Gomoku

Five in a Row is a classic strategy game which is known in many countries around the world.

In Europe, played five in a row mostly with pencil and paper. In China it is as五子棋(Pinyin: wǔzǐqí ) known and with Go- stones on a board with 15 × 15 - played or 19 × 19 fields - 17 × 17. In Korea, the game is called Omok ( 오목 ) in Japan Gomoku (五目並べGomoku Narabe: Five points lined up together).

Game rules

The game is played on checkered paper or with Go stones on a Go board. Both players alternately mark a check with their characters (usually with crosses and circles × O). The winner is who can arrange the first five of his characters in an unbroken series. The rows may run horizontally, vertically or diagonally.

22-39 trains in the first variant

22-37 trains in the second variant

Strategy

It is proved that for five in a row, the player who is beginning can certainly win if he makes a mistake (L. Victor Allis showed this for the 15 × 15 board). Different game modes to try this advantage to compensate.

Gomoku today

Although the game Renju variant was invented in order to create equal opportunities for the players, there are now significantly more than Renju Gomoku players players worldwide. From experienced players will play five in a row, however, also outside Japan often with the opening of rules of Renju. There are public tournaments such as at the Czech Open.

Game variations

• Renju has a special kind of slot opening and forbids the beginning player a number of profitable forms.
• When Gobang two stones can be beaten in a series by pinching. This version of Gobang is sold in the U.S. and Germany under the name Pente.
• Ninuki Renju united rules of Renju and Gobang.
• You can play five in a row on a hexagonal grid.
• Tic Tac Toe and Connect Four are simplified variants of five in a row.
• In Connect6 six stones must be arranged in a continuous row. Each player places two stones per train.
• The game Yinsh from Gipf project builds on the rules of five into a series.
• Pentago is a modern variant of five in a series in which the board is divided into four rotating areas.
• Since the beginning of the 21st century, some more abstract strategy games were invented, in which several stones must be arranged in a row. Among other Yavalath. However, the means to make these games strategies and tactics often differ greatly from those of five in a row.