Neojul Gonu

Rules (as written in the source)

• On a board of four lines across and four lines down, each side sets out four pieces in a straight line.
• Players advance one point at a time.
• When two of your pieces and one opponent's piece come to stand in a row on a straight line, you capture the opponent's piece.
• The side that removes more of the opponent's pieces wins.

The source is the entry "Gonu" in the Encyclopedia of Korean Culture. Two things the source does not say are our reading: a capture is checked only right after your own move, and when the opponent has one piece left a flank can no longer form, so that moment counts as the win.

Encyclopedia of Korean Culture, entry "Gonu" (Korean)

Notes from playing (our reading, not the source)

The notes below follow from the rules and are our own summary. They are not in the source text.

• Memorize the capturing shape. You capture when two of yours and one of theirs stand in a row on one line. So keep two of your pieces together and the opponent cannot enter that line.
• Do not advance alone. A piece that runs ahead without a partner is easily caught by the opponent's pair. Push forward in pairs.
• Keep your back to the edge. At the edge of the board there are fewer points where the opponent can line up against you.
• The fewer the pieces, the more urgent it gets. The side that removes more wins, so when you lose one, look first for the point that wins one back on your next move.

How it differs from the other gonu games

Neojul Gonu has no placing phase. Four pieces stand in a row from the start and push forward at once, so the capturing fight begins with the first move.

Cham Gonu starts with a phase of placing twelve pieces, so it is a game of drawing your position first, and Jadongcha Gonu captures only around a corner wheel, so its attacking points are fixed. Hobak Gonu traps instead of capturing.

The capturing shape is simple, so you can play after hearing the rules once. After Umul Gonu, it is the easiest to learn.