoku Controls
| Action | Keyboard | Mouse | Touch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Place a stone | Arrow keys to move between points, Enter to place | Click an empty intersection | Tap an empty intersection |
| Start a two-player game | — | Click "2 Player (local)" | Tap "2 Player (local)" |
| Start a game against the computer | — | Click "vs Computer", pick a color and level, then click "New game" | Tap "vs Computer", pick a color and level, then tap "New game" |
| Take back your last stone | — | Click "Undo" | Tap "Undo" |
| Give up the current game | — | Click "Resign" | Tap "Resign" |
Tips and Strategies
- Count open ends. A row of three with both ends empty is far stronger than a row of four that is already blocked on one side.
- Aim for a double threat. Placing one stone that creates two open threes, or a four and an open three, usually wins on the next turn.
- Block an open three at once. If you let it become an open four, there are two winning points and you can only cover one.
- Stay near the center. Lines that start close to the middle have room to grow in every direction.
- Leave gaps on purpose. A broken pattern such as stone, stone, empty, stone is harder for your opponent to spot and can still become five.
- Play first against Hard. Moving first is a real advantage in freestyle rules, so take black while you learn the computer’s habits.
Features
- 15x15 board with freestyle rules, where five or more in a line wins
- Easy, Medium and Hard computer opponents plus a local two-player mode
- Undo and Resign buttons, with a check before resigning or restarting
- The game in progress is saved in your browser between visits
- Settings for text size, high contrast, spacing and computer speed
Tested and updated:
