Gomoku
Fünf in eine Reihe — vor der KI!
Gomoku Rules
Gomoku (Five in a Row) is a classic strategy board game with a history of over a thousand years. Two players take turns placing stones on the intersections of a 15×15 board — the first to form an unbroken line of five stones horizontally, vertically or diagonally wins. Here you play black against a heuristic AI that fights back with white, and your win/loss record is kept locally.
Strategy Tips
- Own the center: opening near the middle gives you room to grow in all four directions.
- Fear the open three: a three-in-a-row open at both ends becomes an unstoppable open four — block it immediately.
- Build double threats: masters win by creating two threats at once (two open threes or a four plus a three) so the opponent cannot block both.
- Use the first-move edge: black moves first — keep attacking and don't let the AI seize the initiative.
One of the Oldest Games on Earth
Gomoku — "five stones" in Japanese — belongs to the tic-tac-toe family but matures it into something profound: connect five in a row on a crossing grid, with the whole board open to you. Versions of the game have been played in China for well over a thousand years, and Japan later formalized the professional variant Renju, complete with opening restrictions to balance the first player's advantage. Our version is friendly free-style: no forbidden moves, and you take the first move as black.
What surprises newcomers is how sharp the tactics become. A single open three — two possible ways to complete five — forces your opponent's hand, and stacking two such threats creates wins that cannot be parried. Beneath the simplicity sits genuine strategy, which is exactly why the game has outlived empires.
FAQ
How do you win at Gomoku?
Be the first to connect five of your stones in an unbroken horizontal, vertical or diagonal line.
Who moves first? Any forbidden moves?
You play black and move first; the AI plays white. Casual rules apply (no forbidden-move restrictions), keeping the game relaxed.
Is my record saved?
Yes — wins and losses are stored locally in your browser so you can keep building your record.
Where does Gomoku come from?
It originated in ancient China, later evolved into Renju in Japan, and is now played competitively worldwide.
What is a good opening in Gomoku?
Start at or near the center, where every direction is open. In the early game, build threes that are open at both ends rather than closed ones, and before attacking, glance at the diagonals — they are the lines players forget to watch, on both sides of the board.
Should I attack or defend in Gomoku?
Defend first, always: an opponent's open three must be answered immediately or it becomes an unstoppable four. Attacks in Gomoku win by stacking threats — a move that creates two dangers at once — and those only work if you have not let the AI build a counting threat of its own.