Gomoku
Five in a row against four AI levels or players online
Free browser Gomoku with four computer levels, freestyle and standard rules, online matches by link or quick pairing, and illustrated pattern guides.
Features
Four AI levels
Beginner, intermediate, advanced and master, each tuned to a different stage of a player's progress.
Online play
Quick matching with other players or a private room shared by link, with chat, rematch and spectating.
Patterns explained
Open threes, fours, the four-three and 26 named openings, taught with board diagrams.
Eleven languages
The game and its guides are available in eleven languages, from English and Japanese to Portuguese.
How it works
- 1
Pick an opponent
Choose a computer level and rule set, or open the online lobby to play another person.
- 2
Place your stones
Black moves first, and players take turns putting one stone on an empty intersection.
- 3
Make five
The first player to line up five stones across, down or diagonally wins the game.
About the game
Gomoku is the classic five-in-a-row game played on a 15 × 15 board. Black moves first, players alternate placing stones on empty intersections, and the first to make an unbroken line of five wins. Seriauth’s version supports two rule sets: freestyle, where any line of five or more counts, and standard, where only exactly five wins and overlines are ignored.
The site is aimed at casual players who want a quick game in a spare moment, as well as players who want to get stronger. There is nothing to download and no sign-up for either mode.
What we built
The computer opponent comes in four levels. Beginner goes easy on new players, intermediate reliably blocks open threes, advanced reads ahead and plays the four-three, and master is the strongest setting for experienced players. The AI also comments on the game in short chat lines, so a game against the computer feels less silent.
Online play lets two people meet through quick matching or a private room shared by link. Matches include in-game chat with word filtering and a mute option, rematches, and spectating for anyone else who opens the room link.
Alongside the game we wrote a learning section: a rules page, a guide to how to win, an illustrated reference of key patterns such as the open four and four-three, and a page covering the 26 named gomoku openings. Everything is available in 11 languages, and the site can be installed as a progressive web app.
FAQ
What is the difference between freestyle and standard?
In freestyle, five or more stones in a row win. In standard it must be exactly five, so an overline of six or more does not count.
Do I need an account to play online?
No. You pick a nickname and either join quick matching or send a friend the link to a private room.
Can I take back a move?
Yes, undo is available when playing against the computer.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes. It runs in any modern browser on phones, tablets and computers, and can be installed to the home screen.
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