Renju or Lianzhu is the professional variant of
Gomoku, a board game originated from China. It is played with black and white
stones on a 15x15 intersection Go board. Renju eliminates the "Perfect
Win"-situation in Gomoku by adding special conditions for the first player
(Black).
Rules and Opening Sequence
Black can win the game only by placing five black stones in a row (vertically,
horizontally or diagonally).
White can win by either:
-
 Getting
five (or more) white stones in a row.
- Forcing Black to make a forbidden move (see below).
The opening sequence differs from ordinary Gomoku:
- The first player places 2 black stones and 1 white stone on the board.
- The second player now chooses whether to play black or white.
- White then places one more stone on the board.
- Black places 2 stones on the board.
- White removes one of the two black stones from the previous move.
- White places a white stone.
After this sequence is complete, Black and White continue to take turns to
place their stones.
There are certain moves that Black is not allowed to make:
- Double three - Black cannot place a stone that builds two separate lines
with three black stones in unbroken rows (i.e. rows not blocked by white
stones).
- Double four - Black cannot place a stone that builds two separate lines
with four black stones in a row.
- Overline - six or more black stones in a row.
World Championships
World Championships in Renju have occurred every second year, since 1989.
Previous World Championships have taken place in the following places:
- 1989: Kyoto, Japan.
- 1991: Moscow, USSR.
- 1993: Arjeplog, Sweden.
- 1995: Tallinn, Estonia.
- 1997: Saint Petersburg, Russia.
- 1999: Beijing, China.
- 2001: Kyoto, Japan.
- 2003: Vadstena, Sweden.
- 2005: Tallinn, Estonia.
- 2007: Tyumen, Russia.
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