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Learn Connect Four: Rules, Threats and Traps

Every lesson here is played on the same board you play matches on. Start with the rules if you have never played. If you already block every three, the threats unit shows how strong players still win: they make threats that can't be blocked yet and wait for the board to fill up.

  • 4 lessons
  • 17 min
  • Free, no sign-up
Start the first lesson
Lessons for every game

Unit 1

The rules

How discs fall, the four ways to connect four, blocking a three, why the middle column matters and your first double threat.

  1. Connect Four Rules: Interactive Tutorial for Beginners

    The Connect Four rules on a live board. Drop discs, connect four across, down or on a diagonal, block a three and set up a double threat. Free and interactive.4 min

Unit 2

Threats

Why Red wants threats on odd rows and Yellow on even rows, the 7 trap that stacks two threats in one column, and zugzwang: winning by leaving your opponent no safe hole to drop into.

  1. Odd and Even Threats in Connect Four

    Why Red wants threats on odd rows and Yellow on even rows. Watch a full board force a player under a threat, then make the right threat yourself.5 min

  2. The 7 Trap in Connect Four: Two Threats in One Column

    The 7 trap stacks two Connect Four threats in one column, so blocking the lower one hands over the upper one. Build it, spring it, and stop it.4 min

  3. Zugzwang in Connect Four: The Hole Under a Threat

    The hole under an opponent's Connect Four threat is poison. Learn to spot it, play around it, and win an endgame by leaving your opponent no safe hole.4 min