For players who have just started playing Cyber Gomoku, we will explain the basic strategies to increase your winning rate. We will explain how to specifically use the three abilities (stealth, bomb, and radar). Master the unique strategies of Cyber Gomoku, which cannot be won with normal Gomoku theory alone. The exact rules and ability specifications are Rules/ability list It will be easier to understand if you check it first.
1. Early strategy (deployment of stones)
As with normal Gomoku, the basic idea is to control the center of the board in the early stages. On a 15 x 15 board, stones hit at the edge are limited in the directions in which they can be stretched. The stone in the center is active in all four directions: vertically, horizontally, and diagonally. However, due to the presence of items in Cyber Gomoku, you should also be aware of the following points.
- Avoid crowding too much: Placing the stones too far apart will make it difficult to aim, and conversely, placing the stones too tightly in one place increases the risk of them being blown away by your opponent's bomb (which eliminates 3x3 squares). Aim for a shape that allows you to make multiple ``three'' (one step short of reach) while maintaining an appropriate distance.
- Predict your opponent's items: You cannot see which abilities your opponent has selected. Get in the habit of guessing your opponent's choices based on how they attack in the early stages, such as using stealth if you want to hit an unnaturally far away area, bombs if you want to leave a crowded area, and radar if you want to be defensive.
Change your way of thinking between first and second moves
The first move (CYAN) has 33, 44, and long consecutive prohibited moves (for details rules page). Since there are restrictions on the form of consecutive attacks on the first move, the basic way to win is to aim for ``4-3'' (creating 4 and active 3 at the same time). There are no forbidden moves in the second move (MAGENTA), so compound attacks like Sanzo are also an option. When you are the first player, it is important not to limit your attack line to one line too much so that your attack is not stopped by a forbidden move.
2. The importance of midfield offense and defense and “bluffing”
From the middle of the game onwards, when the number of stones on the board increases, the key to success is how you exploit your opponent's gaps. The most important thing in Cyber Gomoku is "bluffing".
For example, if you have stealth, you can intentionally hit a regular rock in a seemingly pointless location to draw the opponent's attention to it. Then, the moment your opponent neglects their defense, an effective strategy is to place Stealth Stones at the real target location to complete a four-way chain (reach) at once.
On the other hand, if your opponent takes unnatural pauses or suddenly becomes aggressive, be wary as there is a high possibility that stealth has already been deployed. The first step to becoming an intermediate player is to always be aware of the difference between "what your opponent sees on your board" and "what you see on the board".
3. Specific usage and techniques for each ability
① The secret of stealth (invisible stone)
Stealth is most effective when used just before the decisive blow (finish) to take advantage of the greatest strength of being invisible to the opponent.
- Quadruple stealth: When three of your stones are lined up on the board, place the fourth stone as stealth. Since the opponent sees it as just a "three", it is difficult to defend, and you can place the fifth on the next turn and grab victory.
- Divided stealth: When your opponent is making three and attacking, place stealth between the opponent's stones and divide them. The opponent thinks they have an advantage and continues to attack, but the moment they try to make a four, their move becomes ``seen'' and their attack collapses.
- Attention: If your opponent hits the same square as the stealth, the stealth will disappear and the opponent's stone will be placed. Avoid placing it in the square that your opponent wants to hit next (such as on the opponent's attack line), as it is easy to see through.
② The secret of bombing (destroying the board)
The bomb is a "reset button" that can dramatically turn the tide. The main purpose is to use it defensively to overturn your disadvantage.
- Set up your opponent's offensive line: If you place it in advance on the line where your opponent is aiming for a four-string, the 3x3 square of stones will disappear the moment your opponent steps on it, allowing you to break the string that is almost completed.
- Break down your walls: In situations where your own stones are in the way and you can't make a five-series, you can use it offensively to create a space by blowing up unnecessary stones on your own side and forcibly open the way to a five-series.
- Attention: It takes one move to set it up, and the explosion also engulfs your own stone. Before using it, think about whether it would be beneficial to use the combination of ``1 move used for setting'' and ``stone lost in explosion.''
③ The secret of radar (enemy search)
Radar is the best counter to your opponent's stealth tactics. If you know where to use it, you can fundamentally undermine your opponent's strategy.
- Scan unnatural spaces: If your opponent is lining up stones with only one spot open for some reason, or if there is a spot that should be advantageous but won't attack, there is a high possibility that stealth is hidden there. Let's shoot a 5x5 scan into that "suspicious space". Any stealth or bombs discovered will be revealed to both parties.
- Psychological restraint: The very existence of the radar puts pressure on the opponent. Just by making your opponent think that if you use stealth poorly, they will find out, you can narrow down their options.
- Attention: If your opponent uses a normal fighting style and conserves items, the scan will be a miss. Check to see if your opponent has any hints of something hidden in their strokes before using them.
4. Practice method using CPU battles
Before jumping into online battles, we recommend trying out how to fight against the CPU. There are 3 levels of CPU difficulty: EASY, NORMAL, and HARD.
- EASY： For checking operations and rules. Let's try out the behavior of the item (detection, detonation, scanning).
- NORMAL： It is suitable for checking whether you have mastered the basics of Gomoku (stopping step 3, not missing step 4).
- HARD： He will be wary of your stealth and will use radar, making him a good partner to practice reading with. Perfect for testing your skills before playing online.
There are also missions in the game such as ``Win by stealth'' and ``Win by using bombs''. By taking on missions with items you don't normally use, you'll naturally learn how to use all three abilities.
5. How to think for improvement
Victory or defeat in Cyber Gomoku is determined by multiplying Gomoku's basic power and item application power. When looking back on why you lost, consider separately whether (1) it was a basic mistake of missing the opponent's 3 or 4, or (2) whether it was a misreading of the item. It becomes clear what you should practice next. How rank points work and how to get promoted Explanation of the rank system It is summarized in
First, try the techniques in this article one by one against the CPU.