Play Connect 4

Connect 4 game info

Connect 4 (or straight 4) is a classic board game now available and perfect for two players. 

Aim

Players race to be the first to form a continuous line of four discs - this can be horizontal, vertical or diagonal. Beat your opponent to it to win the game!

Gameplay

Each player has their own discs of a corresponding color - either green or orange. Players alternate to take turns dropping their discs into a vertical game board, with the ultimate goal to form a line of four discs. 

The game board is a grid made up of seven columns and six rows. This gives 42 possible spaces, meaning each player has 21 turns to reach the goal (provided that their opponent doesn't beat them to it!). When a disc is dropped into the board, it falls to occupy the lowermost available space in that column. 

Tip: Keep an eye out for your opponent's moves! Use one of your own discs to block your opponent when they are close to getting four in a row.

The average game time of a Connect 4 game is ten minutes. In this version, you can choose to play with other people through local multiplayer, with players taking turns to control the mouse. Alternatively, challenge yourself against a computer! 

Did you know? In a standard 6 x 7 Connect 4 game board there are 4,531,985,219,092 possible combinations! 

Connect 4 Strategies

Though the game seems simple, players can utilize different strategies and learn various tactics to increase their chances of winning. Connect 4 has been researched extensively in efforts to find these mathematical solutions and strategies. 

Generally speaking, there are high chances that the player making the first move can dictate how the game will play out. 

• If they place a disc in the middle column during their first move, the odds of the first player winning is greater than for the second player. 
• If the first player decides to place the first disc in the columns adjacent to the middle column, chances for a draw are much more likely. 
• If the first player places the first disc in any of the outer columns (first two columns on the left and last two columns on the right), it is more likely the first player will lose between the 40th and 42nd move. And so by starting with a disc in these columns the first player gives the second player a significant advantage. 


Don't worry if you’re not the first player! There are still other ways for you to influence the outcome of the game! Here are some more tips:

• Control the center column: The more discs you have in the center column, the more likely you are to form connections with other discs across the board. 
• Plan moves in advance: Try and think about how your opponent might react to your moves. This allows you to plan your next moves in advance, for example, if you want to place a disc in a particular spot. 
• Spot game-ending moves: Beware not to fill spaces below your opponent's game-ending moves or else you would allow them to win in the next turn. Similarly, try and take advantage of your game-ending moves. You could use these to force your opponent to use their turn to block you. 
• Use multi-dimensional formations: Try and find ways to set up three discs in a line that could then be expanded into four-in-a-row in multiple directions. This way your opponent could only block you in one direction, giving you the win in your next move.
• Practice practice practice: With continuous practice, you will soon become familiar with tactics and techniques that work best for you. Playing against different players will also give you to opportunity to adapt to others' playstyles on the spot!


Our version of Connect 4 is developed by Code This Lab. Connect 4 belongs to the category of board games and was first introduced by popular board game manufacturer Milton Bradley in 1974.

System requirements

Connect 4 can be played in all modern browsers, on all device types (desktop, tablet, mobile), and on all operating systems (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, ...).