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Freestyle, standard Gomoku, Renju and Caro look alike at first. Overlines, forbidden moves and blocked fives make them play differently.

The first world title was awarded in Kyoto in 1989. Then the event vanished for eighteen years before balanced openings brought it back.

Gomoku's first-player advantage did not disappear. Swap2 made the opening player's job much more uncomfortable, which is exactly the point.

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.