Classic two-player board game, first to form a line of five stones wins
Gomoku is a two-player board game played on a 15×15 grid. Players take turns placing black and white stones on the board.
The player who first forms an unbroken line of five stones horizontally, vertically, or diagonally wins.
Click on the board intersections to place your stone.
Use the "Restart Game" button to start a new game at any time.
Gomoku, also known as Five in a Row, is one of the most ancient board games still widely played today. With roots stretching back over 4,000 years, this seemingly simple game of aligning five stones has fascinated players across cultures and generations.
The history of Gomoku begins in ancient China during the Zhou Dynasty (1046–256 BC), where it evolved from earlier board games that used the same 19×19 grid as Go. Initially called "Wuziqi" (五子棋) in Chinese, which literally translates to "five piece chess," the game spread throughout East Asia over centuries.
| Time Period | Development |
|---|---|
| 1046-256 BC | Originated in China during the Zhou Dynasty |
| 4th century | Spread to Japan where it became known as "Kakugo" |
| 7th century | Introduction to Korea as "Omok" |
| 19th century | Introduction to Western world |
| 1960s | Official tournament rules established in Japan |
| 1989 | First Computer Gomoku World Championship |
| 2009 | Establishment of the International Gomoku Federation |
In Japan, the game became known as "Kakugo" in the 4th century, and later as "Gomoku Narabe," which was eventually shortened to simply "Gomoku." The name "Gomoku" became the internationally recognized term, derived from the Japanese words "go" (five) and "moku" (pieces).
Today, Gomoku is played worldwide, with professional tournaments, international organizations, and a growing community of online players. Its perfect blend of accessibility and strategic depth makes it appealing to players of all ages and skill levels.
VCF is a forced win sequence where you create a series of "four" threats that your opponent must respond to, eventually leading to a winning five-in-a-row. This technique requires calculating several moves ahead and understanding how forced responses can be leveraged.
Similar to VCF but using "three" threats, VCT is even more complex as it requires longer sequences of forcing moves. Mastering VCT patterns allows players to win even when no immediate four-in-a-row threats are available.
Creating two separate "open threes" simultaneously is one of the most powerful moves in Gomoku. This forces your opponent to block one threat, allowing you to convert the other into a "four" and subsequently win the game on the following move.
Example sequence: If you can create a situation where blocking one three creates another, you've essentially guaranteed a win.
Gomoku enhances your ability to visualize and manipulate patterns across the two-dimensional board. Players constantly evaluate potential lines in multiple directions, strengthening mental spatial mapping abilities.
The game develops forward thinking and planning ability. Players must anticipate multiple future moves and consider various branching possibilities before making each decision.
Regular players develop an intuitive understanding of stone patterns and their implications, improving general pattern recognition abilities that transfer to other areas of life and learning.
Gomoku demands sustained attention and focus. Maintaining awareness of the entire board while evaluating specific moves builds concentration skills applicable to work, study, and other cognitive tasks.
Gomoku is increasingly used in educational settings to develop critical thinking and mathematical reasoning. The game promotes:
Studies suggest that students who regularly play strategic board games like Gomoku show improvements in mathematical problem-solving and analytical thinking skills.
Different cultures have developed unique variations of Gomoku, each with its own rules and strategic considerations:
| Variant | Origin | Key Rules |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Gomoku | International | First to form an unbroken row of five stones wins |
| Renju | Japan | Special rules for black (first player) to balance the game, including forbidding certain patterns |
| Caro | Vietnam | Played on a 15×15 board with special blocking rules |
| Pente | United States | Players can capture pairs of opponent stones; capturing 5 pairs also wins |
| Ninuki-renju | Japan | Combines elements of Go and Gomoku; capturing opponent stones |
| Connect6 | Taiwan | Each player places two stones per turn; six in a row wins |
Today, Gomoku is played at professional levels in many countries, with several international competitions:
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