Guide

Gomoku strategy tips

Five habits that win more games of five in a row, from your first game.

Gomoku is simple to learn and hard to master. These habits make the difference against a human or the AI.

Play near your stones

Stones far apart do not work together. Play near the centre, and near your own stones, so that each new move adds to a line.

Block open threes early

An open three, three in a row with both ends free, becomes an open four if you let it. An open four cannot be blocked. Block one end of an open three as soon as you see it.

Build double threats

The winning move is often one that creates two threats at once: two open threes, or a four and an open three. Look for a cell where two of your lines cross.

Attack with fours

A four forces your opponent to answer at once. A chain of fours, each one forcing the next block, can lead to a win: this is what the daily puzzle trains.

Replay your games

After a game, REVIEW THE GAME shows the move that lost it and the forced wins you missed. One review teaches more than ten games played fast.