Tips gomoku

To swap or not: if you have the choice, then take black unless the black pieces are more than 7 spaces apart or they are closer than 3 spaces to the edge

Playing pieces

1. if you have the choice, then be black to go first; it's a big advantage
2. finish a 5-in-a-row (search exhaustively)
3. (optional) implicitly concede gracefully by playing away if your opponent has
   1. an open-at-the-ends 4-in-a-row
   2. two 4-in-a-rows
4. block a 4-in-a-row (usually just formed)
5. make an open 4-in-a-row or two 4-in-a-rows
6. if you have a forced win, pursue it, e.g. make a 4-in-a-row that leads to your forced win, etc.
7. block an open 3-in-a-row (both "xxx" *and* "xx x") (usually just formed)
   1. with strong offense: (rare) block forming a pair of open 3-in-a-rows (don't miss the more subtle "xx x" configurations)
   2. assess your opponent's next possible move (two with "xxx" or three with "xx x")
      1. block where your opponent's move would give them a forced win
      2. assess overall game situation
         1. if they are strong in this part of the board then block where your opponent's move would give them a significant advantage
         2. if you are strong in this part of the board then block where placed stone "sees" other of your stones
8. combine offense and defense: play where you get both open 2-in-a-row(s) and block open 2-in-a-row(s)
9. work to overwhelm your opponent in some part of the board
   1. look for a forced win; be sure it is real; once you're sure then pull the trigger
   2. delay playing non-open 4-in-a-rows until you have a forced win
   3. delay playing 3-in-a-rows in favor of a forced win
   4. if you can't find a forced win then maybe an open 3-in-a-row can help build command in an area
10. avoid letting your opponent have too many stones in one area
11. divide your opponent's pieces
12. place a stone exactly 5 spaces away from another your stones; your opponent will waste stones in between them
13. consider playing the long pro, swp or swp2 variants for better balance