Gomoku

Quick Pitch

Gomoku, meaning "five stones" in Japanese, is a strategy game played on a grid where two players alternately place stones trying to be the first to create a line of five consecutive stones horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.

Hook

Two players take turns placing stones — one black, one white — on the intersections of a 15×15 grid, and the first to get five in a row wins. The rules fit in one sentence, but the real game is about threats: every stone you place should either build a line your opponent has to block, or block a line they were building. The moment you can create two threats at once, you win — because your opponent can only block one.

Equipment Needed

The Board

Standard is a 15×15 grid of lines, with stones placed at intersections (not inside squares). Smaller grids work fine for casual play.

  A B C D E F G
1 . . . . . . .
2 . . . . . . .
3 . . . . . . .
4 . . . . . . .
5 . . . . . . .

Improvising

• Paper grid: Draw any size grid on paper; mark moves with X and O or two pencil colors
• Go board: A 19×19 Go board works perfectly; use the corner for a 15×15 game
• Ruler: Optional, helps draw a cleaner grid

Pieces

• Two colors (stones, tokens, or just two pencil colors) — enough to fill the board

Setup

1. Create grid — Standard is 15×15 (lines create intersection points). Alternatives: 19×19 (harder), 13×13 (easier), 10×10 (quick game).
2. Label grid — Columns: A–O (or 1–15). Rows: 1–15. Stones are placed at intersections, not inside squares.
3. Starting position — Board begins empty. Player 1 (Black) goes first.

You can draw the grid on paper and mark moves with X and O, or play with physical stones on a board. Either works.

Example starting grid (simplified 5×5):

  A B C D E
1 . . . . .
2 . . . . .
3 . . . . .
4 . . . . .
5 . . . . .

Rules

Objective: Be the first to create an unbroken line of five of your stones in any direction — horizontal, vertical, or diagonal.

1. Players alternate turns. Black (player 1) goes first.
2. On each turn, place one stone on any empty intersection.
3. Stones do not move once placed.
4. The moment a player completes a line of five, they win immediately.

Overlines: In casual play, a line of six or more typically still counts as a win. Some rulesets require exactly five — agree before you start.

Tips

• With younger kids, play on a 10×10 grid and first to five still wins — games finish faster and the strategy stays accessible.
• Two different colored pencils work just as well as physical stones.

🧠 The Real Game Gomoku is a game of threats, not moves. Every stone you place should either build a new threat or neutralize one. A "threat" is any sequence where you could complete five on your next turn — and the game is really about creating more threats than your opponent can block.

🧠 Pro Move The most powerful position in Gomoku is the "double open three" — two separate lines of three stones, each with both ends open. Your opponent can only block one, so you win with the other. Build toward this whenever possible, and block your opponent's before they form it.

🧠 Watch For If your opponent has four in a row with an open end, you must block on that exact turn — no exceptions. Missing a four-in-a-row block loses the game instantly. Conversely, building to four-in-a-row with both ends open creates an unblockable win.

Variations

• Board sizes: 10×10 (quick), 13×13, 15×15 (standard), 19×19 (deep, Go-like)
• No overline rule: A line of six or more doesn't count — forces exactly five
• Renju (pro rules): Specific tournament restrictions that prevent the first player from having an overwhelming advantage
• Misère Gomoku: First to make five in a row loses
• Three-player: Three colors on the same board with modified winning conditions