Can I choose who moves first?

Yes. On the title screen you can let yourself or the computer move first. Black always makes the first move.

How big is the board?

Fifteen by fifteen points, giving plenty of room for lines in every direction.

Why do I have to tap twice on a phone?

The first tap aims at a point and the second places the stone, which prevents accidental moves on small screens.

How to Win at Five in a Row: Gomoku Strategy

Five in a Row, also known as gomoku, is played on a 15 by 15 board, and any line of five or more stones wins. The rules are tiny, but the game is about threats: making ones your rival must answer while blocking theirs. Whether you face the computer on Easy, Medium or Hard or a friend, these ideas will win you more games.

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Start in the centre

Stones near the centre can join lines in every direction, while stones near the edge have far fewer chances. Open near the middle and keep your stones close together, so each new stone works with several others. When you move first, you have a real advantage, so use it to start building right away rather than reacting.

Know your threats

An open three is three in a row with both ends empty. If your rival ignores it, it becomes an open four, which cannot be stopped because it can be finished at either end. A closed four, blocked at one end, must also be answered at once. Learn to spot these shapes for both colours, including broken shapes with a gap in the middle.

Block early

Answer every open three your rival makes, and block on the side that also helps your own lines. Waiting until a four appears is often too late, because your rival may have a second threat ready. When you block, pick the point that breaks the most of your rival's future lines, not just the current one.

Build double threats

The winning pattern is two threats at once, such as a four plus an open three, or two open threes. Your rival can only block one, and the other becomes a win. Look for points where two of your lines cross. Setting up these crossing points a few moves in advance is how strong players win, and it is what the Hard computer searches for.

Use forcing moves

A four forces an immediate reply, so you can use fours to push your rival's stones where you want them while you build. A chain of fours that ends in an unstoppable double threat is called a forced win. Even when you cannot see the whole chain, a forcing move keeps the initiative and stops your rival from building.

Questions

Can I choose who moves first?: Yes. On the title screen you can let yourself or the computer move first. Black always makes the first move.
How big is the board?: Fifteen by fifteen points, giving plenty of room for lines in every direction.
Why do I have to tap twice on a phone?: The first tap aims at a point and the second places the stone, which prevents accidental moves on small screens.

Five in a Row
Play Five in a Row ›