How to Play Gomoku in 30 Seconds
Black and white alternate, five in a row wins. The rules of Gomoku fit in one sentence, but the gap between winning and losing is all judgment. Learn it in 30 seconds, then grab a few openings that work now.
Gomoku’s rules fit in one sentence: black and white take turns placing stones on the intersections of a grid, and the first player to connect five stones in a row, horizontally, vertically or diagonally, wins. No captures, no turn limits. Because the rules are so few, the whole game is judgment, so after the 30-second lesson here are a few ideas you can use in your first match.
The basics, in 30 seconds
- Board: 15x15 or 19x19 grid of intersections, stones go on the intersections
- Turn order: black first, alternate, one stone per turn
- Win: five in a row in any direction, including both diagonals
- Draw: board fills with no five in a row, which almost never happens in practice
The first concept you need: live threes and open fours
A live three is a line of three with both ends open, which means the opponent must respond or it becomes a live four next. An open four is a line of four with at least one open end, which forces the opponent to block immediately. Once you see these two shapes, you understand why attacking beats reacting: a live three spends your opponent’s turn, and an open four ends the game.
Three opening ideas that work now
- Take the center: start near the middle intersection, central stones project influence in all directions
- Build live twos first: do not rush to attack; set up two or three live twos that support each other
- Always block an open four or live three: defend first, even if your own attack looks tempting
Go play on yiboardgame.com
You now know enough for a full match. The [play page](/play) offers both human vs AI and online matchmaking, with signup optional. Want to go deeper? The [how-to page](/how-to) has the full advanced guide.
FAQ
Does Gomoku have capture rules?
No. Gomoku has no captures, only placement and connection, which is exactly why it is the easiest game to learn.
Does black (first player) have an advantage?
Yes, black gets to build attacking shapes first. Formal rules use forbidden moves to balance it; casual play usually does not.
Does a line of six count as a win?
In freestyle rules yes, an overline is still five in a row. Under forbidden-move rules, black overlines are actually illegal.
Where can I play Gomoku for free?
yiboardgame.com offers completely free Gomoku, open in the browser, no signup required.