Board
Connect Four
Drop discs and line up four in a row before your rival does.
2 players
Connect Four guide
Drop discs into the 7×6 grid and connect four before your rival does.
How to play Connect Four
- Choose Singleplayer (Easy, Medium or Hard bot), Local pass-and-play, or an Online room.
- Players take turns dropping one disc into any of the seven columns.
- Discs fall to the lowest empty slot in that column, stacking on top of earlier discs.
- Connect four of your discs in a row horizontally, vertically or diagonally to win.
- If the 42 slots fill with no line of four, the game is a draw. Play Again starts a rematch.
Rules
- The grid is 7 columns wide and 6 rows tall.
- A full column cannot be played; choose another column.
- Four or more connected discs of one colour win the game instantly.
- The first player alternates between rematches so neither side keeps the first-move advantage.
Tips and strategy
- Control the centre column: it participates in more winning lines than any other column.
- Think about what you give your opponent: dropping a disc can open the slot above it for them.
- Build two threats on top of each other (a "7-trap") so any block hands you the win.
- Count odd and even rows: the first player wants threats on odd rows, the second player on even rows.
Questions
How many discs do you need to win Connect Four?
Four of your discs in an unbroken horizontal, vertical or diagonal line win the game.
Is Connect Four a solved game?
Yes. With perfect play the first player can always force a win by starting in the centre column, which is why the Hard bot favours the centre.
Can I play Connect Four against the computer?
Yes. Singleplayer mode offers Easy, Medium and Hard bots, and you can switch difficulty between games.
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