Two-player Gomoku on one device: black moves first, then pass the phone or share the screen. Undo takes back the last stone and the game is kept if you close the page.
How to use
- Choose vs Computer or 2 players and, against the computer, a level.
- Tap or click an intersection to place a stone. Black always moves first.
- Get five stones in an unbroken row across, down or diagonally to win.
- Undo takes back your last move (and the computer's reply). New game clears the board.
- In Options, pick a 15×15 or 19×19 board, the rule, who plays black, and whether a tap needs confirming.
- Five or more: a row of six or longer also wins (freestyle). Exactly five: only a row of exactly five wins (standard Gomoku). Renju restrictions are not used.
- Hard looks for forced wins made of fours and threes and searches several moves ahead. It runs on your device; nothing is sent anywhere.
- The current game and your options are saved in this browser.
How to play Gomoku
Black moves first, then the players alternate one stone at a time. Stones are never moved or captured. Five in an unbroken line, across, down or diagonally, wins the game. With the default rule a line of six or more also counts; switch to Exactly five in Options for standard Gomoku, where an overline does not win.
The game is decided by threats. A four (four stones that need one more) must be blocked at once. An open three, with both ends free, turns into an open four next move, which has two winning points and cannot be stopped, so it has to be answered too. Most wins come from a double threat: a four and an open three at the same time, two fours, or two open threes.
Computer levels
Easy plays loosely and often misses threats, which suits children and first games. Medium always blocks fours and open threes and picks good shape, but does not plan ahead. Hard checks for forced wins made of continuous fours and of threes and fours, defends against yours, and then searches several moves ahead within a short time limit. All of it runs in your browser, also on a phone, and black has a real first-move advantage, so try both colours.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gomoku the same as tic tac toe?
No. Tic tac toe is three in a row on a 3×3 grid. Gomoku needs five in a row on a much larger board, so it plays more like a strategy game.
Does six in a row count?
With the default Five or more rule, yes. With Exactly five, an overline of six or more does not win, as in standard Gomoku.
Are Renju rules supported?
No. Renju forbids black from making double threes, double fours and overlines. This game plays freestyle or standard Gomoku without those restrictions.
Who moves first, and is it an advantage?
Black always moves first. Black has a clear advantage; in freestyle Gomoku on 15×15 perfect play is known to be a win for black. Choose who plays black in Options.
Can I take back a move?
Yes. Undo takes back your last move, and against the computer its reply too. You can undo all the way back to the start.
Can two people play on one phone?
Yes. Choose 2 players and pass the device back and forth. The game is saved in your browser, so you can continue later.