Connect 4 Rules & How to Play

Connect 4 (also called Four in a Row) is a two-player game: drop discs into a seven-column grid and be the first to line up four of your own discs — horizontally, vertically or diagonally.

Basic rules

1. Board: 7 columns × 6 rows, standing upright. Discs are dropped from the top.
2. Turns: Red moves first, then players alternate picking a column. Gravity drops the disc to the lowest empty slot.
3. Full columns: A column with six discs is closed and cannot be used.
4. Winning: Four discs in a row — horizontal, vertical, or either diagonal.
5. Draw: If all 42 slots fill with no four in a row, the game is a draw.

Beginner strategy

1. Own the center

The middle column takes part in the most possible lines. Start there and you can build threats to both sides.

2. Create double threats

A move that creates two "win next turn" lines cannot be fully blocked. This is the core attacking idea in Connect 4.

3. Never stack under a threat

If a column already holds three of your opponent's discs, dropping there hands them the win.

4. Count odd slots

In the endgame, the player who keeps the key columns at an odd number of empty slots controls the last move.

Playing online

• Play with Friends: choose it in the mode menu and share the room link. Your friend watches your solo game live and taps Ready; you start the 1-vs-1 match whenever you like. There is no AI filling the empty seat.
• Solo practice: easy, medium and hard AI — playable offline.
• If a friend drops mid-match, an AI takes over after about 15 seconds so the game can finish.

FAQ

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