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An ancient Chinese territory control strategy board game
Strategy4.7
Connect Four
Take turns dropping discs into the grid. Four in a row across, down, or diagonally wins.
Connect Four
Drop discs into columns and get four in a row. Block your opponent's threes before they connect.
Space or Enter to start
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Game Guide
Connect Four Guide, Rules, and Tips
Connect Four is the classic vertical strategy game. Players take turns dropping discs into a seven-column, six-row grid, and each disc falls to the lowest free space. Line up four of your discs in a row horizontally, vertically, or diagonally to win. Play a friend on the same screen or face a CPU that searches several moves ahead.
How to Play
- Player 1 (blue) moves first; players then alternate, dropping one disc per turn.
- A disc falls to the lowest empty slot in the column you choose. Full columns can't be played.
- Four of your discs in a straight line, horizontal, vertical or diagonal, wins the game.
- If the grid fills up with no four in a row, the game is a draw.
Strategy and Tips
- Take the centre column early. More winning lines pass through the middle than any other column.
- Always check whether your opponent has three in a row with an open end, and block it before anything else.
- Set up two threats at once: your opponent can only block one of them.
- Think about which empty squares each player needs. Don't fill the space directly under a square your opponent needs to win.
Controls
KeyboardMouseTouch
Click or tap a column to drop your disc there. On a keyboard, move the preview disc with the left and right arrows (or A and D) and drop it with the down arrow, Space, or Enter.
Background
Connect Four was published by Milton Bradley in 1974, though four-in-a-row games are much older. In 1988 computer scientists proved that the first player can always force a win with perfect play by starting in the centre, which is exactly why the middle column matters so much.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I play against the computer?
Yes. Choose 1 player vs CPU. The computer looks several moves ahead and will punish open threes.
Do diagonals count?
Yes. Four in a row counts horizontally, vertically, and on either diagonal.
Who goes first?
Player 1 (blue) always moves first. Against the CPU, that's you.