Gamehelpgomoku

Goal

Create an unbroken row of exactly five stones of your color horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.

Overlines (rows of 6 stones or more) do not count.

Variant

In Gomoku+ (also named Caro) in order to win your row of five stones must be free at both ends.

This balances the game differently and gives more defensive power to the white player.

Openings

Black always play first.

With the 'standard' (free) opening, black has got a distinct advantage over white who is directly put 'under attack'.

The 'tournament' opening aims to even the odds between the black and white players:

• black lays the first stone at the center of the board
• white lays the second stone in one of the spaces adjoining to the center of the board (horizontally, vertically or diagonally)
• black lays the third stone at least three spaces away from the center of the board.