Gomoku tutorial
From how to win all the way to consecutive fours, forbidden-point traps and tournament openings. Every section can be stepped through, with puzzles to try afterwards.
1The goal: five in a row
Black and white take turns placing stones on the intersections, black first. Across, down or diagonally — whoever first gets five in a row wins.
2A few shapes to know
- Simple four
- Four stones that one more stone turns into five. There is only one five point; once it is blocked, the threat is gone.
- Straight four
- Four stones that can make five at either end. The other side can block only one end, so a straight four always wins.
- Three
- Three stones that one more stone turns into a straight four. Leave it alone and the next move is a straight four.
- Sleeping three
- Three stones blocked at one end. At best it becomes a simple four — a much smaller threat.
3Where to block
- If you can make five, make five — once you have won, there is nothing to block.
- If the other side has a four, block its five point at once.
- If the other side has a three, block that too: either end will do, before it becomes a straight four.
4Four-three: the most common win
One move that makes a four and a three at the same time: the other side must block the four first, then you turn the three into a straight four and it cannot be defended.
Under renju rules, black's double three and double four are forbidden moves, so black cannot win that way; four-three is fine for both colors.
5Black's forbidden moves
Moving first is an edge, so renju rules put limits on black: double three, double four and overline (six or more) are forbidden moves, and black loses on playing one. White has no limits. Five-in-a-row tables here can choose Freestyle (no forbidden moves), Standard (exactly five) or Renju (forbidden moves).
6Your first run of fours
Make a four with every move so the other side can only block, and finish with five — that is a VCF (victory by continuous fours). Here is one of the shortest: