Gomoku vs Connect 4: Rules, Win Conditions, and Strategy Compared
Gomoku and Connect 4 are the two games new players confuse most. Both involve lining up pieces, but the rules differ on board size, gravity, win length, and strategy. Side by side here, plus a link to try Gomoku now.
Gomoku and Connect 4 are the two games new players mix up most often. Both reward lining up pieces, but the rules differ on board size, gravity, win length, and strategy. Here is the cleanest side-by-side, plus a fast path to play Gomoku right now.
The five core differences
Gomoku plays on a 15 by 15 board with no gravity: any empty intersection is legal. First to align five stones in a row, column, or diagonal wins. Connect 4 plays on a 7 by 6 vertical board with gravity: pieces fall to the lowest empty cell in the chosen column. First to align four pieces wins. The gravity rule shrinks the branching factor so dramatically that Connect 4 was solved by computer scientists in 1988, while Gomoku (without forbidden-move rules) remains open.
- Gomoku: 15 by 15, five in a row, no gravity
- Connect 4: 7 by 6 vertical, four in a row, with gravity
- Gomoku AI: alpha-beta with transposition tables, very strong
- Connect 4 AI: solved since 1988 (first player wins with perfect play)
Rule detail
Gomoku: black moves first, then white. Each turn a player places one stone on any empty intersection. First to align five in any row, column, or diagonal wins (assuming no Renju forbidden moves). Connect 4: red (or black, by manufacturer) moves first, the other color follows. Each turn a player drops a piece into one of the seven columns; the piece falls to the lowest empty row. First to align four in any row, column, or diagonal wins.
Strategy difference: open vs gravity
Gomoku has 225 open intersections per turn and a branching factor that makes full search intractable. Strategy lives in shapes (open three, open four, blocked four). Connect 4 collapses the branching factor because of gravity, which is why it was solved decades ago. If you want open-ended play with deep strategy, Gomoku is the better choice. If you want short, sharp decision-making, Connect 4 is satisfying too.
Which one to start with
Gomoku rules take 30 seconds to learn, no installation needed, and YiBoard lets you play in your browser immediately. Connect 4 is most familiar as a Hasbro tabletop product. Both are beginner-friendly. Gomoku is the right pick if you want a long-running skill curve and online opponents. Connect 4 is the right pick if you want a five-minute decision puzzle.
FAQ
Is Gomoku harder than Connect 4?
Yes. Gomoku has 225 open intersections per turn and unsolved endgame; Connect 4 was solved by Allis in 1988 with first-player-win proof.
Is Connect 4 a kind of Gomoku?
No. Connect 4 wins on four in a row. Gomoku wins on five in a row. The win condition is the defining difference.
Which is better for a beginner?
Both have trivial rules. Pick Gomoku if you want online play and a long skill curve. Pick Connect 4 if you want short matches and an AI you can fully solve.