Swap2: our primary Gomoku format
Play on a 15 × 15 board. Swap2 balances the opening by choosing colours after the first stones are placed.
- The opening player places three stones anywhere: Black, White, Black.
- The other player chooses Black or White, or places two more stones: White, then Black.
- If two stones were added, the opening player chooses their final colour.
- White moves next. Players then alternate on empty intersections.
- Exactly five stones horizontally, vertically or diagonally wins. Six or more does not win. There are no forbidden moves.
- A full board without a winning line is a draw.
Quick Search, friend challenges and Daily Arena use Swap2 by default. Freestyle and the other variants remain available.
Three beginner tips
For board examples and a practice routine, read our Gomoku strategy guide.
Look for an immediate win or block
Before building your own pattern, check whether either player can complete a line on the next move. Take a winning move when you have one; otherwise block an immediate threat.
Keep both ends open
A line of four with an empty intersection at each end gives you two possible winning moves. Your opponent normally has only one move to respond. Look for ways to build toward this shape.
Connect your threats
Stones near one another can support horizontal, vertical, and diagonal lines at the same time. Avoid scattering isolated stones, and check all directions after every move. Tactical puzzles are a useful way to practise recognising these patterns.
Six rulesets to explore
Swap2 comes first. Choose another ruleset when you want a different game:
- Swap2
- Our primary format: a balanced opening with colour choice, followed by exact-five play.
- Renju
- Black cannot make double-threes, double-fours, or a line of six or more. Black needs exactly five to win; White can win with five or more.
- Freestyle
- Alternate from the first move. Five or more in a row wins.
- Pente
- Capture an opponent’s pair by bracketing it. Win with five in a row or five captured pairs.
- Ninuki-renju
- A capture variant that combines line-building with extra tactical conditions. Read the in-game rules before your first match.
- Caro
- A five blocked at both ends does not win.
Play Gomoku online with friends
Open the free browser game and start as a guest or sign in. No app download is needed. Use Party Host to create a private room and share its code with a friend, or find an opponent through online matchmaking.
Gomoku Party supports play across web, iPhone, iPad, and the Android test version. Online matches need an internet connection. To play face to face, create local players and take turns on the same device.
For a competitive session, try ranked games with ELO ratings and leaderboards, or Daily Arena tournaments. For a shorter practice session, solve Survival or 5 Minute Rush puzzles, or challenge another player in Puzzle Battle.
Choose your screen
Download the free iPhone and iPad app, or play on the web. Android players can join Google Play testing; Android is a test version before public release. Features and appearance may vary by platform and store version.
The game includes English and Hungarian. For screenshots and an interactive preview, visit the Gomoku Party homepage. Need help with access or your account? Visit support.
Common questions
Is Gomoku the same as tic-tac-toe?
Both games use lines, but Gomoku has a larger board and a five-stone target. Tic-tac-toe typically uses a 3 × 3 board and three marks in a row.
Can I win with six stones in a row?
In Swap2, no: exactly five wins. Six or more is a legal move, but that line does not win. Freestyle accepts five or more.
Can I play without an online opponent?
Yes. Play a local two-player match on one device, or practise alone with tactical puzzles.