Play four in a row online for free and see if you can line up four discs before your opponent does. Drop red or yellow discs into a board of 7 columns and 6 rows and line up four horizontally, vertically or diagonally. Red always starts. Play against the computer at three difficulty levels or against a friend on the same device. Games are fast, the rules take ten seconds to learn, and every round is full of small traps.
How to play
- Players take turns dropping a disc into one of the seven columns.
- The disc falls to the lowest empty space in that column.
- Be the first to line up four of your discs across, up and down or diagonally.
- If the board fills up with no winner, the game is a draw.
Controls
- Click or tap any column to drop your disc. It falls to the lowest empty space.
- Use Undo to take back a move, or New game to start another round.
Tips and strategy
- Start in the middle column. A disc there takes part in more possible lines of four than any other.
- Always check whether your opponent has three in a row with an open space, and block it before building your own line.
- Try to create two threats at once. Your opponent can only block one of them.
- Look at what sits under an empty space. Sometimes the best move is to avoid filling a column so your opponent cannot use the square above it.
- Think about the order of the rows. A threat on a low row is often more urgent than one high up.
Game modes and difficulty
Choose vs Computer to play the computer on Easy, Medium or Hard. Easy is great for young players, Medium blocks obvious threats, and Hard looks several moves ahead and sets up double threats. Choose 2 Players to play with a friend on the same screen, taking turns with red and yellow discs.
History and background
The idea of getting a line of marks before your opponent is very old and goes back to games like tic-tac-toe. The upright version, where discs drop down the columns, became a popular family game in the 20th century.
The game is also famous among mathematicians. In the late 1980s it was solved by computer: with perfect play, the first player can always force a win by starting in the center. Human players are far from perfect, so every game is still open.
Frequently asked questions
Is four in a row free to play?
Yes. It is completely free, runs in your browser and needs no download or sign-up.
How hard is the computer?
You can pick Easy, Medium or Hard. Hard is a real challenge and will punish any threat you leave open.
Who goes first?
Red always makes the first move.
Can I play on a phone or tablet?
Yes. Just tap a column to drop your disc. The board resizes to fit your screen.