How to Play Gomoku: Complete Rules for Beginners

What Is Gomoku?

Gomoku is a two-player abstract strategy board game where the objective is simple: be the first to place five of your stones in an unbroken row on a grid board. The row can run horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. Despite its straightforward rules, Gomoku offers remarkable strategic depth that has captivated players for centuries.

The game is known by many names around the world — Five in a Row, Gobang, Omok in Korea, and Wǔzǐqí in China. It belongs to the same family of connection games as Tic-Tac-Toe, but the larger board and longer target line create a vastly richer experience.

Equipment You Need

Stones are placed on the intersections of the grid lines, not inside the squares. A 15×15 board has 225 intersections, giving players plenty of room for complex battles.

Setting Up the Game

Setup is minimal. Place the empty board between the two players. One player takes the black stones and the other takes the white stones. Black always moves first. In casual play, players can decide who plays Black by any method they prefer — a coin flip, alternating between games, or mutual agreement.

No stones begin on the board. The game starts from a completely blank grid.

How to Play: Turn by Turn

1. Black places first. Black puts one stone on any intersection of the board. The center point is the most common opening move.
2. Players alternate turns. After Black’s move, White places a stone, then Black again, and so on.
3. Stones are permanent. Once placed, a stone cannot be moved, captured, or removed from the board.
4. One stone per turn. Each player places exactly one stone on their turn.
5. Continue until someone wins or the board is full.

How to Win

You win by forming an unbroken line of exactly five of your stones. The line can run in any of four directions:

• Horizontal — five stones in a row along a rank
• Vertical — five stones in a column along a file
• Diagonal (ascending) — five stones running from lower-left to upper-right
• Diagonal (descending) — five stones running from upper-left to lower-right

The five stones must be consecutive with no gaps and no opponent stones between them.

What Counts as Five in a Row?

In freestyle Gomoku, six or more in a row still counts as a win. In standard Gomoku and the Renju variant, an overline (six or more) does not count, so you must form exactly five.

The Draw Condition

If all 225 intersections on a 15×15 board are occupied and neither player has achieved five in a row, the game ends in a draw. In practice, draws are rare in freestyle Gomoku because one player usually breaks through before the board fills up.

Basic Etiquette and Fair Play

• Announce your win. When you believe you have five in a row, point out the line so both players can verify.
• No takebacks. Once you lift your finger from the stone, the move is final.
• Respect your opponent’s thinking time. In casual games there is no clock, but avoid rushing your opponent.
• Agree on rules beforehand. Decide whether you are playing freestyle or standard rules before the first stone is placed.

Freestyle vs. Standard Rules

Most casual players use freestyle rules, which are the simplest version of the game. Standard and tournament rules introduce restrictions to balance the first-player advantage:

• Swap rule — After Black’s first move, White can choose to swap colors instead of placing a stone.
• Swap2 rule — Black places three stones (two black, one white), then White decides whether to keep the current colors or swap.
• Overline restriction — Six or more in a row does not count as a win for one or both players.

These rules are explored in greater detail in the variants article.

Quick Reference: Rules Summary

Next Steps

Now that you understand the rules, you are ready to start playing. Your first games will teach you more than any guide can, but if you want an edge before you begin, read about the most common beginner mistakes and simple strategies that will improve your play immediately.