Connect 6 - Two Stones, Six in a Row
How to play: Like Gomoku but with 6-in-a-row goal AND each turn places 2 stones (except Black's very first turn = 1 stone). Black places 1 stone, then White places 2, then Black places 2, etc. First to line up 6 of their own stones in any direction wins. The 2-stones-per-turn rule balances the first-move advantage.
About Connect 6
Connect 6 is a modern Gomoku evolution invented by Professor I-Chen Wu of National Chiao Tung University in Taiwan in 2003. It addresses the well-known first-mover advantage of Gomoku with one elegant rule change: each turn places TWO stones instead of one (Black places only 1 stone on their very first turn to balance). The result is a beautifully balanced game where neither player has a forced win, even with perfect play.
Our online version uses a 15×15 board with three AI levels and 2-player local mode. The 6-in-a-row goal makes long line threats more dramatic than Gomoku.
How to Play Connect 6
- Black places exactly 1 stone on the first turn (the balancing move).
- From then on, each player places 2 stones per turn, alternating.
- Stones can go on any empty intersection.
- Win: First player to line up 6 (or more) of their own stones in a row — horizontal, vertical, or diagonal.
- If a player makes 6-in-a-row on the FIRST of their two stones, they win immediately (no need to place the second).
Strategy Tips
- Two stones means double threats are easy. Place stones that create two open-ended 4-in-a-rows in different directions — opponent can only block one.
- Block AND attack with each stone. Use one of your two stones defensively, the other to extend your own line.
- Open 5-in-a-row is winning. An open-ended 5 means 6 next turn from either side; opponent can only block one end.
- Don’t waste both stones on one purpose. Two stones in the same line wastes a stone unless they create a critical threat.
- Center bias. Black’s first stone often goes center; respond near it but a knight’s-move-ish away.
A Brief History
Professor I-Chen Wu invented Connect 6 in 2003 specifically to fix the imbalance issue of Gomoku, where Black’s first-move advantage forces tournament rules (Renju, opening restrictions). Wu mathematically proved Connect 6 is more balanced. The game is now played in international tournaments, especially in Taiwan, China, and Korea. AlphaZero-style neural networks have been trained on Connect 6 with strong results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Black place only 1 stone first?
To balance the first-move advantage. If Black got 2 stones on turn 1, they’d have a huge tempo edge. Just 1 stone means White’s first 2-stone turn is essentially the equalizer.
Can my two stones be anywhere on the board?
Yes — they don’t need to connect or be related. You can place them anywhere on the board to build threats or block.
What if I make 6-in-a-row with my first stone?
You win immediately. You don’t need to place the second stone.
Is Connect 6 solved?
Not in the strict sense — the search space is too large. Computer analysis suggests it’s drawn or slightly favors Black with perfect play, but no exact solution exists.
How is this different from Gomoku?
Two main differences: (1) Goal is 6 in a row instead of 5. (2) Two stones per turn (after Black’s opening 1). The 2-stone rule completely changes opening theory.
How does the AI work?
It scores each candidate position by line potential (longer runs of same color worth more) for both attack and defense. The 2-stones-per-turn flow doesn’t change the per-stone evaluation — we pick stones one at a time.
How long does a game take?
10–20 minutes. Connect 6 games tend to be longer than Gomoku because the 6-stone goal demands more tempo.
Can I play on mobile?
Yes. The board scales to your screen.