About the Connect Four
Connect Four is the classic two-player game on a seven-column, six-row board. Take turns dropping a disc into a column; it falls to the lowest free square. The first player to join four discs in a row, across, down or diagonally, wins. Play against the computer, with easy, medium and hard levels (the hard level looks several moves ahead), or against a friend on the same screen. The winning four glow, the board fits phone screens and the computer never cheats: it plays by the same rules as you.
Updated October 2026
How to use the Connect Four
- 1Choose the computer or two players, and a level.
- 2Tap a column arrow or a column to drop your disc.
- 3Block your opponent's three-in-a-row.
- 4Join four of your discs in a line to win.
- 5Press Play again for a new game.
Basic strategy
Control the centre. Discs in the middle columns can take part in horizontal, vertical and diagonal lines, so they are worth more. Always check for a threat after each move, yours and your opponent's: an open three with space on both sides is a winning threat.
Tips against the computer
Easy plays at random half the time. Medium looks four moves ahead and rarely misses a direct threat. Hard looks six moves ahead and will punish mistakes. To beat the harder levels, build two threats at once so it can block only one.
- Start in the centre
- Block every open three
- Look for double threats
- Beware of threats on the row above a gap
Teaching logic
Connect Four is a good game for practising planning, because every move changes what the opponent can do next. Play slowly at first and say your threats aloud.
Related games
Play Tic Tac Toe, 2048, Minesweeper and Sudoku. The Dice Roller helps with board games.
Features
- Computer at easy, medium and hard levels
- Two players on one screen
- Winning discs highlighted
- Draw detection
- Touch-friendly board
- No sign-up
Frequently asked questions
How do you win at Connect Four?
Be the first to get four of your discs in a line: horizontally, vertically or diagonally.
Who goes first?
Red goes first. In the computer game you play red.
Is Connect Four solved?
Yes. With perfect play, the first player can always win, but the strategy is complicated. The hard computer level looks ahead but is not perfect.
What is a good opening move?
The centre column. It takes part in more possible lines than any other.
How does the computer decide?
It searches possible moves several turns ahead, scores the positions and picks the best, using the minimax method with alpha-beta pruning.
Can I play on my phone?
Yes. The board scales to the screen.
What happens if the board fills up?
The game is a draw.
What makes a position winning?
A double threat: two different squares where you would complete four, so your opponent can block only one. Look for rows of two or three that have space on both sides.
Can I play more than one game in a row?
Yes. Press Play again after each game. The computer starts each game with the same first move rule: you play red and go first.
How is the hard computer different?
The hard level looks six moves ahead and counts the value of open lines. It almost never misses a direct threat, but it can be beaten with a clever double threat.
Does the board work with a keyboard?
Tab to the column buttons and press Enter or Space to drop a disc.
What is the best way to get better?
Play the easy level until you spot every threat, then move to medium. After each loss, find the move where you could have blocked or built a double threat, and look for that pattern next time.
Is it free?
Yes, with no sign-up or download.