YaliKit board game

Gomoku

Black to move

Tap an empty point to place a stone. Line up five in a row to win.

📖 How to play

How to play Gomoku

Take turns placing stones on the grid. Be the first to line up five of your own stones in a row.

  1. 1

    You are one colour

    You place the black stones, the other side places white. Black goes first, then you take turns placing one stone each.

  2. 2

    Tap an empty point

    Click or tap any empty spot on the 15 by 15 board to drop your stone there. Once a stone is placed it never moves.

  3. 3

    Grow a line of your colour

    Try to put your stones next to each other in a straight line. Lines can go across, up and down, or diagonally.

  4. 4

    Block the other player

    If the other colour gets four in a row, put a stone at the open end to stop them from making five.

  5. 5

    Make five to win

    The first player to get five of their own stones in an unbroken line wins the game right away.

How you win

Be the first to line up five of your stones in a row, in any direction. If the whole board fills with no five in a row, the game is a tie.

Open lines with space on both ends are the strongest, because they can grow into five in two ways.

Play the computer on easy, medium, or hard, sit next to a friend for 2 players, or match a friend online.

Game guide

How to play Gomoku online

Gomoku, also called Five in a Row or Gobang, is a two-player strategy board game where you take turns placing stones on a 15 by 15 grid and race to be the first to line up five of your own color in a row. Black plays first, then players alternate placing one stone on any empty point, and the winner is the first to make an unbroken line of five stones horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, so you attack by growing open lines while blocking your opponent's four and open three threats. On YaliKit you play Gomoku free in your browser against a computer opponent on easy, medium, or hard, in a local 2 player game on one device, or against a friend online in a private room where you share the same board and take strict turns, with the last move and the winning five highlighted. No download or signup is needed.

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Quick facts

Price
Free
Platform
Browser
Category
Strategy & Board
Install
No download

Visual play guide

Start the round

Look at the Gomoku game above. If you see a start, play, or new game button, press it first.

WASD

Move or tap

Use the arrow keys, WASD, touch buttons, swipes, or a controller. Pick the controls that feel easiest.

Try again

Watch what changed after your move. If the round ends, start again and try one better idea.

How to use the game

  1. 1

    Look at the game

    The game is at the top of this page. You do not need to download anything. Just wait for it to load.

  2. 2

    Find the goal

    Gomoku is about trying to play a strategic board game online. The score, board, timer, or message will show what is happening.

  3. 3

    Choose your controls

    On a computer, use the keyboard. On a phone or tablet, tap or swipe. If a controller is connected, try the d-pad or buttons.

  4. 4

    Play one round

    Make a move, see what happens, and keep going. You do not have to be perfect on the first try.

  5. 5

    Restart and improve

    When the game ends, press new game or restart. Try to beat your last score, time, or mistake count.

Try these challenges

Pick one small goal, play a round, then come back and try the next one.

First try

Play one full round of Gomoku. Do not worry about winning; just learn what each button or move does.

Beat yourself

Play again and try to beat your last score, time, streak, or mistake count by a little bit.

Focus mode

Turn on fullscreen and play one quiet round. Bigger play space makes it easier to stay with the game.

Teach someone

Explain the goal of Gomoku in one sentence. If you can teach it simply, you understand the game better.

Beginner tips

Read before acting

look for threats and opportunities together; a good move usually improves both attack and defense

Use fullscreen for focus

Fullscreen mode gives Gomoku more room on small screens and makes the game feel closer to a native app.

Practice one pattern

Choose one skill to improve each round: timing, accuracy, board planning, or mistake recovery. Focused practice beats random replaying.

Fun facts

Replay makes you sharper

Playing Gomoku again helps you remember what worked. That is why quick restart buttons are so useful.

Fast rounds help learning

Short Gomoku rounds are useful because you can test one idea, see the result, and try again right away.

Your brain spots patterns

Games like Gomoku help your brain notice patterns. After a few rounds, moves that felt confusing can start to feel natural.

Mistakes are clues

A mistake in Gomoku is not just a loss. It is a clue that shows what to watch for next time.

FAQ

What is Gomoku?+

Gomoku is a free online strategy & board game you can play directly in your browser on YaliKit. It is designed for quick sessions, visible controls, and instant replay without downloads or account setup.

How do I play Gomoku online?+

Start the game at the top of the page, read the current objective, then use keyboard, touch, or supported controller actions to play. The guide on this page explains the basic flow before you jump into a full round.

Does Gomoku work on mobile?+

Yes. Gomoku is built as a responsive browser game, so it works on modern phones and tablets. Use touch controls, rotate the screen if the game benefits from more width, and use fullscreen for a cleaner play area.

Can I play Gomoku without downloading anything?+

Yes. Gomoku runs in the browser with no app download required. Open the page, let the game load, and start playing immediately on desktop, mobile, or tablet.

What is the best beginner tip for Gomoku?+

The best beginner tip is to make one careful decision at a time. Watch the board or playfield, understand what changed after each action, and restart with a specific improvement instead of guessing faster.

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