Versus AI
The default mode where you play black and the computer responds as white.
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Overview 
Omok
1-2 players · 3-12 min per session
Create an unbroken line of five stones horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.
Board GameStrategyTwo Player
Goal & Core Rules
Create an unbroken line of five stones horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.
- Players alternate placing stones on empty intersections of a 15×15 board.
- Black typically moves first.
- This implementation applies the black double-three restriction and the first line of five wins.
Two Players
A local pass-and-play mode where black and white take turns on the same device.
Computer vs Computer
Both sides are played automatically so you can watch the opening and threat flow.
Controls
Mouse
- Click: place a stone
- Top menu: new game / mode change / help
Keyboard
- No keyboard-only controls are currently implemented.
Touch
- Tap: place a stone
- Touch and slide slightly: preview the nearest intersection
- Release: place the stone on the previewed point
- Top menu: new game / mode change / help
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.
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.