Connect Four

Goal: Be the first to connect four of your discs in a row — horizontally, vertically, or diagonally!

Basic Rules

Connect Four is played on a 7-column × 6-row vertical grid.

• The first player (yellow) moves first, then players alternate turns
• On your turn, drop one disc into any column that isn't full
• The disc falls to the lowest empty square in that column
• You cannot skip turns or remove placed discs

Winning

You win by being the first to align four of your discs in a continuous line:

• Horizontal – four in a row across
• Vertical – four in a column going down
• Diagonal – four in a line going up-and-across or down-and-across

Draw: If the entire grid fills up with no winner, the game ends in a draw.

Controls

• Click any column to drop your disc into it
• The AI responds automatically after your move
• Use New Game to restart at any time

Offensive Strategy:

• Look for chances to create double threats — if you can win on two different squares, the opponent can only block one
• Control the center column: more possible lines pass through the middle of the board
• Build upward from the bottom — most winning lines start low in the grid
• Watch for diagonal opportunities, which are easy to miss

Defensive Strategy:

• Always check the opponent's three-in-a-row threats before your move
• Block at the bottom of a threat whenever possible — blocking at the top is useless if the bottom is open
• Be careful about odd and even threats: threats on odd rows favor the player who moves first
• Don't be too passive — over-defending hands the initiative to your opponent

Advanced Tactics:

• The Trap: Set up a position where any block by the opponent creates a new threat for you
• Zugzwang: In drawn-out positions, forcing the opponent to move first can be decisive
• Plan multiple moves ahead — Connect Four was solved in 1988; with perfect play, the first player always wins

Connect Four is a classic two-player strategy game first released by Milton Bradley in 1974. Its simple rules and quick playtime have made it a household favorite for over 50 years.

Despite its simple appearance, Connect Four has surprising strategic depth. Mathematician James D. Allen and computer scientist Victor Allis independently proved in 1988 that with perfect play, the first player can always force a win.

Recognition:

• 🏆 Inducted into the American Toy Industry Hall of Fame
• 🏆 Over 4 million copies sold annually worldwide
• 🏆 Standard fixture in strategy game collections

This digital implementation features:

• ✅ Authentic 7×6 grid following classic rules
• ✅ Smart AI with multiple difficulty levels
• ✅ Win detection in all 4 directions
• ✅ Instant restart and replay

Note: This implementation is for educational and entertainment purposes. Connect Four® is a registered trademark of Hasbro.