Four in a Row Rules

Four in a Row is played on a 7-column, 6-row board. Players take turns dropping discs into columns, and the first player to make a straight line of four discs wins.

What you need to know before the first move

Two players use different disc colors.
The board has seven vertical columns and six rows.
The first player starts. In this version, the first player uses red discs.
Discs always fall to the lowest empty cell in the chosen column.

How a turn works

Choose any column that still has an empty cell.
Drop one disc into that column; gravity fills from the bottom up.
Check whether your new disc completes a line of four.
Pass the turn if the game has not ended.

A full column is not a legal choice. Pick another column rather than trying to place a disc above the top of the board.

Four in a Row board with stacked red and blue discs showing gravity — Discs stack from the bottom of each column.

How to win Four in a Row

You win as soon as four of your discs connect in one uninterrupted straight line. A winning line may run horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.

The line can contain more than four discs; any run of at least four ends the game immediately.

Four in a Row board showing four red discs connected horizontally — A horizontal line of four red discs wins the game.

When the game is a draw

If all 42 cells are filled and neither player has connected four discs, the game is a draw. No extra move is played after the board is full.

How Four in a Row differs from tic-tac-toe

Both games ask players to build a line, but tic-tac-toe lets a player choose any empty square. Four in a Row adds gravity: every disc falls within its column. That makes column height, diagonal support, and threats one move ahead part of every decision.

Try the same idea without gravity in Tic-Tac-Toe, or see how a wider open board changes line-building in Connect6.

Four in a Row rules FAQ

Can you win with more than four discs in a row?: Yes. Four is the minimum: a connected line of five or more discs also wins, and the game ends as soon as a player makes a line of at least four.
What happens when a column is full?: You cannot place another disc in that column. Choose any other column with an empty cell; a disc cannot sit above the top of the board.
Can a Four in a Row game end in a draw?: Yes. The game is a draw when all 42 cells are filled and neither player has made a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal line of four.
Can you win diagonally in Four in a Row?: Yes. A winning line can run horizontally, vertically, or diagonally in either direction. Diagonal lines need supporting discs beneath them because every move falls under gravity.
Does red always go first?: Red moves first on this FreePlayBase board. In a physical set, the colors can vary, but the player chosen to start still takes the first turn.

Practice the rules on a live board

The game board enforces full columns and all four winning line directions for you. Start against the computer, pass one device between two players, or open a friend room when you are ready to test your play.

Open Four in a Row Play against AI Play on one device

Ready to move beyond the rules? Learn practical strategy →