Play Gomoku Online Free — Five in a Row, Zero Waiting

Rules in sixty seconds

Gomoku is played on the intersections of a grid: Black moves first, and the first player to get five of their stones in a row — horizontally, vertically or diagonally — wins. That single rule hides a surprisingly sharp game of threats, counters and traps, which is why it has stayed popular for centuries across East Asia and beyond.

This version uses a 15×15 board, the standard size for modern Gomoku, so games are big enough to be interesting and short enough to finish in a coffee break.

Three ways to play, one clean board

• Easy AI — forgiving opponent for learning the flow of the game.
• Medium AI — punishes careless double threats; a fair sparring partner.
• Hard AI — a depth-4 search with tactical shortcuts that will make you earn every win.
• Two players — pass-and-play on one device, perfect for a quick duel.
• Undo & restart — experiment freely; nothing is permanent until you say so.

Three habits of strong Gomoku players

1. Build open threes, not blocked ones. An open three (three stones with both ends free) forces your opponent to respond, letting you keep the initiative. 2. Count the double threats. Every win is a fork — a move that creates two fours, or a four and an open three, at once. Scan for intersections where two of your lines cross. 3. Answer fours instantly, open threes almost always. Everything else is negotiable; those two are not.

Against the Hard AI, the plan that works is patient: take the centre early, extend two lines at once, and wait for the engine to commit to one side of the board.

Frequently asked questions

Is Gomoku the same as five in a row?

Yes — Gomoku (from Japanese “five points”) is the standard name for five-in-a-row, also known as Gobang or 五子棋.

Can I play without an account?

Yes. The game opens straight into play; nothing to install, nothing to register.

How strong is the Hard AI?

It searches four moves deep with tactical move pruning — most casual players lose their first few games, then start drawing.

Can two people play on one device?

Yes — choose the two-player mode and take turns on the same screen.