Connect 4

Rules · Connect 4

How to play

Drop discs into the grid and be the first to line up four in a row.

Start playing

Drop a disc

Take turns choosing one of the seven columns and dropping in a disc of your colour.

Gravity does the rest

Each disc falls to the lowest free slot of the column you pick — you choose the column, never the row.

Four in a row wins

Connect four of your discs in a line — horizontal, vertical or diagonal — to win the game instantly.

Reading the grid

Seven by six
The board is seven columns wide and six rows tall — 42 slots to fill between you.
Threats
Watch for three of your opponent's discs in a line with an open end, and block it before they connect the fourth.
Double threats
Create two winning lines at once and your opponent can only block one of them.
Full board
If every slot fills with no line of four, the game ends in a draw.

A little strategy

  • Play the centre column. The middle column takes part in the most possible fours, so it is the strongest opening.
  • Think one move ahead. Never drop a disc that hands your opponent a winning slot on the row right above it.
  • Build two ways to win. A stacked threat and a diagonal threat together are almost impossible to defend.

Choose the time per move at the start: 15, 30, or 60 seconds.

Frequently asked questions

How do you win Connect 4?
Be the first player to connect four discs of your colour horizontally, vertically or diagonally. The game is a draw if the grid fills without a line of four.
Can you play Connect 4 online with a friend?
Yes. Create a private game and send its invite link or lobby code to a friend, or join the public queue for a random opponent.

Ready to play?

Start playing