Four in a Row strategy: how to win

Four in a Row looks simple, but it rewards planning. These ideas will win you most games against friends and help against the computer.

Is it solved?

Yes. In 1988 it was proved that on the standard 7×6 board the first player can always win by starting in the centre column and playing perfectly. In real games nobody plays perfectly, so the ideas below matter more than the theory.

1. Control the centre

The middle column is part of more possible lines of four than any other column. Discs in the centre support threats in every direction. Start there, and keep adding discs to the middle three columns.

2. Think in threats

A threat is an empty square that would complete your four. Before every move, check two things: does my disc give my opponent a square to win on directly above it, and does it create a new threat for me? Most games are lost by playing under an opponent’s threat.

3. Odd and even rows

Count rows from the bottom. As the board fills up, the first player usually gets to claim threats on odd rows (1, 3, 5) and the second player on even rows (2, 4, 6). Build your threats on the rows that suit you, and late in the game your opponent will be forced to give you the winning square.

4. Make two threats

Two threats in different columns, or one directly above another, cannot both be blocked. Building up to that position is how strong players win.

Try it now in Four in a Row; the Hard computer looks seven moves ahead.