How to play four in a row
The game is played on an upright grid of 7 columns and 6 rows. Players take turns dropping a disc into a column; the disc falls to the lowest free space. Red always moves first. The first player to line up four discs of their color horizontally, vertically or diagonally wins. If all 42 spaces fill up without a line of four, the game is a draw.
Tap or click any column to drop a disc. On a keyboard press 1–7 to choose a column, or use the arrow keys to aim and Enter to drop. You can play against the computer, or choose 2 Players to play a friend on the same screen. Undo takes back your last move and the computer's reply.
Computer levels
The computer uses a minimax search with alpha-beta pruning and a scoring function that values the center column and open lines of two and three. Easy looks only two moves ahead and sometimes plays at random. Medium looks four moves ahead and will rarely miss a direct threat. Hard looks eight moves ahead and is a tough opponent for most players – beating it takes real planning. Wins, draws and losses are tracked per level on your device.
Strategy tips
- Control the middle. The center column is part of more possible lines of four than any other, so discs there are worth the most.
- Look for double threats. A move that creates two ways to win at once usually decides the game.
- Think about the square above. Before you play, check whether your disc gives your opponent a winning spot on top of it.
- Odd and even rows matter. With the bottom row counted as row 1, the first player benefits from threats on odd rows and the second player from threats on even rows, because of how the board fills in the endgame.
- Don't rush edges. Edge columns take part in few lines and are usually the weakest moves early on.
About the game
Vertical four-in-a-row games became popular as a family board game in the 1970s. The standard 7×6 version has been solved by computer analysis: with perfect play the first player can force a win by starting in the center. You do not need perfect play to have fun, though – each game takes a few minutes and every one is different. This page is free, has no account or download, and works offline after the first visit.
FAQ
Is four in a row the same as Connect 4?
It is the same type of game: a 7×6 vertical grid where you drop discs and try to connect four. Connect 4 is a brand name for one commercial version.
Who moves first?
Red moves first. Use the Who starts option to let the computer play Red.
Can the first player always win?
In theory yes – the 7×6 game is solved as a first-player win with perfect play starting in the center column. In practice, mistakes decide most games.
How strong is the Hard level?
Hard searches eight moves ahead with alpha-beta pruning. It blocks almost every threat and punishes loose moves, so expect a real challenge.
Can I play offline on my phone?
Yes. Open the page once; afterwards it is cached by your browser and runs without internet, on phones, tablets and computers.