Objective

Be the first player to place four of your discs in a row — horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.

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The Grid

The grid has 7 columns and 6 rows, for a total of 42 cells. Columns are numbered 1 to 7 from left to right.

Red always goes first.

The empty board

How Discs Fall

When you click a column, your disc falls to the lowest available row in that column — like dropping a coin into a slot. Discs stack on top of each other from the bottom up.

• If a column is empty, your disc lands in the bottom row.
• Each new disc in a column stacks on top of the previous one.
• A column that already has 6 discs is full and cannot be played.

Discs stacking in a column

The diagram below shows five moves: Red and Yellow have each played the centre column several times, building a stack. Red has also placed one disc in each neighbouring column.

Taking a Turn

On your turn:

1. Click a highlighted cell to drop your disc into that column.
2. The disc falls to the lowest empty row in the chosen column.
3. The turn passes to your opponent.

Play alternates until one player wins or the board fills up.

Winning

The game ends immediately when one player connects four discs in a straight line — in any of these directions:

Horizontal win — four in a row across the same row

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Vertical win — four stacked in the same column

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Diagonal win — four in a row diagonally

Diagonals can run in either direction: bottom-left to top-right, or top-left to bottom-right.

Diagonal: bottom-left to top-right

Diagonal: top-left to bottom-right

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Draw

If all 42 squares are filled and neither player has connected four, the game ends in a draw.

Strategy Tips

Control the centre

Discs placed in the middle columns (especially column 4) can contribute to winning lines in more directions — horizontal, vertical, and both diagonals. Starting in the centre gives you more options than the edges.

The position below shows Red controlling the central three columns while Yellow is pushed to the sides:

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Build a double threat

The most powerful move in Connect Four is creating a double threat — a position where you have two different ways to win simultaneously. Your opponent can only block one of them.

In the position below, Red has three discs in a row at the bottom ([5,3], [5,4], [5,5]) and three discs stacked in the centre column ([3,3], [4,3], [5,3]). Red can win by extending the horizontal line to the right or by stacking one more disc on top of the column. Yellow cannot block both at once.

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Watch for your opponent's threats

Before you drop a disc, always check:

• Does your opponent have three in a row with an open end? Block it immediately.
• Will your move give your opponent a winning counter-move on their next turn?
• Are you choosing a column that sets up your own threats for future turns?

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Think about the row your disc lands on

Every time you play a column, your disc also determines which row is now exposed in that column for both players. Dropping a disc in a column hands your opponent a playable square directly on top of it. Make sure you are not creating a winning square for them.