About Connect Four

The first player to form a connection of four pieces horizontally, vertically, or diagonally wins the game

How to play

In this version of Connect Four, you and your opponent take turns dropping colored discs into a vertical grid. Click or tap the column where you want to play and the disc will fall to the lowest empty space in that column. The first player to line up four discs in a row horizontally, vertically or diagonally wins the round.

Tips and tricks

Try to control the central columns, because they give you more ways to build four in a row than the edges do. Always watch for lines where you or your opponent already have three in a row; blocking those threats is often more important than creating a brand new pattern. Look for chances to create "double threats" where placing one disc sets up two different winning moves on your next turn, which are very difficult to defend against.

Why this game works well at school or work

Connect Four rounds are short and self-contained, so you can comfortably play a quick game during a break without losing track of time. The game encourages planning, anticipation and simple probability thinking while avoiding the need for fast reactions or loud effects. Because it runs entirely in the browser with minimal graphics, it works well on shared school computers and office laptops.