Controls

You play by placing stones. Tap an empty intersection on the board to place your stone there. Players alternate, one stone per turn, and stones never move once placed.

The whole game is about building and blocking lines:

• Placing stones adds one of your color to an empty point each turn. Since stones stay put, the board only fills up, so every placement is permanent and matters.
• A winning line is five of your stones in an unbroken row, column, or diagonal. Getting there first, while stopping your opponent from doing the same, is the entire contest.

An open-ended four, a line of four with space on both ends, is an unstoppable threat, since your opponent can only block one side.

The game ends when someone makes five in a row. Against the computer, the difficulty rises across eight levels.

Tips

• Build open-ended lines of three. A row of three with empty space on both ends threatens to become four, forcing your opponent to respond, which lets you keep the initiative and dictate the game.
• Create a double threat. The strongest winning move sets up two separate lines that could each become five, since your opponent can only block one, guaranteeing you complete the other.
• Watch your opponent's lines as closely as your own. Every stone attacks and defends, so a move that builds your line while blocking theirs is worth two, and missing their threat can cost you the game instantly.
• Don't just react. Blocking every one of your opponent's stones without building your own leaves you always on defense, so look for moves that threaten while they defend.
• Control the center early. Stones in the middle of the board have room to form lines in every direction, so starting near the center gives you far more attacking options than the edges.
• Block a four immediately. If your opponent gets four in a row with an open end, you must block that turn, because ignoring it hands them the fifth stone and the win.

Frequently asked questions