# Connect-5 ๐ฎ
**Premium Real-Time Multiplayer Gomoku Game**
[](https://connect5.beyondcloud.technology/)
A beautiful, feature-rich implementation of the classic Connect-5 (Gomoku) game with real-time multiplayer support, built with modern web technologies.
[](https://nodejs.org/)
[](https://socket.io/)
[](https://postgresql.org/)
[Features](#-features) โข [Visual Tour](#-visual-tour) โข [How to Play](#-how-to-play) โข [Deployment](#-deployment)
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## โจ Features
### ๐ Visual Excellence (New!)
- **Flash Last Move**: The most recent move pulses with a **neon glow** (2x brightness) for 2 seconds, making game flow instantly readable.
- **Winning Highlight**: The 5 winning pieces are permanently highlighted with a victory animation.
- **Customizable Visibility**: New **Grid & Dot Sliders** allow you to adjust board contrast in real-time.
- **Graphing Paper Aesthetic**: Dark-themed, precision-grid design with glassmorphism UI elements.
### ๐ Multiplayer Experience
- **Real-Time Lobby**: See online players, challenge them instantly, and track their stats (Wins/Losses).
- **Live Presence**: Notifications for challenges, accepts, and declines.
- **Persistent Identity**: Username and stats are saved automatically.
- **Reconnection Support**: Resume your game even if you accidentally refresh or lose internet briefly.
### ๐ฎ Gameplay Depth
- **Multiple Board Sizes**: Choose from tight 15ร15 tactical matches to epic 50ร50 wars.
- **Smart Controls**:
- **Surrender**: Gracefully bow out of a lost position.
- **Rematch**: Challenge the same opponent again instantly.
- **Win Detection**: Full 8-direction detection algorithm with server-side validation.
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## ๐ธ Visual Tour
### Multiplayer Lobby
*Challenge players worldwide in real-time*
### Intense Local Play
*Smooth, responsive gameplay with new "Last Move Zoom"*
### Variable Board Sizes
*From standard 15x15 to massive 50x50 grids*
### Victory Celebration
*Clear winner announcement with move highlighting*
### Fair Play Features
*Surrender options and robust game state management*
---
## ๐ฎ How to Play
### Local Mode (Same Device)
1. Select **"๐ฎ Local Play"**.
2. Choose board size (Standard 15x15 recommended).
3. Take turns placing X and O.
4. First to get **5 in a row** (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal) wins!
### Multiplayer Mode (Online)
1. Click **"๐ Multiplayer"**.
2. Enter a username.
3. **Lobby**: Click "Challenge" next to any online player.
4. **Accept**: When challenged, a notification appearsโclick Accept to start.
5. **Play**: Moves are synced instantly (<50ms).
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## ๐ Deployment
The production environment runs on **Proxmox (TurnKey Node.js)** with a fully automated CI/CD pipeline.
### Production URL
**[https://connect5.beyondcloud.technology/](https://connect5.beyondcloud.technology/)**
### Automated Updates
The server checks GitHub every **5 minutes**.
- **Push code**: `git push origin main`
- **Wait 5 mins**: Server pulls, installs dependencies, and restarts automatically.
### Manual Deployment
```bash
# Force immediate update from Windows
.\deploy-remote.ps1
```
See [PROXMOX_DEPLOY_TEMPLATE.md](PROXMOX_DEPLOY_TEMPLATE.md) for full server setup details.
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## ๐ ๏ธ Tech Stack
- **Frontend**: Vanilla JS (ES6+), CSS3 Variables, Socket.io Client.
- **Backend**: Node.js, Express, Socket.io.
- **Database**: PostgreSQL (Stores games, moves, players).
- **Infrastructure**: Proxmox LXC, Cloudflare Tunnel, Nginx.
---