The board on the home page lets you play gomoku against the computer at four levels. Choosing the right one makes a big difference: a level that is too easy teaches nothing, and a level that is too hard only teaches frustration. This article explains what changes between the levels in practical terms and gives a simple rule for when to move up.
What the levels have in common
All four levels play by the same rules you choose in the setup: the Vietnamese blocked ends rule or freestyle. X always moves first, and you choose whether you play X or O. You can use undo, resign or leave at any time. Leaving simply ends the game and takes you back to the setup, which is handy when you want to change level or rules mid-session.
What differs between levels is how carefully the computer looks at the board before it moves.
Level 1: the gentlest
The first level is designed to play loosely: sensible moves most of the time, with deliberate slips. It will sometimes fail to block an open three, and it rarely builds long forcing chains. This is the right level for someone who has just learned the rules, or for a child playing their first games. The goal here is not to win quickly but to get used to reading lines in four directions.
Level 2: the practice partner
The second level blocks most direct threats and makes threats of its own. It still misses some double threats and does not always see diagonals coming. For many players this is the most useful level for a long time: it punishes obvious mistakes but leaves room to try ideas like split threes and diagonal attacks.
Level 3: the honest opponent
The third level looks further ahead. It answers open threes reliably, notices many crossing points and will happily land a four-three if you give it the chance. Winning here requires a real plan and accurate defence. If you can beat level 3 regularly, you will beat most casual human players.
Level 4: the tough one
The fourth level searches deepest and makes very few mistakes in ordinary positions. It is strong in tactics: it finds forcing chains quickly and rarely leaves a landing point unguarded. Beating it takes careful play from start to finish. Many players use it not to win but to test their defence: every loss shows exactly where a threat was missed.
Which level should you choose?
- Brand new to gomoku: level 1.
- Know the rules, sometimes miss threes: level 2.
- Rarely miss direct threats, still lose to double threats: level 3.
- Beat level 3 most of the time: level 4.
Children usually enjoy level 1 or 2 most, because they win some games and learn from the rest. For them, winning half the time is about right.
A simple rule for moving up
Play ten games at your current level. If you win seven or more, move up one level. If you win three or fewer, move down. Between four and six, stay where you are: that is the level where you learn fastest.
The rule sounds mechanical, but it prevents two common problems: staying too long at a comfortable level, and jumping to the hardest level too soon and losing interest.
Rules and levels together
The rule setting changes how hard each level feels. Under the blocked ends rule, some lines that would win in freestyle do not count, so attacks need more precision and defence has more resources. Players who are comfortable in freestyle sometimes find that the same level feels harder under blocked ends, and the reverse is also true. Try both at each level before deciding where you belong.
Getting the most out of each game
- Play at a pace where you actually look at the whole board. The computer does not rush you.
- When you lose, press undo a few times and look for the move where the computer's winning shape began.
- Occasionally play O instead of X. Starting second is harder and trains your defence.
- Sign in on the account page if you want your games saved so you can replay them later.
What "looking ahead" means in gomoku
When people say a computer is stronger, they usually mean it looks further ahead. In gomoku that has a concrete meaning. A computer that looks one move ahead sees your open three and blocks it. A computer that looks a few moves ahead also sees that your next move would create a four-three, and takes the landing point before you can use it. A computer that looks further still can plan its own forcing chains, several fours and threes in a row ending in a double threat.
That is why the jump from level 2 to level 3 often feels large: the third level starts to recognise double threats before they happen, both yours and its own. Players who were winning comfortably by setting up a quiet L-shape or a hidden diagonal suddenly find the computer taking the corner point first. It is not cheating; it is simply looking one step further.
A note for parents
If a child is learning with the computer, sit with them for the first few games at level 1. Ask them to point at the computer's lines before each move. The goal is not to win but to see the board. Once they can spot open threes on their own, let them play alone and move up when they are ready. Avoid comparing results between siblings or friends; each player should simply enjoy beating their own previous level.
Why the computer is a good teacher
Unlike a human opponent, the computer does not get tired, does not get bored with your mistakes and does not mind replaying the same opening fifty times. It also has no blind spots for diagonals. That makes it an unusually honest mirror: when it beats you, it is almost always because of a real mistake you made, not because of luck or a trick. Treat each game as a lesson rather than a contest, and progress comes quickly.
Frequently asked questions
How many levels does the gomoku computer have?
Four, from a gentle first level to a demanding fourth level.
Which level is best for beginners?
Level 1 for your first games, then level 2 once you stop missing simple threes.
When should I move up a level?
After winning seven or more of ten games at your current level.
Does the rule setting change the difficulty?
It changes the feel. Under blocked ends, some fives do not count, so both attack and defence change.
Can I change level in the middle of a game?
Use leave to end the game and return to the setup, then choose a new level. Leaving does not count as a loss.
