4 in a Row Connect - Online 2 Player Multiplayer Game

4 in a Row: Outsmart and Outplay in Classic Strategy!

Get ready for a battle of wits! 4 in a Row is a timeless classic where strategic thinking and clever moves reign supreme.

• Simple Yet Strategic: The rules are easy, but mastering them takes skill. Drop your colored discs into the grid to try and connect four in a line before your opponent. Block their attempts and set up sneaky traps!
• Track Your Triumphs: See how you stack up with leaderboards and playtime tracking. Show off your strategic prowess as you climb the ranks.
• Friendly Competition: Challenge friends to test your skills or face off against online opponents for thrilling strategy showdowns.
• Customize: Change your board or your discs! Lots to choose from and collect.

How to Play

4 in a row online is a simple but fun and easy-to-learn inspired by Connect 4, online game that’s perfect for players of all ages. The game is designed for two people and is played on a vertical board with seven columns and six rows. Players take turns dropping colored discs into the top of the board, and the discs fall to the bottom of the column. The objective of the game is to connect four discs of your color in a row, either vertically, horizontally, or diagonally before your opponent does. It's a strategic game that requires much more planning and foresight than you might think. The aim of the game is to connect four piece in a line while preventing your opponent from doing the same. The game can progress very quickly and is an excellent choice to play with friends or family, or perhaps a stranger on the web!

The Setup and Winning

To set up a game of 4 in a row online, start by placing the game board on a flat and sturdy surface, such as a table or the floor. If you’re playing with a physical board, you will have to quickly assemble it together. Each player then chooses a color for their discs–the standard colors are red and yellow. Whoever chose the red discs usually goes first, but you can play a friendly game of rock-paper-scissors instead or let the online platform you’re playing on decide who starts.

The starting player drops their first disc into one of the columns and then alternates with the second player. The discs will fall to the bottom of the column, landing on top of the discs already dropped. Players continue taking turns until one player succeeds in getting four of their colored discs in a row, either vertically, horizontally, or diagonally. This player is the winner!

Winning Diagonally

As it may not be obvious to newer players, we’ll explain how you can win diagonally. This is when a player connects four discs in a row diagonally across the board. This means that the four discs must form a diagonal line that goes either up and to the right or up and to the left. Pay close attention to diagonal connections as they are usually not as obvious as a four in a row connection in a line.

Diagonal wins are often more difficult to achieve than vertical or horizontal wins because they require more specific placement of the discs. However, they can also be more unexpected and catch opponents off guard, especially if they aren’t paying attention.

Starting Advantage

The starting player does not have a significant advantage over the second player. However, many believe the first player gains a tiny advantage due to the fact that they get to make the first move, which can impact the game's outcome–especially for more experienced players. By playing the first move, the starting player can potentially control the center column or block an opponent's potential winning move, but this all comes down to planning and strategy.

That said, the advantage is not big enough to guarantee a win for the starting player, and a skilled opponent can often overcome this advantage with strategic play and experience. Overall, 4 in a row online is considered a fair and balanced game with both players having an equal chance of winning. After a game, players can let the second person start first and then alternate.

Ending in a Draw

In 4 in a row online, a draw occurs when both players fill the board without any player connecting their four discs in any direction. When this happens, the game is considered a tie, which means no player is declared the winner. Players can choose to play again until there is a winner. For more experienced players, you may find draws to occur more often.

A draw can occur when both players play defensively, trying to block each other's moves instead of making risky moves to connect their discs. It can also happen when both players have equal skills and knowledge of the game, making it difficult for either player to gain an advantage over the other.

Strategies for Winning

4 in a row online is indeed an easy game to learn but difficult to master. The concept is so simple, but as you start playing the game against someone who’s experienced, you often find yourself in tricky situations that leave you trapped and defeated. The game requires a balance of offensive and defensive moves, as well as thinking ahead and anticipating the opponent's moves. By thinking outside the box and as far into the future as you can, you can increase your chances of winning. See our ultimate guide on Winning at 4 in a row online where we provide various strategies that will give you the best chance of beating your opponent:

1. Playing the middle columns

2. Playing the corners

3. Blocking your opponent

4. Set up a double win or trap