Official Gomoku Rules

Gomoku is played on a board with 15x15 intersections (sometimes 19x19 or 13x13). Two players, Black and White, take turns placing stones on empty intersections. The goal is to be the first to form an unbroken line of five stones horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.

Basic Rules

• Board Size: Standard is 15x15, but other sizes are sometimes used.
• Players: Black moves first, White moves second.
• Moves: Stones are placed on empty intersections and cannot be moved or removed.
• Winning: The first player to get five stones in a row (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal) wins.
• Draws: If the board is filled and no player has five in a row, the game is a draw.

Rule Variations

Freestyle Gomoku

• Any number of stones in a row (more than five) counts as a win.
• No restrictions on moves for either player.

Standard Gomoku

• Only exactly five stones in a row counts as a win.
• Six or more in a row does not win the game.

Renju

• Black is restricted from making certain moves (overlines, double-threes, double-fours, etc.) to balance the first-move advantage.
• Special forbidden moves for Black:
  • Overline: More than five stones in a row.
  • Double-three: Creating two open rows of three stones at once.
  • Double-four: Creating two open rows of four stones at once.

Swap2 Rule

• After the first three moves (Black, White, Black), White can choose to swap colors or place two more stones (one black, one white) before Black chooses their color.
• This rule is used to balance the game and prevent unfair openings.

Online Play Considerations

• Most online platforms use the standard 15x15 board and may offer Freestyle, Standard, Renju, or Swap2 options.
• Always check the rules before starting a game, as variations can affect strategy and winning conditions.

Summary Table

For more details on strategy and advanced play, see our Gomoku Strategy Guide.