4 in a Row
Play the classic Connect Four game against an intelligent AI or challenge a friend. Drop discs to connect four in a row horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.
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How to Play 4 in a Row
How to Play
- Choose your game mode: vs Computer or vs Player
- If playing against the computer, select a difficulty level
- Click or tap a column to drop your disc
- Discs fall to the lowest empty position in the column
- Connect 4 discs in a row to win!
How to Win
- Connect four discs horizontally (across a row)
- Connect four discs vertically (down a column)
- Connect four discs diagonally (either direction)
Difficulty Levels
- Easy
- Great for beginners - the computer makes random moves
- Medium
- A balanced challenge - the computer blocks and takes wins
- Hard
- Expert level! Uses advanced strategy to challenge even skilled players
Keyboard Shortcuts
- 1-7
- Drop disc in column 1-7
- ← →
- Navigate between columns
- Enter / Space
- Drop disc in selected column
- N
- Start new game
- R
- Reset score
- Esc
- Close this help
Fullscreen
- Use the Fullscreen button to expand the game to the full screen.
- Press Escape (or use the on-screen exit control) to leave Fullscreen mode.
Strategy Tips
- Control the center column - it's part of more winning combinations
- Build threats in multiple directions at once
- Watch for diagonal opportunities - they're often overlooked
- Force your opponent to block while you build elsewhere
When to Play 4 in a Row
Play the classic strategy game for entertainment and brain training:
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Family Game Time
Enjoy quality bonding time with family using the two-player mode for friendly competition.
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Brain Training
Challenge yourself against the AI at increasing difficulty levels to improve strategic thinking.
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Quick Entertainment
Perfect for short breaks - games typically last 2-5 minutes and work offline.
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Teaching Strategy
Help children learn about planning ahead, blocking opponents, and recognizing patterns.
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Competitive Practice
Practice against the hard AI to master the game before challenging friends.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I place a disc?
- Click or tap any cell in the column you want, and your disc will drop into the lowest available slot. You can also use the keyboard shortcuts.
- How do I win 4 in a Row?
- Connect four of your discs horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. The game ends immediately when a win is detected.
- What do the difficulty levels mean?
- Easy plays random valid moves, Medium looks for immediate wins and blocks (and prefers the center), and Hard plays a stronger search-based strategy.
- Can I play with the keyboard?
- Yes. Use 1–7 for columns, ←/→ to choose a column, and Enter or Space to drop a disc. N starts a new game and R resets the score.
- Does the game save my score?
- The scoreboard tracks wins and draws during your current visit. Use “Reset Score” to clear it. Refreshing the page resets the score.