Beating the computer at gomoku is satisfying precisely because it does not make human mistakes. It does not get distracted, it does not overlook diagonals and it does not play quickly because it is bored. When you beat it, you have genuinely outplayed it. The good news is that the path from level 1 to level 4 on this site is a clear sequence of skills, and each one is learnable.
Before you start: set up for learning
On the home page choose a level, a rule setting (the Vietnamese blocked ends rule or freestyle) and your side. For learning, play X, because X moves first and has a small natural advantage. Once you start winning regularly, switch to O and see how much harder it becomes.
Keep undo for review rather than rescue. If you undo every blunder during the game, you learn less. Instead, finish the game, then step back through it.
Beating level 1: see every open three
At the first level, the computer plays loosely by design. You beat it by not losing: block every open three and every four, and take the win when it leaves an opening. The skill being trained is simple board vision.
A practical routine: before each move, look at the computer's last stone and check all four lines through it. Then look for your own best line. If you do this every move, level 1 falls quickly.
Beating level 2: make threats that force answers
Level 2 blocks most direct threats, so you need more than a single open three. Learn the difference between forcing and quiet moves: a four or an open three must be answered; anything else can be ignored. Start making threats that force the computer to respond, and use the time to build a second line nearby. Very often, the second line becomes a three at the same moment the first becomes a four. That is your first four-three.
Useful reading: holding the initiative.
Beating level 3: hide the landing point
Level 3 notices many double threats before they land. To beat it, you need either two landing points at once or a landing point it does not see coming. Two techniques work well:
- Split lines: a three with a gap does not look like a solid line, but filling the gap completes it. When the gap is also the crossing point with another line, one stone creates two threats.
- Forcing detours: use a closed four to force a block far from your real target, gaining the move you need to finish the setup.
Level 3 also punishes carelessness. Before every move, check whether it has a four or an open three waiting.
Beating level 4: build richer positions
Level 4 finds almost every tactic in ordinary positions. The way to beat it is to create positions with more possibilities than any single move can cover: several of your lines crossing near the centre, with fours held in reserve. Avoid early forcing moves that commit your stones to one area. Build quietly, keep your stones close together in a flexible shape, and only start a forcing chain when you have counted it to the end.
Defence also matters more at this level. The computer will build its own chains, and every block you make should add to your structure. See counterattack from defence.
The first move
Opening in the centre gives your stones the longest lines. When you play X, place your first stone at or near the centre point. When you play O, answer close to X's first stone, usually touching it diagonally, so that you limit its lines while starting your own.
Common reasons people lose to the computer
- Missing a diagonal. The computer checks all directions; humans do not.
- Racing a three with a three. Only a four outranks an open three.
- Playing a four with no follow-up. It is blocked and becomes a dead line.
- Blocking every small shape. It gives the computer free moves to build double threats.
Reviewing your games
After each loss, find three moves: the moment the computer's winning shape first became possible, the move where you could have blocked the landing point, and the move where you spent a stone on something harmless. If you sign in on the account page, your games against the computer are saved and you can replay them later.
Rule setting as a tool
The blocked ends rule changes the tactical picture: a five closed at both ends does not win. Attacks along lines already hemmed in by the computer's stones may be worthless, and defences that close both ends become very effective. If you find one rule setting easy, switch to the other at the same level. It is like getting a new opponent for free.
Patience beats cleverness
Most wins against the higher levels do not come from a spectacular combination. They come from a long stretch of accurate play in which you never give the computer a double threat, followed by one moment where it runs out of good moves and you find a forcing chain. Players who try to win quickly with a clever trick usually lose to the computer's counterattack. Players who are content to defend well for twenty moves and wait for their chance win far more often.
This is also the lesson that transfers best to human opponents. Against people, the moment of opportunity comes sooner, because humans get impatient too.
A realistic timeline
Progress varies from person to person, but the usual pattern is that level 1 falls quickly once you check every line, level 2 falls once you learn forcing moves, and level 3 takes longer, because it requires reliable attention to double threats. Treat level 4 as a long-term goal: beating it only occasionally is perfectly fine. Every game against it is valuable practice whether you win or not.
Frequently asked questions
Can the gomoku computer be beaten at the highest level?
Yes, but it requires careful defence and well-prepared forcing chains. It makes very few tactical mistakes.
Should I play X or O to beat the computer?
X is easier because it moves first. Start as X, then switch to O once you win regularly.
Is using undo cheating?
It is your practice session, so use it however helps you learn. Most players improve faster by using undo after the game for review.
Why do I keep losing to the same kind of move?
Usually a double threat you did not see coming. Practise spotting the empty points where two of the computer's lines meet.
Does the rule setting affect how strong the computer is?
The computer plays well under both, but the style of the game changes, so try both.
