Four in a Row
Drop smart. Connect four.
How to play
You are cyan in solo mode and always move first. Tap or click any column to drop a disc into its lowest empty slot, or use the number keys 1–7. Connect four cyan discs horizontally, vertically or diagonally before the rose opponent does. A win scores 100 points, a full-board draw scores 40, and a loss scores 0.
What is Four in a Row?
Four in a Row is the classic connection game played on a vertical 7-column by 6-row grid. Players alternate dropping colored discs into a column, where gravity carries each disc to the lowest open slot. The first player to form an unbroken line of four discs — horizontally, vertically or diagonally — wins. It takes seconds to learn, but every drop changes several future threats, so strong play is about planning two moves at once.
This dark-neon browser edition supports two complete ways to play. In solo mode, you control cyan against a seeded AI that takes wins, blocks immediate threats and searches several moves ahead. In online 1v1, two players share the same deterministic turn log, with cyan in seat one opening the match. A win earns 100 points, a draw earns 40 and a loss earns 0.
How to play
On mobile, tap an arrow or any empty slot in the column where you want to play. On desktop, click a column or use the keyboard: press 1 through 7 for a direct drop, use the left and right arrow keys to choose a column, then press Enter or Space. A disc always falls to the lowest empty position, and full columns cannot accept another move.
You play cyan and move first in solo mode. Build four cyan discs in any straight direction before the rose opponent connects four. The gold pulse marks the exact winning line. If all 42 slots fill without a connection, the match ends in a draw.
Strategy tips
- Fight for the center. A center disc participates in more possible four-cell lines than an edge disc. Central control creates more ways to attack and makes your opponent defend.
- Create two threats at once. A single three-disc threat is easy to block. The decisive tactic is a fork: one move that leaves two different winning drops on your next turn.
- Check the slot above your move. Every disc becomes support for the position directly above it. Before dropping, make sure you are not giving your opponent a winning landing spot.
- Build odd and even threats. Because turns alternate, the row where a winning slot sits affects who can claim it. Plan the stack beneath a threat, not only the visible line.
- Scan all four directions. Horizontal threats are obvious, but diagonal connections often grow quietly across several columns. After every move, inspect both diagonal slopes.
FAQ
Is Four in a Row free to play?
Yes. The game runs directly in a modern mobile or desktop browser with no download required.
Can I play against another person?
Yes. Choose multiplayer to enter a live turn-based 1v1 match. Both players receive the same ordered moves and board-state hashes, and the game supports reconnect grace and rematches.
Is the AI deterministic?
Yes. All tie-breaks use the session's seeded random generator. Replaying the same legal moves with the same seed produces the same AI choices and final board.
How does scoring work?
A win is worth 100 points, a full-board draw is worth 40 points, and a loss is worth 0 points. The game submits one result after the winning line or draw is clearly shown.
Who moves first?
Cyan always starts. In solo mode, you are cyan. In online play, seat one receives cyan and opens the match, while seat two plays rose.
