Four in a Row
In Four in a Row you drop discs into a grid and line up four before the computer does. Free, no install, no sign-up, works offline in your browser.
In Four in a Row you drop a disc into any column and it falls to the lowest free space. Line up four of yours in any direction before the computer lines up four of its own.
about 14.9 KB
Works offline after the first visit. No install, no sign-up.
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How to play Four in a Row
How a move works
Tap a column and your disc falls to the bottom of it. You cannot place a disc in mid-air, so the board fills from the bottom up and every column eventually becomes unusable.
You win in four directions
Four in a row means four discs in a line horizontally, vertically or along either diagonal. Lines can be built across several columns, which is why the middle columns matter more than the edges.
The computer blocks as well as builds
It looks at what you are threatening and at what it can complete, so an obvious three will be blocked. Setting up two threats at once is the way through, and that is the actual game.
The centre column is the strong one
Discs in the middle columns take part in more possible lines than discs on the edges. Playing the centre is not a superstition, it is simple counting of how many lines each position touches.
The round ends two ways
Either someone completes four, or the grid fills with nobody having done so, which is a draw. The game tells you which happened rather than leaving you to work it out.
Four in a Row Tips and Strategy
Play the middle columns
The centre columns let your line grow in both directions, while a disc dropped on an edge column can only ever build in one. With seven columns, the three middle ones are worth far more than the outside.
Stack your own discs
A disc dropped onto a column lands on top of whatever is already there, so a disc with a friendly disc underneath is supported and cannot be played around. Building upward from the bottom row keeps every later move cheaper.
Threats beat counters
A three in a row with both ends open has to be answered. Since it can only be answered one way, a single strong line sometimes forces the win on its own, and two lines at once leaves nothing to answer.
Four in a Row — Frequently Asked Questions
What happens when a column is full?
It refuses the move, and the game shows that column as unavailable. You are never charged a turn for tapping a full column.
Can the computer be beaten?
Yes. It looks a few moves ahead rather than playing perfectly, so building two threats at once — one it has to block and one it cannot — wins the round.
Is there a size setting?
No, the grid is fixed at the standard seven columns by six rows.
Does it need installing or an account?
No. It runs in the browser on a phone, tablet or computer and works offline after the first visit.
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