Gomoku Play Five in a Row Online
Step 1: Choose your opponent
Step 2: Tap a point to place a stone. Get five in a row to win
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About this game
Play Gomoku free online, the classic five in a row game. Take turns placing dark and light stones on a 15 by 15 board, and be the first to line up five of your stones across, down or diagonally. Play against the computer on three levels or with a friend on the same device.
Quick answer: Tap any empty point to place a stone. Dark moves first, then players take turns. The first player to get five stones in an unbroken line, across, down or diagonally, wins. Block your opponent whenever they have four in a row, or an open row of three.
How to play Gomoku
- The board starts empty. Dark places the first stone, usually near the centre.
- Players take turns placing one stone on any empty point where the lines cross. Stones never move and are never captured.
- Make a line of five of your stones in a row, across, down or diagonally, to win. In this version, a line of six or more also wins.
- If the board fills up with no five in a row, the game is a draw.
Gomoku strategy tips
- Watch for open threes. Three stones in a row with both ends empty will become an open four next turn, and an open four cannot be stopped. Block open threes straight away.
- Always block a four. If your opponent has four in a row with one empty end, place your stone there.
- Build double threats. A move that makes two threats at once, such as two open threes or a four and an open three, usually wins because your opponent can block only one.
- Stay close to the action. Stones near the centre and near other stones are worth more than stones on the edge.
Computer levels
| Level | How it plays |
|---|---|
| Easy | Spots wins but often misses your threats. Good for learning. |
| Medium | Attacks and defends well, one move at a time. |
| Hard | Also checks your best reply before it moves, so it rarely leaves you a double threat. |
More strategy games: Tic Tac Toe is the quick three in a row version, or try Reversi and checkers. See all our free online games.
FAQ
Is Gomoku the same as five in a row?
Yes. Gomoku is the traditional name of the five in a row game, which is played on a grid with stones that never move.
Does dark have an advantage?
Yes. The first player has a real advantage in Gomoku, which is why tournaments use special opening rules. Take turns being dark when you play a friend, or choose light stones to give the computer the first move.
Is it free?
Yes. It is free with no sign-up and no download, on phones, tablets and computers.
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