Four in a Row
A quick game of gravity and foresight. Take turns dropping discs into the columns — the first to line up four in any direction wins.
How to play Four in a Row
- The board has 7 columns and 6 rows. On your turn, choose a column; your disc falls to the lowest empty space in it.
- Line up four of your discs in a straight line — across, up and down, or diagonally — to win.
- A full column can’t take any more discs. If all 42 spaces fill up with no line of four, the game is a draw.
- Play vs Computer (Easy, Medium or Hard) or 2 Players on one device. Choose who starts in the menu.
Controls
- Tap or click a column (or the arrow above it) to drop a disc.
- Keyboard: number keys 1–7, or ←/→ to pick a column and Enter to drop.
- Undo takes back your last move and the computer’s reply. With hints on, a small dot marks where your disc will land.
Tips
- The middle column is part of more possible lines than any other — claim it early.
- Build threats that sit on top of each other: if you have two spaces that each complete a four, your opponent can only block one.
- Before dropping, check the space just above: playing there might give your opponent the square they need.
- Threats on odd rows (counting from the bottom) favour the first player; even rows favour the second.
FAQ
Can the first player always win?
With perfect play from the opening, the first player can force a win by starting in the middle column — but finding those moves over a whole game is very hard, so real games are wide open.
How good is the Hard computer?
Hard searches many moves ahead and spots double threats quickly. Beating it takes careful planning; Medium and Easy are friendlier for learning.