Overview

Omok

오목

Place stones and be the first to make five in a row—before your opponent does.

Rules are simple, but every move creates threats—anticipation and defense decide the game.

Players: 1-2P Session length: 3-12 min

Abstract StrategyBoard GameClassic

Goal & Core Rules

Create an unbroken line of five stones horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.

Players alternate placing stones on empty intersections of the grid.
Black typically moves first.
First to make five in a row wins (some rule sets restrict overlines or certain opening patterns).

Controls

Mouse

Click: place a stone
(if supported) Right click/button: undo
(if supported) Buttons: new game / difficulty

Keyboard

Arrow keys: move cursor (if supported)
Space/Enter: place (if supported)
U: undo (if supported)

Touch

Tap: place a stone
(if supported) Buttons: undo / new game
(if supported) Two-finger tap: menu

Beginner Tips

Play near the center early—it maximizes your future line options.
Defend urgent threats first: open-ended fours usually require immediate response.
Build “two-way threats” where one move can create multiple winning lines later.

Advanced Tips

Think in threat chains: create forcing moves that restrict opponent replies.
Learn common opening patterns (and restrictions, if your ruleset uses them).
Count liberties: prefer shapes that stay flexible and avoid self-blocking.

Origins & History

Omok is the Korean name for gomoku (“five in a row”), a game whose records trace back to Japan’s Edo period. Wikipedia notes published books on gomoku by the late Edo period and verifies an 1856 book (Gomoku Jōseki Collection); it also explains that the game is called omok (오목, 五目) in Korea and describes omok as a gomoku variant played on 19×19 with the double-three rule.

Timeline

1856 An early verifiable gomoku book, the Gomoku Jōseki Collection, was published.

Sources

Gomoku — Wikipedia (Origin & Omok variant)

FAQ

Is the first player advantage real?

Yes—unrestricted gomoku heavily favors the first player, so many variants add balancing rules.

What’s the difference between gomoku and omok?

Omok is the Korean name and also a specific variant often played on 19×19 with restrictions like the double-three rule.

What should I learn first?

Recognizing open threes/fours and the immediate defenses they require.