Four In A Row Cheat? The 127 Latest Answer

Board game for children

Connect Four Connect 4 game board and box designer Howard Wexler[1]

Ned Strongin[2] Publisher Milton Bradley / Hasbro Release 1974; 48 years ago ( ) Genres Connection Game Players 2 Playing Time 1 – 10 Minutes Age Range 6+

Connect Four (also known as Connect 4, Four Up, Plot Four, Find Four, Captain’s Mistress, Four in a Row, Drop Four, and Gravitrips in the Soviet Union) is a two-player connect board game in which players choose a color and leave then alternating colored tokens fall into a vertically suspended grid with seven columns and six rows. The pieces fall straight down, taking up the lowest available space within the column. The aim of the game is to be the first to form a horizontal, vertical or diagonal line from four of your own pieces. Connect Four is a solved game. The first player can always win by playing the right moves.

The game was first sold in February 1974 under the Connect Four[3] brand by Milton Bradley.

Gameplay[edit]

Connect Four gameplay

Objective: Connect four of your stones in a row while preventing your opponent from doing the same. But watch out – your opponent can sneak up on you and win the game! Milton Bradley, Connect Four’s “Pretty Sneaky, Sis” TV commercial, 1977[4]

A gameplay example (right) shows the first player to start Connect Four by dropping one of their yellow discs into the middle column of an empty game board. The two players then take turns, each dropping one of their discs into an empty column until the second player with red discs achieves a diagonal four in a row and wins the game. If the board fills up before either player gets four in a row, the game is a tie.

Mathematical solution[ edit ]

Connect Four is a two-player game with perfect information for both sides, which means that nothing is hidden from anyone. Connect Four also belongs to the classification of an opponent’s zero-sum game, since a player’s advantage is an opponent’s disadvantage.

A measure of the complexity of the Connect Four game is the number of possible board positions. For the classic Connect Four, played on a 7 column wide, 6 row high grid, there are 4,531,985,219,092 positions[5] for all boards filled with 0 to 42 checkers.

The game was first solved by James Dow Allen (October 1, 1988) and independently by Victor Allis (October 16, 1988).[6] Allis describes a knowledge-based approach[7] with nine strategies as a solution for Connect Four. Allen also describes winning strategies[8][9] in his analysis of the game. At the time of the first Connect Four solutions, brute force analysis was not deemed feasible given the complexity of the game and the computer technology available at the time.

Connect Four has since been solved using brute force methods, beginning with John Tromp’s work on compiling an 8-ply database[6][10] (February 4, 1995). The artificial intelligence algorithms capable of solving Connect Four strongly are minimax or negamax, with optimizations that include alpha-beta pruning, move order, and transposition tables. The code for solving Connect Four using these methods is also the basis for the Fhourstones[11] integer performance benchmark.

The solved conclusion for Connect Four is the win of the first player. With perfect play, the first player can force a win[6][7][8] on or before move 41[12] by starting in the middle column. The game is a theoretical tie if the first player starts in the columns next to the middle. For the edges of the board, columns 1 and 2 on the left (or columns 7 and 6 on the right), the exact move value for the first player’s start is loss on move 40[12] and loss on move 42,[12] respectively In other words, by starting with the four outer columns, the first player allows the second player to force a win.

Rule variations[ edit ]

There are many variations of Connect Four with different game board sizes, game pieces and game rules. Many variations are more popular in game theory and artificial intelligence research than in physical game boards and human gameplay.

The most common Connect Four board size is 7 columns × 6 rows. Size variations include 5×4, 6×5, 8×7, 9×7, 10×7, 8×8, Infinite Connect-Four [13], and Cylinder-Infinite Connect-Four. [14]

A travel version of the Milton Bradley game.

Several versions of Hasbro’s physical Connect Four game board make it easy to remove game pieces from the bottom one at a time. Along with traditional gameplay, this feature allows for gameplay variations.[15] Some earlier versions of the game also included specially marked discs and cardboard pillar extensions for additional gameplay variations.

PopOut[edit]

PopOut starts out just like traditional gameplay, with an empty board and players taking turns placing their own colored discs on the board. During each round, a player can either add another disc from the top or, if you have discs of your own color in the bottom row, remove (or “pop out”) a disc of your own color from the bottom. If you pull out a disc from below, all the discs above it fall down one space, changing their relationship to the rest of the board and the chances of a connection. The first player to connect four of their discs horizontally, vertically or diagonally wins the game.

Pop10 [ edit ]

Before the game starts, Pop 10 is structured differently from the traditional game. Each player takes turns placing one of their own color discs in the slots, filling only the bottom row, then moving on to the next row until it is filled, and so on until all rows are filled.

Gameplay works by players taking turns removing a disc of their own color through the bottom of the board. If the disc removed was part of a four-disc compound at the time of its removal, the player discards it and immediately begins his turn again. If it was not part of a “connect four”, it must be placed back on the board through a slot at the top onto any open square in an alternate column (whenever possible), and the turn ends, switching to the other player. The first player to set aside ten discs of his color wins the game.

The Five-in-a-Row variant for Connect Four is a game played on a grid of 6 heights and 9 widths. Two additional board columns, already filled with player pieces in an alternating pattern, are added to the left and right of the standard 6 by 7 game board. The game plays similar to the original Connect Four, except players must now get five in a row to win. This is still a 42-ply game, as the two new columns added to the game represent twelve already-played checkers before the start of a game.

Turn on [ edit ]

In this variant of Connect Four, players begin a game with one or more specially marked “Power Checkers” tiles, which each player can play once per game. For example, if the player plays a piece marked with an anvil symbol, they can immediately pop out all the pieces below it, leaving the anvil piece on the bottom row of the board. Other marked tiles include one with a wall symbol, allowing a player to play a second consecutive non-winning round with an unmarked tile; a “×2” symbol, allowing an unrestricted second move with an unmarked piece; and a bomb symbol, which allows a player to instantly pop out an opponent’s piece.

Other versions[edit]

Hasbro also produces various sizes of Giant Connect Four suitable for outdoor use. The largest is made of weather-resistant wood and measures 120 cm in width and height. Connect Four was released in 1979 for the Microvision video game console developed by Robert Hoffberg. It was also released for the Texas Instruments 99/4 computer in the same year.

With the proliferation of mobile devices, Connect Four has regained popularity as a game that can be played quickly and against another person over an internet connection.

In 2007, Milton Bradley released Connect Four Stackers. Instead of the usual grid, the game has a board where colored discs can be placed. Just like the standard Connect Four, the object of the game is to try to line up four discs of a given color.[17]

In 2008, Hasbro released another board variant as a physical game, Connect 4×4.[18] This game features a two-layer vertical grid with colored discs for four players and locking discs. The aim of the game is also to line up four discs of a certain color.

A SpongeBob SquarePants version of the game was released in 2009 for the show’s 10th anniversary. The rules are the same as in the normal version; The chips have the faces of SpongeBob and Patrick. It was re-released in 2014 but Patrick was replaced by Plankton.

In 2013, Bay Tek Games released a Connect Four ticket redemption arcade game under license from Hasbro. There are standard and deluxe versions of the game. Two players move and drop the stones using buttons. If only one player is playing, the player is playing against the computer. Both the player who wins and the player who loses get tickets. The player who wins gets to play a bonus round where a stone moves and the player has to press the button at the right time to get the ticket jackpot.

In 2015, Winning Moves released Connect Four Twist & Turn. This game variant has a play tower instead of the flat play grid. The tower has five rings that rotate independently. Gameplay is similar to standard Connect Four, where players attempt to line up four of their own colored discs. However, in Twist & Turn, players have the choice of spinning a ring after playing a character. It adds a subtle layer of strategy to the gameplay.[According to who?]

In 2018, Bay Tek Games released their second Connect Four arcade game, Connect 4 Hoops. Players throw basketballs into basketball hoops and appear as checkers on the video screen. The game can be played by two players or by one player against the computer. Both the player who wins and the player who loses get tickets.

In 2018 Hasbro released Connect 4 Shots. In this version, players must throw colored balls into the grid until one player gets four in a row.

Popular culture[ edit ]

See also[edit]

Rankings de los most jugadores El ranking se muestra la lista de los 40 primeros jugadores y tu propia posición en la clasificación de cada juego.

Entran in the classificación los jugadores que han jugado alguna partida puntuable durante los ultimos 3 days.

Adicionalmente se genera un ranking with la clasificación al final de cada mes. Para entrar en el ranking mensual es preciso hatr disputed a minimum of 10 partidas puntuables en el mes correspondiente. Juego 4 en raya 5 en raya 6 en raya Ajedrez Backgammon Bagh Chal Barricada Breakthrough Brisca Butifarra Cephalopod Chaturanga Checkers Chinchón Cuatrola Damas Españolas Damas Frisonas Damas Internacionales Damas Italianas Damas Rusas Damas Tailandeses Damas Turcas Dominó individual Dominó por parejas Epaminondas Escoba Go Golfo Guiñote Hexe Guiños de acción Mentiroso Morris Mus a 4 reyes Mus a 8 reyes Parch’s individual Parch’s por equipos Parch’s sin dados Pocha Poker Texas Holdem Pool Checkers Presidente Póker mentiroso Quarto Remigio Reversi Scopa Seises Seises cabron Siete y medio Sopa de letras Sueca Surakarta Tablut Truc Truco Tute Tute cabrón Tute habanero Tute subabastado Unlur Wari Current ranking Mensual 2022-June 2022-May 2022-Abril 2022-March 2022-Febrero 2022-Enero 2021-December 2021-November 2021-October 2021-September 2021-Agosto 1 – 201 April 2020-1 April 2020-2020 March 2021 – February 2021 – January 2020 – December 2020 – November 2020 – October 2020 – September 202 0-Agosto 2020-July 2020-June 2020-Mayo 2020-Abril 2020-Marzo 2020-Febrero 2020-Enero 2019-Deciembre 2019-Noviembre 2019-Octubre 2019-Septiembre 2019-Agosto 2019-July 1st, 2012 -Mayo 2019-April 2019-Marzo 2019-Febrero 2019-Enero 2018-Deciembre 2018-Noviembre 2018-Octubre 2018-Septiembre 2018-Agosto 2018-July 2018-Junio ​​​​2018-Mayo 2018-MarzoFebruary 2010-218-Abril 2018 -Eenero 2017-A-ABROS 2018-Marzo 2018-Febrero 2018- 2017- -A-on December 2017-Noviembre 2017-Octubre 2017-Septiembre 2017-Agosto 2017-July 2017-Junio ​​​​2017-Mayo 2017-Abril 201 Marzo 2017-Febrero 2017-Enero 2016-Deciembre 2016-Noviembre 2016-Octubre 2016-Septiembre 2016-Agosto 2016 – July 2016 – June 2016 – May 2016 – April 2016 – March 2016 – February 2016 – January 2015 – November 2015 – December 2015 – October 2015 – September 2015 – August 2015 – July 2015 – May 2015 – March 15 – March 2015 2015 – February 2015 – January 2014 – December 2014 – November 2014 – October 2014 – September 2014 – August 2014 – July 2014 – June 2014 – May 2014 – April 2014 – March 2014 – February 2013 – December 2013 – November 2013 – October 2013 – September 2013 – August 2013 – July 2013 – June 2013 – May 2013 – April 2013 – February 2013 – March 2013 2013-Enero 2012-Deciembre 2012-Noviembre 2012-Octubre 2012-Septiembre 2012-Agosto 2012-July 2012-Junio ​​2012-Mayo 2012-Abril 2012-March 2012-Febrero 2012-Enero

Connect Four: Learn, Play, Win

Wondering how to win at Connect Four? In our latest post, you will learn how to play using the rules, instructions, strategy, figures and winning patterns.

How to play Connect Four

What is Connect Four? Connect Four is the trademark name of a classic four-in-a-row game. Simple rules and straightforward gameplay make it easy for kids to learn, and the trillions of possible winning combinations present unique challenges for adults.

Learning how to play the match four game is easy and fun. The basic instructions are described in the official booklet that is sold with the game and can also be found online. Each game follows the same structure:

1) Set up the board by attaching the grid to the base or sliding the supports onto the sides of the grid. Place the grid between the two players.

2) Slide the lever at the bottom of the grille to the locked position.

3) Divide the tiles evenly among the players. The classic colors are red and black, but other variations include red and yellow, and black and white.

4) Determine which player goes first. This can be done using any random method, such as flipping a coin. When playing with children, it is common for the youngest player to come first.

5) The first player places a stone in the grid. Only after the stone has been released can the second player make his move.

6) Rounds alternate between the first and second players until someone has four tiles of the same color in a row or the board is filled with no winning moves.

7) After a winner has been determined or a tie declared, place the box under the grid. Slide the lever from the locked position to release the bricks.

Connect four rules

The game rules for Connect Four are as simple as the game instructions. Since only one stone can be placed on the board at a time and all slots are divided into rows and columns, it is not possible to cheat and move a stone after it has been placed. Checkers in the board must not be manipulated. Each player may only drop one token into the grid per turn.

A winner is declared when a player gets four of their colored checkers in a row vertically, horizontally, or diagonally. Other configurations, such as B. Squares, do not count as winning combinations. The game is declared a stalemate or a tie when all pieces are played but nobody has four in a row. How many parts in Connect Four? If you play a few games that end in a stalemate, you’ll see that there are 42, 21 of each suit.

As with many other board game guides, players have developed additional and alternate rules to be used during personal play. Some of these rules, such as B. Reducing the number of stones required in a row are intended to make the game easier for younger players. However, in tournament play, the Official Rules will be observed.

Connect Four strategy

Getting four in a row is the goal of Connect Four for both players, so you want to prevent your opponent from achieving that goal. As a “zero-sum game,” every advantageous move on your part is a disadvantage for your opponent. Put this to work for you with a few classic Connect Four strategy moves:

1) If possible, drop your first stone into the middle column. If your opponent takes this slot, play one side or the other to increase the likelihood of forming a winning combination.

2) Look for patterns that suggest an impending winning move for your opponent and block them at every opportunity.

3) Create vertical stacks of stones to force your opponent to “waste” a move that blocks you instead of developing their own strategy.

4) Make a “forced win” or “seven trap” combination of three horizontal and three diagonal tiles. Your opponent can only block one of the two possible moves.

How to win at Connect Four

Whether you played Connect Four as a kid and are looking for a refresher course or want to gain a competitive edge when entering tournaments, a thorough understanding of the rules and strategy can help you spot patterns and beat your opponents every time.

For a real winning strategy, use the moves above in combination with the basic rules to give yourself an edge over the other player.

1) Start in the middle row.

2) Plan ahead to figure out how to win each game based on the potential options for you and your opponent.

3) Block your opponent while building your competitive advantage.

4) Watch out for “end of the game” moves and prevent your opponent from exploiting them.

The best way to develop a Connect Four strategy is to play the game as many times as possible. Practice your moves and study the board to learn patterns that reveal potential winning tactics. The more you play, the easier it becomes to identify the moves to make to set yourself up for a win every time. Your first few games might be a bit tricky, but over time you will master not only the basic instructions but also the complex principles of the game.

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Article overview

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One strategy that can help you win checkers is to keep your back row in place for as long as possible. This will make it impossible for your opponent to crown one of their pieces early in the game. Focus on crowning more pieces than your opponent, giving you a competitive edge. One way to get more pieces crowned is to play exclusively on the left or right side of the board, so your opponent moves a lot of his pieces to that side. Then, on the other half of the board, move your pieces to your opponent’s side through the opening you created. Another strategy you can try is to move your pieces forward in tight groups to make them harder to capture. If you move a stone, on your next turn move another stone diagonally next to it. Always try to control the middle of the board during a game, which keeps your options open and prevents your opponent from gaining the upper hand. Don’t forget to also look out for opportunities to double jump your opponent, which will help you capture more of their pieces faster. Read on for strategies on how to capture your opponent’s checkers!

While Tic-Tac-Toe is the original game about matching pieces, Connect 4 is another classic strategy game. With black and red checkers reminiscent of checkers, Connect 4 requires a good dose of forethought. Connect 4 can also move quickly, which requires quick thinking from its players. Like Tic-Tac-Toe, Connect 4 is played between two people, but while you can get creative with building a Tic-Tac-Toe board, Connect 4 requires a special rack.

Here are some quick tips on how to win at Connect 4:

Anticipate your opponent’s moves

Connect 4 is indeed very similar to other strategy games, but for players not used to the pole it can be almost intimidating. One of the most important things to remember when playing is that you need to anticipate your opponent’s moves. You don’t want to accidentally force your opponent into a winning position!

Stay in the middle

On the standard seven column board, each back of four that is not vertical must use a checker from the center column. This means if you control most of the central column, it will be very difficult for your opponent to get a connect four.

look ahead

If your opponent can create a three-in-a-row with an open, playable field on either side, you’re likely to lose. Prevent this in time by paying attention as soon as your opponent gets two stones in a row. Trying to anticipate ways your opponent might win will help you fight back.

Watch out for game ending spaces

It sometimes happens that a specific square on the board will give either you or your opponent a four of a kind card, depending on who is playing there. In this case, the game is over as soon as this space is filled. You can ignore any squares above the end-of-game square in the same column, as well as any potential four-way connections that rely on the squares you ignore.

Never play directly below the end-of-game board

This allows your opponent to play into the space and claim victory. Conversely, you should try to force your opponent to play just below the area at the end of the game, perhaps by setting up a four-way connection that will force your opponent to block in the critical area.

Fork your threats whenever possible

The ideal position is to have two potential connect fours that require a closing checker on two squares that are on top of each other. This usually results in a win since you can threaten in the first room. If the opponent doesn’t block, you win. If the opponent blocks, you play upstairs to win in the next field. An easy way to set this up is to form a “7” with your checkers so that at the end of the horizontal or diagonal four-connection on the right side there are two squares on top of each other.

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Connect 4 is a strategy game. Two players compete to see who can be the first to form a row of 4 disc colors of their own. The row of 4 disks can be in vertical, horizontal or diagonal format. This is done by everyone taking turns dropping colored discs into the suspended game grid with seven columns and six rows. Is it fun? Yes it is! Is it educational? Absolutely!

To be honest, I’ve never given a second thought to the benefits of playing Connect 4. I just thought of Connect 4 as a fun game for the whole family, and that’s about it. Well, I’m pretty excited to hear that such fun entertainment comes with so many hidden benefits. I’ve always enjoyed getting the kids in the family to play a Connect 4 game… now I’m dedicating myself to it – after all (and as you’ll discover) it benefits them greatly!

To say that Connect 4 brings certain benefits is one thing. Actually, explaining how these benefits are offered by a game is quite another. Connect 4 is the kind of game that seems tricky at first, but the longer you stick with it, the easier it seems to get. I have found that the game benefits children in 14 ways. These benefits are listed and explained below.

14 benefits and advantages of playing Connect 4 (for kids):

1. Provides fun and entertainment.

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Connect 4 is by no means a boring game. Children who are confronted with this are often quite fixated on it. If they compete against you or another family member, they will have tons of fun and focus on beating you. If you need to while away a few hours or get through a rainy day, Connect 4 is a great family entertainment option.

2. Develops fine motor skills.

Children take their time to develop their fine motor skills. This is the ability to coordinate small muscles and movements. This can mean using the hands and fingers properly to correlate what they see with their eyes. It’s about matching the movement of hands and fingers (as an example) to what they see in front of them.

When kids play Connect 4, they need to pick up pieces and drop them into a slot. This can be a bit of a challenge for young children, but the more they do it, the better their fine motor skills will become.

3. Improves basic counting and math skills.

To play Connect 4, kids need to learn basic counting and simple math. You must at least be able to do basic addition. When you start playing Connect 4 with a child who can’t even count to 4, you’ll find that they pick it up very quickly.

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4. Strengthens the upper extremities.

By picking up disks and reaching up to place them in the slots, a child trains his/her upper extremities. This creates strength and better control over these muscle groups and the smaller muscles in between.

5. Improves upper extremity range of motion.

The more children practice reaching and moving their upper extremities, the better their range of motion will be. In terms of physical development or physical therapy, I think Connect 4 can be a good therapeutic contender.

A game of Connect 4 can only be won by someone who is mentally aware of all the pieces being played in different directions. This means that a child must be able to take note and perceive the pieces and how they fit into the grid. The more exposed a child is to it, the easier it becomes for them to remember what they see without having to constantly refer to the grids.

7. Increases strategic thinking skills.

Winning a Connect 4 game is all about strategy. You have to outwit and outwit your opponent, which means you have to think strategically with every move. Because of this, Connect 4 is a great way to boost a child’s strategic thinking skills.

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8. Improves cognitive abilities.

Cognitive skills are used to better understand, process information, remember things, and apply new information to existing information and work things out. It sounds quite complex because it is.

Connect 4 requires a child to observe what is happening on the grid, remember the opponent’s move and their previous move, and be able to think quickly ahead when the opponent makes a move so that their move can have a positive impact on that Game may have the outcome of the game (of course, in their favor).

9. Develops confidence.

When children play a new board game for the first time, they are often hesitant or shy. When kids learn the rules, realize they have the ability to win, and start having fun, their confidence increases. For kids who are shy or lack confidence, it’s a great way to introduce them to games that teach them how to win to build a little more confidence.

10. Teaches competitiveness and how to deal with related feelings/emotions.

Competitiveness is healthy when managed properly. Being competitive means your child always has the urge to do better and achieve more. Sometimes these urges can become problematic when a child doesn’t know how to handle their feelings of competition.

11. Creates a quick mindset.

The brain is like any other muscle in the body. If you don’t exercise it, it becomes less effective. The more you train your brain, the stronger and healthier it becomes. Children who play quick-thinking strategy games like Connect 4 often have a quick-thinking mindset because they get used to thinking that way.

12. Improves problem solving skills.

Every time an opponent slides their discs into the grid, there’s a problem that needs to be solved. In order for this to be possible, each player must pay careful attention to his opponent’s move and how it affects his possible next move. This type of thinking leads to more effective problem solving.

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13. Teaches the importance of planning/thinking ahead.

Without thinking one step ahead, a Connect 4 player would miss certain opportunities to win the game. While children may not think ahead at first, they quickly learn that this is the way to win the game and develop forward thinking and planning skills as a result. These skills can be applied to many other areas of life.

14. Develops ability to notice patterns.

You may not think that pattern recognition is a skill your child needs, but it really is.

Recognizing patterns helps to make predictions or assumptions based on observations. This particular ability is beneficial in both math and languages. Children who can recognize and understand patterns are better prepared to learn complex number concepts in math. Outside of mathematics, a person who can recognize patterns is able to examine relationships, spot consistent red flags, and develop generalizations and opinions on matters based on historical evidence.

Connect 4 is a pattern based game. Players must create 4 in a row either vertically, horizontally or diagonally. Being able to recognize these patterns and predict them will develop the ability to notice patterns.

All in all

Yes, these are exactly the benefits your child can get from playing Connect 4. According to the Numberphile YouTube channel, there are over 4 trillion ways to actually fill a standard Connect 4 board – which I think means that Connect 4 is anything but “basic”. Anyone who has seen a game in progress might think it’s just child’s play, but I have to admit that I really enjoy playing it too.

Over the years it has become increasingly evident that games are a great way for children to learn relevant life skills. With games like Connect 4 on the market, you have the opportunity to have fun with your children while giving them the opportunity to learn something valuable that will benefit them in the future. If you think the above 14 benefits are good for your kids, then what are you waiting for? Introduce them to Connect 4 today.

This article was co-authored by Jessie Davidson. Jessie Davidson is a childcare worker and CEO and Founder of BabysitPro, which offers online courses for current and aspiring babysitters. Jessie has over 20 years of childcare experience and specializes in best practices for sitters of infants, toddlers, preschoolers and elementary school students. BabysitPro’s courses are unique and age-specific, allowing babysitters to receive detailed information relevant to the children they are caring for. Jessie has a BA in French Studies from Wheaton College and an MA in Visual Anthropology from the University of Southern California. This article has been viewed 192,687 times.

Article overview

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To play Connect 4, try to line up 4 of your colored stones horizontally, vertically, or diagonally in front of your opponent. When it’s your turn, drop one of your stones into one of the slots at the top of the plastic grid. Then let your opponent take their turn. Remember to think carefully about where you place your checkers so you can prevent your opponent from getting 4 in a row. Take turns dropping stones into the grid until someone wins! Scroll down to learn how to strategize and beat your opponent in Connect 4!

While Tic-Tac-Toe is the original game about matching pieces, Connect 4 is another classic strategy game. With black and red checkers reminiscent of checkers, Connect 4 requires a good dose of forethought. Connect 4 can also move quickly, which requires quick thinking from its players. Like Tic-Tac-Toe, Connect 4 is played between two people, but while you can get creative with building a Tic-Tac-Toe board, Connect 4 requires a special rack.

Here are some quick tips on how to win at Connect 4:

Anticipate your opponent’s moves

Connect 4 is indeed very similar to other strategy games, but for players not used to the pole it can be almost intimidating. One of the most important things to remember when playing is that you need to anticipate your opponent’s moves. You don’t want to accidentally force your opponent into a winning position!

Stay in the middle

On the standard seven column board, each back of four that is not vertical must use a checker from the center column. This means if you control most of the central column, it will be very difficult for your opponent to get a connect four.

look ahead

If your opponent can create a three-in-a-row with an open, playable field on either side, you’re likely to lose. Prevent this in time by paying attention as soon as your opponent gets two stones in a row. Trying to anticipate ways your opponent might win will help you fight back.

Watch out for game ending spaces

It sometimes happens that a specific square on the board will give either you or your opponent a four of a kind card, depending on who is playing there. In this case, the game is over as soon as this space is filled. You can ignore any squares above the end-of-game square in the same column, as well as any potential four-way connections that rely on the squares you ignore.

Never play directly below the end-of-game board

This allows your opponent to play into the space and claim victory. Conversely, you should try to force your opponent to play just below the area at the end of the game, perhaps by setting up a four-way connection that will force your opponent to block in the critical area.

Fork your threats whenever possible

The ideal position is to have two potential connect fours that require a closing checker on two squares that are on top of each other. This usually results in a win since you can threaten in the first room. If the opponent doesn’t block, you win. If the opponent blocks, you play upstairs to win in the next field. An easy way to set this up is to form a “7” with your checkers so that at the end of the horizontal or diagonal four-connection on the right side there are two squares on top of each other.

This article was co-authored by Jessie Davidson. Jessie Davidson is a childcare worker and CEO and Founder of BabysitPro, which offers online courses for current and aspiring babysitters. Jessie has over 20 years of childcare experience and specializes in best practices for sitters of infants, toddlers, preschoolers and elementary school students. BabysitPro’s courses are unique and age-specific, allowing babysitters to receive detailed information relevant to the children they are caring for. Jessie has a BA in French Studies from Wheaton College and an MA in Visual Anthropology from the University of Southern California. This article has been viewed 192,687 times.

Article overview

X

To play Connect 4, try to line up 4 of your colored stones horizontally, vertically, or diagonally in front of your opponent. When it’s your turn, drop one of your stones into one of the slots at the top of the plastic grid. Then let your opponent take their turn. Remember to think carefully about where you place your checkers so you can prevent your opponent from getting 4 in a row. Take turns dropping stones into the grid until someone wins! Scroll down to learn how to strategize and beat your opponent in Connect 4!

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Connect 4 has been a family favorite since it was released by Milton Bradley in 1974, and with very good reason. It has been a favorite game in my family for many years. The game is great fun and can be played by the whole family – young and old.

If you’re new to board games and have never had a chance to play Connect 4, prepare to be instantly hooked! Before you can jump in and become the next Connect 4 champion in your family or social circle, you must first understand the rules.

According to Milton Bradley and Hasbro, the rules of Connect 4 are as follows:

Connect 4 rules

OBJECTIVE:

Being the first player to connect 4 discs of the same color in a row (either vertically, horizontally or diagonally)

HOW TO PLAY:

First decide who goes first and what color each player will be.

Players must take turns, and only one disc can be dropped in each round.

When it is your turn, drop one of your colored discs into one of the seven slots from above.

The game ends in 4-in-a-row or stalemate.

The starter from the previous game will be second in the next game.

I suggest you take a quick look at the following clip from our friends at Tripe S Games who made a short but very helpful video on how to play Connect 4.

Video Source: YouTube / Tripe S Games

As you can see, the rules of Connect 4 are actually quite easy to learn. Once you’ve mastered them, you can win game after game of Connect 4. Remember that just knowing the rules of Connect 4 does not guarantee you a win. You need to work on your strategy and technique to increase your chances of winning.

Before you can put the rules into action, you need to know what the game is about and how to build the game. Let’s take a closer look at those details first, then jump to the rules.

What is Connect4? – What is the aim of Connect 4 game?

If you’ve never played Connect 4, you might be wondering what it is, who it’s best for, and how to play it. Connect 4 is a 2 player connection game that was invented in the 1970s and was very popular in the 1980s and up to the present day.

In the game, players take turns placing colored discs (each player chooses a color) in a suspended rack. Once the pieces are dropped at the top of each column, they fit into the bottom squares in each column.

By inserting discs, players aim to form a row of 4 colored discs in a row. For example, if a player plays with red discs and manages to get 4 red discs in a horizontal, vertical or diagonal row, the game is won.

The game is said to be solved, meaning that the first person to play can always win if they know the right moves. The solution dictates that winning is facilitated by controlling the center of the rack (playing discs into the center column). But it’s all a matter of strategy…let’s talk about the structure of the game and the actual rules.

Setting up Connect 4 | How to set up Connect 4

Setting up a Connect 4 game is not complicated. In fact, it’s absolutely simple. The game includes two stands that are used to snap the vertical game board together. It only takes a second – handy, right? I guess so!

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Essentially a 2-window rack with 6 rows and 7 columns, the game board makes playing extremely easy. Each of the pillars has a hole at the very top into which the game pieces are inserted and lowered. There’s no fiddling around here to load your game discs – just insert the disc and watch it slide right where you want it.

In the stand window, each character can be seen from both sides of the stand. Once the board (also called the “stand” when in an upright position) is set up, the two players must decide who will be red or black (yellow) on the game board. Each player is given 21 tiles of the same color to use.

How to Play Connect 4 | The connection rules 4

After the Connect 4 game board or rack is set up, you can start the game. Let’s take a look at the following rules.

Players must connect 4 discs of the same color in a row to win.

So what is the goal of playing Connect 4? What is the point and how is a winner declared? The main goal of Connect 4 game is that players can put 4 of their discs on the shelf and get them all in a row (4 in a row). It’s really in the name of the game, isn’t it? The gameplay is quite similar to Tic-Tac-Toe as the pieces must be placed all 4 in a row vertically, horizontally or diagonally for a player to get a win.

Only one piece is played at a time.

You might think that getting 4 discs in a row would be easy when you can just slide 4 discs in the rack at a time, but it doesn’t work that way. The fact that players take turns making the game unpredictable and means that the opponent can block your attempts to form a 4-in-a-row quite successfully. Players can only play one piece at a time, so there is a lot of thought involved.

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To play, a player only needs to insert one of their discs into the rack. You can place your discs to form a row of 4 stones, or you can place your discs strategically to prevent your opponent from getting a 4 in a row. How you play the game is entirely up to you.

Players can be on offense or defense.

Players can play either offensively or defensively on the rack – it’s really up to you how you play. This means that you can either just focus on getting a 4-in-a-row of your colored discs, or you can focus on preventing your opponent from getting any connected 4s.

Personally, I’ve found that a combination of offensive and defensive play is most effective. If I just focus on blocking my opponent, I lose the satisfaction of creating my own 4-in-a-row. And if I completely neglect to block my opponent by just focusing on creating my 4-in-a-row, he may surprise me with an unexpected win.

The game ends in 4-in-a-row or stalemate.

You may be wondering what it takes to win. When is the game over? Do you keep trying to get 4 in a row after one player has already done it? The game is considered “over” when a player manages to line up 4 of their own colored discs diagonally, horizontally or vertically.

But that’s not the only time the game is over. What if neither player can achieve a 4-in-a-row streak? Once most of the slots are filled and it is no longer possible for any player to get 4-in-a-row, the game is considered over due to a stalemate. Unfortunately, in this case there is no winner and a re-match may be played.

The starter from the previous game will be second in the next game.

Normally, when players want to play more than one round of Connect 4, the player who started second in the previous round starts the next round.

Packing the game board/rack

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While there are no rules for packing the Connect 4 game board or rack, it doesn’t hurt to know what to do.

After the game is over, you can simply slide the switch on the bottom of the game board holder. Place the game box under the rack, slide the switch and the game pieces will all fall out from below. This makes cleaning up after the game quick and convenient.

Last word

After playing Connect 4 a few times, the rules will become clearer and easier. I remember initially feeling vaguely challenged when it came to the rules, and then I realized that the rules are easy to understand…mastering the rules and the right strategy is where the hard work really lies . Now that you know how to play Connect 4 it’s time to get started. Enjoy and good luck!