Five in a Row is the classic stone game also known as gomoku. Two players take turns placing black and white stones on the points of a 15 by 15 board, and the first to line up five in a row across, down or diagonally wins. The rules take seconds to learn, but building double threats while blocking your rival's open threes and fours takes real skill. Play a computer that thinks in threats on Easy, Medium or Hard, choose who moves first, or play a friend on the same device.
How to play
- Choose Easy, Medium, Hard or 2 players, and who moves first.
- Black moves first; players take turns placing one stone on an empty point.
- Line up five (or more) of your stones in a row across, down or diagonally to win.
- Block your rival's open threes and fours before they become unstoppable.
- Create two threats at once so your rival can only stop one of them.
Controls
- Computer
- Click a point to place a stone. Arrow keys move the cursor and Enter or Space places a stone.
- Phone and tablet
- Tap a point to aim, then tap it again to place your stone.
Tips
- An open three (three in a row with both ends free) must be blocked right away, or it becomes an open four.
- Play near the centre and near your own stones to keep many lines open.
- A four plus an open three at the same time usually wins the game.
Questions
- Do six or more in a row count?
- Yes. This is freestyle five in a row: any line of five or more of your stones wins.
- How strong is the computer?
- Easy makes mistakes, Medium blocks your threats, and Hard searches for forced winning sequences of fours and plans ahead.