About Four in a Row
Four in a Row is the gravity-drop classic: take turns sliding a disc into one of seven columns and watch it fall to the lowest open slot. Line up four of your color — horizontally, vertically, or diagonally — before your opponent does. Also known as Connect Four in many toy aisles, the rules themselves are public-domain tabletop strategy.
This board plays the standard 7×6 layout with full win detection, undo, hints, and three AI levels that know how to build and block threats. Share the screen for a same-device duel, or open an online room and drop discs with a friend over a link.
Four in a Row at a glance
- Origin
- Gravity-drop line games have 19th-century roots; the familiar 7×6 home version popularized mid-20th century
- Board
- 7 columns × 6 rows
- Players
- 2
- Modes here
- vs AI (easy / medium / hard), same-screen 2P, online friend rooms
- Learn more
- Wikipedia
How to play Four in a Row
Red moves first. On your turn, choose a column; your disc drops to the lowest empty cell in that column.
- Click or tap a column to drop your disc — gravity fills from the bottom up.
- Connect four discs of your color in a straight line (row, column, or diagonal) to win.
- Block your opponent whenever they threaten three in a row with an open fourth cell.
- Aim for forks: two winning threats at once so a single block cannot stop you.
- If all 42 cells fill without a line of four, the game is a draw.
Four in a Row strategy tips
- The center column joins the most winning lines — fight for it early.
- Watch vertical stacks: three in a column with space above is an immediate threat.
- Diagonal threats are easy to miss when you are staring at verticals and horizontals.
- Hard AI will punish loose openings; use hints when you want a second opinion.
- In a series, trade colors so neither player always drops first.
Four in a Row FAQ
- Is Four in a Row the same as Connect Four?
- Gameplay is the classic gravity-drop race to four in a line on a 7×6 grid. We use the descriptive name Four in a Row on this site; many people also know the toy-brand name Connect Four for the same style of game.
- How does the AI decide where to drop?
- It searches ahead with threat evaluation — taking forced wins, blocking yours, and favoring the center columns. Easy adds randomness, medium mixes search with occasional mistakes, and hard plays a deeper search.
- Can I play Four in a Row online with a friend?
- Yes. Open a room from the friend mode, send the link, and both of you drop on the same live board from any browser — no account required.
- What happens when a column is full?
- That column cannot accept another disc. You must choose a different column until the board is full or someone lines up four.
Games like Four in a Row
Drop a disc, chase four in a line — play Four in a Row free in your browser.