Gomoku
Gomoku is a board game for 2 players that takes about 10 minutes. The first player to line up five stones wins. Free. In-browser. No account.
Play over time
Gomoku in 30 seconds
- Set upBlack goes first on a 15×15 board. Stones sit on the line crossings.
- Take turnsPlace one stone at a time. Stones never move once placed.
- Line up fiveA row of five in any direction — up, across or diagonal — ends the game.
- WinThe player who lines up five wins. A full board with no line is a draw.
At a glance
| Item | This game |
|---|---|
| Players | 2 players |
| Play time | About 10 min |
| Type | Board |
| Ranked play | Yes |
| Practice against the CPU | Yes |
| Price | Free (no account needed) |
| Rights holder | A public-domain classic game |
| Last updated | 2026-09-23 |
How to play Gomoku online with friends
- Tap "Play with friends"A party is created with a 6-character code. No account is needed.
- Send a link or QR codeShare it on LINE, or just read the code aloud.
- Everyone opens it in a browserOnce 2 players have joined, the host taps "Start".
Rule highlights
Setup, play, winning, and house rules
Setup
- Two players. You need a 15×15 board (fifteen lines each way) and black and white stones. A party can switch to a 19×19 board.
- Black plays first, white second. The site picks who starts, and if you keep playing, the first player swaps after every game.
- The board starts empty. Stones go on the crossings of the lines, not inside the squares.
How to play
- Starting with black, take turns placing one stone on any empty crossing. You cannot pass.
- A stone never moves again, and it can never be captured. There is no capturing in this game (the version with captures is Capture Five).
- The game ends the moment either player has five stones in an unbroken line — across, down or diagonal. A line with a gap or an enemy stone in it does not count.
- Six or more in a row is called an overline. By default it wins here for both black and white. With the overline switched off, only exactly five wins for either colour, and a longer line does not end the game.
- The restrictions on black (double three, double four, overline) are off by default. With them on, black cannot place a stone on a point that makes any of the three. Such a point is simply not playable, so you never lose by playing one. A move that makes exactly five is always allowed, even if it also forms a double three or double four, and it wins. White is never restricted.
Winning
- The first player to line up five stones wins.
- If the board fills with no line of five, the game is a draw. With the restrictions on, it is also a draw when black has no playable point left.
- You may give up at any time; giving up loses the game.
- Renju is gomoku made into a competitive game: it adds restrictions and opening rules to curb black's first-move advantage. In renju only black is restricted (double three, double four, overline), and white wins even with an overline. Turning the restrictions on here gives black the same three restrictions, but renju's opening rules are not included.
House rules
| Name | Description | Default | Changeable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Board size | Choose between 15×15 and 19×19. | 15×15 | Yes |
| OverlineOverlineAn overline is six or more stones of one colour in a row. With this on, an overline wins; with it off, only exactly five wins and an overline does not count (for both colours). When the restrictions are used, black can never play a move that makes an overline, whatever this setting says. | Six or more in a row also wins. | On | Yes |
| Opening restrictions (double three, double four, overline)Opening restrictions (double three, double four, overline)Black moves first and has the edge, so black alone gets moves it may not play. A double three makes two threes at once (a three becomes an open four with one more stone), a double four makes two fours (one move from five), and an overline makes six or more. A move that makes five is always allowed. Restricted points are marked on the board. | Restrict black's moves. A restricted move cannot be played. | Off | Yes |
| Swap who starts | Swap the first player after each game. | On | Yes |
Related features: Board Game History: Games by Date / Place, Surround or Connect: Strategy Board Games Compared
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FAQ
How many players?
Two. One plays black, the other white.
Is the first player favoured?
Yes. When you play several games in a row, the site swaps who goes first each time.
Does six in a row win?
Yes. Five or more wins on this site.
Are double three and double four forbidden?
Not by default. A party can turn the restrictions on, and then black cannot play a double three, a double four or an overline.
Can I practise alone?
Yes. Press Play vs CPU to play against the computer.
Can I play at school or work (unblocked)?
Yes. Gomoku runs entirely in your browser, with nothing to download or install, so it works on most school and work networks that block app stores or game downloads. If your network blocks the whole site, ask an administrator to allow boardgamejoin.com.
Is there a 2 player mode?
Yes — Gomoku is played by exactly 2 people.
Can I play against the computer?
Yes. Press “Play vs CPU” on the Gomoku page to start right away against a computer opponent — no waiting for other players.
Is this the same as renju?
No. Renju has opening rules, and black loses the game by playing a forbidden move. In gomoku with the restrictions on, black simply cannot place a stone on those points and never loses for it. You can play renju on the Renju page.
Can I play on a phone?
Yes. No app is needed — just open it in a browser. You can join the same party as people on a PC or tablet.
Can I play online with friends far away?
Yes. Start a party and send its invite link. Friends can join in their browsers without signing up.
Is there an app?
This is a free app that runs in your browser. No installation is needed.
Can we play without being online at the same time?
Yes. Choose “Turn-based (told each turn)” and you can make one move whenever you like. We tell you when it is your turn. A Party ends automatically, with no winner or loser, after 45 days without a move.
Rights holder and physical edition
This is a public-domain classic game. The rules follow the standard reference rules.
Related games
Same type (Board)
Same player count
Last updated 2026-09-23 · Run by Qdan, Inc.