Go-Moku [Gobang]  Traditionally played with Go pieces (black and white stones) on a go board (19×19 board).

 Believed to be  originated in China with the name Wu Zi Qi . In the nineteenth century, the game was introduced to Britain where it was known as Go Bang, said to be a corruption of the Japanese word goban  [adopted from Chinese k'i pan (qí bàn) "chess-board."]

Black plays first, and players alternate in placing a stone of their color on an empty intersection. The winner is the first player to get an unbroken row of five stones horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.

Renju  is the professional variant of Gomoku ..originating in Japan The game is played with black and white stones on a 15×15  board.. Renju has a unique sequence of opening moves called an “opening rule”…Thus elimnating the “Perfect Win”

An example of such opening rule (namely “RIF opening rule”) follows.

1. The first player places 2 black stones and 1 white stone on the board thus forming opening pattern.
2. The second player now chooses whether to play black or white.
3. White then places one more stone on the board.
4. Black places 2 stones on the board.
5. White removes one of the two black stones from the previous move.
6. White places a white stone.

After this sequence is complete, Black and White continue to take turns to place their stones

The Renju International Federation http://www.renju.net/

Pente   -     number five in Greek.[created by Gary Gabrel, 1977... 2-4 players ] based on the Japanese variant of renju or gomoku  that is played on a Go board of 19×19 intersections with white and black stones. In contrast to renju, ninuki-renju and Go-moku , Pente allow captures, and added a new opening rule .Capturing occurs if you place one of your stones on both sides of a pair of your opponents stones.

The players alternate in placing stones of their color on free intersections, with White always assuming the opening move. The players aim to align five stones of the same color suite in vertical, horizontal or diagonal lines.    A player cannot lead their own stones into capture by moving into a flank after the fact. A player wins by scoring 5 stones in a row, or capturing 5 pairs of opponent stones.

*Tournament Play : first player’s second move is restricted — it must be at least 3 intersections away from the center of the board. The tournament rule was created by Tom Braunlich

http://pente.org/

Parker Brothers 1939  for two,three,or four players.

“A  fascinating game of lively intrest, and is bound to amuse players of all ages”-

Winning combinations  are almost unlimited..

 To win you need only five pegs of one color  in an uninterrupted  row in any direction..