Board and setup
Players alternate placing stones on empty intersections of a 15×15 board.
Abstract strategy / GOMOKU
Gomoku
Connect five stones on a 15×15 board.
Also known as: Five in a Row, Gobang
Gomoku is about connecting stones in a line, perfect for a quick, fast-paced game any time.
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GOMOKUABOUT THE GAME
About the game
Gomoku is also often called renju or five-in-a-row, a connection game aimed at forming a straight line. Rules such as restrictions on the first player can differ between naming conventions and competition formats.
Its objective is understood at a glance, which is why it’s often chosen as an entry point into board games; in serious play, though, the order of attack and defence and threats forming on two sides at once still reward careful study.
Reference：icga.org ↗
Rules
Gomoku — How to play
Youzai Board Game Club — The server implementation governs play here; tournament and other site rules may differ.
Making a move
Placed stones do not move. Build a horizontal, vertical or diagonal line of your colour.
Winning and draws
The first line of at least five wins; a full board without a winner is a draw.
Rules on this site
This site uses freestyle Gomoku: overlines win and Black has no forbidden three-three or four-four moves.
Helpful examples
- Stones may only be placed on empty intersections; once placed, they never move and are never removed.
- A winning line can run horizontally, vertically, or along either diagonal; this site awards a win for five or more connected stones of the same colour.
Complete beginner guide
From setup to the end of the game
Read these steps in order to complete your first game. This guide combines public rules with this site’s server implementation; where versions differ, this site’s ruling applies.
Setup and objective
Players alternate placing stones on empty intersections of a 15×15 board. The first player to connect five or more stones of their colour horizontally, vertically or diagonally wins.
Recognising an open four
If a line of four same-coloured stones has an empty point at both ends, either end completes five on the next move. If only one end is open, the opponent can usually block it. Watching for two threats forming at once is far more effective than tracking a single line.
Rule differences on this site
This site uses freestyle rules: a line of six or longer still wins, and Black has no forbidden three-three or four-four moves. Some renju or tournament rulesets require exactly five in a row and restrict the opening — those rules do not apply here.
End of game
Placed stones never move or get captured. If the board fills up with no line of five, the game is a draw.
General rules reference：gomoku.renju.net ↗