Gomoku is the rare game you can start playing within a minute of hearing the rules. That is its charm, and also its trap: because the rules are so simple, many people play hundreds of games without ever getting better. They keep losing the same way — to a line they did not notice until it was too late.
This guide is for your first ten games. It tells you how to set them up, what to look at on every single move, and the three habits that separate players who improve quickly from those who plateau.
Before you play: the rules in thirty seconds
- The board is 15×15. Players take turns placing one mark on an empty point.
- X moves first (red on this site), then O (blue).
- The first player to make five in a row — across, down or diagonally — wins.
- Before each game against the computer you choose freestyle (any five wins) or blocked ends (a five blocked by the opponent at both ends does not win).
If you want more detail, gomoku rules for beginners covers everything, including how to read coordinates like h8.
Setting up your first games
Open the board on the home page. For your first games, choose:
- Freestyle. It is the simplest rule and lets you focus on seeing lines.
- The easiest computer level. You want games you can win sometimes, because winning teaches you what a successful attack looks like.
- X, moving first. The first player has a real advantage, which makes early wins easier.
Do not worry about the other options yet. You will switch to blocked ends later, once the basics feel natural.
What to look at on every move
Here is the single most important instruction in this guide. Every time your opponent places a mark, before you do anything else, look along the four lines that pass through it: horizontal, vertical, and both diagonals. Ask one question for each line: how many of their marks are on this line, close together, with empty space around them?
That is it. Most beginners lose because they only look at the line they are building themselves. The opponent quietly builds a diagonal, and by the time the beginner notices, it is an open four.
After checking the opponent's lines, do the same for your own: where could your next mark make one of your lines longer, or connect two of your lines at once?
The three habits
Habit 1: Answer open threes
An open three is three marks in a row with empty space at both ends. If you ignore it, your opponent can turn it into an open four — four in a row with both ends empty — and you cannot block both ends with one move.
The rule of thumb: when you see an open three, block it, unless you can make a four of your own first. You will learn the exceptions later; for now this rule alone will save many games.
Habit 2: Build in two directions
A single line is easy to block. What wins games is a mark that helps two of your lines at once. When you choose where to play, prefer points that sit on the crossing of two of your potential lines. After a few games you will start to see these crossing points everywhere — and so will your opponents.
Habit 3: Pause when things look quiet
Beginners concentrate hard when they are under attack, then relax when the position feels calm. That is exactly when a quiet diagonal slips past them. Make it a rule: whenever you feel "nothing is happening", spend a few extra seconds checking the diagonals. They are the lines the eye misses most often.
Your first ten games: a plan
Games 1–3: just play. Get a feel for the board. Do not worry about winning.
Games 4–6: practise Habit 1. In each game, say out loud (or in your head) every time you see an open three, yours or the computer's. Block every open three of the computer's unless you have a four.
Games 7–8: practise Habit 2. Try to make at least one move per game that creates two threats at once. You will not always manage it; the attempt is what matters.
Games 9–10: review. After each game, use the undo button to step back through the last few moves and find where the decisive line appeared. Could you have blocked it earlier?
By the end of ten games you will already see the board differently. You will notice open threes without thinking, and you will start to see the crossing points where a single mark does double work.
When you lose
You will lose a lot at first, and that is fine. What matters is losing usefully. After a loss, ask:
- Which line beat me? Find it on the board.
- When did it become an open three? That was your last comfortable chance to block it.
- Was I busy with something else? Often the answer is yes — you were building your own line and did not look at theirs.
These three questions take thirty seconds and they teach more than playing another game straight away.
Moving on
Once you win about half your games against the easiest level, raise the level by one. Then try blocked ends. It will feel harder at first, because some of your lines will die when the computer blocks both ends. That is a good kind of difficulty: it teaches you to build in open space and to value double threats.
When you feel ready to play people, the online page lets you find an opponent by time control or invite a friend with a link. There is no chat — just the game.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to learn gomoku?
The rules take a minute. Seeing threats reliably takes a few dozen games. Playing well takes much longer, as with any strategy game.
Should I start with freestyle or blocked ends?
Freestyle. Move to blocked ends once you win some games against the easiest computer level.
Is it better to play first or second?
Playing first is easier, because the first player has an advantage. Play first while you are learning.
Why do I keep losing to diagonals?
Because the eye naturally follows rows and columns. Make a habit of checking both diagonals through every new mark.
Can I save my games?
Yes. If you sign in to your account, your games are saved and you can replay them move by move.
