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Pente hero image

Play Pente OnlineConnect. Capture. Win!

About Pente

Pente is a tactical alignment game where you can win in two different ways: make five in a row or capture five pairs of your opponent's stones (ten stones total).

The capture rule creates constant tension. Even a strong-looking line can collapse if you leave a capturable pair, so every attack must be built with defense in mind.

Play Pente vs AI

Play Pente online against the computer to practice balancing alignment threats with capture threats.

Look for moves that force your opponent to defend a five-in-a-row while also exposing a capture, and avoid placing adjacent stones that can be taken in one move.

Play Pente vs AI
Pente rules illustration

How to play Pente

Players take turns placing stones. You win by creating five in a row, or by capturing five pairs of enemy stones.

A capture happens when you sandwich exactly two enemy stones between two of your stones in a straight line. The captured stones are removed immediately.

Improve by learning strategy

In Pente, threats interact. A line of four can be useless if it contains a capturable pair, and a capture threat can be as strong as an open four.

Try to build split formations that create multiple winning threats, and keep track of capture counts so you know when a single tactic ends the game.

Pente strategy diagram

Frequently Asked Questions

Both games share the five-in-a-row victory condition, but Pente adds capture mechanics. In Pente, you can remove opponent stones by sandwiching exactly two of them between your stones, and capturing five pairs (ten stones) is an alternative win condition. This creates more tactical complexity.

Learn, Play, and Have Fun!

Ready to play Pente online? Start a match against the computer now. No signup, no friction.