Play Connect 4 Online Free — Four in a Row vs the AI or a Friend
Drop discs into a 7×6 grid and connect four in a row — across, up and down, or diagonally — before your opponent does. The board above is ready to play right now: beat the AI on three difficulty levels, solve the daily puzzle, or send a private room link to a friend. No download, no account, no ads.
Official Rules & Scoring
The goal
Connect 4 is a two-player game on an upright grid of 7 columns and 6 rows. Players take turns dropping one disc into a column. The disc falls to the lowest empty slot. The first player to line up four of their own discs in a row — horizontally, vertically or diagonally — wins.
Taking a turn
- Red always moves first; Yellow replies. On this site the colors swap after every rematch so neither side keeps the first move.
- Tap or click a column (or press keys 1 to 7) to drop your disc. You cannot place a disc in a full column.
- Each player has 21 discs; if all 42 slots fill up with no four in a row, the game is a draw.
Game modes
- Solo vs AI — Easy blocks and takes the obvious wins, Medium searches a few moves ahead, Master searches deeper and plays strong positional Connect 4.
- Daily Puzzle — everyone gets the same eight opening moves each day; finish the position as the side to move and beat the AI.
- Play with Friends — open the mode menu, choose Play with Friends and share the room link. Your friend watches your solo game live and taps Ready; you decide when to switch into a 1-vs-1 match. Your solo game is saved and can be resumed afterwards.
Saving and privacy
Your unfinished solo game, win/loss record and history are stored only in your browser. There is no account to create. See the privacy policy for details.
Strategy & Tips
Own the center column
A disc in the middle column is part of more possible fours than a disc on the edge. Open with the center and keep taking it when you can — it is the single most valuable habit in Connect 4.
Build double threats
One threat can be blocked. Two threats at once cannot. Look for a disc that creates two different ways to complete four next turn (a fork), for example a diagonal that meets a horizontal line.
Block before you attack
Before every move, check whether your opponent has three in a row with an open end — and whether your move would let them drop a winning disc on top of yours. Never play the square directly under an enemy winning square.
Think odd and even rows
Counting rows from the bottom, the first player (Red) usually wants threats on odd rows (1, 3, 5) and the second player (Yellow) on even rows (2, 4, 6). When the columns fill up, those threats decide who is forced to give way.
Practice against the AI
Start on Easy to learn the patterns, move to Medium once you stop missing blocks, and use Master to test your forks. Every finished game can be replayed move by move with the replay bar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who goes first in Connect 4?
Red moves first. On this site the colors swap after each rematch, so you alternate between moving first and second.
Is Connect 4 a solved game?
Yes. With perfect play the first player can always force a win by starting in the center column, but the strategy is hard to memorize, so human games stay exciting.
Is it free? Do I need an account?
It is completely free and needs no account, download or sign-up. Open the page and the board is ready to play.
How do I play with a friend?
Open the mode menu in the top bar, choose Play with Friends and send the link. Your friend can watch your solo game live and tap Ready. When you press Switch Now, a 1-vs-1 match begins; afterwards you can resume your saved solo game.
Will I lose my game if I refresh the page?
No. Every move is saved in your browser, so a refresh or closed tab restores the game in an instant.
How strong are the AI levels?
Easy plays at random but never misses an immediate win or block. Medium and Master search several moves ahead with alpha-beta pruning; Master looks deepest.