How to play Five in a Row

What you need

• A pencil or pen
• Squared paper, or a sheet and a ruler
• Two players

How to set up

Draw a grid of 13 by 13 or 15 by 15 squares. One player is X, the other O. X goes first.

1. 1. Draw a big square. Squared paper makes this easy.

2. 2. Rule lines across and down to divide it into 13 by 13 small squares (15 by 15 for a longer game).

3. 3. Take turns writing X and O in the squares. Five in a row wins.

How to play

• On your turn, write your mark in any empty square.
• Lines can run across, down or corner to corner.
• A line of six or more counts as five.

How to win

Be the first to make an unbroken line of five of your marks. The first line of five wins. If the grid fills up with no line, it is a draw.

Tip Block any three of your rival's that has both ends open before it becomes a four.

Variants

13 × 13

A roomy board that suits a phone. Five or more in a row wins.

15 × 15

The traditional big board. Five or more in a row wins.