Gomoku - A Modern Five in a Row Game

Experience the classic game of Gomoku (Five in a Row) in a modern and responsive web application built with vanilla JavaScript and Vite. This game allows players to compete against a sophisticated AI opponent and features a clean, intuitive interface that's easy to navigate. It is fully deployed and accessible via Cloudflare Pages.

Key Features

Game Mechanics

• Traditional 15x15 board: Standard Gomoku dimensions.
• Human vs Computer: Challenge a smart AI opponent with advanced algorithms.
• Player Choice: Users select their side, playing as either Black (first) or White (second).
• Automatic Win Detection: The game detects winning sequences, whether horizontal, vertical, or diagonal.
• Draw Detection: Identifies when the board is full without a winner.

Player Controls

• Color Selector: Choose the playing color before starting.
• AI Difficulty Selector: Options to play against Easy, Medium, or Hard AI difficulties.
• Game Status Display: Provides updates on whose turn it is and the game's outcome.
• New Game Functionality: Reset the board with a single click at any time.

Custom Board Setup

• Setup Board Functionality: Enter editing mode to design unique game scenarios.
• Interactive Editing: Click to cycle through different stone configurations on the board.
• Computer Color and Move Selection: Specify the AI color and order of moves during setup.
• Cancel Setup: Easily exit setup mode and return to the standard game view.

Advanced Computer AI

The AI system showcases an advanced game engine employing multiple algorithms and optimizations, ensuring a challenging and engaging experience.

Core Algorithms

• Pattern-Based Evaluation: A multi-layered analysis system that identifies threats, open patterns, and evaluates strategic positions.
• Alpha-Beta Pruning: Utilizes the minimax algorithm for efficient game tree searches, allowing deep foresight in planning.
• Bitboard Representation: Employs efficient storage and fast operations for rapid position checking.

Difficulty Levels

• Easy: Quick tactical evaluations with basic pattern matching.
• Medium: A deeper strategy involving 6-ply lookahead, blending tactical and strategic evaluations.
• Hard: A comprehensive analysis impacting move decisions with an 8-ply lookahead for an intense challenge.

Move Prioritization System

The AI employs a strict hierarchy to dictate move strategy, focusing on:

1. Winning Moves
2. Defensive Blocking
3. Tactical Moves
4. Positional Play

This ensures that the AI effectively manages both offense and defense during gameplay.

Optimized Performance

The game delivers smooth performance by utilizing web workers for non-blocking calculations and effective memory management strategies to ensure rapid response times without interruptions during play.

Join the interactive world of Gomoku and challenge the AI at various levels while enjoying a seamless gaming experience.