How to play Connect Four
- 1Choose 2 Players, or take on the AI on Easy or Hard difficulty.
- 2Red goes first. Tap a column to drop your disc into the lowest open slot.
- 3Players alternate dropping discs, red and yellow, one per turn.
- 4Be the first to line up four of your discs in a row - horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.
- 5Block your opponent's rows of three while building your own threats.
- 6If the whole grid fills with no four-in-a-row, the game is a draw.
Connect Four - also called Four in a Row - is a classic connection game for two players. It is officially a solved game: the first player can always force a win with perfect play. Our Hard AI uses a minimax search with alpha-beta pruning to play strategically, spotting winning lines and blocking yours several moves ahead.
Frequently asked questions
How do you win Connect Four?＋
Be the first to get four of your own discs in a straight line - horizontally, vertically, or diagonally - anywhere on the 7-by-6 grid.
Does the first player have an advantage?＋
Yes. Connect Four is a solved game and the first player (Red here) can force a win with perfect play, usually by controlling the centre column.
Is this Connect Four free to play?＋
Completely free, with no accounts and no downloads. It runs in your browser on phones, tablets, and computers.
Can two people play together?＋
Yes - pick 2 Players mode and take turns dropping discs on the same device.