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Blocking the nearest stone is often legal and often wrong. Better defense removes future branches and creates a counterthreat.

Stop counting only the longest line. Open ends, gaps and the number of winning points tell you which shape matters now.

The game has an ancient reputation, but its documented story begins much later. Here is what we can say without turning legend into fact.

Gomoku, Five in a Row, wuziqi, omok and gobang all point toward the same line-making game, though local rules can differ.

Learn the board, turn order, winning condition, and first habits that make Five in a Row easier to understand.