How to Win at Gomoku: Fours, Threes & Four-Three
The renju puzzles on this site are VCF (Victory by Continuous Fours): force the opponent with fours, then finish with a four-three or open four — a double threat they can’t stop. Knowing the basic threats (four, open three, four-three) first makes the puzzles click. New to renju? Begin with these diagrams.
Four stones in a row is a “four.” One more makes five (a win), so the opponent is forced to block the open end (right). A four is the strongest forcing move — it dictates the opponent’s reply.
Three in a row with both ends open is an “open three.” If ignored, it becomes an open four next move (a four open at both ends = unstoppable). So the opponent must block while it is still a three.
Playing one stone that makes both a four (horizontal) and an open three (vertical) is a “four-three.” The opponent must block the four, and meanwhile your vertical line becomes a four, then five. Two threats can’t both be stopped — you win. Chaining forcing fours until you reach a four-three (or an open four) is VCF (Victory by Continuous Fours) — exactly what these puzzles train.