About Gomoku on Suvi
This page opens straight into a game of Gomoku against the computer, at three levels: Easy, Medium and Hard. Easy misses open threes; Hard thinks in threats and forced wins. Undo and a hint are there when you need them, a game left half-way is still here when you come back, and your wins at each level are kept on this device. Want a person instead? Two players can share one phone, or you can send a friend a link.
How to play
- Choose vs Computer (Easy, Medium or Hard) or Two players, and who goes first.
- Take turns placing one stone on any empty point. On a phone, tap to aim, then tap again or press Place.
- Make a line of five of your stones in a row: across, up and down, or diagonally. Five or more wins.
- Block your opponent: a line of three with both ends open becomes an unstoppable four if you ignore it.
Controls
On a phone or tablet: Tap a point to aim (slide your finger to adjust), then tap the same point again or press Place. Undo and Hint sit under the board.
On a desktop: Click a point to place a stone, or move with the arrow keys and press Enter. U undoes, H asks for a hint.
Tips
- An open three (three in a row with both ends empty) must be answered at once, or it becomes an open four that wins.
- The strongest attacks make two threats with one stone: a four and an open three together can't both be blocked.
- Play near the centre and near your other stones; stones on the edge take part in fewer lines.
- When you block, choose the end that also helps one of your own lines.
- The first player has an advantage in this freestyle game, so take turns going first.
Read the full guide: “Gomoku strategy: how to win at five in a row” →
Questions
- Is Gomoku free to play online?
- Yes. Gomoku on the full 15×15 board is free against the computer, with a friend on one phone, or online by link. There's no account and nothing to download, and your results at each level stay on this device.
- Does six in a row count?
- Yes. Suvi plays freestyle Gomoku: five or more stones in an unbroken line wins, so an overline of six or more counts as a win too.
- Can I play against a friend?
- Yes, on one phone or two. Choose Two players to take turns placing stones on the same phone, with both names and the running score at the top. Or choose Online with a friend and send the link to their phone. No account is needed: it asks once for your date of birth, and online play isn't open to under-13s.
- How good is the computer?
- Easy completes its own fives and blocks fours but often misses an open three. Medium blocks every open three and never misses a winning four. Hard also looks for chains of forcing moves for itself and for you, and defends against them before they arrive.
- Why do I have to tap twice on a phone?
- The board has 225 points, so they are close together under a thumb. The first tap shows a ghost stone exactly where yours will go; a second tap or the Place button puts it down. With a mouse, one click places the stone.
- Can I undo a move?
- Against the computer, yes: Undo takes back your last stone and the computer's reply, which is handy on a crowded board. In a game between two people there's no undo, just as there isn't across a real table.
More Gomoku
Similar games
- Four in a Row — Drop discs, line up four. Play the computer or a friend on one phone.
- Reversi — Trap discs between yours and flip them. Play the computer or a friend on one phone.
- Dots and Boxes — Draw lines, close boxes, take another turn. Play the computer or a friend on one phone.
Who made it
Gomoku is a Suvi Original, written and tested by Brasslight Games. Every puzzle is generated and checked by our own tools; nothing is copied from another site.