Official Gomoku Rules
Effective Date: April 28, 2026
Gomoku, also known as Five in a Row, is a classic abstract strategy game played worldwide. Whether you challenge our AI or play with a friend, these rules define fair and exciting matches on Play Gomoku Online.
📖 The Game & Objective
Gomoku is a game played between two players, Black and White, on a board. Players take turns placing black and white stones, and the first player to form a row of five stones horizontally, vertically, or diagonally wins.
The goal is to connect five stones in a row while preventing your opponent from doing the same. Every move influences both offense and defense.
⚙️ How to Play (Basic Rules)
- Turn order: Black moves first, followed by White. Players alternate turns until the game ends.
- Placing stones: On your turn, place one stone of your color on any empty intersection of the board.
- No undo / no removal: Once a move is made, it cannot be undone or moved. Think carefully before you play.
- Standard board: While the classic Gomoku board is 15×15, our online version uses a clean 15×15 grid that ensures fair competitive play.
No player may skip a turn, and each move must be made on an empty cell. The game proceeds until a winner is decided or the board fills completely.
🏆 Winning the Game
The first player to connect five stones in a row wins immediately. The winning line can be formed in any of three directions:
- Horizontally (left to right on the same row)
- Vertically (top to bottom on the same column)
- Diagonally (any diagonal line with 45° slope)
Note: A line of exactly five stones wins the game. Lines longer than five (called overlines) do not change the win condition – the player who first achieves an unbroken chain of five consecutive stones claims victory.
🤝 Draw Condition
If the board is filled with stones and no line of five has been formed by either player, the game ends in a draw. It’s a rare but possible outcome of a perfectly balanced defensive battle.
🎯 Essential Strategy & Tips
Winning at Gomoku requires sharp pattern recognition and forward thinking. The best strategy is to block your opponent as soon as they have three stones in a row. Three stones form an “open three” which can quickly become four and then five on the next move. Strong players build multiple threats at once.
💡 Pro Tip: “The best strategy is to block your opponent as soon as they have three stones in a row.”
Create your own double threats (two lines of three or four) to force a win. Offense is defense – but never ignore your opponent's formation.
📋 Complete Rule Summary
- How to Play: There are two colors, black and white. Black moves first, followed by white, with players taking turns. Once a move is made, it cannot be undone.
- Winning: The first player to connect five stones in a row horizontally, vertically, or diagonally (a "line of five") wins.
- Draw: If the board is filled with stones and no line of five has been formed, the game ends in a draw.
- Fair play: No extra moves, no swapping stones. The game is decided purely by skill and strategy.
These rules apply to all standard modes on Play Gomoku Online, including AI matches and two-player local mode. Our AI respects the same rule set, so every game feels fair and competitive.
📌 Additional Notes
Unlike some advanced variants, our classic Gomoku mode does not include “N‐renju” or “prohibition” rules (no forbidden moves for Black). We keep the game pure: first to five in a row wins. That ensures accessible, fast-paced fun for beginners and experts alike.
If you have any questions about how we implement rules or if you encounter unexpected behavior, feel free to reach out through the contact in our Privacy Policy.