vertical, horizontal and diagonal arrays

using an array, how can i check if there is a certain number of 'chips' in a row, horizontal or diagonal. i know that there are a bunch a for loops. its cause this is bearly my first programming class and we just went over this like 4 days ago and he just went over regular arrays like a[5] and like 1/2 a class on a[5][5] so im totally lost. it will be totally appreciated. PLEASE help me. i cant get it to work.

for example:

a[5][5];

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
(o) (o) (o) (o) ( )
this is a winner

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
(o) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
(o) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
(o) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
(o) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
this is a winner

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
( ) ( ) ( ) (o) ( )
( ) ( ) (o) ( ) ( )
( ) (o) ( ) ( ) ( )
(o) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
this is a winner

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
( ) (o) ( ) ( ) ( )
( ) ( ) (o) ( ) ( )
( ) ( ) ( ) (o) ( )
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) (o)
this is a winner

It's basic math. If you are at XY coordinate, to check to the left, it's X-1, to the right, it's X+1, above, Y-1, below, Y+1, diagonal is just a combination of those moves.

Quzah.