Gomoku rules: Freestyle and Exact Five

Version 1.0 · Updated 31 July 2026. Fivefold Gomoku uses a 15×15 intersection board. Black moves first; players alternate one stone on an empty intersection. Stones do not move after placement.

Freestyle

A continuous horizontal, vertical, or diagonal line of five or more stones wins. A six-stone overline therefore wins.

Exact Five

Only a line of exactly five wins in that direction. An overline of six or more does not win there, although the same move can still create an exact five in another direction.

Exact Five is not Renju

Fivefold Gomoku has no forbidden opening, double-three, double-four, or overline move. An overline simply does not satisfy the Exact Five winning condition.

Draw and legality

A move must target an empty intersection. If all 225 points fill without a valid line, the game is a draw.