Fivelock

Race to five in a row — but flank an enemy pair and you snatch it, banking captured stones as indestructible anchors that change the whole board.

How to play

Players take turns placing stones on the intersections of the board; Black moves first. You win the instant you make five of your stones in an unbroken row, column, or diagonal — or by capturing five enemy pairs.

Capturing is custodial: when your two stones bracket exactly two of the opponent's stones in a line (you–enemy–enemy–you), that pair is captured and removed. Each captured stone banks to your hand as anchor ammo, which you can spend to drop an indestructible anchor stone that can never be captured.

• Place a stone on any empty intersection; Black plays first.
• Flank exactly two enemy stones in a line to capture the pair — three or one in a row are not captured.
• Captured stones bank to your hand; spend one to drop an anchor that's immune to capture.
• Win with five in a row, or by capturing five enemy pairs.

Controls

• Desktop: click an intersection to place a stone; toggle the '⚓ Drop anchor' button first to spend a banked stone on an anchor placement.
• Phone & tablet: tap an intersection to place, and tap the anchor button to arm an anchor drop — fully touch-driven, no keyboard needed.

Game modes

• Vs Computer — choose Easy, Medium, or Hard, and pick whether you play Black or White.
• 2-Player — pass-and-play on one device.
• Online — create an invite, join with a code, or quick-match a live opponent.

Tips & strategy

• Don't leave a lone pair exposed — two of your stones bracketed by the enemy is a free capture for them.
• Bait captures: dangle a vulnerable pair to lure an opponent into a spot that hands you the initiative.
• Anchors are permanent — drop one to cement a five-in-a-row threat the enemy can't flank apart.
• Watch both win conditions at once; a player chasing a row can still lose to a fifth captured pair.

About Fivelock

Fivelock blends the five-in-a-row connection genre with custodial pair captures and an original anchor-banking twist, so the board is won by lines and by tactics. This is an original, free browser version with computer, two-player, and online play, ready instantly with no download or sign-up.

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