The objective is one unbroken line
Gomoku is a two-player strategy game played on the intersections of a square grid. One player uses black stones and the other uses white. Black moves first, then the players alternate one move at a time. The first player to form an unbroken horizontal, vertical, or diagonal line of five stones wins.
A stone stays where it is placed. There is no capture, movement, or promotion, so every turn permanently changes the shape of the position. You can try the rules immediately in our free online Gomoku game.
Where stones are placed
Stones are normally placed on line intersections rather than inside squares. A 15 × 15 board is common for casual online play, while traditional sets may use a 19 × 19 grid. The larger board changes how much space is available, but it does not change the basic goal.
A legal move uses an empty intersection. Once a stone has been placed, the turn passes to the other player. If the board fills without a winning line, the game is a draw, although decisive games usually finish much earlier.
Exactly five or five and more?
This is the most important rule to agree on before a serious game. In freestyle Gomoku, a line of five or more stones wins. Some standard variants require exactly five, so a line of six, called an overline, does not count. Our browser version uses the straightforward freestyle rule: completing at least five connected stones wins.
Why the first move matters
Black has the initiative because black places the first stone. With unrestricted rules, strong first-player tactics can create multiple threats before white has time to build an attack. Friendly games often accept this advantage. Competitive variants use opening procedures or restrictions to produce a more balanced contest.
Renju is the best-known restricted variant. It limits certain patterns for black, including overlines and particular double-three and double-four formations. Read Gomoku vs Renju before applying Renju restrictions to an ordinary Gomoku board.
A quick rule checklist
- Black places the first stone.
- Players alternate on empty intersections.
- Placed stones never move.
- Five connected stones in any straight direction wins.
- Confirm whether overlines count before using tournament-style rules.
Once the rules feel natural, the next step is learning how open threes, fours, and forcing moves work. Continue with our Gomoku strategy guide for beginners.